» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | 12-01-2005, 09:31 PM | #1 | Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: MO Posts: 40 | All-season tire recommendations With my last car, I used to have a set of 3-season tires mounted on my "good" rims, and a set of snow tires mounted on my "winter" rims. That's the best way to go, IMO, but I just bought a '95 318ti that needs tires, and I'm trying to be a bit more frugal this time. So, I'd like to just get a decent set of all-seasons and see how that works out. I'm not looking for anything too exotic - I have stock 15" rims. If I had to prioritize the things I'm looking for in a tire, it would look something like this: 1. Dry/warm weather traction 2. Noise 3. Wet/snow traction 4. Tread life 5. Price I've checked out the reviews on Tirerack, but of course every tire has both glowing reviews and horrible reviews. The bottom line is that a tire that is great on one car might be horrible on another, so I was hoping to get input from people that have cars similar to mine. What do you say? | | | 12-01-2005, 10:08 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: state college, pa Posts: 3,431 | Where are you located (how bad is the snow)? __________________ I scream, you scream, we all scream for ZOMBIES. | | | 12-01-2005, 10:12 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 4,129 | I did the same thing with my Ti, when I got it. I have 15's with all seasons, and 17's with performance tires. I also have a set of stock steel rims with caps that came with the car. If you're interested, I can sell you those rims cheap. Are your current 15's steel with caps, or allow? Quote: Originally Posted by PENVermillion With my last car, I used to have a set of 3-season tires mounted on my "good" rims, and a set of snow tires mounted on my "winter" rims. That's the best way to go, IMO, but I just bought a '95 318ti that needs tires, and I'm trying to be a bit more frugal this time. So, I'd like to just get a decent set of all-seasons and see how that works out. I'm not looking for anything too exotic - I have stock 15" rims. If I had to prioritize the things I'm looking for in a tire, it would look something like this: 1. Dry/warm weather traction 2. Noise 3. Wet/snow traction 4. Tread life 5. Price I've checked out the reviews on Tirerack, but of course every tire has both glowing reviews and horrible reviews. The bottom line is that a tire that is great on one car might be horrible on another, so I was hoping to get input from people that have cars similar to mine. What do you say? | __________________ 1998 (July) 318ti, 5-spd OEM Armrest Blaupunkt Heidelberg CD50 CD Player/Compact Drive MP3 Player Diamond Audio 5.25" rear speakers Navman ICN 530 GPS BMWALARM.COM (with comfort settings) after market alarm system Magnecor 8.5mm wires M-Z3 Shifter/Momo Knob Burlwood Dashboard Stromung Exhaust X-brace Racing Dynamics Front Strut Bar Carbonio C.A.I. 17" Rial Rims Vader Seats/Heated/Lumbar Support M-tech Steering Wheel/Front Sway Bar/Front & Rear Bumper Depos/w 6500K Angel Eyes/6000K HIDs Clear Corners M3 Mirrors UUC Light Weight Flywheel/M5 Clutch/M3 Clutch Slave E28 3.46 LSD/Mcoupe Cover/E30 Flanges & Halfshafts UUC S.S. Brake/Clutch Lines Hartge Roof Spoiler BavAuto Springs Bilstein Sport Struts/Shocks E46 M3 Rear Shock Mounts SPC Front Camber Kit Reiger Hatch Spoiler BavAuto Rear Camber Kit Dinan Stage II Software Turner Rear Sway Bar Reinforcements BMW E46 Auto dimming mirror with Clown Nose alarm Engine Compartment Light Heated Wiper Fluid Retrofit OEM Fire Extinguisher Da'lan Trailer Hitch Rear Sun Shade OEM Fog Light Retrofit H & R MZ3 Rear Sway Bar/ UUC Adjustable End Links Cruise Control Retrofit On Board Computer Retrofit M3 twistie style side skirts Carbon Fiber Hood | | | 12-01-2005, 10:19 PM | #4 | Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: MO Posts: 40 | Quote: Originally Posted by aceyx Where are you located (how bad is the snow)? | I'm in central Missouri (Columbia). We get some snow, but it's not the huge deal that it is in more northern areas. Last winter I had full snow tires on, but I think I only actually drove on snow two or three times. We had a bit of an easy winter last year, though, so this one might be a little worse. Still, it's not so bad that I'm convinced I need full snow tires. Everyone I know gets away with just using all-seasons, although admittedly, they mostly drive FWD cars, which probably helps. Quote: Originally Posted by L84THSKY I also have a set of stock steel rims with caps that came with the car. If you're interested, I can sell you those rims cheap. Are your current 15's steel with caps, or allow? | My current rims are the 15" alloys. I know 15" wheels aren't exactly in vogue right now, but I actually think they look fine. I appreciate the offer for the steelies, but then I'd have to buy 2 sets of tires, and that's what I'm trying to avoid. | | | 12-02-2005, 02:30 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: state college, pa Posts: 3,431 | I also have both winter & summer wheels, but I usually get caught in the white stuff at least once or twice. If your roads get really slick when it rains (I noticed this when moving to the midwest) then I suggest going that route. I'm not sure if the asphalt compound is different out here, but