Do non-RFTs feel floaty?

D_o_S · 02-12-2011, 09:14 AM

Hi,

everyone that has switched to non RFTs, please vote... and perhaps leave a comment?

Floaty = lack of turn-in precision, steering does not feel as firm as with RFTs

Thanks!

jerflash · 02-12-2011, 12:11 PM

if you get a tire thats going to feel comfy over those bumps and pot holes yest they will feel floaty compared to the stock RFT. if you get a performance non-RFT then no it wont feel floaty but also wont be as forgiving on the bumps...you have to give some to get some.

remember before runflats were around bmws still handled pretty well

chromisdesigns · 02-12-2011, 01:29 PM

The biggest thing I like about non-runflats is they don't hop like deranged bunnies on meth going around rough corners! They corner BETTER than RFTs in those conditions, as they stay on the pavement.

Oh, and they don't knock the fillings out of my teeth anymore.

hipnotic · 02-12-2011, 05:32 PM

non rft make a world of difference

John_01 · 02-13-2011, 12:39 AM

If you are missing steering precision, you might not have enough pressure in them. I Like to have 36PSI cold in the fronts and a couple more PSI in the rear.

Stuart@BMRAutowerkes · 02-13-2011, 03:59 AM

Non runflats are the best thing you can do for your car handling wise.

chowser51 · 02-13-2011, 05:59 AM

love my non rfts (conti dws). i have the fronts at 36 and rears at 39.

Adj5633 · 02-13-2011, 12:33 PM

I kept my 17" wheels and changed to michelin PS2's. Best decision ever! They are more comfortable than the stock rft but don't feel floaty at all. Also the grip in the corners is insane compared to oem. Steering is much sharper as well.

chromisdesigns said it the best lol

Also, If you don't mind a dedicated summer tire I hear Conti DW are best bang for buck at the moment.

Tom K. · 02-13-2011, 01:07 PM

OP, Which RFTs and which non RFTs are you talking about? They certainly aren't all the same!

Going from a Summer Touring RFT (Goodyear NCT5) to a Performance non RFT (Conti DWS), I found it necessary to increase tire pressures by about 2~3 psi to retain the same steeering feel. But switching from summer to A/S rubber was certainly a factor.

The only tire to ever give me a floaty ride on a BMW was a non RFT Blizzak when it went flat due to a pucture.

Tom

D_o_S · 02-13-2011, 03:13 PM

Thanks guys! Keep the opinions coming.

Thanks for the recommended tire pressures! Can anyone compare two identical tires, i.e. Potenza RE050A RFT and non RFT? Or Michelin PS2 ZP / normal?

Other than that, let me know what you're running and how satisfied you are!

mithiral67 · 02-13-2011, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chromisdesigns

The biggest thing I like about non-runflats is they don't hop like deranged bunnies on meth going around rough corners! They corner BETTER than RFTs in those conditions, as they stay on the pavement.

Oh, and they don't knock the fillings out of my teeth anymore.

Ha, bunnies and meth.

BoostedBarrett · 02-13-2011, 08:25 PM

A good tire is worth a ton of hp, since you can keep speed in the twisties.

David Brent · 02-13-2011, 09:46 PM

IMO, yes. I went from RE050 RFTs to conventional PZero Neros and I thought the car felt like it was too softly sprung. Turn in was not as sharp but the wallowing from the rear was most noticeable. Still better than dodging every bump.

My solution was to get KWs and the M3 control arm/tension rod kit. After 4 sets of tires, you will come out even money-wise and there is no comparison between stock setup w/RFTs versus KW/M3 retrofit with a decent set of regular tires.

Part of is that the RE050s are just incredibly stiff. On my wife's wagon, we went from RE050s to Pirelli RFTs and there was a noticeable difference in ride quality (way better) and steering feel on turn-in (slightly worse)

PeteW84 · 02-13-2011, 10:17 PM

I ran the stock Bridgestone RFT's for two years and was completely fine with them. Went to non-RFT last summer (Nitto Invo) and was pretty suprised in a good way, in the difference the non-rft made. The steering is not as sharp as it was with the RFT's, but overall the non-RFT's are much better. Better ride, traction, price, and my teeth fillings aren't falling out everytime I go over a bump. If you decide to dumpt he RFT's I strongly recommend you get yourself a spare tire kit, I belive there are two kits available one from BavAuto and the other from Tisher. I have the BavAuto one, and if you wanna see some pictures of it, check out my garage. Good luck

And back to first question, in my opinion the non-RFT's are not floaty. If you want floaty try some winter tires, then you'll see what floaty is like.

View Poll Results: Do non RFTs feel floaty?
Yes, non RFTs feel floaty	9	32.14%
No, non RFTs do NOT feel floaty	19	67.86%
Voters: 28. You may not vote on this poll

