[m20e3087]

How's the ride comfort on the rft on the 19 540?

[AP]

There is a question you will get many varied answers back!

When you 19 did you mean tyre size or model year?

Anyway regardless you also to take into account the suspension whether SE, msport or VDC.

To be honest , you need to try it out for yourself because only you can decide what is right for you. What one person likes, another will think it's too soft or too hard.

[CLABRO]

^ I agree.

It's all relevant to what your expectations are and/or what you're comparing it to.

I would say it's very comfortable even with run flat tires. However, some say the ride is sub-optimal (due to rft) and end up switching out the run flat tires to Michelin.

I came from a 3 series with OEM run flat tires and very satisfied with the ride comfort of the G30 with OEM run flat tires. If you're coming from a 7 series with Michelins, for example, then you may be taking aback.

[jsf721]

I have the 2019 540IX M Sport with the 19" Run Flats.

I think the ride is fine. I came form an Infiniti Sport with 20" Rims and I think this ride better.

My wife has the 530IX with 18" Run Flats and those are considerably more compliant.

[richard in NC]

I have 20's with the Goodyear RFTs. The ride is fine until you hit a pothole or deep manhole cover, the car thuds on the far side of it. I'll be switching to non-RFTs next, since I ordered the spare.

[saporitj]

Which 19" RFTs, all season or performance? I have the 19" all season and I'm happy with them but will probably switch to non rft as I got the spare option and rft just cost a lot more.

Heads Up:
Choosing all seasonal or performance changes the top end speed of the car which can't be changed later. 120mph vs 155mph

[emre]

Comfort is very subjective.
All i can say is there is a big difference between RFT and regular.
My winter set up is 19" RFT Pirelli Sottozero 3
Running 20" Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rest of the year.
Even with 20" wheels, it is much more comfortable than the 19" RFTs.
I have the M Sport passive suspension.

[dlf750]

I have a '19 540 with the Pirelli RFTs. The ride is actually fine but I will tell you that since I got the car a few months ago, I've already had 3 tire bubble, twice in the left front. BMW covered it but they weren't happy about doing it. Pirellis just plain suck in chicago and I don't really hit any potholes.

[m20e3087]

The 540i will be for my wife, she is coming from Lexus ES350, so was wondering comfort level vs her ES. She hates going over bumps over on my M2C. Told her 540 will be lot better, than I see that it comes with RFT. On my 335 I had them, couldn't wait to change it. But when I switched to new MPS4, it was night and day difference, in terms of comfort, handling, and wet traction.

[clee1982]

why not just stay on 18in if you want comfort

[jsf721]

I got my wife the 18" rims and she is very happy. For the driving she does performance was not the issue. Ride comfort was, and she is very satisfied. She was coming out of an Acura MDX Sport.

My 19" are not uncomfortable for a performance oriented driver but my wife prefers her set up to mine.

Originally Posted by m20e3087

The 540i will be for my wife, she is coming from Lexus ES350, so was wondering comfort level vs her ES. She hates going over bumps over on my M2C. Told her 540 will be lot better, than I see that it comes with RFT. On my 335 I had them, couldn't wait to change it. But when I switched to new MPS4, it was night and day difference, in terms of comfort, handling, and wet traction.

[lago1974]

I have 19" Continental run flats from the factory. I find they hit bumps a bit softer than I was expecting. I encourage you to test drive an M Sport with run flats prior to deciding.

[m20e3087]

Picked up a spot line 540i for her and drove 200 miles back home. I was really surprised how good the ride back was and once she drove she said same level of comfort as her Lexus we just traded. It's on 19" conti run flats. IMO B58 is the right engine for 5 series, and well balanced. Also my friend picked up a 2020 550 at the same time, that 550 is a beast in sport plus. Also I was debating between light pkg, but now I can say I think it's a must, changes the front end look completely with the LED DRL.

[LuvMyE92]

I'm glad the wife is happy with the new car. I test drove a 540i with 18" and ended up buying one with 19" and was surprised how much of a difference one inch makes.

I may just end up buying some conventional tires. Since it's a lease, I can justify the cost by keeping the original tires and putting them back on at turn-in time.

[cartaozinho]

Originally Posted by m20e3087

How's the ride comfort on the rft on the 19 540?

I've got a 550 with 19" wheels. The factory tires were Michelin Primacy 3 RFTs. Ride quality was good. Handling was good too.

A couple of weeks ago I did a full tire change to Pirelli P-Zero RFTs (apparently, for AWD cars with tires at mid-life: staple in the shoulder of one tire --> replace all four tires (or get a shave)).

