Sidewalls / Steering Response

[Rdawson]

Hello all,

I'm trying to narrow down a few non RFT options to replace my PS2 ZPs. There's a bit of debate about the internet which suggests BMW designed the bushes to be a little softer to compensate for the stiffer RFT sidewalls, but as expected there hasn't really been any definitive conclusion as to whether that's the case, and, if so, that changing to go-flats causes steering response issues. I would still like the replacement tyres to have stiff sidewalls. My shortlist at the moment is: Potenza RE002, Falken Azenis FK453, Toyo T1 Sport (not the old T1-S), Dunlop Sport Maxx GT and Goodyear Eagle F1 Assym 2. Only thing is, I have heard the F1s have a soft sidewall, but I have no idea if that's true. In your collective opinions, are there are standout performers here? The F1s and Dunlops are about 25% dearer than the other options. Most of my driving is pretty tame and on the motorways / suburbia, but I do get out on the open road once a month for an Italian tune-up.

Cheers,
RD

Edited by Rdawson on Monday 22 December 21:14

[Rdawson]

HarryW said:

Not sure what you drive, but I recall changing tyres on my old V8S from Bridgestones to GY F1 and actually being frightened by the sloppy handling and squirming(deforming?) under power, which was purely down to the softer sidewall. I increased tyre pressure to overcome it but it didn't improve much. Swapped to Falkens, 451 at the time I think, and remember being a lot lot happier. Understood the T1S's to similarity soft, but not driven them.
Of those listed I'd go with the 453's or Bridgestones, although I have no recent first hand experience of either of them.

Sorry, yes the crucial component! The car is an E90 335i M Sport. Rear size is 255/35/18 and front size is 225/40/18. The Bridgestones and Falkens are $1,150 (basically a shade under 600 quid) whereas the Goodyear and Dunlops are closer to $1,500.

[Rdawson]

Sohlman said:

I would highly recommend continental sport contact 3's great sport tyre, nice ride, excellent grip wet and dry and has one every tyre test its entered.

Sadly Continental, Michelin and Pirelli are horrifically expensive in NZ. A full set of CSC3s or CSC5s would set me back the equivalent if 1,300 quid, as would PSS. I guess the freight and duties contribute a lot to that figure, but on top of that they are (as they should be) perceived as exotic, and here in NZ that automatically adds $$$$ due to limited supply and demand. I can't really justify that kind of cost - so I need to stick with the "mid-range" performance tyres a couple of notches down the scale.