02-12-2011, 09:14 AM	#1
D_o_S LCI'd 257 Rep 819 Posts Drives: 335i LCI Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Home iTrader: (1)	Do non-RFTs feel floaty? Hi, everyone that has switched to non RFTs, please vote... and perhaps leave a comment? Floaty = lack of turn-in precision, steering does not feel as firm as with RFTs Thanks!
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02-12-2011, 12:11 PM	#2
jerflash Lieutenant 39 Rep 522 Posts Drives: 2007 E92 328xi/2002 ws6 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: long island, ny iTrader: (0)	if you get a tire thats going to feel comfy over those bumps and pot holes yest they will feel floaty compared to the stock RFT. if you get a performance non-RFT then no it wont feel floaty but also wont be as forgiving on the bumps...you have to give some to get some. remember before runflats were around bmws still handled pretty well __________________ Daily Driver: 2014 428i MSPORT MINERAL GRAY W/ CORAL INTERIOR PICKED UP ON 9/28!! Racecar: 2002 Trans Am WS6, Red w/Ebony Leather...Loud and Fast.
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02-12-2011, 01:29 PM	#3
chromisdesigns Lieutenant Colonel 45 Rep 1,754 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 335i sedan Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	The biggest thing I like about non-runflats is they don't hop like deranged bunnies on meth going around rough corners! They corner BETTER than RFTs in those conditions, as they stay on the pavement. Oh, and they don't knock the fillings out of my teeth anymore.
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02-12-2011, 05:32 PM	#4
hipnotic Major General 149 Rep 6,604 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: So. Cal iTrader: (7) Garage List 2008 335i coupe [7.00]	non rft make a world of difference
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02-13-2011, 12:39 AM	#5
John_01 Colonel 232 Rep 2,643 Posts Drives: E90 325i, E82 135i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	If you are missing steering precision, you might not have enough pressure in them. I Like to have 36PSI cold in the fronts and a couple more PSI in the rear.
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02-13-2011, 03:59 AM	#6
Stuart@BMRAutowerkes Major General 808 Rep 5,530 Posts Drives: a black car Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Sydney iTrader: (3)	Non runflats are the best thing you can do for your car handling wise.
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02-13-2011, 05:59 AM	#7
chowser51 Colonel 2025 Rep 2,805 Posts Drives: F33 430 and F39 M35i Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cleveland, OH iTrader: (3) Garage List 2018 BMW 430i xDrive [0.00]	love my non rfts (conti dws). i have the fronts at 36 and rears at 39.
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02-13-2011, 12:33 PM	#8
Adj5633 Private First Class 3 Rep 99 Posts Drives: Screws Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Montreal iTrader: (0)	I kept my 17" wheels and changed to michelin PS2's. Best decision ever! They are more comfortable than the stock rft but don't feel floaty at all. Also the grip in the corners is insane compared to oem. Steering is much sharper as well. chromisdesigns said it the best lol Also, If you don't mind a dedicated summer tire I hear Conti DW are best bang for buck at the moment.
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02-13-2011, 01:07 PM	#9
Tom K. Major General 124 Rep 5,627 Posts Drives: '07 328iT, '13 Boxster Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	OP, Which RFTs and which non RFTs are you talking about? They certainly aren't all the same! Going from a Summer Touring RFT (Goodyear NCT5) to a Performance non RFT (Conti DWS), I found it necessary to increase tire pressures by about 2~3 psi to retain the same steeering feel. But switching from summer to A/S rubber was certainly a factor. The only tire to ever give me a floaty ride on a BMW was a non RFT Blizzak when it went flat due to a pucture. Tom
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02-13-2011, 03:13 PM	#10
D_o_S LCI'd 257 Rep 819 Posts Drives: 335i LCI Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Home iTrader: (1)	Thanks guys! Keep the opinions coming. Thanks for the recommended tire pressures! Can anyone compare two identical tires, i.e. Potenza RE050A RFT and non RFT? Or Michelin PS2 ZP / normal? Other than that, let me know what you're running and how satisfied you are!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-13-2011, 08:25 PM	#12
BoostedBarrett Second Lieutenant 27 Rep 255 Posts Drives: 2016 M3 CS Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN iTrader: (1)	A good tire is worth a ton of hp, since you can keep speed in the twisties.
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02-13-2011, 09:46 PM	#13
David Brent Private 9 Rep 65 Posts Drives: e90 335 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	IMO, yes. I went from RE050 RFTs to conventional PZero Neros and I thought the car felt like it was too softly sprung. Turn in was not as sharp but the wallowing from the rear was most noticeable. Still better than dodging every bump. My solution was to get KWs and the M3 control arm/tension rod kit. After 4 sets of tires, you will come out even money-wise and there is no comparison between stock setup w/RFTs versus KW/M3 retrofit with a decent set of regular tires. Part of is that the RE050s are just incredibly stiff. On my wife's wagon, we went from RE050s to Pirelli RFTs and there was a noticeable difference in ride quality (way better) and steering feel on turn-in (slightly worse) __________________ 2007 e90 335i \| SGM \| ZSP \| 6MT \| SSTT \| KWV2 2007 e91 328i \| TiAg \| ZSP \| ZPP \| 6AT
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02-13-2011, 10:17 PM	#14
PeteW84 COBB'ed 65 Rep 2,228 Posts Drives: 13 Mini Cooper S Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tinley Park, IL iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 335i [7.56]	I ran the stock Bridgestone RFT's for two years and was completely fine with them. Went to non-RFT last summer (Nitto Invo) and was pretty suprised in a good way, in the difference the non-rft made. The steering is not as sharp as it was with the RFT's, but overall the non-RFT's are much better. Better ride, traction, price, and my teeth fillings aren't falling out everytime I go over a bump. If you decide to dumpt he RFT's I strongly recommend you get yourself a spare tire kit, I belive there are two kits available one from BavAuto and the other from Tisher. I have the BavAuto one, and if you wanna see some pictures of it, check out my garage. Good luck And back to first question, in my opinion the non-RFT's are not floaty. If you want floaty try some winter tires, then you'll see what floaty is like. __________________ 13 Mini Cooper S 08 E92 335i (SOLD) Last edited by PeteW84; 02-13-2011 at 11:02 PM..
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