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06-01-2013, 09:02 AM | #1 |
BMW 435d xDrive M Sport Coupe
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Run flats (RFT) vs proper tyres
I'm thinking of getting rid of my RFT's to improve ride handling for my 135i coupe. Currently I'm in Bridgstone 245/35 18 at the back, 215/40 18 at the front.
A few questions; does it increase your insurance? I'd really like to use Michelin Pilot Super Sport, but my usual tyre place say they don't make them for 18" rims, anyone know better? Does anyone have a good expereience of Continental non RFT? If I stick with RFTs which ones are the most compliant? what do you reckon? |
06-04-2013, 10:19 AM | #2 |
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I've managed to sort this out now. many thanks to those who helped. I have taken the advice of Birds BMW, who did my suspension upgrade. Kevin Bird said the grip on the Michelin Pilot Super Sport is probably the best out there, you would need to be doing insane speed to loosen it, by which time who knows what would happen? death? Prison? So he suggested the Continental Contact Sport 5 which he uses himself on his heavily modified 130i. Kevin says this is a great level of performance to really enjoy the chassis, especially in the wet when the limits are lower. I've got the tyres on order I'll post how well they work, when I've tried them out.
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06-20-2013, 01:47 PM | #3 |
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Im keen to get rid of my run flats and was going to fit michelin ps3 as i haven't seen many recommendations for other tyres .
Im interested in the contis, but am confused as to why you would pick a lesser tyre, surely you want the most grip for your money or am i missing the point completely ? |
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06-21-2013, 07:54 AM | #5 |
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I second T-Dubbs. I fitted the same Hankooks Ventus V12's around 2 weeks ago and wouldn't go back to RF! The ride is so much nicer, not as harsh when hitting smaller pot holes, obviously try to avoid but on the odd occasion that you can't help it but in general grip feels a lot better in both dry and wet! wet is when i've really noticed it though. Big difference.
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06-21-2013, 04:59 PM | #7 | |
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07-07-2013, 02:11 AM | #8 |
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Following my earlier post, I've now been living with a full set of Conti Sportcontact 5s for about a month and experienced mixed driving including a track session.
Overall ride quality with the Birds B1 suspension is spot on. Still all the detailed information from the road but no crashing over bumps. On the limit is so predictable. 100% grip until you get to astonishing high speeds then its clear if you push more you are going to slide, so a nice big warning. Ive not delved into drifiting, but it is good fun just getting familiar with the feel around the limit. |
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07-07-2013, 02:30 AM | #9 | |
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4k miles of road driving plus one track day and car feels now what it should have been from the factory. (I'm still tempted to have the rear M3 subframe bushes fitted though as there's still that little bit of disconcerting rear end wiggle on occasions)
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09-01-2013, 03:33 AM | #10 |
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Just thought I'd offer an update. Now put around 3000 miles on the Contisport 5 tyres and the Birds B1 suspension is about 4000miles on. The whole car feels really supple and is able to put all its power down, with confidence!
With full traction control, you have to go insanely quick to get the dashboard light to flicker. At this stage I get a very small amount of slip, so it is very stable around the limit. So my advice is ditch the run flats, get a decent set of sports tyres and change the suspension to something better than teh M Sport set up, then decide if you need a power increase. I love the idea of more power in theory, but with such a great chasis, suspension, tyre and 300 bhp, I'm struggling to justify further mods. Cheers |
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09-01-2013, 04:14 AM | #11 | |
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Although, I would recommend a better intercooler. I've got the Forge Motorsport one and I did find that it improved the throttle response and driveability a little, and it was nice to find that it still felt nice and 'peppy' even in the recent hot spell we've had here.
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09-24-2013, 02:25 PM | #12 |
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That's interesting. Where did you go to get the inercooler done and how much did it cost?
I would be interested in improved throttle response from tickover to about 1300 rpm. Not sure if the sluggishess is down to the ecu map and lack of turbo power or the DCT getting a bit confused. Any thoughts on that? Does the intercooler help in that range? |
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09-26-2013, 02:56 PM | #13 | |
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Not such a huge improvement that far down in the rev range from memory, but, the throttle response improvement was noticable at urban speeds right after leaving Forge to drive home. Has your car had any engine software updates....? You might have been 'upgraded' with the newer 'borked' DME....??
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09-27-2013, 12:22 PM | #14 |
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Thanks for your reply. Can't really work out if it is worth £700 to me as I find throttle response is fine, except for the really low rev flat spot.
I have had an upgrade at my BMW main dealer who called me in to get a software upgrade to do with theft security. I guess that's unrelated becuase there has been no change in the low end throttle response. Ive not had anything else done at my request. Have you ever had any issue with low end throttle response? |
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09-30-2013, 01:45 AM | #15 | ||
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Only the slight hesitation when comeing off the throttle and rolling up to a roundabout and then trying to quickly get back on it if there's a gap appeared.....which is annoying, but I've learnt to accept it tbh.
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10-10-2013, 03:18 PM | #16 |
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Thanks for your reply I appreciate that a better quality intercooler will be more efficient, with in take temp drop etc. but what improvement does this offer in the driving experience? My guess is that you would have to be working the engine very hard in high ambient temps, which are pretty rare driving experiences for me. How are you getting value?
All the best and thanks for your replies |
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10-18-2013, 05:23 AM | #17 | ||
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Bigger smiles per miles
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11-03-2013, 08:25 AM | #18 |
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thanks for all your replies. You are clearly getting good value, so I will file this info for when I've saved some more pennies for more upgrading. In the meantime I think its me that needs an upgrade and I am intending to do some more high performance driving training on the road and track, then see where I want to go with the upgrades. The car is pretty awesome as it is. Took it round Rockingham in the damp a few weeks ago, instructor by my side and managed to get around 100mph before the amazing turn 1 banked curve. Equally as satisfying was unwinding lock on the last corner and feeding in to max power allowing it to drift up the banking. Phwoor!
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07-01-2015, 07:48 AM | #19 |
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