[Cooper76]

I can't see how Top Gear would test a JCW with runflats to begin with. They know the JCW is the enthusiasts' choice and that the runflats would probably be ditched before 50 miles had been driven. So why test the vehicle with something that is probably not on 95% of them in the real world or definitely not on them on the track?!

Is it because they are just sticking to what comes OEM?! I don't get this.

 

[Cooper76]

They should IMO be testing cars as they come out the factory (works S is a special case though) as if they start comparing modded cars it would never be a level playing field.

The MINI is only available with runflats so that is how it should be tested, no?

Right, but the JCW and Golf GTI are definitely special enthusiast cars that will not be ordered by the majority of those who order the Cooper or Golf, as they will stick with more basic models. Therefore, it is not unlikely to think that the crap runflats would be ditched for stickies. You could give the JCW and Golf the same tires and then let 'em rip on the track to make that variable even. Therefore, any differences cannot be blamed on the tires, but on the vehicle. That is, after all, what they are testing right?!