About 800 miles ago, I replaced my original worn-out (23500 m.) Dunlop 195x55x16 runflats with Kumho Ecsta ASX 215x50xZR16s. My car used to corner like it was on a railroad track. Now, it feels squishy . The installer gave me the car w/ 30lbs in the tires. I increased it to 35 a few days ago and it has helped a little. Maximum inflation pressure is 51. Should I try more? Somewhere I read 10% less than max for starters - that would be 45 (sounds like a lot).

I switched to non-runflats more for the lower cost and longer life, not because the ride bothered me. Now I am wondering how to get back the feel I grew to love . Is it more air I need, a suspension upgrade , bigger wheels/lower profile tires, or are runflats the only way?? Help!

 

Try running 37lbs in them and give it some time. You'll get used to it.

The only other way to get that feeling in a non-runflat is with max performance summer tires with extra stiff sidewalls.

 

is that on factory wheels? i'd do 205/50/16 max on a 7" width.

 

I'll give 37# a try, thanks. What are some tires with extra-stiff sidewalls, and how do you know?

 

According to Tire Rack, they fit on 6.0"-7.5" rims, so I figured I was OK. Do rim widths near the narrow end of the range cause the tire to distort easier in corners?

 

These should be good and stiff.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Potenza+RE-01R

How do I know?
I just switched to Goodyear GSD3s from run-flats. At first I was very unhappy because they didn't have the snap that the run-flats have. I have since gotten used to how they feel and overall they stick to the road better.

 

yah, best to put them on the widest wheel for snappier turnin response
and better steering input/feedback.

 

davavd, Your fine asfa width. Being well within spec is always a good idea. And you are. You tire manufacturer says so.

fwiw, I'm running 36 lbs in 215/35/18s so I'm sure you can try a little more pressure. Try 2-3 lb increments and find your sweet spot. Remember, the only thing you've probably given up is a little initial turn in while gaining lots of stick once the tires have taken a "set".

YMMV

 

Look for reviews / comparisons that specifically state that a tire has a stiff sidewall. When reading reviews, also look for statements such as "good turn in" or "good response to steering input" as those are usually characteristics of a tire with a stiff sidewall.

 

I feel your pain & agree 100%. To this day I prefer the feel of the runflat. You will get used to it though. When I went to Goodyear GS-D3's I hated them. They gripped just as good as my RF did but I could feel the sidewall flex in the twisties which made it "feel" like I was about to lose it in a corner. I never did lose it but IMHO RF's do give you more of a gokart feel

 

Hooray, I'm not crazy. Thank you. Did you write a review somewhere saying you'd go back to RF's?

What is "turn-in"?

 

Yes I did say I would go back to RF but... Now that I bought aftermarket wheels I fear that option is gone. My new wheels are not hubcentric & while they are balanced well & I know they are not & cannot be 100% as balanced as my OEM wheels were. I do not feel vibration for the most part with my non-RF tires but I fear if I ever went back to RF it would be a different story. So I have knocked myself out of ever going back to RF now but I love the look of my new wheels so it's a trade-off

 

dav, Sorry for not explaining better. For me, turn in means what the tire feels like from the time you turn your steering wheel till the sidewall quits flexing. Stiffer sidewalls mean quicker, crisper turn in. As you know, you're missing that turn in cause you have a softer sidewall. The upside is a softer ride and better grip overall, at least I'd be surprised if you had less overall grip.

 

You WILL have reduced tire life due to premature wearing of the center tread area with this much extra inflation.

--Dan
Mach V
FastMINI.net

 

My Goodyear GS-D3s are so much better than my Dunlop Runflats! They were loose the first 100 miles or so but I believe that is typical and due to a necessary wearing in. Now, they are like rails. Coincidentally I took a detour up and down Sandia Crest today. On the way down I was followed by a motorcycle. At the intersection at the bottom I stopped for gas. The biker came up and said, "Man, that was fantastic, it was like you were on rails."

Truth is stranger than fiction. Oh, the Dunlops were more like go kart tires which, as I recall, are solid rubber.

But hey, I've heard the Kumho's do have flexible sidewalls. We all like what we like. I've never been less satisfied than with the runflats . . . and I've never been more satisfied than with the goodyears.

 

As opposed to the 35# recommended on door jamb? If not, what do YOU recommend?

 

You aren't going to get the run-flat feel with non-run-flats. Run-flats have very rigid sidewalls, which are designed to retain their shape without air. That makes the tire very stiff. You simply are experiencing the difference in ride between a run-flat and non-run-flat. Overinflating your tires will make them harder and wear out faster. But, you won't get that r-f feel. You'll either have to get used to it or go back to r-f's.

 

With runflats you have extra weight, limited choice, and less performance. You have a stiff sidewall. Lots of jolts. Quick but not necessarily responsive steering. Learn to trust a real tire. Or not. But please don't believe your runflat will be faster. And don't think most folks won't chuckle after you. But I admire a person who doesn't care that they are foolish. Oh, being slow isn't foolish, it is just slow. Sorry.

 

Frankly I don't think anyone who likes runflats is foolish. People who use phrases like "chuckle after you" the jury's still out on.

 

My experience has been that the shoulders tend to wear more on the MINI anyway. I ran my run-flats at 36psi and there was more tread down the middle of all four tires than on the edges when they were removed.

Try the 37psi. You could always rub some chalk or while shoe polish on the tread to see how they would wear.

I just looked at your new size. 215? is that right? That was a big jump from 195. Can you post some pics of the tires on the rims?

 

The width going from a 195 to a 215 will also greatly change the feel in the steering response. Also what is the speed and load rating on the ASX ?

 

Here they are. I love the way they look, nice & muscular.

 

I guess your only options at this point are to run with high air pressure or try other tires.

 

I sent this to Tire Rack:
"I recently bought a set of Kumho Ecsta ASX 215x50x16 from you for my 2006 Mini Cooper S convertible. That worked out great. I'm not that pleased with the tires, but I picked them, so that's not your problem. I do want to learn how not to make the same mistake again, though. I had Dunlop runflats, and unlike most people who post on North American Motoring, loved them. What I don't like about the Kumhos is the softness. I preferred the firm ride ( and awesome cornering) of the runflats. I am told that what I am looking for is stiff sidewalls. Other than purchasing runflats, how do I evaluate a tire for stiffness of sidewalls?"

The sales specialist responded "As far as sidewall firmness goes, no standard tire will have anywhere near the firmness of a runflat" and that he would plead my case with customer service. Then, this morning on the way to work, the tires felt pretty good . Maybe I'm just getting used to them slower than everybody else. I think I'm just going to run them at about 38, maybe more if I anticipate hard driving, and if I get uneven wear, well, they still will probably last longer than the RFs, and they only cost 1/2 as much.

 

Just got these. Lovem!