[e92_grn]

Not wishing to hijack the other tyre thread so.......

I'm planning on staying with Runflats (I've read all the debates for and against) on my late 2008 2.5d e92 - tyres are 225/45 17's and my front tyres are in need of changing as they are now approaching 3mm, having lasted 31,000 from new.

What's considered the best RFT at the moment?

The rears (not changing these yet) are the continental SSR SC2's (original factory fit tyres were changed at 24k in December 09 for same).

Thanks for any help!

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by e92_grn

Not wishing to hijack the other tyre thread so.......

I'm planning on staying with Runflats (I've read all the debates for and against) on my late 2008 2.5d e92 - tyres are 225/45 17's and my front tyres are in need of changing as they are now approaching 3mm, having lasted 31,000 from new.

What's considered the best RFT at the moment?

The rears (not changing these yet) are the continental SSR SC2's (original factory fit tyres were changed at 24k in December 09 for same).

Thanks for any help!

The Continental SSR SC2 has now been surpassed by most other RFT tyres - the SC2 SSR tyre dates back to 2006/7 and tyre technology has moved on from then.


Michelin arguably make the best RFT in the form of the Pilot Sport 2 - however this isn't available in that 17" size. Michelin only have the Primacy HP tyre in the 17" size, and it's pretty good but not outstanding.

You obviously have the Bridgestone 050A RFT, of which much can be read about on here. The latest generation tyres don't seem to be available to the retail market yet - they are currently OEM specification only (theoretically)

There's the Goodyear Excellence ROF but I don't know much about that tyre.

Then lastly there's the new Pirelli P Zero RFT (NOT the Eufori which is inferior). This new P Zero and the Bridgestones are the only two high-performance RFTs in the 17" size. Both are around £130 per tyre in this size - have a look at mytyres.co.uk for an idea of pricing

[Em135eye]

Are 3rd gen out yet? Don't want them but people keep saying they will improve the current generations issues.

[e92_grn]

Thanks Tony. The Pirelli route sounds a possible.

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by 335diesel

Are 3rd gen out yet? Don't want them but people keep saying they will improve the current generations issues.

3rd gen are out, but only OEM and in very small quantities.

I drove a 318d on 3rd gens about three months ago out in Germany and they were much much better than before (albeit on a test car with 17" wheels)

[Em135eye]

Would be useful if BMW either:

1) Stopped using RTFs and supplied a spare.

or

2) Used RFTs that aren't so hateful.

[pjs]

I'm cool with my Bridgestone RFT's.

Got the latest ones on the back (19"), no sign yet of pronounced inner wall wear after nearly 8k (6mm accross left), cant tell any difference in how they feel though.

[m@rk]

Originally Posted by e92_grn

Not wishing to hijack the other tyre thread so.......

I'm planning on staying with Runflats (I've read all the debates for and against) on my late 2008 2.5d e92 - tyres are 225/45 17's and my front tyres are in need of changing as they are now approaching 3mm, having lasted 31,000 from new.

What's considered the best RFT at the moment?

The rears (not changing these yet) are the continental SSR SC2's (original factory fit tyres were changed at 24k in December 09 for same).

Thanks for any help!

I ran those size RTFs on my E91 for 2 years. All that time, I ran with the Dunlop SP01 tyres that where on it when supplied. I have never seen anybody else on this forum comment on Dunlop RFTs which I find odd but even though I have now moved to non run flat, when compared to other RTF on other cars I drive (loaners etc) the Dunlops seemed to be far far better and I did not hate them as much as some RFT owners here.

Consider the Dunlops. As RFT go they are rather good.

[BGM]

i just had a dicey trip on the motorway in the driving rain my bridgestones..

i really don't like them, the end for this set cannot come soon enough!

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by 335diesel

Are 3rd gen out yet? Don't want them but people keep saying they will improve the current generations issues.

It would be nice if they were really good. but:

If the 3rd gens are that good (i.e. as flexible as a non RFT) does that mean BMW will need to restore the suspension design/build to a NON rft spec?

All this BS they spout about suspension being 'tuned' to RFTs (more like 'compromised' & 'ruined') would seem to dictate they will have to do something to compensate for the softer 3rd gen RFTs?

......Or as we suspect the 'tuning' is all tosh and they'll just do nothing... as they do with 3ers supplied with non rfts (es models for example)

hey ho.

[xenon]

You're far too cynical, DB.

Evryone knows that BMW spent years and millions of pounds "tuning" the suspension of the latest generation of cars to run exclusively on run-flat technology. That's why it suggests in the handbook, as well as the dealer line, that fitting non-RFT is akin to skydiving from buildings.

You'd have to be crazy, IMO.

Will they re-design or re-tune the suspension if the OEM tyre manufacturers begin supplying more compliant RFTs on the track?

Of COURSE they will. They'll get right on it.

Don't fit these 3rd generation tyres on an older car not set up for it, unless you're some kind of cretin.

[BGM]

rofl

[HighlandPete]

"Compromised for run-flats" is a phrase I've used for several years, fits the description for most BMW models.

On a serious note, and experience from 5-series users, the LCI cars were set up much better than the original E60/1 models and some have found changing to non run-flats on the original cars was positive improvements in all areas. But on the LCI cars, (SE models particularly) some users have tried a tyre change and gone back to RFTs, as the car is compromised and much too soft on non run-flat tyres.

IMO, the earlier 3-series (SE and M-sport) are the cars which benefit most from a tyre change, latest models need a bit more thought as to why we are wanting a change. (Wheel/tyre size being a key element here anyway).

From my experience, something like an 2008 (onward) M-sport on 18" Michelin PS2 ZP is very close to the dynamics you'd want and get from of a normal tyre, certainly in warm conditions.

HighlandPete

[swanseahammer]

I'm running Nokian Z G2 RFTs currently. My second set of Nokians and am very impressed. Very good handling in wet & dry weather, no tramlining and good cornering.

[RichJ]

I presume that because of the low profile on the 19inch wheels, the difference between nft & rft is less noticeable? looking to shortly change to Continental SP5 shortly, roll on......

[essdee]

On the question of which RFT, I've had a few experiences. By far the worst were the Pirelli Euforia's on my 120D - might as well have been driving a horse-drawn carriage with wooden tyres. The Goodyear Eagle NCT's on my 130i were definitely better, but still not great. Unfortunately (!) they lasted ages and I sold the car before I could try a set of non-RFT's. By far and away the best are the Michelin PS2 ZP's on my current LCI 325D - they are so good that I think I may well stick with them when the time comes to change.

I know the RFT vs non-RFT debate has been done to death on many threads, but I got an interesting take from a friend the other day who is a chassis electronics engineer for a car company. He said that whilst it's true that mechanical components of the vehicle aren't altered according to what tyre is fitted on the production line, they do programme the ECU's with different configuration files depening on the tyre that's fitted. The config files are programmed after testing the protype vehicles with all the tyre-types that would be offered to the customer, and adjust primarily the characteristics of the various ABS and DSC systems according to tyre behaviour. The correct config programme is uploaded to the vehicle ECU once the vehicle has been specified with a tyre and it's options. So I guess it's plausible that mechanically all E9x's are identical regardless of rubber, but electronically they're slightly different. Hence BMW's line that only "OEM tyres are recommended."