I definitely wouldn't trust all-seasons on them. The only all-seasons I can give a review on this car are the Kumho ECSTA ASX (poor), Michelin Energy MXV4 (okay, but not recommended) and the Conti Touring Contact CH95 (better). Based on other cars I've driven, Bridgestone All-Seasons seem to work best. __________________ I scream, you scream, we all scream for ZOMBIES. | | | 12-02-2005, 05:58 PM | #6 | Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: MO Posts: 40 | I don't think our roads are unusually slick here in Missouri. They don't salt the roads, though, which is good for the car, but can mean a little extra snow driving. Quote: Originally Posted by aceyx The only all-seasons I can give a review on this car are the Kumho ECSTA ASX (poor), Michelin Energy MXV4 (okay, but not recommended) and the Conti Touring Contact CH95 (better). Based on other cars I've driven, Bridgestone All-Seasons seem to work best. | That's the kind of information I was hoping to get with this thread, thanks. I'm glad you said something, too, because the Kumho ECSTAs were one that I had been considering. | | | 12-06-2005, 01:19 AM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pomfret Ct Posts: 277 | I bought falken zeix 512's and can not believe how good the snow and ice traction is for a relatively high performance tire. And i only paid $80 each. I figure i only drive in snow 4 or 5 days a year i can deal w/ out switching my tires to snows and having crappy handling for the whole winter. | | | 12-06-2005, 01:31 AM | #8 | TRETEN IRGENDEINES ESELS Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 3,687 | I bought Dunlop Sport A2's about 2 1/2 yrs ago which is an all season tire and i was sattisfied with them. I'd recommend those to you,i get alot more snow than you. But this year i'm going with the snow tires since last year sucked for me with my commute to work. __________________ 98 Avus Blue 318 ti Active clear outs all around,stealth turning signals,blue led interior lights, 35% tinted windows,K&N air filter, 12" Kenwood Sub, MTX Thunder Amp,Alpine cd changer, Leatherz Armrest,ACS Pedals/Handbrake/FloorMats & Vitesse Tuning Carbon Fiber B-Pillars/CF Spark Plug Cover, New 16" MSW Typer 14 Rims on Goodyear Triple Treds www.myspace.com/avusblueti | | | 12-24-2005, 07:30 AM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lynchburg, VA Posts: 200 | Quote: Originally Posted by PENVermillion I'm in central Missouri (Columbia). We get some snow, but it's not the huge deal that it is in more northern areas. | Sweet. I live in Kansas City but try to make it out to Columbia once a month. | | | 12-24-2005, 05:22 PM | #10 | Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: MO Posts: 40 | Quote: Originally Posted by sparkchaser Sweet. I live in Kansas City but try to make it out to Columbia once a month. | If you see an Alaska Blue ti in KC on the 27th, that might be me visiting my brother - he lives in Lee's Summit. After poring over reviews for tires for a ridiculously long time, I ended up with a set of Falken Ziex 512's. I got them ridiculously cheap from discounttiredirect, too: http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...d=000158&ar=60 $47 each, with free shipping! They sent me the wrong size, though - I ordered 205/60 R15, and they sent me 205/50 R15. They took care of it pretty well, though - I called them, they saw the problem, and they sent a UPS guy to pick the tires back up. Once the tires were on their way back, a new set of proper-size tires were sent. So, no big deal, but it set me back a week, and as a result, I haven't gotten the new tires mounted yet (they just showed up yesterday). Hopefully I'll get them on soon, and they will perform as expected. | | | 12-24-2005, 06:00 PM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lynchburg, VA Posts: 200 | Quote: Originally Posted by PENVermillion If you see an Alaska Blue ti in KC on the 27th, that might be me visiting my brother - he lives in Lee's Summit. | I am in Overland Park. | | | 12-24-2005, 11:53 PM | #12 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 308 | Pirelli P Zero Nero M+S -----> tirerack around 100/tire You could prove me wrong, but I haven't read a bad review of this tire. I have em on my car and love. I havent' been able to squeal these things yet around a corner. __________________ '99 ti /Mtechnic, Schwartz II, Meyle Control Arms w/Full Metal Ball Joints, PowerFlex poly LCAB's, Pirelli P Zero/Nero 225/50/16, "the d-baffle"...... | | | 02-16-2006, 07:47 PM | #13 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Marion, IA Posts: 388 | I am considering 5 right now, all for 225/50/16: Avon Tech M550 A/S, $89 ea Pirelli PZero Nero M&S, $101 ea Continental ContiExtremeContact, $108 ea Michelin Pilot Sport A/S, $156 ea Kumho ECSTA ASX, $69 ea Those are the top 5 rated tires (in order from 1st to 5th) from Tirerack.com for "Ultra high performance all season" tires. Those tires were all rated above 90% v. best in class. | | | 02-16-2006, 07:55 PM | #14 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Hinsdale, IL. Posts: 181 | I been running Bridgestone RE 950. Great in all seasons and reasonably priced. Go to Car and Driver article from a few months ago. They liked the Hankook tire for the price. | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |