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[Pyscho_Powers]

I have the OEM bridgestone Potenza re050a tires (rft), but I want to buy a new set of tires to install in the future.. The OEM tires have about <10k miles left on them, so I would like to plan for the future maybe even some BBS rims to match.

Did some research, and mostly people would agree that regular tires will
out-perform rft? Is this true? How come? To clarify "out-perform", i mean, wet/dry traction, road noise, and comfort. Also what non run-flats fit these attributes? Thinking about some good 'ol sticky tires for all-purpose wear. I am not driving in the snow or when the weather gets icy. Need some opinions?

Thanks

[XDEEDUBBX]

1st off rft's are heavy compared to non rft's. Also if you get a leak or slightly puncture it, it is not reccomended to fix. Most shops won't even try to do it. And rft's are expensive! hope that helps.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by Pyscho_Powers

I have the OEM bridgestone Potenza re050a tires (rft), but I want to buy a new set of tires to install in the future.. The OEM tires have about <10k miles left on them, so I would like to plan for the future maybe even some BBS rims to match.

Did some research, and mostly people would agree that regular tires will out perform rft? Is this true? How come? Also what non run-flats are "good tires"? Thinking about some good sticky tires for all-purpose wear. I am not driving in the snow or when the weather gets icy. Need some opinions?

Thanks

"out perform" in what category ? All RFT have stiff side walls which is good for performance. People here switch to regular tires because it provide MUCH better and softer ride (softer over bumps) and yet pretty much the same performance. More expensive the tire is, the better it is....this is usually true, but not all cheap tires are that bad....

[Ink330]

I have Continental ContiProContact SSRs, and I actually like them. I think a majority of the people here despise RFTs. One thing is certain though, there are not shortage of RFTs v. Non RFTs threads!

[Pyscho_Powers]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

"out perform" in what category ? All RFT have stiff side walls which is good for performance. People here switch to regular tires because it provide MUCH better and softer ride (softer over bumps) and yet pretty much the same performance. More expensive the tire is, the better it is....this is usually true, but not all cheap tires are that bad....

Okay so basically, what I mean in "outperform" are by: wet/dry traction, road noise, and comfort. But how come m3's don't have rft? I've heard Michelin are the best of choice. Is this true?

[Tortfeasor 335xi]

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/c...-run-flats.htm

Consumer reports on the trade-offs. Google will give you more results.

Why I switched was because I wanted to go with a high performance summer tires and a dedicated winter set. Also, as many people have found, run flats are comrpomised by their design in absolute performance. And while new run flats are as good or better than old high performance tires, when compared with conventional high performance tires of the same make, they are not as good.

Edmunds found this out comparing Pilot Sports run flats with non-runflats here (though they claim the wet traction difference was by design):
http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/...rformance.html

[k3m0-330i]

all i can say is non run flat for the win!! the ride is so much better i love my yokohamma s.drive..

[Hooy]

I just bought Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Specs... extreme summer tires to replace my oe Continental RFTs. I will let you know when I install them and how they compare! Wheels are stock 17's (8").

[Pyscho_Powers]

Originally Posted by Hooy

I just bought Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Specs... extreme summer tires to replace my oe Continental RFTs. I will let you know when I install them and how they compare! Wheels are stock 17's (8").

What a coincidence I was going to buy these tires too.. Let me know what you think of them. Yeah keeping my OEM set for winter, and these Dunlop may be for summer time!

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by Pyscho_Powers

What a coincidence I was going to buy these tires too.. Let me know what you think of them. Yeah keeping my OEM set for winter, and these Dunlop may be for summer time!

I hope you mean you are keeping your original wheels for winter and not your RE050A tires!

If you want a good winter performance tire, I'd recommend the Dunlop Wintersport M3 or D3. For summer, lots of folk seem to like the Michelin PS2 (also available in RFT) or the Conti DW.

And for an excellent all season tire, I replaced my OEM RFTs on my 128i with Conti DWS and have been very happy with them.

And IMHO, the main difference between comparable (i.e. performance, touring, winter, etc.) RFTS and non runflats is the non runflats' softer ride, larger selection and significantly lower price.

Tom

[Pyscho_Powers]

Originally Posted by Tom K.

I hope you mean you are keeping your original wheels for winter and not your RE050A tires!

If you want a good winter performance tire, I'd recommend the Dunlop Wintersport M3 or D3. For summer, lots of folk seem to like the Michelin PS2 (also available in RFT) or the Conti DW.

