Premium vs mid-range tyre brands and matching tyres
Discussion
Hey all,
I know tyre choice is a rather tricky topic, especially as some tyres suit some cars and not others, so please no comparing compare the Michelin Man to Hitler or anything! I have recently purchased an E39 525i, a car which I feel deserves decent tyres.
Atm, it has Pirelli P7s on the back, which get mixed reviews, and some sort of Marshalls on the front which seem to be a budget brand that gets universally panned. The problem is I have very unfashionable 15 inch wheels, so the tyre size I need is 225/60 R15 and there isn't much choice (but at least they're cheap).
The P7 isn't made available any more, at least in the size I need it, so my choices amount to one premium brand and two I believe are considered mid-range:
Continental Premium Contact 2 £115
Uniroyal Rainexpert £100
Falken Ziex ZE-912 £97
So:
(1) Will it probably be okay to mix Pirellis on the back and another brand on the front?
(2) Are Continental worth that extra £15?
(3) Does anyone have an informed view on whether Marshall are that bad? Being on the front at least not on the driven wheels.
Thanks!
(Edited as I originally said I wasn't asking about specific tyres, then realised I have!)
I know tyre choice is a rather tricky topic, especially as some tyres suit some cars and not others, so please no comparing compare the Michelin Man to Hitler or anything! I have recently purchased an E39 525i, a car which I feel deserves decent tyres.
Atm, it has Pirelli P7s on the back, which get mixed reviews, and some sort of Marshalls on the front which seem to be a budget brand that gets universally panned. The problem is I have very unfashionable 15 inch wheels, so the tyre size I need is 225/60 R15 and there isn't much choice (but at least they're cheap).
The P7 isn't made available any more, at least in the size I need it, so my choices amount to one premium brand and two I believe are considered mid-range:
Continental Premium Contact 2 £115
Uniroyal Rainexpert £100
Falken Ziex ZE-912 £97
So:
(1) Will it probably be okay to mix Pirellis on the back and another brand on the front?
(2) Are Continental worth that extra £15?
(3) Does anyone have an informed view on whether Marshall are that bad? Being on the front at least not on the driven wheels.
Thanks!
(Edited as I originally said I wasn't asking about specific tyres, then realised I have!)
Edited by boz1 on Tuesday 12th June 14:19
boz1 said:
the tyre size I need is 225/60 R15 and there isn't much choice
You could try different size tyres.225/55/15 and 225/65/15 will both make a very small difference to your speedo, and you may find you have more tyre choice.
If you find out the width of your wheels (probably between 6 and 7.5J), you could change the tread width as well.
boz1 said:
(1) Will it probably be okay to mix Pirellis on the back and another brand on the front?
As long as the two tyres on one axle are the same, thats fine. I run different tyres on the back to the front for different characteristics.The E39 chassis will highlight all sorts of flaws in the tyres. Whether you can pick up on this feedback is another thing. 
Nevertheless, a matched set would be preferable but stick with matched pairs as a minimum.
The Ziex 912's are horrendous in the wet and will easily be overcome given the modest power and heavy kerb weight of the E39 in most conditions if you actually enjoy pressing on.
The Rainsport 2's are very sensitive to being mixed so if you choose these - go for a set of four.
The Conti's are a great all-rounder. They are asymmetric with decent circumferential grooved design which offer a lower noise-floor and smoother handing all round which suits the E39. The original PremiumContact were also an OE fitment for this car so there will be a degree of synergy.
Nevertheless, a matched set would be preferable but stick with matched pairs as a minimum. The Ziex 912's are horrendous in the wet and will easily be overcome given the modest power and heavy kerb weight of the E39 in most conditions if you actually enjoy pressing on.
The Rainsport 2's are very sensitive to being mixed so if you choose these - go for a set of four.
The Conti's are a great all-rounder. They are asymmetric with decent circumferential grooved design which offer a lower noise-floor and smoother handing all round which suits the E39. The original PremiumContact were also an OE fitment for this car so there will be a degree of synergy.
I also have an E39 525i but with 16 inch wheels and I’m current going through a similar dilemma! If I were you, at that price, I would go for the Premium Contact 2s. As Frances The Mute says they were the OE fitment and are excellent – I currently have these on the back.
I would like to fit them again but can’t find any Contis, locally, at a reasonable price so may fit Barum Bravuris 2 (Continental’s budget range and also on the front) which are reasonable in terms of price and performance. Hopefully the recently released Premium Contact 5 should see some offers or drop in price on the 2s by the time my fronts need changing, in about six months, so I’ll be able to swap them and have Contis back on the back.
I would like to fit them again but can’t find any Contis, locally, at a reasonable price so may fit Barum Bravuris 2 (Continental’s budget range and also on the front) which are reasonable in terms of price and performance. Hopefully the recently released Premium Contact 5 should see some offers or drop in price on the 2s by the time my fronts need changing, in about six months, so I’ll be able to swap them and have Contis back on the back.
Frances The Mute said:
Whether you can pick up on this feedback is another thing.
Hurrumph! I expect the DSC will pick up on the flaws first anyway!Thanks all for the advice, think I will splash out on Continentals when I do the upgrade then, but keep the Pirelli's on the back until they wear out.
c123, I assume you've looked on blackcircles for their Premium Contact 2 prices for your size? They all seem to be around the £130 mark.
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