new family car is a 320, it's got 17" rims with Dunlop SP Sport3000 225/45 ZR17's but I don't know what trye pressures I should be running. They feel soft and with it being rear wheel drive I'm told that rear tyre presusre should be more than front and is quite critical for handling.

any ideas?

 

My 330d has the same size tyres (albeit the Michelin Sport tyres). They 'advised' at 40 psi rear, 37psi front, which seemed high, but works best!

 

Don't have the 17's on mine, but I've got the 18 inch MV alloys. gary is right when he says that the car responds best to high pressures. Initially my tyres were 34psi all round, but upping them to 42 rear and 38 front really made a difference. Wear rate was fine too, and they were not over-inflated at that. Infact, I was told I could go to 45 psi plus on the rears!!

Basically, I run the car on the 5 people plus luggage setting that is recommended on the door shut, even when I use the car solo most of the time.

Cheers
Matt

 

Matt

I've just got a 330ci with the 18" MVs so I'll have to try those pressures out - I can't quite get my head around those sorts of pressures as my Caterham is running at 12 front and 14 rear!

Incidentally the rears only have about 3mm left so are going to need replacing soonish (Gulp...) - know anywhere other than Micheldever than are competitive on the price of these tyres?

I feel like I've spent my whole life keeping those spokes clean already!

Marc

 

Marc,

My car has done 40K miles and is on its 3rd full set of rubber, so don't fret too much. Micheldever are very reasonable, and probably the best value around. I expect to pay about 550quid for 4 tyres. I have tried RE040 Bridgestones (the best) Toyo Proxes T1-S (not bad at all) and Fulda Extremo (cheapest but still OK). I'd have the Bridgestones and the Toyos again, but would probably not buy the Fuldas.

You could try Silverline in Warwick, but they can be a little pricey. Number is 01926 490002.

Cheers
Matt

 

Marc - those were my thoughts but the other way round. Ran the Impreza at 36/33 on 17", then advised to run the BMW at 40/37, then bought a westie and advised to run that at 14psi Was sure it was a mistake, but even upping it to 18psi affected the handling!

 

Matt - any reason you didn't replace the original Michelins? How did the Michelins compare to the Bridgestones?

Gary - do you use A032s? Awesome tyres Getting replaced by a new 048 compund later this year though. You using the Westie for trackdays? I've got Brands, Anglesey, Oulton, Donnington and Rockingham pencilled in already this year. Coool.....

Marc

 

Yes - 032Rs. Only done about 300 miles in the car so far (bloody wet weather ) but yes serious tyres.

Plan to do trackdays, not lined any up yet though!