[Z3man]

I know starting a thread about run flats is forbidden on here, but it has been a long time since anyone dare start a thread about them, so i thought i would be daring and give it a go, surely run flats must have improved over time, a lot if the info on the internet is quite old now.

I have done quite a bit of research and narrowed it down to these three as they are in my price range and available in 17", i will we using them on a 2012 E91 318D SE Tourer. I believe Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP are the best but they are very expensive and not available in 17".

The three i am looking at are-

Michelin Primacy HP

Goodyear excellence

Pirelli P zero

Do Manufacturers improve a specific tyre over time rather than bring a new model out, some of the above are quite old now, so is it possible they are better now than in the early reviews.

Also is a higher speed rating likely to ride any different, would a Y rating be any different than a W rating tyre.

Please don't shoot me down, but it really is hard work trying to find out which are the best as there is so much conflicting information about, and people daren't start any new threads about them.

Or is it possible they are all crap?

[sparkymarky]

I can only vouch for the michelin ps2 rfts...as you say very expensive though. Consider buying part worn on ebay etc.

[John320d]

I should imagine a W rating is a softer ride

[Z3man]

Originally Posted by John320d

I should imagine a W rating is a softer ride

Thats what i was thinking, but i don't really know, they could be just the same.

[Z3man]

Originally Posted by sparkymarky

I can only vouch for the michelin ps2 rfts...as you say very expensive though. Consider buying part worn on ebay etc.

You never know i may have splashed out on PS2's if they made them in 17".

Don't fancy second hand, just want to go into a garage and get them fitted without any hassle.

[Sensible_]

I use Hankook Ventus Prime 2 and am really pleased with them much better than the conti's I had before. In my opinion.

[Icekube]

do they improve a tyre over time - no, they would release a new one. (would you go to the effort of improving something, then just release it without telling anyone?)

have runflats improved since release - grip, more than likley(assuming you buy a new model). ride? no, runflats work because their side walls are rock solid, meaning the tyre doesnt fold when its flat. that rigid sidewall is what gives the horrendous ride/performance.


I wouldn't think the speed rating would have any relavence to how the tyre rides, if it did, it would be so marginal it would be un-noticable over the runflat effects.


is it possible they are all crap? compared to a non-runflat they will be worse in any test, apart from when flat...

[Frobius]

Michelins seemed to last forever on my car.

[acerboo]

pirellis are superb

[90MSP]

None... my mate just had a puncture on run flats and said he had to give up driving it after a few miles the noise and ride was that bad he thought it was damaging the wheel. That knocked his confidence in them so he replaced all with normal tyres and a 'Slime' repair kit. Massive ride improvement afterwards.

[Z3man]

Originally Posted by Sensible_

I use Hankook Ventus Prime 2 and am really pleased with them much better than the conti's I had before. In my opinion.

Will take a look at these, when i have been researching i have read a few positive things about Hankooks.

Not lot of positive feedback so far about runflats, but i didn't expect much as a lot of people on here have performance cars with 19" wheels on, and i would imagine they would be unbearable with runflats on.

Anyone out there tried any of the 3 i have listed.

[crypticc]

Continental do a run flat version of their excellent contisportcontact p5 and 5p. Same just one is for 19" and above. Look for SSR (self supporting rubber -I would guess)


The non run flat version is excellent though I cannot say I tried the rft version.
http://m.tirerack.com/tires/TireDeta...Contact+5P+SSR

[Jase 320d]

Runflats are poop!

I just changed from top range bridgestone potenza runflats on 17" wheels to non run flat middle range tyres on 18's


The mid range tyres have far superior grip in all conditions.
Ride is amazing even going up an inch.
Price is cheaper.


I just carry a can of foam now


It is the single best thing you can do to your car. You will be astounded

[ZeroFx]

I have one PS2 RFT in 18" Front wheel for E92 with 6mm. For sale actually.

[Z3man]

I was seriously thinking about going for normal tyres but i travel to some pretty remote places sometimes, so i want the run flats for peace of mind.

A few years ago when towing a boat on a trailer coming back off holiday i got a flat tyre on the trailer, so i left the trailer and drove to a garage in the middle of the night to buy a can of foam, got back to the trailer and it turned out to be the valve rather than a puncture, so the foam was useless. So i had to leave the boat parked up overnight and travel home 60 miles without it, the next day i sourced a spare wheel for the trailer and travel all the way back to pick the boat up. All this was a real pain because i had already traveled 300 miles and was pretty knackered, luckily it happened quite close to home (60 miles). So a can of foam is not alway sufficient, hence going for run flats.

[Z3man]

Originally Posted by ZeroFx

I have one PS2 RFT in 18" Front wheel for E92 with 6mm. For sale actually.

No use to me as i have 17" wheels as mentioned above. I notice this is your first post, if you have joined to sell this tyre you could try the classifieds.

[1 AKY]

Why not fit non-RFT and get a spacesaver as the spare?

[Z3man]

Originally Posted by 1 AKY

Why not fit non-RFT and get a spacesaver as the spare?

Would take up to much room, i go on holiday 5 or 6 time a year and can only just squeeze all the gear in as it is now.

[crypticc]

Originally Posted by Z3man

Would take up to much room, i go on holiday 5 or 6 time a year and can only just squeeze all the gear in as it is now.

You can only drive 30 miles if you have more than two people or lots of luggage in the car anyway. Typically not enough to get you to a Kwik Fit if you are remote as you say
http://www.bmw.ie/ie/en/owners/maint...lat_Tyres.html


The tyre walls would overheat and you would need to so in middle of no where. Make sure you have foam anyway which will give you greater range

[Z3man]

Originally Posted by crypticc

You can only drive 30 miles if you have more than two people or lots of luggage in the car anyway. Typically not enough to get you to a Kwik Fit if you are remote as you say
http://www.bmw.ie/ie/en/owners/maint...lat_Tyres.html


The tyre walls would overheat and you would need to so in middle of no where. Make sure you have foam anyway which will give you greater range

Thanks for the link, very useful information.

I never thought about carrying foam as well as having run flats, seems a good idea.

[335ier]

Originally Posted by Z3man

I was seriously thinking about going for normal tyres but i travel to some pretty remote places sometimes, so i want the run flats for peace of mind.

A few years ago when towing a boat on a trailer coming back off holiday i got a flat tyre on the trailer, so i left the trailer and drove to a garage in the middle of the night to buy a can of foam, got back to the trailer and it turned out to be the valve rather than a puncture, so the foam was useless. So i had to leave the boat parked up overnight and travel home 60 miles without it, the next day i sourced a spare wheel for the trailer and travel all the way back to pick the boat up. All this was a real pain because i had already traveled 300 miles and was pretty knackered, luckily it happened quite close to home (60 miles). So a can of foam is not alway sufficient, hence going for run flats.

Then you really don't want run flats then, they only have a 50km range!!

Just buy a space saver spare, scissor jack and a 17mm wheel spanner with all the spare wonga you will save on the much better non run flats!

[Z3man]

Thanks guys, but i have thought long and hard about this and fun flats are the only realistic option for me. The distance you can travel on them is definitely not an issue for me, especially with a can of foam as well for extra peace of mind, and the space saver is simply to bulky.

So i am afraid it is definitely going to be run flats hence the reason for starting this thread, so if anyone knows of any decent ones, or has tried any of the three i mentioned in my opening post, please let me know.