Pilot Sport 3 Harsh Ride

[mickg007]

I just swapped out my RFTs for a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tires last week. Since changing them there is a huge difference going over ramps or bad surfaces - that sudden dart or thud in your back is gone.

But, on good surfaces like the main open road, the ride is awful. It feels like the springs are too soft and the car is just not steady on the road - Its like the car is very 'bouncy' on the road

I only have the car 2 weeks, but I don’t remember the car driving like this on the RFTs - the ride was better (RFTS - still terrible on bad surfaces)

Anyone have any similar experience?


Mick

[skier]

The susspension is designed with stiffer RFT in the picture. What size of wheels?

I'll be picking up Z4 35is at the Welt in few days, and spending 3 weeks in Europe. Planning on putting 2500 miles on the car before dropping it off. Even though I like the look of the 19" optional wheels, reports of ride harshness convinced me to stick with the 18" wheels.

[siscobmw]

Originally Posted by mickg007

I just swapped out my RFTs for a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tires last week. Since changing them there is a huge difference going over ramps or bad surfaces - that sudden dart or thud in your back is gone.

But, on good surfaces like the main open road, the ride is awful. It feels like the springs are too soft and the car is just not steady on the road - Its like the car is very 'bouncy' on the road

I only have the car 2 weeks, but I don’t remember the car driving like this on the RFTs - the ride was better (RFTS - still terrible on bad surfaces)

Anyone have any similar experience?


Mick

hi,
sounds like you swapped tires, keeping the same tires pressure.......
my friend got a 35is and it is noticeably better , also on evil road surfaces.....

this is my opinion, I hope this helps.
Francesco

[skier]

Originally Posted by siscobmw

hi,
sounds like you swapped tires, keeping the same tires pressure.......
my friend got a 35is and it is noticeably better , also on evil road surfaces.....

this is my opinion, I hope this helps.
Francesco

Did he changed the wheel size as well?. RFTs have stiffer sidewalls than non RFTs of the same size. So staying with same size and swapping RFTs for non RFTs will result in a softer ride. However, going from 18" RFT to 19" non RFT doesn't change much as the 19" tire has shorter sidewall. That was my experience with previous car, E92 335i with M Sport.

[siscobmw]

same sizes(front 225 and 255 rear) , 19 M alloys....

I agree on softer ride , but bouncy ride is different imho.....
I think lower tires pressure can absorb better bumps,(again imho)....

Francesco

[mickg007]

I have kept the same OEM wheels and exact same tyre size.

The ride has just gone too soft now, its like I got the springs changed as well ..

Maybe I need to check tyre pressure ..?

[2045]

why PS3? did u check if Pilot Super Sport was available? heard good thing about them.

[mickg007]

Didn't bother - just assumed they were much more expensive.

Last car was an 2007 Z4 coupe and I moved to PS2s - huge Improvement in comfort. I presume the PS3 are a better tyre

[siscobmw]

ps3 is not really the enhanced PS2 version,I read something about but I am not sure now.....
Francesco

PS:I remember that tire pressure was 2.5-2.9 bar on the door sticker.... for a non RFT is a bit too much.....

[2045]

Originally Posted by mickg007

Didn't bother - just assumed they were much more expensive.

Last car was an 2007 Z4 coupe and I moved to PS2s - huge Improvement in comfort. I presume the PS3 are a better tyre

PSS is much cheaper than PS2 across the size range. PSS' production cost is lower than PS2 & tread life is longer as well.

[richard in NC]

Originally Posted by mickg007

I have kept the same OEM wheels and exact same tyre size.

The ride has just gone too soft now, its like I got the springs changed as well ..

Maybe I need to check tyre pressure ..?

Definitely check tire pressures. Wouldn't know what to set them at but at least high 30s. Also, test it in sport mode. If still wallowy, it is the tire pressure. If not the settings in Normal are just too soft for the softer tires.

[m3griff]

Originally Posted by skier

The susspension is designed with stiffer RFT in the picture. What size of wheels?

What he said. The springs and shocks were designed to make the car feel right with the ultrastiff runlets. I imagine that the change to non runlets has revealed that bias in the settings. This was not such a problem on the previous gen Z4 like I have because BMW did not have the suspension particularly well tuned to the runlets - it was "oxcart harsh" with those tires. Do as others suggested, set your tire pressures higher.

Alternative would be to replace springs and shocks with firmer.

[SANguru]

Originally Posted by richard in NC

Definitely check tire pressures. Wouldn't know what to set them at but at least high 30s. Also, test it in sport mode. If still wallowy, it is the tire pressure. If not the settings in Normal are just too soft for the softer tires.

that's way too high for non RFT's...

[BlueZ4AZ]

Originally Posted by mickg007

I just swapped out my RFTs for a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tires last week. Since changing them there is a huge difference going over ramps or bad surfaces - that sudden dart or thud in your back is gone.

But, on good surfaces like the main open road, the ride is awful. It feels like the springs are too soft and the car is just not steady on the road - Its like the car is very 'bouncy' on the road

I only have the car 2 weeks, but I don’t remember the car driving like this on the RFTs - the ride was better (RFTS - still terrible on bad surfaces)

Anyone have any similar experience?


Mick

Do you have the M Sport Suspension?