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[VIZSLA]

Looks like its time to replace the tires on my 07 328C (sport suspension).
I've decided to stay with the run flats and am curious as to what you guys think of the available tires.
Thanks
David

[texasbmw325i]

anything but bridgestone potenzas

[Quasimodem]

Michelins if you stay with RFTs. Let us know how you like them.

[VIZSLA]

While I appreciate men of few words I was hoping for a bit more by way of reasons

[jopa489]

The PS2s are probably the best you're going to get for RFTs. The Bridgestone RE050As have slightly better turn-in at the limit, but the PS2s offer very similar grip and are much quieter/more comfortable around town. What do you have on there now? If you've been happy with them, you could always stick with them.

[VIZSLA]

Originally Posted by jopa489

The PS2s are probably the best you're going to get for RFTs. The Bridgestone RE050As have slightly better turn-in at the limit, but the PS2s offer very similar grip and are much quieter/more comfortable around town. What do you have on there now? If you've been happy with them, you could always stick with them.

The OEM Potenzas. I've been satisfied with them but its fun to try something new when the opportunity arises.
PS2s are on the list but since responsiveness and turn in are two of the tire characteristics you notice most often if they aren't as good as the Bridgestones they don't seem to be the choice.
Thanks

[ede92]

I had a blowout after hitting a road hazard a few weeks ago. My OEM Potenzas still had some life left after 15K miles but I decided to replace all four. I have staggered 18's on my car.

I replaced them with Michelin PS/2s - staying with RFTs. What a huge difference in ride compliance and IMO handling. And quiet as hell.

I had my car in for service at my BMW dealer the same week after having them installed. I was discussing with the BMW tech the noises I was getting from the exhaust system. He interrupted me and said "Are those tires new?". We talked about them and he said "Everyone who owns one of these cars should buy these tires, even if they are not worn out!" He had test driven the car just before our conversation. He just couldn't get over the improvement these tires made in this car over stock tires.

After driving on them for another 4 weeks I would have to agree for sure. Not cheap but well worth it. Paid $1,650 at Town Fair Tire tax included.

[VIZSLA]

Originally Posted by ede92

I had a blowout after hitting a road hazard a few weeks ago. My OEM Potenzas still had some life left after 15K miles but I decided to replace all four. I have staggered 18's on my car.

I replaced them with Michelin PS/2s - staying with RFTs. What a huge difference in ride compliance and IMO handling. And quiet as hell.

I had my car in for service at my BMW dealer the same week after having them installed. I was discussing with the BMW tech the noises I was getting from the exhaust system. He interrupted me and said "Are those tires new?". We talked about them and he said "Everyone who owns one of these cars should buy these tires, even if they are not worn out!" He had test driven the car just before our conversation. He just couldn't get over the improvement these tires made in this car over stock tires.

After driving on them for another 4 weeks I would have to agree for sure. Not cheap but well worth it. Paid $1,650 at Town Fair Tire tax included.

Thanks. How is the handling in comparison?

[ede92]

Originally Posted by VIZSLA

Thanks. How is the handling in comparison?

I think they are very good. I don't feel like I am missing a thing in comparison to the Potenzas. Hey give them a shot, none of these tires last more the 20K+ miles depending on how hard you drive so its not like its a long term commitment.

I did wheel and deal (so to speak) with Town Fair. I used Tire Rack pricing to get their price down. I got quoted roughly $150 more by 2 BMW dealers in the Boston area.

I think that Tire Rack was like $1,400 shipped but I needed the tires quickly and they located and installed them the same day. Installers can charge up to $40 apiece to install though.

[Oulixes]

Originally Posted by VIZSLA

The OEM Potenzas. I've been satisfied with them but its fun to try something new when the opportunity arises.
PS2s are on the list but since responsiveness and turn in are two of the tire characteristics you notice most often if they aren't as good as the Bridgestones they don't seem to be the choice.
Thanks

For summer tires, I've tried Pirelli P-Zero RFT, the OEM Potenza RE 050AI, and Continental ContProContact - these tires were on 17" and 18" rims. My rating of the three RFTs is in the table, but I have to warn that the rating more subjective that the ratings published in magazines.

Make, Handling, Comfort, Noise
Pirelli, 1(best), 3, hi
Bridgestone, 2, 2, med
Continental, 3, 1(best), lo

[VIZSLA]

Originally Posted by ede92

I think they are very good. I don't feel like I am missing a thing in comparison to the Potenzas. Hey give them a shot, none of these tires last more the 20K+ miles depending on how hard you drive so its not like its a long term commitment.

I did wheel and deal (so to speak) with Town Fair. I used Tire Rack pricing to get their price down. I got quoted roughly $150 more by 2 BMW dealers in the Boston area.

I think that Tire Rack was like $1,400 shipped but I needed the tires quickly and they located and installed them the same day. Installers can charge up to $40 apiece to install though.

Thanks. The PS2s are looking good.

