Tires

[zoner]

I didn't see a good thread on this after searching, and since tire manufacturers often like to change things up every few years, some of the info. I did find seemed to be a little dated.

I'm curious as to what type of rubber people are running- I'm getting ready to purchase a new set for my Style 22's and am seeing a relatively small range of options for the size I'm looking for (235/40-17). I've run Michelin Pilot Sports (great tire, but no longer made in the size I'm looking for); and PS II's (ridiculous grip, but fast wear and high price are issues).

I was looking at some Yokohama S-drives, but read some reviews that some people weren't happy with the flexy sidewalls (and I don't think I would be either), and the BFG G-sports and KDW's. Handling and wet/dry traction are bigger concerns than noise and longevity, but I'd also rather not have to replace them in 15-20k miles. I'd like to keep the price between $120-150/per. Any and all feedback is appreciated.

[Bobtail_Bimmer]

My father in law is a manager for white tire so i tend to get the hook up. My wheels are stockers with a nice set of Fuzions. Good tire for all season,great tread/traction, good warranty. Only prob is over time you can have an issue with cupping so i rotate at every oil change. One of my last rides had 17s which i used Khumos at one point then went to Sumitomos. Also a good tire for the price.

[jggonzalez]

I've got the stock 16" rims on mine. I'm planning to try the Bridgestone Potenza RE760AS. I ran the RE960AS on my Mini Cooper and really liked it. Good wet/dry traction and fantastic longevity. I think I got aroung 45K miles out of mine. They also did well in the Tire Rack tests.

[tiFreak]

my Cordoba ti has Toyo Extensa HP on it, great wet and dry traction, for my track car I'm planning on getting a set of Dunlop Direzza Star-Spec based on recommendations from other people at the autocrosses

[pi4ovete_84]

I have Pirelli PZero Nero M&S 235/40/18. Great price, great look, great traction when is sunny and dry. Not recommended for rainy or snowy days.

[BimmerBum]

I ran through 2 sets of KDW's on my wagon. They are really good for the money. They do run a bit wide, which I liked. I also did not find them to be too loud until they wore down but with -2.5 and -2 degrees of negative camber any tire will make noise eventually.

I'm running Dunlop SP Sport 2000's on the Club Sport. These are the tires that came on the factory 17s from the wagon. Grip is good not great in the wet and dry.

On the Coupe I have Bridgestone Potenza RE 760's. The grip is good in the wet and dry but not as good as the KDW's. They also run much narrower than the KDW's.

[jca]

A good tire for the money is the Uniroyal Tiger Paw Touring which comes in 225/50 17. It's an all weather, 80,000 mile tire that I like fine on my ti. I bought it mainly for the longevity, but it handles well enough for me as well. I have a set on my minivan, too, and I'm probably going to put them on my Z3 when the time comes. Can't see paying big money for grippy, "high performance" tires that wear out in 25 to 30 thousand miles. Just me.

[BimmerBum]

Originally Posted by jca

A good tire for the money is the Uniroyal Tiger Paw Touring which comes in 225/50 17.

225/50/17 is too tall for the ti... 225 needs a 45 side wall on the 17s. No matter what brand and model you select you should try to keep the overall diameter close to stock, using sizes BMW used is a good way (but not the only way) to make that happen.

[zoner]

I'd be happy if I could get 30,000+ miles out of a set of high performance tires.

I don't do a whole lot of spirited driving anymore, but I do have some favorite roads and twisties in So. Cal. where I like to push it a little bit. My only at-fault accident (knock on wood) happened many years ago by pushing a set of inferior tires beyond their limit, so ever since that time I've always found it worthwhile to invest in good rubber.

I've heard a lot of good things about the KDW's, but from what I've read, noise and very short life tend to be issues. The Direzza star spec's look like they would be seriously grippy, but the tread pattern seems like something that would be more at home on the track than on a daily driver. As I mentioned earlier, I had read some reviews about sidewall flex on Yokohama S-drives, but I'm wondering if that would be a big issue on a 235/40 series tire? Anyone have any experience with BFG G-sports? They seem like a decent enough tire (Z rated; aggressive tread pattern), but they're priced so low that it's almost making me wonder where the trade-off is.

Thanks for the suggestions so far...

[BimmerBum]

My last set of KDW's took 25k miles and probably 20 autocrosses.

a 235/40 has a decent amount of sidewall... so if thin sidewalls are an issue I would guess that a 235/40 would not be low profile enough to be immune to the issue.

[jca]

Originally Posted by BimmerBum

225/50/17 is too tall for the ti... 225 needs a 45 side wall on the 17s. No matter what brand and model you select you should try to keep the overall diameter close to stock, using sizes BMW used is a good way (but not the only way) to make that happen.

I appreciate that information...thanks, John

[netfatih]

ive got a quick question too. Ive 17 inch m3 contour wheels. If i will replace the front tires with 245/40 (current one for front: 225/40 rear: 245/40) am i gonna have any problems?

[jca]

Originally Posted by netfatih

ive got a quick question too. Ive 17 inch m3 contour wheels. If i will replace the front tires with 245/40 (current one for front: 225/40 rear: 245/40) am i gonna have any problems?

I don't have an answer to your question, but that is a beautiful moreagrun ti you have there, only the third morea I have seen on this site.

[BimmerBum]

Originally Posted by netfatih

ive got a quick question too. Ive 17 inch m3 contour wheels. If i will replace the front tires with 245/40 (current one for front: 225/40 rear: 245/40) am i gonna have any problems?

The contours are staggered wheels... 225/45/17s front and 245/40/17s rear are the proper stock tire sizes... if you go 245/40 17s on the narrow front wheels you may run into some weird wear issues.

[netfatih]

@ jca thank you for your compliments, but the car has 160xxx now and the way im driving him is not right (always high rpm) so i dont think i am gonna keep him more than 2 years. (if the engine swap will not be happen). Additionally, i would like to see your car too. Pls add some pictures to your gallery..

@BimmerBum Ive found a perfect deal for the tires. Brand new set (4) for 200$!!! So i guess i am not gonna use the 245's for the front. They will be my back up. Thank you for your information by the way.