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[Raine]

So I just replaced my 18" RFT + OEM Style 263 rims w/ 215/45/17 Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 (38 PSI all around) + 17x8 Bremmer Kraft BR05 BLK (thanks Gill & TireRack!) and wow...

The difference is like night and day! My ride feels so much better now - I don't feel like my car is going to explode every time I drive over an uneven bump, power delivery is smoother (?) and there's noticeably more grip during turns.

Has anyone else noticed a huge difference when moving out of RFTs?

[onlyar18]

Hey! I got the exact same tire in 215/50/17for my winter setup!! and yes, i feel the tires are a lot softer and the grip is insanely improved. I can get grip in first gear now and second gear sticks. I cant say cornering is better cause i take it easy on the corners with winter tires. However the car feels more sluggish.

[doublevanosrc]

Interesting, how's steering feel? Better, about the same??

[ErvGotti]

Originally Posted by Raine

So I just replaced my 18" RFT + OEM Style 263 rims w/ 215/45/17 Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 (38 PSI all around) + 17x8 Bremmer Kraft BR05 BLK (thanks Gill & TireRack!) and wow...

The difference is like night and day! My ride feels so much better now - I don't feel like my car is going to explode every time I drive over an uneven bump, power delivery is smoother (?) and there's noticeably more grip during turns.

Has anyone else noticed a huge difference when moving out of RFTs?

I would think that the smaller footprint of 215/45/17 squared would lead to more understeer in turns... I can understand the smoother ride, but not more grip on turns. Not to bash or anything though if your happy with them more to you.

[onlyar18]

i have higher sidewall, so the turning does not feel as responsive. i havent had the runflats in warmer weather, so i hope they grip better come summer.

[MarkR171]

More grip with winter tires? Really? The grip on the Potenza RFTs on the 135 wasn't bad at all. Even did a few autocross events with them and the car performed nicely. Sure the Direzza Star Specs I have now are better, but I don't see how a winter tire can compare.

edit: Oh you mean grip of RFTs in winter conditions?

[onlyar18]

yah i was more referring to cooler conditions. i picked my car up in fall so it has been cool out for the most part. I cant wait for hot weather to see if the runflats will be better.
I noticed that the runflats lose a lot of grip in cooler conditions.

[shodanusmc]

RFT Perg tires are great in the heat, and above say 60 degrees. Squirrely under 40, and forget about them in the snow, sleet, and ice.

[GO135i007]

I just replaced my tires with BF Goodrich GForce Ta's and it's night and day. The car rides better, handles better, and grips better. It's pretty much better all around.

[Brando384]

I haven't switched my stock runflats over to winter tires yet, but I plan to get the Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3Ds. Problem is, I'll be driving down to see family in Florida the day after Christmas, and I don't want to drive with winter tires in the south, as I figure they'll wear out quickly.

Am I crazy to try to get through the Northern US on the drive down with all seasons on my car? I figure I'll avoid the mountains in West Virginia/Virginia in favor of a flatter route through Ohio and Kentucky. There's no predicting the weather on my way back home in January. I've hit blizzard-like conditions with limited visibility from Cleveland up through Erie, PA and Buffalo before...

Am I also crazy to wait until I return in early January to put my winter tires on?

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by Raine

So I just replaced my 18" RFT + OEM Style 263 rims w/ 215/45/17 Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 (38 PSI all around) + 17x8 Bremmer Kraft BR05 BLK (thanks Gill & TireRack!) and wow...

The difference is like night and day! My ride feels so much better now - I don't feel like my car is going to explode every time I drive over an uneven bump, power delivery is smoother (?) and there's noticeably more grip during turns.

Has anyone else noticed a huge difference when moving out of RFTs?

Of course the ride will be cushy and creamy cause you're on very soft sidewalls with very soft rubber compound designed to be driven in freezing temps. But, along with that you've lost steering sharpness and overall handling along with quick wear on the winter tires, unless you've already got cold temps and snow.

Wait!
You've got "more grip" in turns?
Maybe compared to running the summer only RFT's in near freezing temps, but not overall in the proper conditions.
The weather in your area is still around 50F and no snow.
Snow tires are great for actual snow driving and very cold temps, but they are still a compromise in conditions other than that.

[ErvGotti]

Originally Posted by Brando384

I haven't switched my stock runflats over to winter tires yet, but I plan to get the Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3Ds. Problem is, I'll be driving down to see family in Florida the day after Christmas, and I don't want to drive with winter tires in the south, as I figure they'll wear out quickly.

Am I crazy to try to get through the Northern US on the drive down with all seasons on my car? I figure I'll avoid the mountains in West Virginia/Virginia in favor of a flatter route through Ohio and Kentucky. There's no predicting the weather on my way back home in January. I've hit blizzard-like conditions with limited visibility from Cleveland up through Erie, PA and Buffalo before...

Am I also crazy to wait until I return in early January to put my winter tires on?

Yeah that's tough if you have all seasons I think you'll be alright, but I think if you put the winters on before florida and take it easy you wont wear them down too much.

[Raine]

Originally Posted by RPM90

Of course the ride will be cushy and creamy cause you're on very soft sidewalls with very soft rubber compound designed to be driven in freezing temps. But, along with that you've lost steering sharpness and overall handling along with quick wear on the winter tires, unless you've already got cold temps and snow.

Wait!
You've got "more grip" in turns?
Maybe compared to running the summer only RFT's in near freezing temps, but not overall in the proper conditions.
The weather in your area is still around 50F and no snow.
Snow tires are great for actual snow driving and very cold temps, but they are still a compromise in conditions other than that.

Yeah my bad, now that I think about it, the RFTs had pretty good grip during sharp turns. But the ride quality definitely sucked though.