[chicagoshark]

I've been toiling over this. I drive 35 miles each way to work in Chicagoland, mainly HWY but couple of days a week surface roads with quite few potholes.

Had an Infiniti with 19 RFTs that were well known to pop. if I have 18s at the time and different RFT not positive they would have popped. They were Dunlop so sport 5000 DSST. They were horrible. Beyond popping, they were terrible tires

So I am going 18s for this winter. Now debating on sottozero series 2 run flat 225/45/18 on 8.5" wheels (I know a bit stretched, but only RFT that will fit) or going non run flat such as blizzack, or even sottozero at 245/40/18. Having popped two tires, and not living the lifestyle that I can afford to wait around for a tow, I am inclined to go with RFT, especially because winter is long here. I know many just do the patch/slime kit, but I worry because I know how bad of it is here. The flipside is 18" less likely to pop and better tire, so less likely to pop...

Best case would be 245 run flats, but don't exist at this point...

What would you guys do in my situation? Thanks. Sorry to belabor this

[floydarogers]

Well, I have AAA and don't usually get too far from populated areas, so I have Blizzak WS-80, in 225/45R18. I got the wheels (and a set of LM-26 Blizzaks 3 years ago for $500) cheap. I don't need performance snows, so the WS-80 is fine for me.

Nothing wrong with go-flats, but RFT's are a bit more and available in limited sizes. If you have a separate set of wheels like I do, go-flats are more affordable. I've only had a couple punctures in all my 6 years of owning my summer-tired RFT's, but streets here in WA state are fairly good condition.

[timkri]

I bought go-flats and have a Slime Kit on the way. Plus for the next long journey will probably get some kind of breakdown service insurance because where I will be will probably be way out of the way from anywhere I could drive the limited distance on the run-flats anyway.

Only you can really make that decision.

[oceanview]

I had the Pirelli sottozero series 2 RFT 225/45/18 on 8" front and 255/40/18 on 8.5" rear. Dropped them a year ago for Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 non-RFT at same staggered setup.
225 is to small for 8.5" wheels.

Pirelli is not bad, didn't like it on wet roads, but good on dry and on snow. Noisy and Hard as most RFT.
Michelin is just the better tire overall compared to the Pirelli. However on my RWD, the rear tires melt like swiss cheese on a fire... (5000 miles, 2mm off, so they will last hopefully two winters driving for me. Then they will be off for snow driving)

Continental TS 850 P, Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen-1 and Dunlop SP Winter Sport 5 have very good review in German magazin "sportauto"
Test size 235/40 R 18

[cmplaya]

Originally Posted by chicagoshark

I've been toiling over this. I drive 35 miles each way to work in Chicagoland, mainly HWY but couple of days a week surface roads with quite few potholes.

Had an Infiniti with 19 RFTs that were well known to pop. if I have 18s at the time and different RFT not positive they would have popped. They were Dunlop so sport 5000 DSST. They were horrible. Beyond popping, they were terrible tires

So I am going 18s for this winter. Now debating on sottozero series 2 run flat 225/45/18 on 8.5" wheels (I know a bit stretched, but only RFT that will fit) or going non run flat such as blizzack, or even sottozero at 245/40/18. Having popped two tires, and not living the lifestyle that I can afford to wait around for a tow, I am inclined to go with RFT, especially because winter is long here. I know many just do the patch/slime kit, but I worry because I know how bad of it is here. The flipside is 18" less likely to pop and better tire, so less likely to pop...

Best case would be 245 run flats, but don't exist at this point...

What would you guys do in my situation? Thanks. Sorry to belabor this

I live in NYC and have had 3 flats in the past two years from all the potholes. Two of the three ripped tears in the sidewall that slime wouldn't do anything for. One of them I pulled off the highway and there were two other cars there too changing tires at the same time as me.

if you cant afford to wait for a tow then either run flat or go flat with a spare tire and jack are your options. i have the same problem and have winter RFT and summers are PSS go flat and will occasionally carry the winter tire as a spare which will eat up most of your trunk space

[cmplaya]

I have x drive with track handling adaptive suspension. i switched from my PSS to sottozero winter runflat tires yesterday and the difference is not that noticeable for normal driving. i didn't really push it since i'm still in break in period. if anything, the sottozero ride feels a little softer to me....

[chicagoshark]

Originally Posted by cmplaya

I have x drive with track handling adaptive suspension. i switched from my PSS to sottozero winter runflat tires yesterday and the difference is not that noticeable for normal driving. i didn't really push it since i'm still in break in period. if anything, the sottozero ride feels a little softer to me....

What size tires and wheels are you running? Width of wheels also please. Thanks.

[cmplaya]

Originally Posted by chicagoshark

What size tires and wheels are you running? Width of wheels also please. Thanks.

mpss were 225/45/18 on 8 in front and 255/40/18 on 8.5 in rear
sottozeros are square 225/45/18 on 8s

[chicagoshark]

Originally Posted by cmplaya

mpss were 225/45/18 on 8 in front and 255/40/18 on 8.5 in rear
sottozeros are square 225/45/18 on 8s

Ahh thanks

[Big Nodge]

I'm running 225/45/18 Pirelli Sottozeros on my 398 wheels. Really impressed with the Pirelli Scorpions on our Q7 so decided to give these a try. The 225s are mildly stretched on the 8.5" rears, but nothing drastic IMO. I've always gone for a narrower tire for winters. Went with go flats because I just hate RFTs and never want one to touch this car. We'll see if that was a good decision or not. Have the OEM compressor/slime kit as the car came with MPSSs.