Agreed. I "accidently" ditched my run flats two days ago. After 15,000 miles I experienced a slow leak on one tire and when I went in to have it fixed the tire salesman told me they needed to be replaced. He quoted me $1300 (!) for the Bridstone run-flats, identical to what was on the car (only 15,000 miles!). I asked if he had anything cheaper and he proposed a Pirelli P7000 SS. I have had good experience on my SC400 in the past with Pirellis, and they were "only" $1000 so I bought them. I assumed they were run flats too. Literally in one day I couldn't believe how much better the car performed. Smoother, quieter, handled better - I was amazed. So much so that I went back to inquire if these were, in fact, run flats because the ride was so superior to my Bridgestones. He told me they weren't (my error for not asking I guess). However, these are so far superior to what I had, I'll never go back to the run flats - and I have only been driving these for two days. What a difference. I recommend everyone should experience the difference driving the run flats vs. standard. Even though the Pirelli ultra high performance tires still aren't rated with a life expectancy as long as a standard tire, the ride and drive performance more than make up for the difference vs. run flats. And, yea, you can "run flat" for a hundred miles or so, then you have to throw it away and buy a new $400 tire. What's the advantage there?