[campbelly]

just curious..why did you decide to stay with runflats? they are much more expensive, the selection is limited, and the ride is much worse..thats just my honest opinion from switching to hankook v12's recently from OEM..they handle amazing, are relatively cheap for their amazing reviews and they feel so much more stable over bumps...there are other options as far as making sure you can get to a place to fix a blown tire including tire-goo, a rubber tire plug, or even carrying a spare tire..yes while you may have to carry a pump/jack, it is far worth it in terms of performance gains IMO

[VIZSLA]

Originally Posted by campbelly

just curious..why did you decide to stay with runflats? they are much more expensive, the selection is limited, and the ride is much worse..thats just my honest opinion from switching to hankook v12's recently from OEM..they handle amazing, are relatively cheap for their amazing reviews and they feel so much more stable over bumps...there are other options as far as making sure you can get to a place to fix a blown tire including tire-goo, a rubber tire plug, or even carrying a spare tire..yes while you may have to carry a pump/jack, it is far worth it in terms of performance gains IMO

Peace of mind and convenience mainly. I've changed enough tires, don't want to give up the space a spare would take and don't like the spare in a can products.
The ride is not objectionable to me and the performance levels are high enough for the street. The price difference is not so much as to tip the scales either.
Thanks

[persian54]

Originally Posted by Quasimodem

Michelins if you stay with RFTs. Let us know how you like them.

I had Pilot Sport RFTs for a bit... wasn't too happy

Got rid of them after a month

Went with Advan Ad07s :P
though I only had those for a few hundred miles too...

[Spydeputy]

Dump the RFT!
I needed to go with All Season Performance Tires for my 335xi as it will be a daily ride soon. They were not cheap, but not as much as RFT. So I got Michelin Pilot Sport A/S plus. And I bumped them up a size for my staggered set up. 235/40 ZR18 up front, and 265/35 ZR18 in back. I ordered them f/ the Tire Rack Monday morning and had them sitting in my garage Tuesday afternoon.
I bought a 2002-2006 E60 spare/jack kit last year so I'm all set. Hope to have them on next week.

[VIZSLA]

Originally Posted by Spydeputy

Dump the RFT!
I needed to go with All Season Performance Tires for my 335xi as it will be a daily ride soon. They were not cheap, but not as much as RFT. So I got Michelin Pilot Sport A/S plus. And I bumped them up a size for my staggered set up. 235/40 ZR18 up front, and 265/35 ZR18 in back. I ordered them f/ the Tire Rack Monday morning and had them sitting in my garage Tuesday afternoon.
I bought a 2002-2006 E60 spare/jack kit last year so I'm all set. Hope to have them on next week.

Thanks and good luck

[Php]

no run flats for me

[VIZSLA]

Originally Posted by Php

no run flats for me

Not all that helpful

[spitpilot]

We've had at least two cars in the family (more when my kid's were here)..for decades and never had to change a tire in a "dangerous" place..knock on wood. That seems to be BMW"s big reason for using RFT's !....To get that "protection" you accept the following negatives:

Harsh ride

Poor tire wear (RFT's I've seen have very low treadwear ratings compared to HP All season tires...100 to 200 for RFT's vs 300 to 400 for HP All Season)

Double the price for replacement...$1000 +/- for RFT, $500+/- for HP All season tires.

No spare that can get you home from a weekend road trip!...Look at RFT range specs in your owners' manual!...Depending on how many people/how much luggage you have aboard...RFT's are only supposed to be driven relatively short distances (10's of miles, not 100's!). So what happens if you damage a tire on Sunday afternoon....200 miles from home out in the middle of nowhere?...You think "Joe's Service 'n Towing" is gonna have a tire for you...NOT!...
I've got my compact spare in the trunk...still room to carry what I need...and I'm gonna buy "normal tires" when OEM's wear out!

[VIZSLA]

Funny how things shake out.
I took the car to NTB for them to find the leak and it turned out to be a loose nut (no jokes please) on the TPS/valve stem. I'm hoping that it will fix the issue and I won't have to decide this matter until the snows come off next spring.
Thanks for the advice. It will come in handy in April.
David

[jeremicium]

I switched from the OEM RFT Potenzas to Hankook V12s at 14,000 miles. The Potenza RE 050s were without a doubt better performing tires. Much better turn in, better handling around hard corners, better braking performance, and in every condition i've encountered, including at the track, they keep traction to a much higher limit. My next tire will be the Pilot Sport. On the other hand, if you don't track your car, and don't push it really hard, the Hankook V12 is quite a bit of bang for the buck and great in conditions that 90% of drivers will encounter.

[campbelly]

Originally Posted by jeremicium

I switched from the OEM RFT Potenzas to Hankook V12s at 14,000 miles. The Potenza RE 050s were without a doubt better performing tires. Much better turn in, better handling around hard corners, better braking performance, and in every condition i've encountered, including at the track, they keep traction to a much higher limit. My next tire will be the Pilot Sport. On the other hand, if you don't track your car, and don't push it really hard, the Hankook V12 is quite a bit of bang for the buck and great in conditions that 90% of drivers will encounter.

while ive never taken my car to an "actual" track lol..i found the complete opposite when performing the exact same switch you did..i found the hankooks stick much better in both wet and dry conditions when compared to the potenzas..im thinking this cant all be in my head especially with their second place standing in a tire test by car and driver, while potenzas weren't too far off in fourth overall (http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...12_evo_page_10)

i always found that the runflats are so hard that the like to skid (especially in the front) when cornering hard resulting in understeer..but hey to each his own right? only you know what you like!