[UncleScottie]

Well I would guess Bridgestone offered BMW a really sweet deal. I doubt run-flats would have ever got off the ground just as replacement tires. Bridgestone likely waited for commitment from an automaker before going to production. Whatever hit Bridgestone took in making such a deal they are now making back with the sales of replacement RFT tires. I would go further to guess that the "no repair policy" was a part of the agreement that BMW signed off on as well as some penalty clause if BMW tried to backout of the deal before a specified quantity or time period had been reached.

I think Bridgestone often gets automakers to make such deals. It would be the only explantion of why Subaru kept putting the crappy RE92s on the WRX for so long.

Very smart business on Bridgstone's part. Bad business on the automakers side considering the fallout from customers.