After reading posts on run flat tires on this forum, I wanted to experiment a bit with different road textures and tire pressure. To my amazement, I found that it may not be a problem with run flat tires but sensitivity to tire pressure. I've noticed that even a decrease in 1-2 PSI below normal recommended tire pressure causes our cars to ride rough, tramline more and increase road feel (BMW normal tire pressure recommended: 32F and 35R).
After keeping my tire pressure at the recommended PSI on both F/R tires, I noticed the ride was pretty good, tramlining was almost negligible and road feel was decent - not too much and not too less. This was true even on rough textures. The car felt really good, handling/feel was great and it drove smoothly on rough texture and I didn't had to hold tight the steering wheel. However, I noticed that after I hit a pothole (purposely) at about 30-35 MPH, my tire pressure on three of the tires reduced by 1-2 PSI below recommended. Then I drove the car and all the bad things that we've talked about here started to come into picture - tramlining, more road feel etc... So I went back after couple of days and hit the same pot hole with the same speed. Wasn't surprised to see a drop of 1 PSI.
Now I've got back to the recommended tire pressure and the car drives really well. I'm pretty happy with the ride quality. I'm starting to believe that as long as I maintain the correct tire pressures, the car will drive the way it is supposed to. I'm also starting to believe that our RFTs are way sensitive to bumps, pot holes as far as tire pressure goes.
So even if you hit a small pothole, there's a very high chance that your tire pressure has reduced by 1-2 PSIs.
Again, this is just from my experience. I'll have to play around a bit more with tire pressure to comfirm for sure and in the meanwhile I wanted to share my thoughts.
Note: All tire pressures were measured when it was cold, first thing early morning.
After keeping my tire pressure at the recommended PSI on both F/R tires, I noticed the ride was pretty good, tramlining was almost negligible and road feel was decent - not too much and not too less. This was true even on rough textures. The car felt really good, handling/feel was great and it drove smoothly on rough texture and I didn't had to hold tight the steering wheel. However, I noticed that after I hit a pothole (purposely) at about 30-35 MPH, my tire pressure on three of the tires reduced by 1-2 PSI below recommended. Then I drove the car and all the bad things that we've talked about here started to come into picture - tramlining, more road feel etc... So I went back after couple of days and hit the same pot hole with the same speed. Wasn't surprised to see a drop of 1 PSI.
Now I've got back to the recommended tire pressure and the car drives really well. I'm pretty happy with the ride quality. I'm starting to believe that as long as I maintain the correct tire pressures, the car will drive the way it is supposed to. I'm also starting to believe that our RFTs are way sensitive to bumps, pot holes as far as tire pressure goes.
So even if you hit a small pothole, there's a very high chance that your tire pressure has reduced by 1-2 PSIs.
Again, this is just from my experience. I'll have to play around a bit more with tire pressure to comfirm for sure and in the meanwhile I wanted to share my thoughts.
Note: All tire pressures were measured when it was cold, first thing early morning.