Yet another magazine comparison (September R&T) that lays the M roadster off as having stability problems aginst its peers, the S2000 Honda and Porsche Boxster S. Of course, when checking the data table, it is no surprise that the car was shod with the Dunlop 8080E's, of course. You don't even have to look, if the g's on the skidpad are sub .90 (.89 in this test), it's the Dunlops. Even R&T's data table of all cars tested, shows the Roadster at .84 g's (A ford Focus is listed at .85!). A Mazda Miata pulled off .92 g's!

Earth to BMW: Equiping a car with STA rear suspension and strut front suspension with a set of cheap tires will produce sub-optimal results!

Even a set of Sumatomo's HTRZ's, or Kumho 312's can outperform the Dunlops. Why not provide cars shod with the Mich. Pilot Sports? I'm convinced that in this comparison, the outcome would have been dramatically different had the roadster been set up with real performance rubber.

From a marketing perspective, providing test cars with the Dunlops on them is like giving Carl Louis a nice new pair of Tom McCan loafers for the Olympics!