Will changing away from runflat tyres help the ride comfort on my BMW?

I have owned a BMW 320i XDrive from new in 2016. I have always found the ride to be noisy and hard but enjoyed the sharp steering and power response. The car has done 25000 miles and I anticipate the original tyres - Pirelli 225/ R18's- will need to be changed soon. The car's "comfort" mode makes little difference.

Now I'm 75 and looking for a quieter, more comfortable ride. Will changing to pneumatic tyres help or should I consider a new car? I would look for auto transmission, petrol or petrol/hybrid and fwd or 4wd. I could allocate £10,000 plus trade in but need any new car to fit in my garage so a maximum width of 2.0 metres. What do you suggest?

Asked on 17 May 2023 by whitefield

Answered by David Ross

You don't mention if your BMW is an SE or an M Sport, as the latter could have sport suspension which may be contributing to the firm ride. Switching from your run-flats to conventional tyres would help the ride quality and you could also select a tyre with a slightly bigger sidewall for additional comfort. Unless your car is fitted with Adaptive M Suspension, the Comfort mode only changes the steering, engine and gearbox operation and will not alter the ride quality.

If you wanted to switch to a different car, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a similar size to your 3 Series and offers good ride quality and comfort, albeit at the expense of handling, compared to the BMW.

Tags: ride comfort runflat tyres hybrids

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