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[MPBK]

I'm not happy with how my 135i with M-Sport suspension feels.
If I go over the smallest pothole if feels like I'm going to bend something in the suspension.
Is it because the RFTs are too stiff? Yes, this is my first RFT experience.
Does it get better if I change to regular tires? I heard BMW tunned the suspension to account for the RFTs. Will regular tires feel too mushy?

[RaptorKTM]

Run Flat Tires in my opinion are horrendous. Id never run them. The ride your complaining about is mostly tire. Of course the suspension is fairly stiff as well. Get a nice replacement tire and I think a lot will change from ride to performance.

[clived]

You might be better off posting outside of the 1M forum area - none of us run RFTs.
(Although when I had a 135i, I got the RFTs off at the first opportunity ;-) ).

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by clived

You might be better off posting outside of the 1M forum area - none of us run RFTs.
(Although when I had a 135i, I got the RFTs off at the first opportunity ;-) ).

Thread moved!

[generalg]

got RFT's 205/50-17 on my stock 128i came this way. I can say the ride on my car is fine but my buddy who has the sport pkg on his 128i the ride is rough so for you might want to take the alternative and go with reg. tires and carry a small compressor kit.

[AW128i]

I went from the OE 17" RFTs on my car to 18" non-RFTs and the difference is very noticeable, despite a shorter sidewall height and higher tire pressures (running 40psi all around). Now, the suspension seems much more compliant, as thought it's able to chop the top off all the bumps, whereas with the RFTs you feel everything. It's like the RFTs cause the suspension to clobber down the road, and the non-RFTs allow the suspension to actually absorb the bumps/potholes/etc. The suspension is also less prone to skipping when encountering bumps in turns. Also, another benefit is that the car is quieter now. I'm not sure I'll ever go back to RFTs. One small possibly negative aspect of switching from RFTs to non-RFTs is that initial turn-in isn't as crisp on non-RFTs. This makes sense, however, considering how stiff the RFT sidewalls are.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by generalg

got RFT's 205/50-17 on my stock 128i came this way. I can say the ride on my car is fine but my buddy who has the sport pkg on his 128i the ride is rough so for you might want to take the alternative and go with reg. tires and carry a small compressor kit.

Also... my 17" snow tires were bought in the middle of winter... and BMW did not have any OE snow tires in stock. They were sold out for that winter season. So they got me the exact same tire (size and speed rating) but they did not have the bmw "Star" logo on the sidewall - which means THAT particular tire is OE. My winter tires do not have that star. And you know what.... my 17 RFT winters rode harder than my 18" OE summer tires!


Now that have Michelin PS3's for my summers (non-RFT) when I mount on my 17" winters the difference in ride harshness is amazing. RFT do ride rougher/stiffer than regular tires do.


BMW's "star" logo on the sidewall is simular to the way Porsche denotes their OE tires with a N1, N2, N3, or N4 rating. Buying a tire that is specially "tuned" for our cars really makes for a subtle but noticeable difference in ride AND performance.

[HeyMoe53]

I went from RFT (Pirelli P-Zero) to non-RFT (Conti DW) on my 128 M-Sport. AW128i's comments pretty much describe my experience. The P-Zeros weren't as bad as the runflats that some people talk about here, but I really don't mind losing a hair of sharpness on turn-in for a much smoother ride.

[VMRWheels]

If you're looking to get a softer sidewall, go with an all-season. Hankook Ventus V12's are a good bang for the buck and it'll be much more comfortable compared to your RFT's.

[gnpower]

Originally Posted by VMRWheels

If you're looking to get a softer sidewall, go with an all-season. Hankook Ventus V12's are a good bang for the buck and it'll be much more comfortable compared to your RFT's.

Are you saying the V12's are all seasonal?

[MPBK]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Thread moved!

Thanks Dackel.

[MPBK]

Originally Posted by generalg

got RFT's 205/50-17 on my stock 128i came this way. I can say the ride on my car is fine but my buddy who has the sport pkg on his 128i the ride is rough so for you might want to take the alternative and go with reg. tires and carry a small compressor kit.

Got this for my other car (a MB), which broke the crappy OEM jack.
Paid $34, but don't know how good it is since I've never had to use it.
Will probably move it to the 1-er when I switch to non-RFT and sell the other car.

[MPBK]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

BMW's "star" logo on the sidewall is simular to the way Porsche denotes their OE tires with a N1, N2, N3, or N4 rating. Buying a tire that is specially "tuned" for our cars really makes for a subtle but noticeable difference in ride AND performance.

So, if I'm shopping for tires, how would I find such "BMW tuned" models?
It's not like Tirerack lists the BMW start or something...

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by MPBK

So, if I'm shopping for tires, how would I find such "BMW tuned" models?
It's not like Tirerack lists the BMW start or something...

Here is what the STAR logo looks like. This means the tire has been tuned for BMW's.

[ken1137]

Just buy some PSSs or PS2s and be done with it.

[AW128i]

Originally Posted by MPBK

Got this for my other car (a MB), which broke the crappy OEM jack.
Paid $34, but don't know how good it is since I've never had to use it.
Will probably move it to the 1-er when I switch to non-RFT and sell the other car.

The Slime kit broke your OEM jack

[sochermit]

My local dealer said that the wheels would have to be replaced in addition to the tires. Is that correct or does he just want to sell me some wheels?

[AW128i]

Originally Posted by sochermit

My local dealer said that the wheels would have to be replaced in addition to the tires. Is that correct or does he just want to sell me some wheels?

My understanding is that wheels designed for RFTs have a special ridge on them to prevent the tire from jumping off the wheel in the event that air pressure is lost. So, run-flat wheels will accommodate normal tires, but RFTs need wheels specifically compatible with RFTs. At least this is what I've been told!

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by sochermit

My local dealer said that the wheels would have to be replaced in addition to the tires. Is that correct or does he just want to sell me some wheels?

That is not correct. You CAN mount regular tires on RFT alloy wheels. Its just our alloys have an extra bump or ridge that allows for the bead to stay put when the tire is deflated.

There are a lot of us here who are running non RFT on the OE alloys.

[MPBK]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

That is not correct. You CAN mount regular tires on RFT alloy wheels. Its just our alloys have an extra bump or ridge that allows for the bead to stay put when the tire is deflated.

There are a lot of us here who are running non RFT on the OE alloys.

I think that' exactly what he said... so he would be correct.

[sochermit]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

That is not correct. You CAN mount regular tires on RFT alloy wheels. Its just our alloys have an extra bump or ridge that allows for the bead to stay put when the tire is deflated.

There are a lot of us here who are running non RFT on the OE alloys.

This is what I thought. I will run the RFT until I can save up enough to get the PSS tires. I have always liked Michelin since first using them in 1965.

[ptack]

Originally Posted by sochermit

My local dealer said that the wheels would have to be replaced in addition to the tires. Is that correct or does he just want to sell me some wheels?

Your dealer is trying to rip you off, plain and simple.