[skansa]

OK Bridgestones sound a bit of a joke, am keen to move to non-RFT.

Can i keep rft on the front still or do i need to change all 4 tyres?

Any recommondations for the tyres?

[E92Fan]

Don't mix RFT and non-RFT - the difference in handling and sidewall flex etc is too great

I have now tried many different normal tyres and runflat versions, across different cars. By far the most consistent, comfortable and secure (and most expensive unfortunately) is the Michelin Pilot Sport 2. Closely behind is the Continental Conti Sport Contact 3 which has better wet weather handling characteristics in terms of a more neutral breakaway, but less outright grip and cornering ability in the dry.

The Goodyear Eagle F1 is very good also, but the wear rate is a little higher and the noise/comfort levels not as good.

Pirelli PZero Neros and Rossos follow in that order - what you'll find with the Neros in particular is that whilst grip levels are high in the dry, there is a slight graininess and knobbliness to the ride quality, which transmits itself as a minute vibration through the steering wheel and base of the seat. Not uncomfortable by any means, but noticeable all the same.

If you want to retain the runflat system, then certainly the Michelin Pilot Sport ZP tyre (for zero pressure) is light years ahead of the Bridgestone and is now considered the market-leader in outright performance. And it's really almost as good as the non-RFT version. Expensive though!

[booforty]

Originally Posted by E92Fan

Don't mix RFT and non-RFT - the difference in handling and sidewall flex etc is too great

I have now tried many different normal tyres and runflat versions, across different cars. By far the most consistent, comfortable and secure (and most expensive unfortunately) is the Michelin Pilot Sport 2. Closely behind is the Continental Conti Sport Contact 3 which has better wet weather handling characteristics in terms of a more neutral breakaway, but less outright grip and cornering ability in the dry.

The Goodyear Eagle F1 is very good also, but the wear rate is a little higher and the noise/comfort levels not as good.

Pirelli PZero Neros and Rossos follow in that order - what you'll find with the Neros in particular is that whilst grip levels are high in the dry, there is a slight graininess and knobbliness to the ride quality, which transmits itself as a minute vibration through the steering wheel and base of the seat. Not uncomfortable by any means, but noticeable all the same.

If you want to retain the runflat system, then certainly the Michelin Pilot Sport ZP tyre (for zero pressure) is light years ahead of the Bridgestone and is now considered the market-leader in outright performance. And it's really almost as good as the non-RFT version. Expensive though!

I totally agree with everything Tony says, the PS2's both RFT and non-RFT are brilliant...

[andy69]

Originally Posted by skansa

OK Bridgestones sound a bit of a joke, am keen to move to non-RFT.

Can i keep rft on the front still or do i need to change all 4 tyres?

Any recommondations for the tyres?

I hope so thats what im going to do this week

330cdsport has non rft's on the front and rft's on the back, he doesnt have problems check out his post in this link along with the poll on recommend non rft's

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153525

cheers

[skansa]

thanks for the great intel, much appreciated. In the end I am getting 1 new Bridgestone Potenza 255 30 19 91Y for £344 to tie me over. On renewal of tyres i will change to Michelin as Bridgestone are utter rubbish and their supply chain is being run by a gimp. Some garages were asking for £400. Independants cant get hold of the tyre at all.


Curiously what happens to the sensors when you change over the tyres to Non-RFTs? Are they still there so if i ever switch back they will work automatically?

Thanks
S

[andy69]

Originally Posted by skansa

thanks for the great intel, much appreciated. In the end I am getting 1 new Bridgestone Potenza 255 30 19 91Y for £344 to tie me over. On renewal of tyres i will change to Michelin as Bridgestone are utter rubbish and their supply chain is being run by a gimp. Some garages were asking for £400. Independants cant get hold of the tyre at all.


Curiously what happens to the sensors when you change over the tyres to Non-RFTs? Are they still there so if i ever switch back they will work automatically?

Thanks
S

HOW MUCH !!!!

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by skansa

thanks for the great intel, much appreciated. In the end I am getting 1 new Bridgestone Potenza 255 30 19 91Y for £344 to tie me over. On renewal of tyres i will change to Michelin as Bridgestone are utter rubbish and their supply chain is being run by a gimp. Some garages were asking for £400. Independants cant get hold of the tyre at all.


Curiously what happens to the sensors when you change over the tyres to Non-RFTs? Are they still there so if i ever switch back they will work automatically?

Thanks
S

WHAT ON EARTH?!!! That's CRAZY money...!!! It's not worth doing that - you might as well get a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 2 ZP (Runflat) for the rear, and run on mixed tyres for a while. That isn't so much of a problem. Then when the fronts are worn, change them over to the Michelin Runflats and then you'll have a complete system. Believe me, the PS2 ZP tyres are fabulous in their own right, and are very nearly as good as the normal PS2s in terms of ride comfort. The handling characteristics and grip levels are predominantly the same anyway. (make sure they're not the original Pilot Sport 1 ZP ... the version 2 is light years better)

With regard to the tyre pressure sensors - BMW used two systems, the TPMS sensors on the valve stems themselves, or otherwise the ABS sensors (by measuring differences in rotational speeds in this case). If the car has TPMS sensors, the tyre fitters will retain the use of the them and the valve stems, but just change the internal valve needle. If the car uses ABS sensors, then there's no change whatsoever. Bottom line, don't worry!

[skansa]

Michelin Pilot Sport 2 ZP , where do you get them from, I have searched databases at:
national tyres
Kwik Fit
Event Tyres
Elite Direct
Black Circles
Borehamwood Tyres
BMW Watford and Stanmore
E-tyres
and Mr Tyres!

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by skansa

Michelin Pilot Sport 2 ZP , where do you get them from, I have searched databases at:
national tyres
Kwik Fit
Event Tyres
Elite Direct
Black Circles
Borehamwood Tyres
BMW Watford and Stanmore
E-tyres
and Mr Tyres!

Try Micheldever tyres - www.micheldever.co.uk

[330cdsport]

Originally Posted by andy69

I hope so thats what im going to do this week

330cdsport has non rft's on the front and rft's on the back, he doesnt have problems check out his post in this link along with the poll on recommend non rft's

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153525

cheers

Well spotted Andy

I have been running the non-RFT Falkens on the front alongside the original Bridgestone RFT's on the rear, and have found no problems with the mixed setup at all. Handling is spot-on. I intend to replace the rears with Falkens though when the Bridgestones are worn out (too tight to do it beforehand)

So far, I am very happy with the Falkens on the front. They were recommeneded to me by Mikem on here.

[andy69]

Originally Posted by 330cdsport

Well spotted Andy

I have been running the non-RFT Falkens on the front alongside the original Bridgestone RFT's on the rear, and have found no problems with the mixed setup at all. Handling is spot-on. I intend to replace the rears with Falkens though when the Bridgestones are worn out (too tight to do it beforehand)

So far, I am very happy with the Falkens on the front. They were recommeneded to me by Mikem on here.

think im going for the Falkens this week, all in think it will be 300 euros for both fronts (18's)

have a few thousand left on the rears.. (well thats what i keep telling myself)

[tmarshall57]

What are you planning to do about puncture repairs when you move to non RFTs? Are you planning on buying a spare, using some kind of gunk or performing a temporary patch repair?

I will be changing to non RFTs when mine need changing so just wondered what Plan B is for you?

Tony

[E92Fan]

My Plan B is the M Mobility kit I got from BMW - gunk, compressor, to get you home. Plan C is call BMW Emergency Services.

[andy69]

Originally Posted by tmarshall57

What are you planning to do about puncture repairs when you move to non RFTs? Are you planning on buying a spare, using some kind of gunk or performing a temporary patch repair?

I will be changing to non RFTs when mine need changing so just wondered what Plan B is for you?

Tony

Ive been discussing this today actually...my car is 3 years old next year and as an import, requires its first MOT, I have the feeling that it will not pass if it does not have a spare and they wont accept the gunk and compressor option

I know it doesnt help you being over there but you might want to ask yourself the question

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by andy69

Ive been discussing this today actually...my car is 3 years old next year and as an import, requires its first MOT, I have the feeling that it will not pass if it does not have a spare and they wont accept the gunk and compressor option

I know it doesnt help you being over there but you might want to ask yourself the question

So how do cars like the Pagani Zonda, Lambo Gallardo, Ferrari 430, and M3/M5 get away with it ?

[Hoops]

Very good point Tony.

[andy69]

Originally Posted by E92Fan

So how do cars like the Pagani Zonda, Lambo Gallardo, Ferrari 430, and M3/M5 get away with it ?

Probably with a nice crisp 50 quid note and no questions

[andy69]

Originally Posted by andy69

Probably with a nice crisp 50 quid note and no questions

I am more worried that they would fail it for not having RFT'S on it as the car was designed for, this is what i am trying to find out at the moment.

[Budgie]

Stop worrying...many of my clients have older supercars like Tony explains...they get no shit no hassle at all...Go get a MOT its easy..we are talking Bomb proof german BMW here...not some piece of 3 yo shit

[willhollin]

andy69, have you had any dealings with Jock Campbell from English Mobile Mechanics?

[andy69]

Originally Posted by willhollin

andy69, have you had any dealings with Jock Campbell from English Mobile Mechanics?

I've heard of them..luckily had no need to call for one yet

Do you know him then ?

[xenon]

There is no requirement in the MOT to have a spare tyre of any description, much less a motorbility set-up. The ony requirement with an MOT is if a spare tyre is present then it must be road-legal. If it's not there at all then no problem. The BMW Mini has no spare and many examples of those (including my wife's) are of MOT age.