[afc69]

I drive conservatively, ie don't go round corners like Jensen Button, don't go round roundabouts like a young nutter driver, so, why are people so down on the Bridgestone Potenza run flats?

If they were that bad, why would BMW put them on new cars they issue, or why haven't Bridgestone been sued etc etc.

Opinionss please, good and bad

[hmi1750]

No idea why BMW love using them, but the ones I had (the original set from 2006) were rubbish at low speed.

Every bump would be transmitted through and any metal grills or manhole covers would make the car skip! at 20mph around a slow bend in the road!

Pulling of junctions had the car scrambling for grip too... if the road was at all greasy then you had to be careful of any metal areas, even joins on motorway bridges made the car skip sideways.

[AlanQS]

I've had no problems with mine (on 230s). I have Continental 3 tyres on my 17" wheels and they are not lasting as long as my Bridgestones (Contis, 9,400 miles, 4-5mm tread left, Bridgestones, 8,800 miles, 7mm tread left)

I've never experienced tramlining or wandering on either set of tyres and on the UK 8 trip others seemed to have more grip problems in slippery and wet conditions than I had (they also all had at least 100bhp more than me - might have had something to do with it) so, despite the fact that I have been influenced by the general attitude towards the Bridgestones, I personally have no negative anecdotes about them - but nor would I voluntarily buy a set.

Keeping the tyre pressures correct is absolutely key to getting any longevity out of them.

[Jeller]

They are not as bad as everyone makes them out to be. Not perfect, but for a runflat, actually pretty good when you think about it. Price is what really sucks

[acerboo]

insides of mine wore out on the rears on the inside edges at 20,000 even though i have never driven it fast around corners, bridgestone blamed me for running them under the rec presssure which is untrue, i reckon they are crap tyres and will never use them again.

[jrah]

The run-flats are great if you get a puncture. However when they are cold (and especially in the wet) the grip levels are extremely poor, I changed my tyres to non run-flats just because I was fed up with having no grip

[Brock]

They are noisier and ride rougher due to the sidewall that has to hold the weight of the vehicle when it is completely out of air at speeds up to 50mph.....the sport suspension also transmits more of this than a softer one would. Additionally, with the W speed rating they have to be firm enough to maintain their shape when they get hot at high speeds...if they didnt it would come off wheel and cause blowout.

You cant have runflat and high speed tires without getting harder ride and some noise...just dont work. Even with regular air tires...they will be much harsher riding than say a S rated tire if you still get a W rate tire...just the way the tires are constructed.

Due to the hard sidewalls...they perform best in hot Summer climates....for grip, ride, etc. heat of summer I think they grip very well...do well in our summer thunderstorms too. Snow they suck...but then again they are a Summer Speed tire not an all season.

On my last E90 (328i) ended up going with the Continentals...much better ride...virtually quiet compaired to Bridgestone...smoother feel and did not grab road imperfections as readily as the Bridgestones but were not speed rated as high either.

[pjs]

Quite happy with them.

Previous 330d did 90k miles using 3 rear pairs, and two front pairs. Not tried owt else mind, and now have them on my current car. I'll always try and use what the manufacruer specifies.

Too many people buy a 'sport' and then moan about the ride imho

[mjh93sa]

Have had no issues with them that I haven't seen on other brands.

The rears I changed at 25000 miles with about 3mm of tread left. Front changed at 34000 miles with about 2.5mm across most of the width with the exception of the OSF having gone almost bald on the outer edge. This was the last original tyre the other front having been changed at about 1000 miles due to a puncture.

Grip ok except in slush/snow, ride as expected from an MSport and tramlining as per my previous BMW (Pirelli non-RFT) as the tyres wore down.

[HsiangHsu]

we'll just say that they're so bad that MB out perform us on the track now...

[Em135eye]

They grip quite well, aren't too bad in the wet and aren't too noisy but they are crashy, let go suddenly on the limit and tramline like hell. Seems taller ones (mine were 45s) are a bit better but not much.

I've just changed to CSC3s non RFTs and they are MUCH better.

[Matt2008]

I have 19" runflats and found the ride hard but more than bearable. Potholes are by far the worst thing and it really does feel crashy then - almost like a 'what i have just broke' feeling.

I just got another non BMW car which a lot of people say is a harder ride yet i find it softer which must be due to not having runflats on it with 19" wheels still. Its still a hard ride but going over potholes doesn't give me that sense of impending doom/crashing feel.

[zltm089]

Originally Posted by pjs

Quite happy with them.

Previous 330d did 90k miles using 3 rear pairs, and two front pairs. Not tried owt else mind, and now have them on my current car. I'll always try and use what the manufacruer specifies.

Too many people buy a 'sport' and then moan about the ride imho

plus 1...

[zltm089]

they are bad in wet conditions!!!.....