Replacement tires for my 2011 Z4 30sdrive

[Stoky]

Hi everyone,
Please don't blast me asking probably a very common topic that might have been asked before.

I have to buy new tires, unfortunately my OEM tires lasted only 23k miles, which was surprising because I don't drive my car that hard.

Anyway, I have some questions. I want to get all season tires, I live in Chicago and may rarely have to drive in a light snow/ice conditions. So I can't get performance tires. Also I want the run flat tires too.
1. Whats the difference between ultra high performance all season and grand touring all season tires? Is there one I should stick away from, like are the grand touring tires not appropriate for a Z4? Sorry I am a novice here guys.
2. I was planning on buying from tire rack.com, is this a good place to buy from?
3. I was thinking about the Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT or the Pirelli Zero Nero All Season Run Flats. Any thoughts on these?
4. I was going to have a local shop install the tires. Do I need to buy new air pressure sensors or can/do they just take them from my old tires.
5. Anything else I should know before buying the tires?

Thanks guys for the help. I don't have that much knowledge. I have a very young baby at home so can't spend much time researching the web, so thought this was the best bang for my buck.

Thanks again, I truly appreciate it!

[Mayhem]

Sorry. You lost me at "run flat."

[jparnes1]

1. Can be answered by comparing the 2 types of tires on Tire Rack. They have charts showing a tire's performance.
2. Yes, definitely.
3. Spend a little time in the Tire Rack site and compare ratings of different tires. It's worth the small amount of time required.
4.The pressure monitors are attached to the wheel, not the tire. When you put new tires on, nothing else changes. If you get new wheels, just transfer the pressure monitor from old wheel to new.
5. What size are your tires? 17, 18 or 19"? I would go to a very reputable place to install low profile RFT tires. they are difficult to install and you don't want anyone damaging your wheels. I have BMW do mine.

I don't know how some of you get such high mileage out of the OEM tires. I got 11K on the rear OEM Bridgestone RFT's on my first Z4, then 15K on the rear Michelin PSS on my current Z4 (fronts last twice as long).

[mbetoni]

On my first Z4, I replaced the OEM RFTs when they went with non-RFT PZero Neros, and I liked them a lot. I don't have any experience with the RFT version.

jparnes1's suggestions (as usual) are bang on. Also, agree jp, 23k out of OEM? Think the best I got was 16k.

[Vintage]

Stoky, big fan of the Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position - I just have never had the run flat version. I had a set of these on a Saab of mine a couple of years back and loved them. However, because you want the RFT, order these and see what you think.

[rking117]

Pirelli Zero Nero All Season Run Flats - as for these, i bought them this last go round and feel like they have a bit too much tire roll for my likeing for a run flat. I liked the potenzas better.

[nicknaz]

Good advice on getting BMW to install the low profile RFT.

If you don't drive that hard, you might not notice a difference in tires. Get whatever is cheaper.