Z4M - mixing continentals and pilot sport tyres
Discussion
Just realised the front tyres on my 06 Z4M are the original 12 year old continentals. I’m replacing them with Pilot Sport 4s. The rears are very new OEM continentals I put on before I googled and realised how much better the Michelins are. Am I mad to put better Michelins on the front only? I can’t swap them around and put them on the rear as they’re wider. I know I should bite the bullet and ditch the new rear contis and get Michelins all round, but it seems a waste of money if the difference will be negligible. Alternatively I’m loathe to put contis on the front know I know how much better the Michelins are supposed to be. Thoughts?
Running with matched pairs will be fine. They’re both premium tyres and I doubt you’d notice any tangible difference.
When all is said and done, they will have different characteristics but you’d need to be a) sensitive enough to notice any difference and b) anal enough to take possible issue with it.
The prevailing factor for me with mixed tyres front to rear is a stepped transition under cornering whereby turning in and progressing through a corner (at speed) can lead to a two-staged input whereby the tyres load up a different rates so you have to correct your input (add lock/remove lock) depending on their individual behaviour.
When all is said and done, they will have different characteristics but you’d need to be a) sensitive enough to notice any difference and b) anal enough to take possible issue with it.
The prevailing factor for me with mixed tyres front to rear is a stepped transition under cornering whereby turning in and progressing through a corner (at speed) can lead to a two-staged input whereby the tyres load up a different rates so you have to correct your input (add lock/remove lock) depending on their individual behaviour.
Max Maxasson said:
While I've owned several high performance cars with different tyre manufacturers front to rear and they have handled great.
However you do tend to have the tyres with the better grip on the axle that needs it...generally on the rear.
It’s not about ultimate grip levels. Different tyres will have different characteristics and you’ll easily notice the differing responses during slow/normal driving. However you do tend to have the tyres with the better grip on the axle that needs it...generally on the rear.
You were fortunate if you had a car that handled great with different tyres front to rear.
My experience is that most of the time you will be fine...and in cars which have different tyre sizes front to rear, you can use different tyre pairs to further improve the balance front to rear.
Frinstance my E92 M3 came on PS2s but when the Pilot Super Sport first came out I put a pair on the rear and it totally transformed the way the car drove.
My M4 has way better front end grip than my E92 M3s which is great, sort of, a car that gets into the corner well is better than the other way round. However the M4s front end grip is not matched by the rear end grip...whereas in the E92 M3 the front to rear balance was fairly even, in the M4 it isn't.
So when the M4 rears are shot I'll want to put on rear tyres with better grip (likely the PS4S) but keep the fronts as they are.
Never owned a Z4 so can't say for sure what will be the outcome of fitting different brands front to rear..if the OP is happy with the handling as is, then stick with the Contis if not then try the MP4S.
Frinstance my E92 M3 came on PS2s but when the Pilot Super Sport first came out I put a pair on the rear and it totally transformed the way the car drove.
My M4 has way better front end grip than my E92 M3s which is great, sort of, a car that gets into the corner well is better than the other way round. However the M4s front end grip is not matched by the rear end grip...whereas in the E92 M3 the front to rear balance was fairly even, in the M4 it isn't.
So when the M4 rears are shot I'll want to put on rear tyres with better grip (likely the PS4S) but keep the fronts as they are.
Never owned a Z4 so can't say for sure what will be the outcome of fitting different brands front to rear..if the OP is happy with the handling as is, then stick with the Contis if not then try the MP4S.
Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff