Tyre experts to the rescue? Run Flat vs Non Run Flat.

Flight3287462

Horrible driving experience runflats.  They aren't too bad on the back (normal on front) but when I matched the front to the rear it was awful.

Belenus

Everyone has different experiences and opinions but I have no issue with run flats.

I have had a BMW 116i Series1 F20  car from almost new for over 6 years.

It had factory fitted Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT (Run Flat Tyres)  225/45R17 91W and those have been replaced with the same run flat tyres.

I can't compare the ride and handling to non run flats on the same car but I have had no noticeable issues with tramlining, ride comfort or noise etc.

Presumably different cars react differently to run flats versus normal tyres.
 

EssexExile

Belenus said:

Everyone has different experiences and opinions but I have no issue with run flats.

I have had a BMW 116i Series1 F20  car from almost new for over 6 years.

It had factory fitted Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT (Run Flat Tyres)  225/45R17 91W and those have been replaced with the same run flat tyres.

I can't compare the ride and handling to non run flats on the same car but I have had no noticeable issues with tramlining, ride comfort or noise etc.

Presumably different cars react differently to run flats versus normal tyres.
 

Also the perceived noise will be different with different cars.

BOWFER

Belenus said:

Everyone has different experiences and opinions but I have no issue with run flats.

I have had a BMW 116i Series1 F20  car from almost new for over 6 years.

It had factory fitted Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT (Run Flat Tyres)  225/45R17 91W and those have been replaced with the same run flat tyres.

I can't compare the ride and handling to non run flats on the same car but I have had no noticeable issues with tramlining, ride comfort or noise etc.

Presumably different cars react differently to run flats versus normal tyres.
 

I don't think you'll find many/any BMW owners who, after making the change, don't think the car is hugely improved.
Of course if you've never tried it you'll be in blissful ignorance (no offence meant by that at all).
They're a pretty peculiarly BMW thing, not many others use them.
Even BMW's own tuning house, Alpina, don't use them.

JenB79

BOWFER said:

Noise is noise.
But runflats are hateful things and any car is improved by binning them.

Yet the best tyres I've ever used are runflats - Goodyear F1 Asymmetric 5. Not totally quiet, but then again hardly any tyre in 255/40/R20 size can be classed as quiet. Basically the bigger the tyre, the noiser it gets.

OP, forget whether a tyre is 'runflat' or not. Buy a tyre on dB rating (<70dB are fine) and performance. Have a look at reviews on www.tyrereviews.com. Tyres such as the Michelin PS 4S, Goodyear Asymmetric 5 and Vredestein Ultrac Vorti's are all highly rated.

Bachelorplace

Yes Jen, I see no benefits in handling as this is a car I potter around in. Yes the OP was mostly to enquire if the dB rating is the WHOLE story.

The ride is pretty rough but as you say on 20s not sure what else I can expect. That said the XJ Jaguar on non run-flats is markedly different. So it is a concern. 

Moreover I will have to keep the run down RF's incase the future buyer is concerned about the non factory element of my modification. Such a nightmare this. 

motorguy

BOWFER said:

Noise is noise.
But runflats are hateful things and any car is improved by binning them.

Agreed.

I have them on my 630i.  Terrible things.  Budgetting for replacing them but its not going to be cheap

motorguy

BOWFER said:

On my Mini, the wife refused to drive it after the steering wheel got 'ripped out of her hands'.
Changed the tyres to normal, end of issue.
Took some convincing to get her to drive it again, but she did and was amazed at the transformation.
Several of my 3-series were the same.
No idea if BMW do it now, but they used to offer zero cost change from runflats to normal when ordering, such was the hatred of the things.

Just checked there on a new 3 series M Sport and yes you can still opt in and opt out of them, depending on alloy wheel choice.

Belenus

BOWFER said:

Belenus said:

Everyone has different experiences and opinions but I have no issue with run flats.

I have had a BMW 116i Series1 F20  car from almost new for over 6 years.

It had factory fitted Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT (Run Flat Tyres)  225/45R17 91W and those have been replaced with the same run flat tyres.

I can't compare the ride and handling to non run flats on the same car but I have had no noticeable issues with tramlining, ride comfort or noise etc.

Presumably different cars react differently to run flats versus normal tyres.
 

I don't think you'll find many/any BMW owners who, after making the change, don't think the car is hugely improved.
Of course if you've never tried it you'll be in blissful ignorance (no offence meant by that at all).
They're a pretty peculiarly BMW thing, not many others use them.
Even BMW's own tuning house, Alpina, don't use them.

No offence taken.

I will probably stick with run flats. My wife drives the car more than I do and, at 69 years old, neither she nor I are keen to have to change a tyre or pump goo at the roadside. Most of our driving is local trips so a run flat would easily get us home or to a tyre place.

We have both driven many different cars over the years and there is little about the current BMW that we don't like. We certainly don't find the ride uncomfortable or have a handling problem.

Well, I do miss the power of the 2.5 BMW 3 series I had for about 16 years but then my boy racer days are long behind me.

L9XSS

Runflats on my BMW, ride is patchy at times. Will eventually replace all 4 to non runflats, but as they have only done 4900 miles it may be some time......