Not happy with the X5, is it the RFT?

[GoVols!]

Originally Posted by buckeyewalt

Maybe the RFT in cars are different than the X-5, because trying to change a tire on one of those vehicles is difficult at best. I have the Bridgestone RFT on my SUV and except for some noise,,,I like them. The sidewalls are stiff,,no real roll to speak of,,and I don't worry too much about flats or having my wife out in it with a flat. I looked at the DWS, but I had them on my AMG, and the sidewalls were way to soft,,,good milage,,but you really noticed the soft flex walls. When you have a vehicle that weighs over 5000lbs, with a high center of gravity,,,sidewall flex and stability is my number one concern. Lets face it,,,with a X-5,,the twisties is about the last thing you would try although I must say,,with the RFT it does seem very stable. Final thought,,,if I ever got a flat,,the worst thing that would happen is that I would drive it to a tire store and have it repaired or replaced,,,if I put regular tires on,,,I would either need to call a tow truck,,or use the fix-a-flat can and ruin my TPMS which I would need to replace along with the repair......easy choice for me...RFT!

Fair enough. To each his own, but keep in mind you can call a lot of tow trucks for the extra expense of RFT's. Figure keeping the car for 6 years and driving 15k a year. That is at least 1 but probably 2 extra sets of tires you'll go through or ~$2,500. To me, RFT's solve a non-existant problem.

[buckeyewalt]

Originally Posted by GoVols!

Fair enough. To each his own, but keep in mind you can call a lot of tow trucks for the extra expense of RFT's. Figure keeping the car for 6 years and driving 15k a year. That is at least 1 but probably 2 extra sets of tires you'll go through or ~$2,500. To me, RFT's solve a non-existant problem.

I see your point,,,and if I had a car,,I probably wouldn't have the RFT,,but since my vehicle is an X-5 SUV,,it is a convenience that I like, and if you call a lot of tow trucks to repair a flat,,,again the convenience of not getting stranded and waiting for someone to fix the flat, plus,when you try to replace a tire on an SUV with a spare,,,you'll go with the RFT's in a heart beat. Again to each his own............

[BGM]

Originally Posted by buckeyewalt

I see your point,,,and if I had a car,,I probably wouldn't have the RFT,,but since my vehicle is an X-5 SUV,,it is a convenience that I like, and if you call a lot of tow trucks to repair a flat,,,again the convenience of not getting stranded and waiting for someone to fix the flat, plus,when you try to replace a tire on an SUV with a spare,,,you'll go with the RFT's in a heart beat. Again to each his own............

And for those of us with 3rd Row Seats--we have no spare anyways to change--RFT is the only option.

[ard]

1. "TREADWEAR" ratings are 400AA and 440AA for the RFT versus non-RFT.

Thats treadwear- which is NOT 'treadlife'... I think it is rather linear, actually. I think.

2. There are different warranties on the treadlife, but these are not RATINGS. They are business decisions. I simply think this is a decision based on being predatory with owners that have no choice and for which they do not NEED to offer the same warranty. (Interesting to note if you run staggered (front and rear different widths) the treadlife warrant is HALVED.)

3. If $$$ is the issue, why buy michelins? But I hear ya, for best handling and best value, if you don't need or want a RFT, sure...

[Alan Smithee]

FWIW, the treadwear rating on the OEM 20" Dunlop RFT is 240, vs. 420 for the Toyo Proxes STII non-RFT of the same size and weight rating. And the Dunlops are exactly twice the price.

[buckeyewalt]

A set of 4 Bridgstone Duelers that have a tread wear of 300... staggard fitment, cost $1142, which is far less that the Dunlops that cost $2032. I have the Bridgestone and aside from some tire noise,,,,not too bad of a tire for a RFT!

[ukwildcat]

Here's another useless Justin opinion.

Mine came with RFTs which everyone thinks are the devil.
On the way to work, I ran over SOMETHING I didn't see . It might have been a land mine - it sure felt like it.

Well, it DESTROYED the RFT but of course I could keep going. Well I replaced them with the Continentals, like so many people here have suggested. Was not very expensive, really.. I think altogether with alignment, etc. it was about $1200.

They ARE better than the RFTs. They are not, in my opinion "night and day" better. The ride is softer and the handling is more fluid. It's still a bit of a stiff ride, although I rather expect this from a performance car.

I do not have adaptive drive (yeah, mistake I think) or active steering (dealer recommended against it) but the Conti's DO make that turn into the parking a little less work.

I think mine is out of balance at the moment - it's at the dealer now, but hopefully when I get it back it will be smooth as silk.

[buckeyewalt]

Originally Posted by ukwildcat

Here's another useless Justin opinion.

Mine came with RFTs which everyone thinks are the devil.
On the way to work, I ran over SOMETHING I didn't see . It might have been a land mine - it sure felt like it.

Well, it DESTROYED the RFT but of course I could keep going. Well I replaced them with the Continentals, like so many people here have suggested. Was not very expensive, really.. I think altogether with alignment, etc. it was about $1200.

They ARE better than the RFTs. They are not, in my opinion "night and day" better. The ride is softer and the handling is more fluid. It's still a bit of a stiff ride, although I rather expect this from a performance car.

I do not have adaptive drive (yeah, mistake I think) or active steering (dealer recommended against it) but the Conti's DO make that turn into the parking a little less work.

I think mine is out of balance at the moment - it's at the dealer now, but hopefully when I get it back it will be smooth as silk.

When you do have a flat, and have to change the tire or use a fix-a-flat can and have to replace the TPS, then let me know. Really I don't doubt that non-RFT are better, but the Conti's DWS have such a soft side wall, the vehicle feels like its in water....I don't like RFT BUT for this type of vehicle, I feel it's the best choice...IMHO!!

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by rh71

What I want to know is why the South Carolina factory would carry 3 different OEM brands for a single size tire at the same time?

Many years ago I worked for one of the Big Three manufacturers. Most auto manufacturers will have at least two suppliers of tires for a couple of reasons.

The first is that they want supply reliability so if one tire manufacturer has problems or capacity issues they do not have to shut-down production.

The second is that it gives them price negotiation power and leverage with the tire manufacturers.

[buckeyewalt]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Many years ago I worked for one of the Big Three manufacturers. Most auto manufacturers will have at least two suppliers of tires for a couple of reasons.

The first is that they want supply reliability so if one tire manufacturer has problems or capacity issues they do not have to shut-down production.

The second is that it gives them price negotiation power and leverage with the tire manufacturers.

Two of those brands are Dunlop and Bridgestone both are RFT. I would assume the third is a conventional tire.