My 2011 BMW 550xi has goodyear eagle ls 2 run flats, 245/40. I took delivery of the car in june 2011 and have had repeated bubbles on the front tires. Four tires have been replaced to date. I have never had an issue with tires for the last 20 years. The BMW dealer is not able to say whether it is dangerous to drive on tires with bubbles. *kb
2011 BMW 528i tires problems
moderate 31 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $150 · see tires across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
31
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$150
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 31 tires complaints filed for the 2011 BMW 528i, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 31 tires complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA tires complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2011 BMW 5-series equipped with 19-inch sport or M-sport packages came with notoriously defective run-flat tires—primarily Goodyear Eagle LS-2—that develop sidewall bubbles and fail prematurely, sometimes within months or a few thousand miles, creating a serious safety and cost problem for owners.
Owners of 2011 BMW 535i, 550i, and 550i xDrive models equipped with the sport or M-sport package report widespread, repeated sidewall bubble and blister failures on Goodyear Eagle LS-2 and Goodyear Excellence run-flat tires (245/40R19 size). Bubbles form as early as 170 miles and commonly within 3,000–14,000 miles, often after minor road impacts such as small potholes or manhole covers, though some owners report bubbles appearing without any noticeable impact. Multiple tires per vehicle fail, with some owners replacing three to four tires within months of purchase or ownership. Bubbles render tires unsafe and risk blowout at highway speeds. Sidewall bubbles also caused wheel damage and vibration in reported cases. One owner of a 2011 BMW X5 reported a Bridgestone run-flat sidewall crack at 14,000 km. Replacement costs run $500–$2,000 per tire, and OEM replacements are frequently backordered. BMW initially blamed Goodyear as the manufacturer, though one owner negotiated partial reimbursement from BMW North America. Dealers lack clarity on safety of driving with bubbles present.
Failure modes owners describe
Sidewall bubbles and blisters on Goodyear run-flat tires
Bubbles or blisters form on the sidewalls of Goodyear Eagle LS-2 and Goodyear Excellence run-flat tires equipped on 2011 BMW 5-series and X5 models. Bubbles appear spontaneously or after minor road impacts like small potholes, manhole covers, or bumps. Owners report multiple tire failures on the same vehicle, sometimes within months of purchase. Bubbles can range from small to 2.5 inches and render tires unsafe to drive on or cause deflation; at highway speeds, sidewall bubbles present blowout risk.
When: As early as 170 miles; commonly within 3,000–14,000 miles; some within 6–9 months of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Visible bubbles or blisters on tire sidewalls; Tire deflation after bubble forms; Vehicle vibration at higher speeds (when bubbles present); Tire unsafe to drive on per dealer assessment; Bubbles appear after minor road impacts or spontaneously without impact
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement tires cost $500–$2,000 per tire. OEM tires (245/40R19 size) frequently on backorder. BMW dealers replace tires. When OEM replacements unavailable, dealers have supplied non-OEM summer tires as temporary fix, though BMW does not recommend mixing seasonal tire types. Wheel damage (bends on rims) reported in one case alongside bubble failures.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: BMW initially deflects blame to Goodyear, claiming Goodyear manufactures the tires. BMW North America reimbursed one complainant for half replacement costs after negotiation. Dealer TSBs or formal recalls not mentioned in narratives. One owner reports BMW cited tire backorder preventing immediate replacement.
Bridgestone run-flat tire sidewall cracking
One 2011 BMW X5 owner reports a Bridgestone Dueler H/L 400 tire cracked on the sidewall while driving, causing near accident. A second tire on the same vehicle developed a bump (blister) on the sidewall. Both failures occurred within 8 months and 14,000 km of use.
When: 8 months of ownership; 14,000 km (~8,700 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Sidewall crack that developed while driving; Sidewall bump/blister on second tire; Both failures within short ownership period on same vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Narrative does not specify repair costs or whether tires were replaced.
Synthesized from 31 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the tires problem on the 2011 BMW 528i?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 31 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $150 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the tires typically fail?
Across the 20 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most tires failures cluster between 2,800 and 8,400 miles, with the median around 5,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 2,800; a quarter make it past 8,400. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $150 for tires repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to tires?
No active recalls currently cover tires issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/BMW/528i.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.