Run flat tyres

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   I needed 4 new tyres for the E90 325d and wanted ANYTHING other than Bridgestone Potenzas - I did a lot of research and ended up getting Hankook RFTs which I had never heard of before. They have absolutely transformed the car. No more crashing and banging, bumps feel as if they are covered in cushions, the car sticks to the road and doesn't feel as if you are going to go AWOL any minute around the bends.  I took it out just to play yesterday - 45 miles of blissful driving - the usual places where it can tramline - nothing. It just felt so good. Bob also drove it today - he couldn't believe the difference either. I got them from Guildford Tyre company and they were �105 each all inclusive .... a bit different to the BMW garage who wanted nearly �170 each for more Bridgestones!

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Nic Ward Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Club Member Joined: 23 Oct 2008 Status: Offline Points: 149	Post Options Post Reply Quote Nic Ward Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Run flat tyres Posted: 22 Feb 2009 at 6:50pm
	I needed 4 new tyres for the E90 325d and wanted ANYTHING other than Bridgestone Potenzas - I did a lot of research and ended up getting Hankook RFTs which I had never heard of before. They have absolutely transformed the car. No more crashing and banging, bumps feel as if they are covered in cushions, the car sticks to the road and doesn't feel as if you are going to go AWOL any minute around the bends. I took it out just to play yesterday - 45 miles of blissful driving - the usual places where it can tramline - nothing. It just felt so good. Bob also drove it today - he couldn't believe the difference either. I got them from Guildford Tyre company and they were �105 each all inclusive .... a bit different to the BMW garage who wanted nearly �170 each for more Bridgestones!

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Nigel Marston Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Club Member Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 40	Post Options Post Reply Quote Nigel Marston Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 Apr 2009 at 5:50pm
	BMW dealers never seem to be able to beat a good independnet for tyre prices. I don't think its because they can't but I think its something to do with their tyre supply arrangments.

Cabrio Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Register Chair E30 Register & Competition Secretary Joined: 24 Aug 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 6625	Post Options Post Reply Quote Cabrio Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 Apr 2009 at 6:57pm
	Nigel - they buy tyres from the wholesaler or some use mobile units hence the premium and you are paying for convenience...there are cheaper options but some people who use the dealer are not looking for cheaper options especially if company car etc
	E30 Register joint coordinator - Competition Secretary - Contact name Neil for PM and Email - cabrio_e30@yahoo.co.uk - be aware addicted to E numbers

Nigel Marston Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Club Member Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 40	Post Options Post Reply Quote Nigel Marston Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 Apr 2009 at 7:34pm
	Still can't understand why they can't compete on price if they buy from the wholesaler as its also where many of the independents buy from too. The situation is the same in Germany where I lived until recently and the dealer there told me they had to pay more for tyres than the independents do for some reason.

Cabrio Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Register Chair E30 Register & Competition Secretary Joined: 24 Aug 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 6625	Post Options Post Reply Quote Cabrio Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 Apr 2009 at 8:58pm
	Its called volume Nigel and the dealer are not tyre dealers
	E30 Register joint coordinator - Competition Secretary - Contact name Neil for PM and Email - cabrio_e30@yahoo.co.uk - be aware addicted to E numbers

Mike Fishwick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Member Joined: 04 Aug 2006 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 2753	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mike Fishwick Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Apr 2009 at 2:57pm
	With the agreements they have, and the volume of tyres BMW buy in a year, they could supply their dealers very cheaply indeed. I wonder why they don't, particularly in view of the massive used BMW market?

Nigel Marston Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Club Member Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 40	Post Options Post Reply Quote Nigel Marston Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Apr 2009 at 3:28pm
	I agree with Mike. There must be something more than meets the eye

Cabrio Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Register Chair E30 Register & Competition Secretary Joined: 24 Aug 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 6625	Post Options Post Reply Quote Cabrio Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Apr 2009 at 9:17pm
	BUT - Most BMW dealers are franshised so not BMW GB so they are independent companies so Mikes idea does not stack up...in fact I know I pay the same price from the wholesaler and the wholesaler does not make a big profit....at the dealer you pay for the convenience and their labour rate...if yo go to Kwik Fit you wait for them to fit and pay the fitted price....simple economics - if you dont like paying the dealer price you can buy elsewhere - in fact some dealers use mobile fitters so they also have a profit.....how much do you guys think it fair profit on a �80-�100 tyre!!!
	E30 Register joint coordinator - Competition Secretary - Contact name Neil for PM and Email - cabrio_e30@yahoo.co.uk - be aware addicted to E numbers

