Tire: Turanza EL42 RFT
Category: Standard Touring All-Season
UTQG (treadwear): 300 A A / 260 A A
The Turanza EL42 RFT is the run flat version of the original Bridgestone Turanza EL42 that we've reviewed here. But I should say that this isn't just a redux version, in fact this tire was developed to specifically be an original equipment (OE) tire for a few vehicles on the market including the BMW 1, 3, and 7 series, as well as the Lexus GS and SC, and the Infiniti Q45. This being a run flat tire, it's got some structural differences that allow the tire to be driven at 50 mph for up to 50 miles, and I've heard stories from drivers that you can go farther. This tire seems to have a wide variety of character differences than the original Turanza EL42, so while it's worth reading that review, I'd keep with this article for the entirety.
Most of these tires find their way onto BMWs, and that's simply due to BMW selling more cars than Lexus or Infiniti that both utilize these tires from the factory. Reviews are not stellar for this tire. You'll likely got over 60,000 miles out of a set, which pretty good for an OE tire, but most drivers find that these do not provide the necessary amount of grip for a sports sedan. The Turanza EL42 RFT is also a pretty loud tire, and this isn't exactly unique...most run flat tires are quite a bit louder than their regular counterparts. I think for the money, it's hard to justify buying this tire when there are simply so many other tires on the market that will give you better treadwear and better traction.
