I fitted a full set of Kumho Extensa normal tyres to my 3.0i 2004 roadster as my girlfriend refused to go anywhere in the car. The ride was similar to a food processor set to rough chop. I've got 18" ellipsoids as the pic shows and I absolutely guarantee that it is now a different car. The handling with the RSC (Runflat System Component) tyres is exactly as Clarkson described it, "Unacceptable"!! It is now a pleasure to drive. The handling is transformed from a scary fairground ride assembled by drunken pikeys to a sublime and rewarding experience which makes you happy you bought the car. The price was £401 for all four fitted and balanced. If these tyres had not had the effect I wanted, I would of sold the car. I now carry a little bottle of holts tyreweld and a small compressor. I've also upgraded my breakdown cover to "get me out of the s**t ASAP and if you can't put me in a hotel" which is reassuring. Honestly, the Kumhos are fantastic. 01785 240020 is the number for Stafford tyres. I told him I hated the ride and these are what he recommended. This is an issue which I am passionate about as I have done less than a 1000 miles since I bought the car and I really regretted buying the Zed. I cannot over emphasize the astonishing improvement to the handling and quality of the ride. For gods sake do it as the car is hiding so much behind the mask of runflats.
Death to Runflats!!!
- Thread starter AndyG
- Start date
Totally agree Andyg, my wife wasn't to happy about buying a car and then changing the tyres, but she even says it has transformed the handling, that has to be saying something 
My delightful girlfriend was astute enough to notice my white knuckles on anything rougher than a new motorway. I would smile and pretend the car had "character" and claim that it was all part of the roadster fun. We all know that's a lie. They might work on a diesel 5 series with huge sidewalls but on a sports car, they are entirely inappropriate. Anyway, it goes to show that women notice things we would not expect them to! A sobering thought! 
johnbmwboy
Member
Following what Gannet said (& so he's not on his own!) I agree it's the Bridgestone first gen RE050 that have given run flats a bad name.
I run Conti Sport Contact 2 SSR's and they're fine, handling and turn in is great, as is comfort. I'm replacing the RE050's on my rear axle this week with some more Conti SSR's, after realising it's the Bridgestones that have been causing lack of comfort from the rear. £114 each from camskill, which isn't that bad I thought...
Here's an interesting thread from another forum (Mini) comparing one run flat (Dunlop) to another (Conti)
http://bit.ly/lOymDt
I run Conti Sport Contact 2 SSR's and they're fine, handling and turn in is great, as is comfort. I'm replacing the RE050's on my rear axle this week with some more Conti SSR's, after realising it's the Bridgestones that have been causing lack of comfort from the rear. £114 each from camskill, which isn't that bad I thought...
Here's an interesting thread from another forum (Mini) comparing one run flat (Dunlop) to another (Conti)
http://bit.ly/lOymDt
Cloudberry
Member
New set of Michelin Pilot Sport 2 was one of the first changes to my Z4 in when I bought the car in 2007. The improvement was obvious, nearly no tramlining compared to the Bridgestone RFT's. Needed to change the PS2 this spring, and went for new Michelin Pilot Sport 3 thinking they should be even better than the PS2. But I was wrong. The PS3 could not be compared to PS2. PS2 is much better with regards to tramlining. I will definitely go for another type of tires next time.... Maybe Kumho?
Hi Guy's,
If I can just come in with a quick question on the subject of RFT's. I just took delivery of my Z4 35I today after moving over form a E92 335D, which I fitted Non-RFT's to as the ride was so painful on my teeth as I was always gritting them very time I saw the slightest uneven surface. Anyway, as this is my first roadster is the tyre road noise generally a lot louder than say a 4 seater coupe or is it down to the RFT's as well.
Bazza
If I can just come in with a quick question on the subject of RFT's. I just took delivery of my Z4 35I today after moving over form a E92 335D, which I fitted Non-RFT's to as the ride was so painful on my teeth as I was always gritting them very time I saw the slightest uneven surface. Anyway, as this is my first roadster is the tyre road noise generally a lot louder than say a 4 seater coupe or is it down to the RFT's as well.
Bazza
AndyG - did you notice any change in ride height from the change? I have two concerns about the inevitable change to non-RF - 1) change in ride height due to taller side wall - I really like the low profile of the run-flats, and 2) turn in speed. Any changes in handling, other than the obvious ride improvement? Currently running 18" Bridgestone RF on ellipsoids.
I have the Michelin PS2 ZP's also and find a remarkable difference from the Bridgestone RFT's, so glad I stayed with the RFT's. If anyone has never experienced these PS2 ZP's, you're in for a (great) surprise. (Of course just my opinion, I'm sure others will disagree).gannet said:NO...
runflats are good
it is just the mega shite Bridgestone Runflats that are hard as rocks...
I have everything you report while sticking with Runflats - just change the make - Michelin PS2 ZP are far superior
Might be that I switched from a 1-series with RFTs to a 57 plate z just 6 weeks ago but so far I find RFTs fine and I think they just got me out the s**t... checked the air by chance on a road trip just north of the Black Forest and a rear one wasn't registering pressure.
I shudder to think that it must've been low when I picked it up from the dealership as there was no RSC warning and I pushed it for a good few hundred miles at speed with a fully loaded boot to get there. I got them to fit two new front tyres as part of the deal so the RSC may have been reset with a rear low. I guess without RFTs I'd have known sooner but the point being it was a Sunday, on holiday overseas, in the sticks and it could happen anytime.
Anyway, filled it up, reset the RSC and all fine since... then had some superb, no awesome in the true sense of the word, driving through Swiss passes and the Alplenstrasse. I checked a few times over the next couple of days and the warning did come on after I let some pressure out so that was fine too.
Maybe I've just long forgotten pre-RFT days and I'm no rally driver but I can't see the issue on reasonable roads <110mph ish in my experience so far. Maybe I'm well hard, or just getting on a bit
ldman:
Have to admit had a fairly rough ride on some Czech roads though.... but not a place to be caught with your tyre pants down so still happy with RFTs there, especially for long roadtrips when you never no where you could end up
Pay your money, take your chances! :exitright:
I shudder to think that it must've been low when I picked it up from the dealership as there was no RSC warning and I pushed it for a good few hundred miles at speed with a fully loaded boot to get there. I got them to fit two new front tyres as part of the deal so the RSC may have been reset with a rear low. I guess without RFTs I'd have known sooner but the point being it was a Sunday, on holiday overseas, in the sticks and it could happen anytime.
Anyway, filled it up, reset the RSC and all fine since... then had some superb, no awesome in the true sense of the word, driving through Swiss passes and the Alplenstrasse. I checked a few times over the next couple of days and the warning did come on after I let some pressure out so that was fine too.
Maybe I've just long forgotten pre-RFT days and I'm no rally driver but I can't see the issue on reasonable roads <110mph ish in my experience so far. Maybe I'm well hard, or just getting on a bit
ldman:Have to admit had a fairly rough ride on some Czech roads though.... but not a place to be caught with your tyre pants down so still happy with RFTs there, especially for long roadtrips when you never no where you could end up
Pay your money, take your chances! :exitright:
x2BSVA said:I have the Michelin PS2 ZP's also and find a remarkable difference from the Bridgestone RFT's, so glad I stayed with the RFT's. If anyone has never experienced these PS2 ZP's, you're in for a (great) surprise. (Of course just my opinion, I'm sure others will disagree).gannet said:NO...
runflats are good
it is just the mega shite Bridgestone Runflats that are hard as rocks...
I have everything you report while sticking with Runflats - just change the make - Michelin PS2 ZP are far superior
