350 tyres

[dickymint]

I know I'm being lazy here,
I need to order new tyres for the 350i (mot in couple of weeks). Could someone refresh my memory and tell me what the standard size is and what are the cheaper/readily available brands are?
Cheers.

[my 350i]

Standard size is 205 60 15, and they are readily available in most makes. Prices can vary a lot though. I just paid £90 inc vat for a pair of Goodyear Eagle NCT5. Normally around £75 + vodka and tonic each!!
Dave

[dickymint]

Thanks Dave, I'm on the case

[19560]

That was a little lazy as there is a thread on the next page however to help you not having to refer:

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njhucker said:Mike
I run 205/60/vr15 goodyear nct eagles as per original spec, and they are fine.


Star man. Not many people even know that that was the original spec. but are you never tempted to use the higher performance rubber that has been developed in the last 20 years? For Goodyear that has been NCT, NCT2, NCT3, F1, F1GSD, F1GSD2, and now F1GSD3.

and

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mikeb said:My next thing is to change to a slightly lower profile tyre on the fronts.

I have 205/60/15's all around at the moment. I was thinking about keeping the 205/60/15's on the back and going for something like 205/50/15 on the fronts.

Any other thoughts, cures???....What tyre's have everybody else got on their 350i's - I know this has been asked before.....

Mike B



Yes, this allows you to use UHP (ultra high performance) rubber. Try a 205/55/15 as per the Griff.

John Ravenscroft told me that the 205/50 15 would be too big a deviation from standard and that the suspension wouldn't work properly but 205/55/15 would be OK.

Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 is my tyre of choice (although many like the S03PP but this is generally for historical reasons because the S02PP was very good.)

and also

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mikeb said:I was working out the difference that changing tyres would make and reckon that the 205/50's would give around 102.5mm tyre height, the 205/60's I have at the moment would be 123mm and the 55's around 112.75mm (I think).

Therefore (please correct me if I have worked something out incorrectly) the extra clearance from my existing 205/60's would be 20.5mm for the 205/50 and 10.25mm for the 205/55's ???.anyone....Mike B



Your maths is correct but it doesn't work like that in practice. The ride heights and therefore clearances need to be multiplied by about 0.6 to 0.75. Go and measure your 205/60s; do they have a tyre wall height of 123?

Good luck, Jonathan

[taff_o]

I also run Goodyear NCT5's, what I done was got a price from www.micheldever.co.uk/ £55 inc. then went to my local national Tyres and they price matched, hope that helps.

[dickymint]

Thanks all - ordered a set of F1 GSD2's cos they look pretty!

[19560]

dickymint said:

Thanks all - ordered a set of F1 GSD2's cos they look pretty!

Fair do's then. The GSD3 is a better tyre, esp in the dry but I agree with you that the D3 is rather plain looking next to the D2.

[adam quantrill]

I'm running SO3 205/55/15's all round now and they are very good.
There is not much difference in the speedo (in fact if anything it's more accurate as it used to under-read.)

[350zwelgje]

Bridgestone do a 205/60 R15 V-rating, RE720.
They are just fine for me.

Rob