How "BAD" is the stock suspension?
09-11-2010, 10:07 AM
#31
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There's no such thing as run flat rims, at least as far as the E60 is concerned. You do not need to change your wheels if you want to switch to regular tires. I and many, many others here have switched from RFTs to regular high performance tires with the stock sport package wheels. Others can chime in with their own experience, but for me the difference is staggering. The E60s ride and handling is transformed by the change in tire. You'll need to make up your own mind on the pros and cons of switching from RFTs, there are some judgement calls to make as the RFTs do bring some safety benefits, but they bring significant disadvantages in relation to grip, ride and handling. BMW did, of course, sell E60s from the factory with non-RFTs (550 M-Sport, M5). Simply put, whomever it is that's telling you that you need new wheels, or suggesting that the suspension will be compromised as it is set up to work with run-flats, is poorly informed. An E60 running with RFTs is, for me at least, an E60 that not delivering to its fullest potential. Putting the safety benefits to one side, and in the US at least they are marginal at best, RFTs are, quite simply, mediocre tires at best. Even the most cursory review of the TireRack rankings will show you that BMW OEM RFTs and RFTs in general are consistently at the bottom of the table.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...=Sport+Package
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...=Sport+Package
Somewhere else I read a comment from a BMW dealer employee saying that the suspensions were softened up to balance out the effect of the stiffer sidewalls of the RFT's and that changing to a conventional tire could make the handling sloppy. Has anyone else heard this?
09-11-2010, 10:36 AM
#32
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btw, i'm pretty sure no one at ALL has said the sport's package doesn't do anything or especially that it is inferior to stock suspension. i, for one, just think it's a bit overrated based on my experience driving both. there is a simple amount of tact your post lacks. post #18 is so far the most useful. "probably not going to tell much of a difference in daily driving, but it is a little better if you push it." enough said really.
09-11-2010, 10:37 AM
#33
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Interesting, because I was at my dealer two days ago and specifically asked if normal tires could be mounted on my BMW rims and the service person said "No" due to the different rim design for the run flats (EH2 design they referred to it as). I would be very happy if I was misinformed because I would much rather have better handling conventional tires on my car (both summer and winter). As far as the "safety" aspect, my opinion is that sacrificing handling and traction with an RFT outweighs the potential benefit of being able to drive on a flat tire. I've only flatted once at speed in 35 years, but good tires have helped me countless times to avoid collisions (which the RFT's might not have). I'll need to look into the rim issue further, because I sure as heck don't want RFT's on the car in the future.
Somewhere else I read a comment from a BMW dealer employee saying that the suspensions were softened up to balance out the effect of the stiffer sidewalls of the RFT's and that changing to a conventional tire could make the handling sloppy. Has anyone else heard this?
Somewhere else I read a comment from a BMW dealer employee saying that the suspensions were softened up to balance out the effect of the stiffer sidewalls of the RFT's and that changing to a conventional tire could make the handling sloppy. Has anyone else heard this?
09-11-2010, 03:02 PM
#34
I think one thing that is underplayed and undermentioned that I still never recieved any definete answers on is the tire pressure rec's on the door/manual for our cars-whether they do or do not take into account the stiffer RFT. For example the 07 sport package 530 has 36r32f on 18 inch wheels with RFT. No it got complicated when I switched to 19s as that alone now changes the pressur rec but they were 19 non-rft.
I always thought that the pressures the rec were for rft so if you go no-rft you should up the pressures in general to get the same performance.
Not sure why people say RFT have less performance? That i simply not true.The weight difference is really not much, within 1-3 pounds on tires and the stiffness and thickness of the sidewalls is very good for cornering performance. Comfot is another story but whowever says performance is worse than where you coming from
I always thought that the pressures the rec were for rft so if you go no-rft you should up the pressures in general to get the same performance.
Not sure why people say RFT have less performance? That i simply not true.The weight difference is really not much, within 1-3 pounds on tires and the stiffness and thickness of the sidewalls is very good for cornering performance. Comfot is another story but whowever says performance is worse than where you coming from
09-11-2010, 04:16 PM
#35
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I see. Thanks for the replies so far. So in other words, will I regret not getting a car w/ the sports suspension? Note: I have never owned a BMW before so my expectation will be a little different from others.
Is there significant body roll when driving a non-sport suspension car when turning? I remember reading a lot of praises for the ARS but I read one posting about it being "artificial" so I assume it's mostly a very worthwhile option.
Is there significant body roll when driving a non-sport suspension car when turning? I remember reading a lot of praises for the ARS but I read one posting about it being "artificial" so I assume it's mostly a very worthwhile option.
09-11-2010, 04:48 PM
#36
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Not sure why people say RFT have less performance? That i simply not true.The weight difference is really not much, within 1-3 pounds on tires and the stiffness and thickness of the sidewalls is very good for cornering performance. Comfot is another story but whowever says performance is worse than where you coming from
09-11-2010, 05:10 PM
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Interesting, because I was at my dealer two days ago and specifically asked if normal tires could be mounted on my BMW rims and the service person said "No" due to the different rim design for the run flats (EH2 design they referred to it as). I would be very happy if I was misinformed because I would much rather have better handling conventional tires on my car (both summer and winter). As far as the "safety" aspect, my opinion is that sacrificing handling and traction with an RFT outweighs the potential benefit of being able to drive on a flat tire. I've only flatted once at speed in 35 years, but good tires have helped me countless times to avoid collisions (which the RFT's might not have). I'll need to look into the rim issue further, because I sure as heck don't want RFT's on the car in the future.
Somewhere else I read a comment from a BMW dealer employee saying that the suspensions were softened up to balance out the effect of the stiffer sidewalls of the RFT's and that changing to a conventional tire could make the handling sloppy. Has anyone else heard this?
Somewhere else I read a comment from a BMW dealer employee saying that the suspensions were softened up to balance out the effect of the stiffer sidewalls of the RFT's and that changing to a conventional tire could make the handling sloppy. Has anyone else heard this?
never trust what some dealer say, they just what to make more money.
I have driven BMW car for over 10 yesrs and I am in my 2nd e60LCI and it is alright to change the tyres, I have change on all my BMW cars.
09-11-2010, 06:53 PM
#39
Tirerack is hardly a source of acurate performance data. All I can say I have seen is the MT test of the 04 530i with sport pack 18RFT and skipad was commented on .91 as being near the caymen or boxster dont remember which.
Tirerack is skewed by people who are not ever pushing the car to the limit you would see a difference in performance.
But as I said without data why argue-i Cannot produce it either so Ill leave it there
Tirerack is skewed by people who are not ever pushing the car to the limit you would see a difference in performance.
But as I said without data why argue-i Cannot produce it either so Ill leave it there