And for an excellent all season tire, I replaced my OEM RFTs on my 128i with Conti DWS and have been very happy with them.

And IMHO, the main difference between comparable (i.e. performance, touring, winter, etc.) RFTS and non runflats is the non runflats' softer ride, larger selection and significantly lower price.

Tom

Yes, I'm actually planning to keep my bridgestones and buy some very good extreme summer tires.. Been looking at some Dunlop drizza star 1(I think) on tire rack and they are rated pretty good. Also I don't know what to believe, so are run-flats on par with the regular tires. Besides the factor is the availability, price, and ride noise. As far as, performance in dry/wet traction, and road noise and comfort which one is better?

Thanks

[michaelthepsycho]

I like the precision of RFTs. Standard tires are too soft in the sidewall and claw quite a bit. I realized this after the switch. If you're going to switch to regular tires, go for a really sticky setup or you'll notice the flex even more.

[Tallest]

Originally Posted by XDEEDUBBX

1st off rft's are heavy compared to non rft's. Also if you get a leak or slightly puncture it, it is not reccomended to fix. Most shops won't even try to do it. And rft's are expensive! hope that helps.

hit the nail on the head there.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by Pyscho_Powers

Okay so basically, what I mean in "outperform" are by: wet/dry traction, road noise, and comfort. But how come m3's don't have rft? I've heard Michelin are the best of choice. Is this true?

True, I drove a M3 for over 4 years before getting into a Z4. My M3 had 19 inch wheels as does my Z4.

1) On my M3 I had Michelin High Performance Tires for the Summer and a winter wheel set 18"x8 also with Michelin winter tires (no spare in the M3 only a compressor to pump air plugged into the cigarette lighter - never used it).

2) On my Z3 I have the Bridgestone RFT in my opinion they suck and actually again in my humble opinion caused 2 rear wheel cracks after only 18,000 KM (~11,000 Miles). One wheel replaced by BMW the other one I am still working on to get my money back.

Bottom line My winter set is going on the car now yes you guessed it with Performance Michelin Winter tires. When the summer wheels (Type 296) go back on the car they also will have Michelin Performance tires and yes I will carry a BMW portable compressor in the trunk just like I did with my M3.

RFT ,,,, bw gone! here you go my 2 cents, hope it helps

PS my wife's car also has Michelin on both the summer and winter sets

[MazdaFan]

I hope this article from edmunds is helpful, although these days there are beter runflats available:

http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtest...lat-redux.html

cheers

[blimey]

Just took off my oem 17 with rft... Now running oem 18 on non rft...

What a difference in ride quality especially hitting bumps.

Now just got to worry about a spare.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by Pyscho_Powers

Okay so basically, what I mean in "outperform" are by: wet/dry traction, road noise, and comfort. But how come m3's don't have rft? I've heard Michelin are the best of choice. Is this true?

wet/dry traction and noise are the same. comfort level on non-rft is MUCH better. Michelins and Contis are probably the best tire (summer tires for summer use), but in my opinion they are way too overpriced compared to Korean brand tires. I am happy with my Hankook V12 for $550 that i paid for them

[Philz BMW]

Originally Posted by blimey

Just took off my oem 17 with rft... Now running oem 18 on non rft...

What a difference in ride quality especially hitting bumps.

Now just got to worry about a spare.

I plan on going to 19's in the spring, non RF. I still won't bother with a spare in the trunk. If I seriously have a blowout somewhere I'm not going to bother putting some doughnut on there. Roadside assistance, tow, order new 19in replacement tire...drive rental or dealer loaner until then.

Of course, in the almost 20 years I've been driving I've never had a flat tire. It figures in the car with no spare, that's when it might happen. lol

[MazdaFan]

Originally Posted by Philz BMW

I plan on going to 19's in the spring, non RF. I still won't bother with a spare in the trunk. If I seriously have a blowout somewhere I'm not going to bother putting some doughnut on there. Roadside assistance, tow, order new 19in replacement tire...drive rental or dealer loaner until then.

Of course, in the almost 20 years I've been driving I've never had a flat tire. It figures in the car with no spare, that's when it might happen. lol

Murphy's law, the moment you get rid of RFT or spare you will get a flat, if you have a tire repair kit you get a non-repairable blowout.

[Philz BMW]

Originally Posted by MazdaFan

Murphy's law, the moment you get rid of RFT or spare you will get a flat, if you have a tire repair kit you get a non-repairable blowout.

Agreed, 100%