My PW/B MCS-a will arrive in November. I live near near Chicago. I'm looking for opinions regarding whether or not the stock run flats can handle typical midwest weather.

 

I would say no, you would be much better off getting dedicated winter tires. Dunlop M3's are what I have on mine. Tirerack.com

 

I switched off my performance runflats for a set of Bridgestone A/S 960's, but I'm also buying a dedicated set of wheels with Dunlop Winter Sport M3's. Once the temps hit <50 the M3's are going on. They're unbeatable for winter driving, and don't wear out like Blizzaks do. This way if I get hit with winter weather before I get the M3's on, I'm covered, but in the snow winter tires are a must have. Especially if you're like me and don't plow your 200' driveway.

Tire Rack has the M3s for $99. If you want runflats, you can get the M3D for $150 (I think). That's for 16" size.

 

Run-flat or no run-flat, they're a performance type tire and won't do well in snow. Get a set of snow tires and rims and use those. Trust me, I live in Germany and have a set on my Ford Probe for the winter and it makes a HUGE difference on the white stuff... Plus, it's 100 percent safer for you and those around you too.

Cheers

 

It depends. Stock all seasons will work in the snow (hell I ran stock Pirelli 17's my first winter) we generally get in NJ/NY but if you live somewhere with real and regular snowfalls I'd say it's cheap insurance.

 

For winter rims and tires, does it matter if you get 17" or 16" rims? It's more the width of the tire that makes more of the difference in snow right (i.e. fatter tires are worse?)? I'm looking at this now, trying to decide whether to get Blizzaks or something else as run-flats or to just buy some other rims and non-runflat tires and get AAA just in case.

Kathy

 

Or, for the ultimate peace of mind, buy runflat snow tires.

I have Pirelli 240 SnowSport RFTs (on 17s), but both Bridgestone Blizzaks and Dunlop Winter Sports are available in RFTs as well. Pirelli has Sottozero as well as SnowSport models in runflat.

 

i'm still running on the stock run-flats. this will be the 3rd winter on them. haven't gone sideways yet. i'm probably going to get a new set in the Spring. i really don't have room to store a 2nd set of tires, so run-flats are my only option for now.

btw FK_47... even if you don't have your MCS by 10/28, check out the CMMC Starved Rock Run that's in your area. click my sig for the link

 

I also live near Chicago. I use my stock 16" run flats that came on my 2006 MCS for winter driving. The bottom line is that the streets get cleared so fast, it really isn't an issues. I guess maybe 2 or 3 times a winter I am driving on snow that they haven't had time to clear and at that point, everyone is going so slow it doesn't matter. Around here, I wouldn't be concerned that much.

 

Thanks for the replies. My MCS is in production but this website contains so many negative comments on run flats I was getting paranoid.

I'm staying with the all season run flats until I need new tires and then I'll make a decision based on my experiences.

 

Not everyone hates runflats, you know. I personally like them and choose them deliberately.

I love their razor-sharp turn-in, and I love the peace of mind they add.

I don't care about the ride, either... if I wanted a Cadillac, I'd have bought one!

Mind you, newer generations of runflats are doing a lot to improve on the elements that people dislike... the problem then will be overcoming people's inherited and very dismissive negativity about the technology.

 

My major complaint abouit runflats is the price. $250 for a tire that last 10,000 miles just don't cut it. And that's from Tire Rack. So if you're within 50 miles from someone who even carries the tire you need, you're probably going to pay even more. And likely will need to ultimately get a pair if you have any mileage on the one that goes flat.

For <$30 you get a compressor and a tire repair kit, and when your tire pressure sensor goes off, stop driving, hook up the compressor (if it's a slow leak), or sit at the side of the road and plug the hole.

Anyone coming around the Allentown, PA area that wants a good deal on a set of 4 Dunlop performance runflats (17") with 2,000 miles on them, let me know.

 

I think Continental has some runflats for around $111 each, and I think Kumho sells some for around $125 apiece. if I were going to get runflats again, I'd try one of those brands, for exactly what Edge was stating...piece of mind.