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[CoastE90]

Today I mounted my new tires & wheels - Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT on a staggered set of 18" Avant Garde M359 - on my 2011 E90 335i M sport RWD. There didn't seem to be a lot of information about the RFT version of this tire in the community, so I thought I'd create a thread to document my impressions.



Specs for my setup

Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT
Front: 225/40R-18
Rear 255/35R-18
(stock sizes)

Avant Garde M359
Front: 18 x 8.5 et 35
Rear: 18 x 9.5 et 33

Why run flats?

I may be in the minority here but I value the security of having run flat tires. I have a baby on the way and did not want to get stranded with him in the car. I did not want to take up trunk space with a spare and I didn't trust any of the inflator products to get me home (and not destroy the TPMS). So, I decided to stick with run flats.

Why the RE90AS all season over Michelin PS2 ZP or Bridgestone RE050 RFT summer tires?

Numerous reviews, including Tire Rack's, indicate that the recent Bridgestone "3G" run flat technology is much better than the OEM RE050s I had been driving on. Road noise and harshness were supposed to be much reduced. Additionally, the RE90AS RFT has a treadwear rating of 400 and is warrantied until 40k miles. These characteristics of the RE960AS RFT minimized the disadvantages of run flat tires: they are quieter, ride better, and although the initial upfront cost is only slightly less than the run flat summer tires, they should last much longer and therefore in the long run will be much less expensive.

Obviously, the all season tire is going to give up some at-the-limit performance to a summer tire. For me, I am willing to make that tradeoff in order to get the advantages I discussed above. I still have a set of wheels with summer tires for autocross. For the street, these all seasons should be fine.

Very initial impressions

So - do the RE90AS RFTs live up to the claims of a quiet, comfortable ride? In my initial 10 mile shakedown drive today the answer is a resounding YES. I've never driven an E90 with non-run flat tires, but I can report that these are much quieter and much better riding than either my previous Bridgestone RE050 RFT summer tires or Bridgestone Blizzak LM25 RFT winter tires. Now, the most noticeable sound driving down the road is the wind noise. I'm also hearing all kinds of sound from the turbo that I've never heard before!

I've driven two different F30 non-sport package loaner cars with Pirelli Cinturato P7 RFTs - my initial impression is that the RE960AS RFTs on my sport package car are not quite as quiet/comfortable as the F30s were - but they are in the same ballpark.

As far as performance: I didn't push the brand new tires, but I did charge around my highway off ramp with my usual enthusiasm and the RE960AS RFTs did not disappoint me. Let me put it this way: when driving in a spirited but responsible way on the street, they aren't holding me back.

All in all, my very initial impression is very positive.

Treadwear

22 March 2015: 0 miles, 10/32s

28 December 2015: 7265 miles; fronts 9/32s rears 7/32s

Based on the first summer on these tires, it looks as though the fronts will have no trouble making 40k miles or more while the rears may only make it to to 20k or so. Disappointing.



If anyone has any questions, fire away.

[jss12636]

Originally Posted by CoastE90

Today I mounted my new tires & wheels - Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT on a staggered set of 18" Avant Garde M359 - on my 2011 E90 335i M sport RWD. There didn't seem to be a lot of information about the RFT version of this tire in the community, so I thought I'd create a thread to document my impressions.



Specs for my setup

Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT
Front: 225/40R-18
Rear 255/35R-18
(stock sizes)

Avant Garde M359
Front: 18 x 8.5 et 35
Rear: 18 x 9.5 et 33

Why run flats?

I may be in the minority here but I value the security of having run flat tires. I have a baby on the way and did not want to get stranded with him in the car. I did not want to take up trunk space with a spare and I didn't trust any of the inflator products to get me home (and not destroy the TPMS). So, I decided to stick with run flats.

Why the RE90AS all season over Michelin PS2 ZP or Bridgestone RE050 RFT summer tires?