I only have a few hundred miles on the Pirellis but, so far, the ride quality is better. They feel more supple. Not sure if its the change in tire or because the pirellis are rated for slightly less weight than the old Michelins (Front: 94Y vs. 98Y, Rear: 96Y vs. 100Y). I keep the Pirellis inflated to the same pressure I kept the Michelins.

Handling feels better too -- more feedback, better grip. Because the tires are still fairly new, however, I haven't really pushed the grip limit.

I think for most people the tradeoff between RFT and non-RFTs involves the following:

(1) RFTs have a lower ride quality but only minor inconvenience if you get a puncture/"flat" -- you just drive (slowly) to a nearby and convenient destination and get a new tire.

(2) non-RFTs (go flats!) have better ride quality but involve a major inconvenience if you get a puncture/flat -- you will need to stop wherever you are to change the tire. It could be somewhere quite inconvenient!

To my thinking the choice comes down to (a) preferences for ride quality, (b) a subjective estimate of the probability of getting a puncture/flat, and (c) how inconvenienced you would be having to stop immediately to deal with the puncture/flat. The latter category probably depends heavily on your particular circumstances, how you use your car, and where you live and regularly drive.

[LuvMyE92]

cartaozinho makes a good point. My car came with the 19" 245/40 Goodyear Eagle Sport RunOnFlat (that's what they're called, can't make that up) and the ride is, for lack of a better term, nervous. Every little imperfection is felt, even at 33 psi.

I have ordered new Pirelli A/S for installation next week. My car is a lease, so I'll just put the RFTs in storage until I need to return the car. I would have gone with the Michelin A/S 3+ but the last set I got had a real problem getting properly balanced with one tire that was so bad it had to be replaced and another that was bad but not bad enough, and I had to get them road force balanced every few thousand miles.

I'm particular.

[5drivr]

Drove back-to-back:
* Standard suspension with 18" RFT tires
* M Sport suspension with 19" RFT tires

The first one was soft, too soft actually for me - too much nose dive during braking, squatting during acceleration, lean in corners. Expected the second option to be too harsh, but it was not. Still very compliant even over rough country roles with some small potholes, but tightened everything else nicely.

I was initially thinking of getting a spare tire and switching to non-RFT tires as soon as possible, but after the test drive, just got the 19" RFT MSport version. Having a huge trunk is nice on long trips.

[Frederick18]

I have a 540i running 18 inch OEM Eagle Sports all seasons RFTs. I have no issue with the ride (and find it very comfortable, even on long drives) but I have never tried non-RFTs on this car to compare. I’ve had the car for a little over a year now and the only tire issue I’ve had is a nail in one of the tires which a tire store was willing to plug and balance for about $75.

[hlothery]

My $.02......most punctures on go flat tires involve a nail or screw and a slow leak, many of which can be repaired several days later, if you have an air pump (my emergency kit has goop and a pump, along with a Dynaplug tool). Blowouts are rare on non-runflat tires. Blowouts apparently are more common on runflats, especially Goodyear F1 Asymmetric runflats....I had two in less than a year, each caused by a pothole. I was able to drive to a safe place after each one. I have switched to Michelin PS3ZP runflats, and I like the ride quality, performance and noise reduction with them. I had go flats on my M4, which I drove for three years without a spare, and had no problems. If the Michelin runflats give me any trouble, I'll be switching the the PS4S go flats which I ran on the M4, and just live with having to call a tow truck if I ever have a dreaded blowout.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by m20e3087

Picked up a spot line 540i for her and drove 200 miles back home. I was really surprised how good the ride back was and once she drove she said same level of comfort as her Lexus we just traded. It's on 19" conti run flats. IMO B58 is the right engine for 5 series, and well balanced. Also my friend picked up a 2020 550 at the same time, that 550 is a beast in sport plus. Also I was debating between light pkg, but now I can say I think it's a must, changes the front end look completely with the LED DRL.

Congratulations. I was afraid your wife would not like any BMW. The Lexus 350e is basically an Avalon and is designed to be a soft ride. Nice that she likes the firmer ride of the BMW.

[m20e3087]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

Congratulations. I was afraid your wife would not like any BMW. The Lexus 350e is basically an Avalon and is designed to be a soft ride. Nice that she likes the firmer ride of the BMW.

Thanks. Actually she likes the 540i a lot.

[clee1982]

I thought either sports line or luxury has same setup just bunch cosmetic stuff, only M Sport has different suspension etc to make it actually ride just a bit harder/lower etc.