Nigel Marston Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Club Member Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 40	Post Options Post Reply Quote Nigel Marston Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Apr 2009 at 11:41pm
	True, most BMW dealers are franchised and some do use mobile fitters as I have seen them too but they must get through a serious number of tyres to make it possible to buy them at a more competitive price generally. I have been in the motor trade for almost 20 years and don't generally sell tyres. However, if a customer requests them, I can easily buy them at a significantly reduced price to what the BMW dealer buys them for (as they have told me) and that's not even using the wholesaler. When I say the BMW dealer price, I'm talking about a supply only price which doesn't include any distortion due to BMWs labour charges. A fair profit on a tyre costing �80 - �100 very much depends on where you are buying it from but its not great from anywhere (30% max I would say but often a lot less). Mentioning Kwik Fit, I have always avoided them like the plague but recently, I had to get a puncture repaired on a Cadillac Stretched limo with chrome wheels. Because of the chrome wheels (even though they were only 17 inches) no one would touch them. Someone recommended Kwik Fit as they had the latest fitting machines that were least likely to damage the rims so out of desperation, I used them. Job done in no time at all, not a mark on the rim and they didn't charge me

Cabrio Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Register Chair E30 Register & Competition Secretary Joined: 24 Aug 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 6625	Post Options Post Reply Quote Cabrio Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 Apr 2009 at 9:25am
	Nigel - thanks for your reply I am confident that any profit on a tyre is likely to be 10% or less because very few people advertise or sell at RRP hence the issues in this thread - it may well be that the Dealer is selling at RRP and this may be the agreement to the supplier so they dont compete with other customers who sell more tyres.... For example Woolworths sold CD to ZAVI and ASDA but still sold CD's for more that the people they supplied - seems mad but true....a business decision If you are in the motor trade when you buy parts at a trade discount from the dealer do you always give your discount to the customer....I know some people who do but you have to make money somewhere I guess.....did you charge the Limo owner for taking the car to Kwik Fit I never like paying too much for something but I have the option to go else where so to sum up the dealer has made what they feel is a commercial decision and would guess other dealers will take a different view and sell for less if dealer principle allows them Cheers and catch up in 2009
	E30 Register joint coordinator - Competition Secretary - Contact name Neil for PM and Email - cabrio_e30@yahoo.co.uk - be aware addicted to E numbers

Nigel Marston Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Club Member Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 40	Post Options Post Reply Quote Nigel Marston Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 Apr 2009 at 7:58pm
	Indeed the world of business and pricing will baffle many. I agree re tyre margins as that's about what I used to make on tyres but some will try the RRP which will give them much more. The thing that still confuses me is when BMW dealers have told me in the past that they can't buy tyres as cheaply as I can. I think I am just going to have to ask the reasons why. Incidentally, I didn't charge the Cadillac owner so maybe that's why I'm not a millionaire but I do have lots of nice customers I may see you at Duxford as I saw your name on the list.

Cabrio Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Register Chair E30 Register & Competition Secretary Joined: 24 Aug 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 6625	Post Options Post Reply Quote Cabrio Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 Apr 2009 at 8:50pm
	Nigel - no problem see you there and we can try and put the world to rights....wont work with the motor trade as there is the gulf between those making no money with nice customers and the people making money guess if they can get RRP they are doing something right
	E30 Register joint coordinator - Competition Secretary - Contact name Neil for PM and Email - cabrio_e30@yahoo.co.uk - be aware addicted to E numbers

Tony Rushton Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Club Member Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tony Rushton Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Jun 2009 at 5:22pm
	I'm sick to the back teeth of the Potenzas (run-flats). They are awful things and like a cart tyre. I have also had the "your inner edge has worn sir, because of low pressure" suggestion by Knights BMW. a) I always check my pressures so I don't believe that element. b) If it's low pressure, why is it on the inner edge - is my tracking out? The car has only done 15k so I am well peeved at having to replace tyres, especially when I do mostly motorway driving and am not a wheel spinner. Anyone any suggestions? These Hankooks look interesting. I suspect BMW won't like it, though. I have also thought of using reinforced tyres and a can of tyreweld instead of the dreaded run-flats. Half the price, by the looks of it.

Nic Ward Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Club Member Joined: 23 Oct 2008 Status: Offline Points: 149	Post Options Post Reply Quote Nic Ward Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 Jun 2009 at 9:29pm
	Tony - I don't have runflats any more (different car) but when I got the car in March it had 4 new Michelin Pilots. After a few k miles I thought they were wearing abnormally.... had laser wheel alignment done and there were issues which needed correcting and would have caused the wear. Only a few weeks ago so can't see the difference yet.