New tires

BadgerDog

Member
I found out the other day that my rear left tire is dangerously worn. I didn't realize just how much worse the inside was than the outside (I think it might have more camber than it needs, an alignment is in the cards). At any rate I went to tire shopping. Egads are these expensive!

At any rate, found out I actually have the OEM runflats still (after 50k miles??? maybe previous owner replaced with the same in the back...). Kind of happy about that because I was already satisfied with the ride, and it should only get better!

However, I was hoping to just replace the rears. Fronts are looking great. From what I hear its a bad idea to mix runflats on the front with non runflats in the back. Anyone here want to convince me its worth spending well over $1000 on tires right now, when two are looking just bloody fine? Damn disparate sizes preventing rotation. It feels weird to never rotate to me...

Also, any thoughts on specific tires? I'm leaning towards the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S right now. The Conti Extremecontact Sport is also a (slightly) cheaper option. The next highest rated on Tirerack is the Yokohama Advan Apex V601, but I've never even heard of those before. Doesn't look like any of the tires I used on my old Miata are made in these sizes so I have no experience to go off of. It never freezes where I live but does rain sometimes so Max Performance Summer tires are my main interest.
 
Hi also an ex Mx5 or Miata owner here. Sounds like you would prefer to go non RF to reduce cost? Non RF are certainly a nicer ride, but you'll notice this more on the fronts than rear.i don't think you would have issues leaving the fronts as RF, just wear them out and replace in time. Some mid-range tyres, a repair glue kit and a camber check would be what I went for
 
When I bought my car it had seriously worn rear Bridgestone RFT (potenzas) with brand new ones on the front (Bridgestones on all corners) - I did a lot of searching then found Goodyear Assymetric 5 which have good reviews (I'm a fan of Goodyear after having a Michelin blowout on me many years ago). I was going to go for Michelin sport 4 as a special was running at a discounter, but I'd have to get them fitted elsewhere which put the price up.

Goodyear had a promotion running and a local tyre chain over here ran a special offer on them, went to their competitors who promised to beat any verifiable price (which they did) just before I paid found a link for a further discount if you buy two or more - so all four supplied and fitted for £300 quid - not much more than the dodgy Chinese hedge finder tyres. Avon ZV7s were cheaper but the reviews vary quite a bit, similar with Dunlop
 
At the sizes and power levels related to E89s the perennial battle for top dog is the latest versions from Goodyear/Continental/Michelin..

In reality even all the tier 2 candidates would put the existing run flats to shame..

For all weather summer use this review is probably the best analysis IMHO..

https://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2020-Auto-Bild-Summer-Tyre-Test.htm

Enjoy..
 
I was in the same situation and ran runflats and non-runflats for 10k. My driving is mixed, towns, motorway and spirited B roads :evil:
It handled fine, couldn't really tell any difference.

I would check your rear springs, they're prone to a coil snapping off the end which can cause inner rear tyre wear. It was missed on an MOT for me.
 
Jasonn said:
Goodyear had a promotion running and a local tyre chain over here ran a special offer on them, went to their competitors who promised to beat any verifiable price (which they did) just before I paid found a link for a further discount if you buy two or more - so all four supplied and fitted for £300 quid - not much more than the dodgy Chinese hedge finder tyres. Avon ZV7s were cheaper but the reviews vary quite a bit, similar with Dunlop
Jasonn said:
When I bought my car it had seriously worn rear Bridgestone RFT (potenzas) with brand new ones on the front (Bridgestones on all corners) - I did a lot of searching then found Goodyear Assymetric 5 which have good reviews (I'm a fan of Goodyear after having a Michelin blowout on me many years ago). I was going to go for Michelin sport 4 as a special was running at a discounter, but I'd have to get them fitted elsewhere which put the price up.

