Another tyre thread! But I have done a search first!
- Thread starter Captain Vimes
- Start date
We have an E89 running RFTs on 19" and an E85 now with Michelin Pilot Sport 4s XL on 18" 108's. They are better than the Vredesteins I previously had on 136's and no comparison to the run-flats.
Over poor surfaces the E89 can a bone crunching ride. On good roads the noise is higher but not intrusively so. I suspect that most tyres are going to be much noise on concrete. Having said that - we did 500 miles last weekend with over 400 on motorways and never really noticed the tyres although you do need to keep a constant eye out for pot-holes. Am not sure I'm as confident that grip is as good and ability to place the car absolutely where you want it compared to the E85. Having said that, the fronts have done 35k miles and still quite some wear left in them. We put a set of 17" non-staggered Winter RFTs on from Dec to April - way more comfortable.
The E85 is a far more comfortable and brilliant grip on the PS4s. Certainly not cheap but I'd recommend them.
19" non-RFTs will be a more comfortable ride. We keep the RFTs though because that is my wife's daily use car doing 60 miles mainly on country roads, frequently in the dark. Don't want to be stranded on some of those roads due to a puncture. Switch from RFTs only if you can cope with dealing with a tyre problem. Some breakdown services (including RAC I think) won't attend a puncture or may charge you extra if you have changed from RFTs.
Over poor surfaces the E89 can a bone crunching ride. On good roads the noise is higher but not intrusively so. I suspect that most tyres are going to be much noise on concrete. Having said that - we did 500 miles last weekend with over 400 on motorways and never really noticed the tyres although you do need to keep a constant eye out for pot-holes. Am not sure I'm as confident that grip is as good and ability to place the car absolutely where you want it compared to the E85. Having said that, the fronts have done 35k miles and still quite some wear left in them. We put a set of 17" non-staggered Winter RFTs on from Dec to April - way more comfortable.
The E85 is a far more comfortable and brilliant grip on the PS4s. Certainly not cheap but I'd recommend them.
19" non-RFTs will be a more comfortable ride. We keep the RFTs though because that is my wife's daily use car doing 60 miles mainly on country roads, frequently in the dark. Don't want to be stranded on some of those roads due to a puncture. Switch from RFTs only if you can cope with dealing with a tyre problem. Some breakdown services (including RAC I think) won't attend a puncture or may charge you extra if you have changed from RFTs.
Captain Vimes
Member
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You would need to know the rim widths & offsets to choose what tyre sizes will / won't work best
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They are standard 8" front, 9" rear widths, and ET35 front (+6) and ET40 rear (standard). The retailer states that the front comes with a 5mm spacer, so does thus mean it fitted with the spacer the front will only be 1mm off standard?
Assuming I get the ET to match the 326s I'm taking off, and use the same widths, then can I can go back to my first question regarding upping the profiles? (I'm learning loads about wheels and tyres at the moment!
)
You would need to know the rim widths & offsets to choose what tyre sizes will / won't work best
[/quote]
They are standard 8" front, 9" rear widths, and ET35 front (+6) and ET40 rear (standard). The retailer states that the front comes with a 5mm spacer, so does thus mean it fitted with the spacer the front will only be 1mm off standard?
Assuming I get the ET to match the 326s I'm taking off, and use the same widths, then can I can go back to my first question regarding upping the profiles? (I'm learning loads about wheels and tyres at the moment!
)None RFT all the way for me. Inflation kit in the boot and your OK, well as OK as is reasonably possible.
Even run flats can leave you stranded, had this in a works car recently ( 3 series) when one of the front coil springs snapped and punctured the side wall of a runflat tyre and basically carved into the sidewall till it came off the rim. AA turned up and removed the offending piece of spring from the strut/tyre which actually left the car just about drive-able on the remaining spring (although not something I would recommended). What killed it as a possibility was the lack of a replacement tyre for the massacred runflat. AA guy said he'd never seen anything like it!
There's reasons why BMW use RFT's on mainstream models but none of those reasons have anything to do with ride/noise quality
and performance etc. Its all down to weight savings and packaging etc.
BMW's own M division dont/wont use them, that's says it all really, in fact on a lot of none M cars (proper ones) there's an option to replace the runflats with proper tyres. The M140I being a good example of this that springs to mind.
Even run flats can leave you stranded, had this in a works car recently ( 3 series) when one of the front coil springs snapped and punctured the side wall of a runflat tyre and basically carved into the sidewall till it came off the rim. AA turned up and removed the offending piece of spring from the strut/tyre which actually left the car just about drive-able on the remaining spring (although not something I would recommended). What killed it as a possibility was the lack of a replacement tyre for the massacred runflat. AA guy said he'd never seen anything like it!
There's reasons why BMW use RFT's on mainstream models but none of those reasons have anything to do with ride/noise quality
and performance etc. Its all down to weight savings and packaging etc.
BMW's own M division dont/wont use them, that's says it all really, in fact on a lot of none M cars (proper ones) there's an option to replace the runflats with proper tyres. The M140I being a good example of this that springs to mind.
Captain Vimes
Member
mr wilks said:
You're a gent! Ta...
Captain Vimes
Member
I run Michelin pilot sport 4 all round, they are reinforced but not runflat.
Directional control is fabulous, they are quiet (you will not believe how quiet) and are A rated wet grip.
Just google them and read the reviews.
You can buy them from ASDA TYRES (yes they sell tyres) cheaper than blackcircles etc.
The price includes fitting, they deliver them to their approved fitter and you pay once they are fitted.
My rears 255/35/18 cost me £287 fitted!!!!!
Directional control is fabulous, they are quiet (you will not believe how quiet) and are A rated wet grip.
Just google them and read the reviews.
You can buy them from ASDA TYRES (yes they sell tyres) cheaper than blackcircles etc.
The price includes fitting, they deliver them to their approved fitter and you pay once they are fitted.
My rears 255/35/18 cost me £287 fitted!!!!!
