[Rbrown]

Just changed from my winter non run flat (Vredstein) tyres back to Run flats.

Even taking into account that the winter tyres are a bit more "agricultural", I found the run flats a lot harder and firmer ride today. Once they run down, I will be looking to transfer them to non run flats.

There really is a better difference. It is weird that I am missing my winter tyres!!!!

[rosstin]

Out of interest, do you find RFT's give a better turn in, despite being sh1t at everything else?

[Rbrown]

Originally Posted by rosstin

Out of interest, do you find RFT's give a better turn in, despite being sh1t at everything else?

Not really.

Can't help but think they are just average at everything.

[Mr Burt]

Totally agree.
Took off my non RF 18" winter Michelin Alpin's and can feel the difference in compliance, and ride quality now I'm back on the Bridgestones.
I guess there's a little trade off going from 18 - 19" but overall looking forward to ditching the RF when they are done.

[moff]

RFT's are sh1t on every level.

The first thing I will do when I get my new 440i is change to Michelin Pilot Super Sports.

[teaston]

Run craps

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by moff

RFT's are sh1t on every level.

The first thing I will do when I get my new 440i is change to Michelin Pilot Super Sports.

Or even MPS4S!

[Steven1077]

I don't have a problem with run flats on my 340, it still has a much better ride than the M235i

[r1cey]

Originally Posted by Rbrown

Just changed from my winter non run flat (Vredstein) tyres back to Run flats.

Even taking into account that the winter tyres are a bit more "agricultural", I found the run flats a lot harder and firmer ride today. Once they run down, I will be looking to transfer them to non run flats.

There really is a better difference. It is weird that I am missing my winter tyres!!!!

Massive difference between run craps and MPSS. MY M140i has them and passive M-sport suspension and going over a specific (recessed) drain on the way home is a bump now, whereas in my F30 320i X-Drive (so SE suspension), even on 17" winter runflats was a crash, and on my 19" 403M's, well......seriously, it felt like I'd buckle the alloy! (It was that bad)

I specifically chose the default MPSS on the M140i, even though it means I have a mobility kit, not a spare, would rather have that inconvenience, at the expense of a much better ride, and it IS sooooo much better.

[Johnnoooooo]

I ditched runflats, cars quieter, alot quieter, and seems to be better seated, i run on conti sport contacts and had the yokohama runflats on prior.. but!!!! I live in fear, lol

[S1NGH]

Originally Posted by Rbrown

Just changed from my winter non run flat (Vredstein) tyres back to Run flats.

Even taking into account that the winter tyres are a bit more "agricultural", I found the run flats a lot harder and firmer ride today. Once they run down, I will be looking to transfer them to non run flats.

There really is a better difference. It is weird that I am missing my winter tyres!!!!

Me too, I did exactly the same three weeks ago and noticed the ride quality wasn't as good.

[Darth Helmut]

I'll let you know on Wednesday when I ditch my Pirelli RFT and 19"s to new 20"s and Michelin PS4S's

[Scaleybrat]

Originally Posted by Steven1077

I don't have a problem with run flats on my 340, it still has a much better ride than the M235i

Agree, but I do have adaptive suspension on the 340 which is the real game changer. When I buy winters later this year, I will not go with RFT.

[Jamin320]

Obviously do agree with everything being said but there can be the rare occasion when they are brilliant. A few months back I was driving along a country lane in the middle of nowhere when I suddenly heard a massive clattering noise from the rear quarter. Got out to find a large metal stake sticking out of the tyre which I had to pull out as it was damaging the inside of the wheel arch. All the air came out of the tyre. I was able to drive pretty normally (well slowed down a little!) for over 50 miles with little noticeable difference in road noise or car handling. One positive for run flats vs the long list of negatives!