Goodyear had a promotion running and a local tyre chain over here ran a special offer on them, went to their competitors who promised to beat any verifiable price (which they did) just before I paid found a link for a further discount if you buy two or more - so all four supplied and fitted for £300 quid - not much more than the dodgy Chinese hedge finder tyres. Avon ZV7s were cheaper but the reviews vary quite a bit, similar with Dunlop

Agree with this. I found the Goodyear ASY5's slightly louder than my previous (Avon ZZ5s) for the first 500 miles, but they quietened down from there on. Wet grip is just outstanding which is important as this is my daily (not locked up for the wetter months)
 
Jasonn said:
I'm a fan of Goodyear after having a Michelin blowout on me many years ago.
The only actual blowout - i.e. bang, wtf was that? - I've ever had was on a runflat. The sidewall blew out. :)
 
I think it might have been damaged when I hit a pothole a few days earlier, now when I find a pothole I check the tyres properly
 
Thanks for the thoughts everyone. No decision yet, but Ive been pre-occupied with far too much work. Working from home so I dont really need her right now anyway... just want to be driving her anyway.

Nick9one1 said:
I would check your rear springs, they're prone to a coil snapping off the end which can cause inner rear tyre wear. It was missed on an MOT for me.
Oof, ouch, owie. That isnt something I want to hear. I'll have a look though, as the left seemed worse then the right, which is what led me to think alignment... but could be this as well. =(
 
I also had this dilemma when I needed to change the fronts on my E85. After much deliberation I when with RFT party because I am on the motorway a lot, any I went with Bridgestone RFT (potenzas) and was pleasantly surprised by the lack of tramlining. I guess RFT are getting better all the time.
 
Richfarr said:
I also had this dilemma when I needed to change the fronts on my E85. After much deliberation I when with RFT party because I am on the motorway a lot, any I went with Bridgestone RFT (potenzas) and was pleasantly surprised by the lack of tramlining. I guess RFT are getting better all the time.
Richfarr said:
I also had this dilemma when I needed to change the fronts on my E85. After much deliberation I when with RFT party because I am on the motorway a lot, any I went with Bridgestone RFT (potenzas) and was pleasantly surprised by the lack of tramlining. I guess RFT are getting better all the time.
A puncture with a runflat on a motorway? Mmm ... just hope you're near an exit. 50 mph in the slow lane won't make you popular.

That said, a flat in a non-runflat where there's no hard shoulder ... what do you do? Drive on the rim, I suppose. :cry:
 
Mixing RFT and standard tyres on different axles is not a good idea, I dont think its illegal but when I had my 23i I bought new Michelin PS4 for the rear non rft. No tyre dealer I took it to would swap them for me because they consider it dangerous.
So far as tyres go I listen to professionals only and not rumours, after all those 4 fist sized pieces of rubber touching the road are all that really matters in the end..... Mess that up at your peril......
 
mcbutler said:
Mixing RFT and standard tyres on different axles is not a good idea, I dont think its illegal but when I had my 23i I bought new Michelin PS4 for the rear non rft. No tyre dealer I took it to would swap them for me because they consider it dangerous.
So far as tyres go I listen to professionals only and not rumours, after all those 4 fist sized pieces of rubber touching the road are all that really matters in the end..... Mess that up at your peril......
That does say a lot.
 
Busterboo said:
Jasonn said:
I'm a fan of Goodyear after having a Michelin blowout on me many years ago.
The only actual blowout - i.e. bang, wtf was that? - I've ever had was on a runflat. The sidewall blew out. :)

I had a golf ball sizes bleb on the rear of our 335 - I always thought Runflats were bomb proof - I’m super cautious about kerbs etc
 
When I bought my Z4 it had 2 fairly new tyres on the front and 2 well worn RFLs on the back. I replaced all 4 with Vredestein Ultracs and they are fantastic in the dry and wet. Under £500 all in incl fitting. The tyre garage I've used for years said they would refuse to fit mixed RFL and non - RFL tyres on the same car.
 
I just bought 4 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires (non RFT) from Costco and scheduled their fitment. Had I known that they do not do alignment also I would have gone elsewhere, but so be it. I'll just have to schedule an appointment with someone ELSE for that. Sigh. Who puts on tires but doesnt do alignments? HONESTLY.
 
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