Replacing factory run flats ?

[greatmeadows]

Hi,

I've read the important facts re: replacing run flats with conventional tires. I have an MCS with 16" wheels and find the ride around town in traffic and where the pavement isn't perfect to be harsh and bumpy. My wife and I are in our 60's and while we both love everything else about our MCS, this one complaint is frustrating our ability to truly enjoy the car. Ironically, the factory setup makes this a superb highway car. If I spring for conventional tires, will this remove enough of the harshness from the ride to justify the expense? Or is the suspension most of the problem here? Anyone out there with this experience? Again, I'm not interested in replacing the run flats for a better performing tire , just a more comfortable one, and they need to be all season.Thanks for any insight you can share on this issue.

Gene Cosloy

[milliethemini]

I can see how the sport suspension plus on the MCS may contribute to the 'livelier' handling of the car on imperfect roads. The MC has a sport suspension too, but not as firm as the SS+. If the MCS is the MINI you want, you will have to live with the SS+.

Having said that, I believe the that firmer sidewalls of the runflats do play a factor in the ride of the car on bumpy roads, as in contributing to a harsher ride (the lack of flex is not a big factor in highway driving, especially if most of it is interstate driving.) Conventional tyres should give you a more compliant ride, but I will leave that for MCS owners who have swapped their tyres to give you the definitive word on that (I still drive on my runflats).

In the meantime, have you tried playing with the tyre pressure of your tyres? If you are still using the OEM 195/55/16's, try the minimum of 33 PSI, or even 32 PSI. Anything to reduce the firmness of the tyre within safety limits, that might help a little.

[DeniseK]

Well, as someone who lives on a washboard-rutted road, I have driven with both runflats (my car) and Toyos (someone else's car) and the Toyo tires gave the much smoother ride.

[obehave]

I just changed mine out. Actually mounted tires on another set of rims, stock X-Lites.
I was pleasantly surprised at the difference. It doesn't make the car all comfy riding but it does remove just enough of the harshness to make the ride more pleasant. I really didn't have a problem with the runflats but the change is nice.
Car handles mmuch better as well.

[jsteine2]

The wifes CVT came with 17" runflats... she wanted to drive it this winter so we found a set of 15" take off OE wheels and tires... made a world of difference! Not just in ride, but in gas mileage as well.

[Zeede]

I have heard that going from 16" runflats to 17" non-runflats actually improves the ride comfort. I know Pirelli makes some of the most comfortable Max Performance Summer tires on the market, but you'd need to do a little poking around to see what the best one is in the Ultra Performance or All Season categories.

[obehave]

Quote: Originally Posted by Zeede

I have heard that going from 16" runflats to 17" non-runflats actually improves the ride comfort. I know Pirelli makes some of the most comfortable Max Performance Summer tires on the market, but you'd need to do a little poking around to see what the best one is in the Ultra Performance or All Season categories.

Actually just moving to non runflats is the difference. Since the 16 will have a taller sidewall height it should be more compliant than the 17s.
That and he already has 16" rims.
Just nitpicking

[Zeede]

The point was that going from 16" to 17" will decrease the ride comfort, whereas going from runflats to non-runflats will increase the ride comfort. In the example I stated, rim diameter increase had less of an effect than switching to non-runflats.

The idea was to emphasize that going from 16" runflats to 16" non-runflats should dramatically increase ride comfort and take out the harshness greatmeadows is experiencing.

[red03miniS]

i saw go with some michelin tires on the 16 inch wheels

you will see a world of difference

[agiduda]

Last night I took my 94 RX-7 with Bridestone 245/45/16 S02s out for the first time since getting my MCS w/17" runflats. I was suprised how much harsher the 7 is than the MCS. Maybe I have one of the newer "softer" MCSs, it was built 9/03.

(I was also suprised how explosive the 7s power was, that thing is a beast.)
I still prefer to drive the MCS, it's just more fun and much better on fuel consumption!