[simon the pieman]

I used to slag the run flats off when I had my f30 with the 20" 405m's with stock Pirelli p zero's. As mentioned above some times after I'd hit a small pot hole I'd get out expecting to see a cracked alloy. Changed to hankooks and ride was better.
But now I'm in a c250d AMG line with 19" AMG alloys and Pirelli p zero run flats and they are totally different to the BMW. Ride is good, no real bad feed back when bumps and holes are driven over.
Yes I know it's a merc but it has the AMG suspension set up so it's firm just like the m sport set up.
I think a fair bit of the run flats bad press is actually down to the m sport suspension ( and price of them).
Just my opinion having experienced the same tyre on two different cars.

[Rbrown]

Originally Posted by Johnnoooooo

I ditched runflats, cars quieter, alot quieter, and seems to be better seated, i run on conti sport contacts and had the yokohama runflats on prior.. but!!!! I live in fear, lol

Totally agree about living in fear. I have had 2 instances of nail in tyre and when the error message appears on the screen, you need to get straight to a repair centre......

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by simon the pieman

I used to slag the run flats off when I had my f30 with the 20" 405m's with stock Pirelli p zero's. As mentioned above some times after I'd hit a small pot hole I'd get out expecting to see a cracked alloy. Changed to hankooks and ride was better.
But now I'm in a c250d AMG line with 19" AMG alloys and Pirelli p zero run flats and they are totally different to the BMW. Ride is good, no real bad feed back when bumps and holes are driven over.
Yes I know it's a merc but it has the AMG suspension set up so it's firm just like the m sport set up.
I think a fair bit of the run flats bad press is actually down to the m sport suspension ( and price of them).
Just my opinion having experienced the same tyre on two different cars.

But you're also comparing a 19 v 20 inch, which will explain some of the difference.

[simon the pieman]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

But you're also comparing a 19 v 20 inch, which will explain some of the difference.

Yes I had considered this of course.
I still think the M sport suspension set up has a big say in it though.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by simon the pieman

Yes I had considered this of course.
I still think the M sport suspension set up has a big say in it though.

Indeed, I think the quality of dampers that BMW puts on it's lower range cars (3 series and below) are pretty borderline quality of what I'd expect.

Inerestingly, three of the sales reps in the franchise I lead have Mercs, and having been out with them all recently I can't say I felt the ride was much different (3xC-class). That's from the passenger seat of course! Two of them have already decided that their Merc "experiment" (both used to always have BMWs before) was interesting but that they'll be going back to BMW next time around. The other really likes hers though.

The only time I've really felt a difference is when in a 5 series/E-class. The only A6 I was ever in was awful and had been ruined by 20" inch wheels (or perhaps 21?).

But also, the RFTs do improve year on year. I've had the Bridgestone ones on both my F30 cars and the ones I got on the 330e last year are night and day better than I recall them being on the 335d back in 2013.

[simon the pieman]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Indeed, I think the quality of dampers that BMW puts on it's lower range cars (3 series and below) are pretty borderline quality of what I'd expect.

Inerestingly, three of the sales reps in the franchise I lead have Mercs, and having been out with them all recently I can't say I felt the ride was much different (3xC-class). That's from the passenger seat of course! Two of them have already decided that their Merc "experiment" (both used to always have BMWs before) was interesting but that they'll be going back to BMW next time around. The other really likes hers though.

The only time I've really felt a difference is when in a 5 series/E-class. The only A6 I was ever in was awful and had been ruined by 20" inch wheels (or perhaps 21?).

But also, the RFTs do improve year on year. I've had the Bridgestone ones on both my F30 cars and the ones I got on the 330e last year are night and day better than I recall them being on the 335d back in 2013.

Yeah it's all about opinion really. Having said that I loved my f30 and I personally didn't have a problem with the ride quality with or without run flats obviously non run flats being better. I just thought it might be relevant to the op's thread.
I'm enjoying the merc very much i.e. Build quality now is far superior to previous w204 model as is styling equipment etc but I will be back in a BMW next car. I just fancied a change this time round.

[Adriank]

I think I am in the minority's but I actually like the feel of the car on run flats! It doesn't seem particularly hard or crashes compared to previous cars I have owned. Also like the peace of mind knowing a puncture isn't going to ruin the day.

[335dxdrive]

Trying my best to kill my run flats early but with an xdrive it's extremely hard, they are border line dangerous imo