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      07-10-2013, 12:03 PM   #1
COOLZ4
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Run flat or not?

My 2011 Z4 has run flat tires. I've been thinking about upgrading my wheels and eliminating the run flat tires. Any recommendations as to the pros & cons of doing so. Is this a good idea? Would the ride quality improve with regular tires? Sometimes when I hit a bump in the road, the run flat tires feel like solid hard rubber hitting which is very loud & annoying.
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      07-10-2013, 12:31 PM   #2
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Very loud, annoying, and damaging your wheels in ways you've yet to see. So says the voice of extensive experience.

The run flats will allow you to drive on if you have a flat. How many times have you had flats?

Non run flats will improve overall comfort and be cheaper to replace. BUT if you do ever have a flat, you must wait for recovery or try to inflate them with a repair kit.

Up to you... but I know I'll not buy another run flat because the tyres cost a fortune, the wheels they damage cost a fortune, and I could have paid for 10 years of recovery with what its cost me.
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      07-10-2013, 01:53 PM   #3
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Not! Clearly. Did the swap last week and afterwards the Z was a different car. I have a tire repair kit (with compressor) in my trunk in case of a puncture.
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      07-10-2013, 02:14 PM   #4
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I also want to swap out run flats (225 45 17 front, 255 40 17 rear). Not to hijack, but to expand discussion, does it make sense to run 245 45 17 on all corners? Ability to rotate for longer life.
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      07-10-2013, 06:16 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob20124 View Post
I also want to swap out run flats (225 45 17 front, 255 40 17 rear). Not to hijack, but to expand discussion, does it make sense to run 245 45 17 on all corners? Ability to rotate for longer life.
Not sure I would bother if I had 17's. have these on regular 3 series and don't find them a problem as there is plenty of sidewall rubber. Unlike the Zed with 19's meaning its like driving on the rims. Which is why they break
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      07-10-2013, 08:32 PM   #6
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I went from 19" RFT to 18" RFT. more comfortable and seems like the wheel control is better.

I'd like to switch to 18" non RFT to get a more aggressive compound with more mechanical grip but hesitate because I often drive in areas with spotty cell coverage
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      07-11-2013, 04:09 AM   #7
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It seems that non RFT with a tire repair kit is a good option.

I have non RFT for my winter tires and RFT for my summer tires and the difference is big.
I think the tire composition of winter tires helps it too (softer), but my new summer tires will be non RFT for sure.

http://www.dunlop.eu/dunlop_euen/tir...sport-maxx-rt/
or
http://www.goodyear.eu/home_en/tires...-asymmetric-2/
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      07-11-2013, 06:44 AM   #8
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      07-11-2013, 08:13 AM   #9
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Get a set of PSS's and dont look back its what I did and the car is night and day difference.
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      07-12-2013, 04:44 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by VailM3 View Post
Get a set of PSS's and dont look back its what I did and the car is night and day difference.
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      07-12-2013, 05:28 PM   #11
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If it means getting rid of your almost new RFTs and taking a hit, I would just keep them until they wear out. Yes, non-RFTs are better, but imho, not a freakishly night/day diff to take that hit in the pocketbook. I run 18s so that may be why I'm not so anti-RFTs. The ride is not harsh to me as I expect some sort of rigidity as we have a sporty/sportscar.
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      07-12-2013, 06:15 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tranquility
If it means getting rid of your almost new RFTs and taking a hit, I would just keep them until they wear out. Yes, non-RFTs are better, but imho, not a freakishly night/day diff to take that hit in the pocketbook. I run 18s so that may be why I'm not so anti-RFTs. The ride is not harsh to me as I expect some sort of rigidity as we have a sporty/sportscar.
It's so subjective. My first Z4 had 17" rft and it thought the fillings would pop out of my teeth when I hit a pothole. I swapped out the rft at delivery on my current Z4 for PSS-I wasn't going to suffer thru that again!
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      07-12-2013, 06:17 PM   #13
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i have posted on another forum how much better the ride is with warmer weather here in the UK. I am on 19's so it would appear that just that little bit softer side wall makes a big difference. If i can achieve this with non RFT's then it will definitely be worth it

As far as financial concerns go, a set of standard tyres is equivalent to just the RFT rears. so i would say don't wait until they are gone but change now! Keep the originals to put back on prior to sale as some dealers will want to see the car in original spec. if you go through a couple of sets you will save quite a bit too
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      07-12-2013, 06:43 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jparnes1 View Post
It's so subjective. My first Z4 had 17" rft and it thought the fillings would pop out of my teeth when I hit a pothole. I swapped out the rft at delivery on my current Z4 for PSS-I wasn't going to suffer thru that again!
You're right about that. I've had no qualms about the RFTs in terms of the supposedly harsh ride. My PSS are still hard vs my old RFTs, just not as much.
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      07-12-2013, 07:41 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tranquility View Post
I run 18s so that may be why I'm not so anti-RFTs.
I think that's it right there.

I've used both the stock RE050A I 18" RFT and the RE050A 19" RFT on my z and I definitely noticed a difference and believe that 18" RFT have better wheel control and take the edge off sharp impacts that would cause the 19s to crash
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      07-12-2013, 07:53 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nicknaz View Post
I think that's it right there.

I've used both the stock RE050A I 18" RFT and the RE050A 19" RFT on my z and I definitely noticed a difference and believe that 18" RFT have better wheel control and take the edge off sharp impacts that would cause the 19s to crash
Whoa, then those 19s must have really been scary because even in my 18s I remember when I had RFTs and was going at speed hitting a rough patch, the rear would 'skip' sideways (hard to explain: is there a technical term for that...tramming? I dunno) like a tram suddenly getting knocked off its tracks. So I suppose that's one aspect why everyone is singing the praises of nons like PSS. Still, I didn't/wouldn't take the hit and just waited till my RFTs were done before switching.
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      07-13-2013, 12:34 AM   #17
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I didn't know people went with RFT's by choice
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      07-13-2013, 05:46 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tranquility View Post
If it means getting rid of your almost new RFTs and taking a hit, I would just keep them until they wear out. Yes, non-RFTs are better, but imho, not a freakishly night/day diff to take that hit in the pocketbook. I run 18s so that may be why I'm not so anti-RFTs. The ride is not harsh to me as I expect some sort of rigidity as we have a sporty/sportscar.
Completely agree, although I have never have any issues with RunFlats on the Z4 so not worth the bother or expense of swapping them out.

Tim.
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      07-13-2013, 07:28 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jparnes1 View Post
It's so subjective. My first Z4 had 17" rft and it thought the fillings would pop out of my teeth when I hit a pothole. I swapped out the rft at delivery on my current Z4 for PSS-I wasn't going to suffer thru that again!
I took your advice - did the same thing !
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      07-13-2013, 06:10 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pmlnnrt
Quote:
Originally Posted by jparnes1 View Post
It's so subjective. My first Z4 had 17" rft and it thought the fillings would pop out of my teeth when I hit a pothole. I swapped out the rft at delivery on my current Z4 for PSS-I wasn't going to suffer thru that again!
I took your advice - did the same thing !
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      02-25-2014, 10:29 AM   #21
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Update

I went ahead and got the 19" Brombacher wheels and non-run flat Michelin Super Sport tires. I couldn't be happier. The ride & handling have improved beyond expectations and I think it looks better.
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      02-26-2014, 02:56 AM   #22
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I will never quite understand why people prefer stubby antennas on this car...
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