Hi chaps, sorry for what is another Bimmer related thread but I'm not too bothered about joining BMW forums for something as broad as tyre choice.

So the rear runflats on my E92 330d SE (Bridgestone RE050A runflats) are nearly shot and I want to move away from them to normal tyres within a reasonable budget. May I politely ask what suggestions/experiences people have on Bimmers with regards to tyre choice? I found on the old 17" wheels the Conti Sport Contact 3 SSR runflats good. The current Bridgestones tramline and feel skittish so I'm not overly keen on them or other Bridgestones.

However I've looked on Camskill and found the following:

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m61b2524s0...port_Maxx_RT_-

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m61b2545s0...alken_FK_453_-

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m61b2324s0...Asymmetric_2_-

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m61b1732s0...rt_Contact_5_-

I need 225/40/18 and 255/35/18, so the four links have both sizes.

Other suggestions welcome, cheers. ��

 

The Contis if you can; brilliant tyres, particularly in the wet.
My van has those Dunlops so you can't get them.
The Goodyears are highly regarded too.

 

I have the Goodyears on mine and at £166 a tyre from Openo I thought they were cheap as they are 275/19.

 

All the above tyres are good. But depends on what you want out of them.
I.e noise, tread wear, wet dry grip, tramline etc.

The dunlop sport maxx, but I'd only go for the GT not the RT. have a good level of wet n dry grip, less tramline, good wear rate and low noise.

The contis have the above, not sure about wear rate, but a lot of audi folk seem to complain about tramlining.

Can't comment on the falken 453s

Michelin PS3 have rave reviews of excellent grip, not sure about noise, but do wear a bit quicker.

Goodyear ass2, can't comment but have good reviews on here. I think their a mix of all the above.

So it's what you want really

 

I'm honestly not sure but have had Conti's in 17" with no tramlining issues and found the grip good. Hopefully with a normal tyre it would offer more grip and less skittish characteristics on an 18" wheel.

I'm not fussed about wear, I just want good wet/dry grip at a reasonable cost. And if possible low road noise.

 

If you're not bothered about wear, then the PS3 is the best of all.

 

What I don't understand (and this is probably a stupid question) are all the letters after the size/speed rating. Like XY, MO, TL, TR etc. etc. Even for the same tyre but different size, these letters are different and I'm sat here crossed eyed trying to make sense.

 

I've got vredestein ultrac's all round on my 330ci, can't fault them.

 

Usually OEM specific/approved tyres.

MO is Mercesdes
AO is Audi
a star symbol is BMW


I think ContiSport Contacts do offer good balance on wet grip/price/wear. But do prefer Michelin pilot sports 3 (more expensive though).

 

I had the original Pilot Sports on my Saxo and have similarish Pilot Super Sports on the BM; they are excellent tyres in the dry and pretty good in the wet but suffer in cool conditions. The wear rate is also quite high; but if budget is a non issue, they are excellent tyres.

 

I had the FK453's on my E92 330d remapped to 275bhp and I couldn't fault them.

 

Goodyear Asymmetric 2 are a great all round tyre-fantastic wear rate and great in the wet.I've just ordered a new set of rears for mine.
Oponeo are consistently the cheapest for me-Camskill couldn't beat their prices and turnaround time is a couple of days...

 

Michelin Pilot Super Sports - I replaced the run flats on my 130i and the difference is night and day. Better wear, ride, noise, wet and dry grip; they have transformed the car (still understeers like a pig though, should have got 225s all round to loosen up the rear end!).

 

Mine was on a square set up 225/45 17"; seemed under tyred for the power but it was actually fine.

The M135i has fatter rear rubber.

 

Another vote in super sports. Keep an eye out as Michelin often do fuelcard deals. I got £100 back on 4x235/35/19's for the RS which made them around £160 per corner fitted. Could have eeked out another £20 buying online but for less hassle just arrive and fit at decent local shop its a no brainer for me.

 

Are the fronts normal or run-flats? Don't mix the tyres, 4 x normals or 4 x runflats. Manufacturers wouldn't recommend it and I'm sure insurance companies could use it as an excuse not to pay out. Best check with them first!

 

All 4 tyres are Bridgestone RE050A run-flats. I'll be changing all 4 at once.

 

That's what I had on mine - and changed them all to the non RFT Contis. A bit of an expensive trip to the tyre fitters!

 

Proper cars have a staggered set up

 

While the "square" set up was useful financially (I could swap fronts and rears), it just didn't seem right on a 286bhp torque monster.

Glad I am now "correct"

 

Good, that makes my clubsport a proper car then!

 

 

I once had a Alfa 147 rental car with a staggered setup.

It was a FWD diesel !

 

Were the larger tyres on the front?

 

I believe RS3s have wider front tyres; WTF?!

 

Looked up the Michelin Pilot Super Sports and I can't find them in 255/35/18?

Looking like either the Conti's or Goodyears to be honest. I've got my 17" wheels on eBay now to claw some ££ back

 

http://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre-finder/...r=1/255-35-r18

 

They're varying Pilot Sports, Stavros. The Super Sports were what I couldn't source in my required size mate

 

They might not do super sports in that size?

I'd go Pilot Sport 3 or Conti. The MPSS in your size (if they do them) would be sodding expensive!

 

Yeah, I think I was looking around £470-500 for the Goodyears, Conti's and Michelins.