Numerous reviews, including Tire Rack's, indicate that the recent Bridgestone "3G" run flat technology is much better than the OEM RE050s I had been driving on. Road noise and harshness were supposed to be much reduced. Additionally, the RE90AS RFT has a treadwear rating of 400 and is warrantied until 40k miles. These characteristics of the RE960AS RFT minimized the disadvantages of run flat tires: they are quieter, ride better, and although the initial upfront cost is only slightly less than the run flat summer tires, they should last much longer and therefore in the long run will be much less expensive.

Obviously, the all season tire is going to give up some at-the-limit performance to a summer tire. For me, I am willing to make that tradeoff in order to get the advantages I discussed above. I still have a set of wheels with summer tires for autocross. For the street, these all seasons should be fine.

Very initial impressions

So - do the RE90AS RFTs live up to the claims of a quiet, comfortable ride? In my initial 10 mile shakedown drive today the answer is a resounding YES. I've never driven an E90 with non-run flat tires, but I can report that these are much quieter and much better riding than either my previous Bridgestone RE050 RFT summer tires or Bridgestone Blizzak LM25 RFT winter tires. Now, the most noticeable sound driving down the road is the wind noise. I'm also hearing all kinds of sound from the turbo that I've never heard before!

I've driven two different F30 non-sport package loaner cars with Pirelli Cinturato P7 RFTs - my initial impression is that the RE960AS RFTs on my sport package car are not quite as quiet/comfortable as the F30s were - but they are in the same ballpark.

As far as performance: I didn't push the brand new tires, but I did charge around my highway off ramp with my usual enthusiasm and the RE960AS RFTs did not disappoint me. Let me put it this way: when driving in a spirited but responsible way on the street, they aren't holding me back.

All in all, my very initial impression is very positive.

Treadwear

22 March 2015: 0 miles, 10/32s

As I put miles on these tires I plan to post some updates to this to let everyone know if 40k miles is a reasonable expectation.

If anyone has any questions, fire away.

Awesome! I for one will be looking out for the updates on the wear. Do you know how long the stock 50s are expected to last?

[Sean335i]

i love the idea of RFTs but i couldnt get 10K miles on my potenzas. Finally ditched them for a good all season, omnidirectional standard tire.

[CoastE90]

Originally Posted by jaysahni2012

Awesome! I for one will be looking out for the updates on the wear. Do you know how long the stock 50s are expected to last?

My set of OEM RE050 tires has just over 10k miles on them, the rears are at 3/32nds (almost on the wear bars) and the fronts are at 6/32nds. So I think you can only hope to get 12k on a set of rear tires and maybe 20-25k on the fronts for the RE050s.

[bimmer74]

Shoot, I am trying to sell a near new set of these tires (300 miles on them) that came with my CPO 335i - want to go to a summer tire set. Could have saved you some $500.

[des16]

Sorry to share the bad news, but the tread wear on my 960AS RFT has been just about as bad as the 050s. I have 12,000 miles and the front are at or below 4/32 and the rear are 5-6/32. I have staggered fitment, but these tires are definitely not 40K wear. When I called Bridgestone to complain I was told that if I get 15K with staggered wheels I am doing great -- that was all that could be expected.

[jss12636]

Originally Posted by des16

Sorry to share the bad news, but the tread wear on my 960AS RFT has been just about as bad as the 050s. I have 12,000 miles and the front are at or below 4/32 and the rear are 5-6/32. I have staggered fitment, but these tires are definitely not 40K wear. When I called Bridgestone to complain I was told that if I get 15K with staggered wheels I am doing great -- that was all that could be expected.

Ah, sorry to hear that! And forgive the ignorance, but why does a staggered figment cause more wear?

[Fundguy1]

Originally Posted by jaysahni2012

Ah, sorry to hear that! And forgive the ignorance, but why does a staggered figment cause more wear?

Because you can't rotate.

It's still a run flat. I'd rather give up my entire trunk for a spare than have that. Seriously. instead I tow. I had a flat with Run flats and limped 10 miles at 25 mph before they fell apart too. Added weight, harsher louder ride, crappy handling, higher price, worse mileage and acceleration, all very opposite of what a BMW is about. I'd rather hitchhike home. But that's me.