Hello guys.
Although I own not a F430 (more attracted by Porsche,I own a 997 S, but every tastes are in the nature ....
), I just want to add some explanations about run on flat tires :
- I'm working for one of the two firms mentionned above ; and more especially this oen who delivers run on flat tires for Ferrari
Two solutions are in the market :
- the run on flat philosphy, with reinforced sidewall, which allow the tires to be flat, but still possible to run "90 km t 90 km/h"
- the second one, developed by some other manufacturers, led by Michelin, is called PAX technology. The disadvantage is that you need a specific rim designed ONLY for this tire. This is perhaps (I'm not sure) more heavy, but you can also be sure that you can't find either a rim or a tire on each dealer at your road. Advantage of the Goodyear one is that you can even mount a standard tire without rim modification.
This is for "tech explanations".
About ride and handling, for sure it's more harsh than normal ones, because of reinforcement. But it has been tested that for supercar or sport car, the additionnal reinforcement can provide a stiffer handling, good think for such a car.
For BMW series, it's more a problem because most of the people are looking for comfort. We are actually on going to work about ride and handling improvement through stiffness enhancement etc etc.
But my personal point of view is that for sport car, it's definitively an advantage : you don't have to be blocked by a puncture, you can return home or at the dealer safely, without damaging the rims, and last argument, you don't have to work on this bloody tire !!
I hope it will help.
Regards