IDK. I drove my MINI for about 1500 miles with non-runflats and factory suspension. It was fine, a little bit of bump steer going around corners. The ride was a little jarring but not too bad.

I put on ST coilovers. I lowered it about 1" and the ride is more firm, but less jarring. And I no longer have bump steer issues. So, perhaps it's the shocks/struts that are too firm.

 

Being a Corvette owner for several years I'm no stranger to run-flats. I owned my 2007 mcs for exactly 1 week before I replaced the run-flats and have never looked back. It's a few $100 to replace the run-flats so it's not exactly cost prohibitive. It was the best thing I ever did to my C5 Corvette and it made my mcs totally a pleasure to own and drive. Why put up with shaking your teeth and your mcs to pieces, go for it, you'll be pleased you did it!

 

I agree!! ^

I have owned a few C5 and C6 vettes as well, and always with non RFT's. In fact the C5 Z06 came with non RFTs and a compressor kit, as does my current primary driver E39 M5. One of the first things I did after picking up my 08 MCS was swap the 16" RFTs for a set of aftermarket 17's and summer Pirelli tires in the OEM size. I am very happy with that set-up.

I have the sunroof too and wish I didn't. maybe I will try that 5% limo tint trick - that should help. Also it lets in more wind noise when closed than I would like. So not a huge fan. And it really is too loud when open once you go over 50mph, so it's only useful driving around city streets.

I've had mine 9 months now, and still unsure how long it will stay in my stable. But for now it fills a nice spot for a fun to drive commute and run around town car to keep the miles from piling up too much on my M5. I am pretty happy with the 28-29mpg I am getting in combined driving. It is more than 50% better than I get in the M5!!

 

After test driving my first modern Mini last week, 2013 Bayswater, I'm really puzzled about all the "jarring run flat ride" comments. It's winter and our roads are frost heaved, with plenty of pot holes and cracks. Also went over a rough set of railroad tracks. I don't get it. I found the ride surprisingly smooth. The Bayswater comes with 17" rims too. It was so smooth that I would opt for the sports suspension. Perhaps the latest generation run flats are vastly improved over the ones everyone seems anxious to replace.

 

I think it's also dependent on expectations and what one is accustomed to. My wife, for instance, absolutely loves hard, bone-jarring rides that I consider tooth-cracking-wooden-wheel-suspension-like rides. I just bought her a 2013 Audi Q5 that has an incrdibly firm but comfortable ride and she still prefers her 10-year-run-flat-shod 2002 Corvette with base suspension.

 

I didn't think the run flats were to bad at first, but a few years of life experience with them makes me think when they are worn out I may go to regular tires.

 

I'm going to continental extreme contact dws's. all my friend use them and they're a great all season. tire rack survey doesnt lie, usually.

 

I've had The Dread Pirate since picking him up 31 December 2010. I loved him then and after a mod or two (making him the best MINI he can be) I love him still.

 

I'm not sure it's a run flat/non run flat issue. I have my second Mini. First was a a 2007 Cooper S hardtop with summer/stock runflats and ride was stiff. Current car is a 2013 Clubman S with all season runflats, and they seem much smoother than my prior car. I'm not sure of model, but the current tires are continentals.

 

The runflats on my MINI are much better (so far) than the ones on my previousl car, a '09 328xi. Those where stiff and noisy from day one and just got noisier by the mile. At 28,000 miles they still had plenty of tread left but the howling was awful.

 

How do you like the ST coilovers? I plan to go with the Koni Yellows and NM springs. But I'm not gonna lie, I am very interested in purchasing those ST's over the Koni's.