Anyone running an E46 Sport with Kumho Ecsta KU39?

[stevesuk]

Hi all,

Local mechanic has serviced my 2001 330 Ci Sport today and reckoned it will all be fine for the MOT in January, apart from the tyres. The fronts are both worn quite badly on the inner edges, and all 4 tyres are nearing the wear markers.

So I'm thinking of replacing all 4. It currently has a mix of 18" Kumho and Falken (a pair of each), and being a Sport it has the different sized (expensive!) rear tyres.

Local tyre place (who seem to have a fairly good reputation) have recommended and priced up a set of 4 matching Kumho Ecsta KU39, which they can supply and fit for £438. I'll probably pay on top of that for a proper 4 wheel alignment (same place has the Hunter alignment system), to check the uneven tyre wear on the front isn't down to an alignment problem.

I wanted to go for something like Continental, but they seem way, way more expensive. I'm all for safety, but at the same time I'm concious that if I fit a set of matching Continentals, they're probably going to cost a third of the value of the car in one hit

So, just wondered if anyone is running an E46 Sport with Kumho Ecsta, and if so, whether they're OK in day to day use?

Thanks,

Steve.

[EJH]

Whilst an E36 M3 (and thus different generation, albeit with staggered tyres), my E36 had Ecstas on it when I bought it. The rears needed doing so I just bought a pair as the fronts were fine (and Ecstas were in stock in Jersey with Michelin or Continental likely to be a couple of weeks.

I am never doing it again. I found them, bluntly, pretty hateful. Far poorer feel, much less progression and, occasionally, alarming wet performance. A set of Pilot Sport 3s transformed the car and I would expect a set of ContiSportContacts would feel similar.

First and last set of (not much) cheaper tyres I have bought.

As I said, I appreciate this is E36-specific and hopefully others can provide further perspective re: E46.

[Court_S]

I ran them or Falken 452's on my old E46 and found them fine for day to day driving if I'm honest. I could just about eek out £20k of the rears whereas the fronts lasted ages.

They seemed like an improvement on my Dunlops that the car came fitted which I really hated. Both the Kumo and Falken seem pretty popular on the likes of Bimmerforums.

[Cactussed]

Odd, as I've run the Kuhmo KU31's on both my E36 M3's, my MR2 Turbo, my Alpina B10 and My 355. Always found them to be very progressive, with comparable grip levels to other brands I've tried and also wear rates.

Just my experience.

[gizlaroc]

I bought a set of 18s for my M3 and they came with KU39s on them, I had ordered some PS2s for them before I put them on, but have to say I was very impressed with the KU39s, if I had not ordered the PS2s already I would have worn the KU39s out first.

This was summer, heard that they are not great when it gets cold and damp though.

Continentals are crap, good for the first 5k miles and then hard and noisy.

[kiethton]

Got kumho's on the gf's new E46 318ci sport...

Only done about 700 miles since we got it last week (500 on the motorway to/from Swansea) and seem to be more than adequate although we haven't pushed any limits

[Fox-]

These along with the Falken 452's are a bit of an internet hero tyre, people want to beleive they are awesome because they are cheap, the reality is they are decent midrange tyres but not an alternative to decent tyres. You presumably bought a 330Ci instead of a 318i for a reason so quite why you'd want to go for the midrange option I'm not sure.

Decent tyres are inexpensive - lovetyres will deliver a set of Eagle F1 Assymetric 2, one of the very best UHP tyres and well suited to an E46, to your door for £460. 10 quid a tyre to fit them and barely any more than the Kumho's.

[stevesuk]

Thanks all for feedback so far.

Fox- said:

You presumably bought a 330Ci instead of a 318i for a reason

Yes, because as a 10 year old used car, it didn't really cost me that much more than a comparable 318i, and I much prefer the noise the engine makes

Fox- said:

Decent tyres are inexpensive - lovetyres will deliver a set of Eagle F1 Assymetric 2, one of the very best UHP tyres and well suited to an E46, to your door for £460. 10 quid a tyre to fit them and barely any more than the Kumho's.

I see your point - going to give the local tyre place a call in the morning to see what their price is on the Goodyears. If they can get close to Love Tyres prices, I might go for them instead. Continentals were looking more like £650 to £700 for 4 fitted.

Was just trying to gauge opinion as to whether the Kumhos were good enough for day to day driving. For those of us that don't go hooning down B roads, or attend track days, and just need a fairly competent tyre that eats up motorway miles, whilst not breaking the bank.

[_Batty_]

I have kuhmo ecstasy's on my clubsport. They're very quiet, and have ample grip. I've only had the car a week, so can't really pass any further judgement.
M

[Huff]

I've run through two sets of Kumho Ecstas on my E34 540. I bought the second set because the first were just fine for the use it gets, and hung on just fine when it was exploited. Also cheap enough to rag hard on occasion and not care Previously I'd run a set of Conti Sport Contact2s IIRC - didn't feel I'd given up anything in trying the Ecstas.

The two sets between them have lasted 40K miles, good for a heavy car driven fairly enthusiastically on occasion. I've very recently replaced them with a set of Falken 453s to compare - too early to tell how these fair.

[gizlaroc]

Fox- said:

These along with the Falken 452's are a bit of an internet hero tyre, people want to beleive they are awesome because they are cheap, the reality is they are decent midrange tyres but not an alternative to decent tyres. You presumably bought a 330Ci instead of a 318i for a reason so quite why you'd want to go for the midrange option I'm not sure.

Decent tyres are inexpensive - lovetyres will deliver a set of Eagle F1 Assymetric 2, one of the very best UHP tyres and well suited to an E46, to your door for £460. 10 quid a tyre to fit them and barely any more than the Kumho's.

452's are crap, the KU39 is a very good tyre imho.
If the M3 worked well on them I think the 330i will be fine.

[g3org3y]

Cactussed said:

Odd, as I've run the Kuhmo KU31's on both my E36 M3's, my MR2 Turbo, my Alpina B10 and My 355. Always found them to be very progressive, with comparable grip levels to other brands I've tried and also wear rates.

Just my experience.

+1 on this. KU39s are the replacement for KU31s iirc? Would hope/expect them to be better.

Had KU31s on my E30 for ages. Very very decent in all weather conditions (including snow!).

[E36GUY]

Running these on an e36 touring sport. Much quieter than the Yokos they replaced and grip levels are fine. It's the wife's car though so not really one that gets used exuberantly.

[Locknut]

I'm running KU31 runflats on an E90 and I find them good. They are closer in feel to conventional tyres than the previous horrible Continentals. I know this is not the answer to the original question but I'm posting just to indicate that Kumho are a reputable manufacturer.

[StuntmanMike]

Just put pirrelli p zeroes on mine, I like them so far, vredestien are very very good for the money, just don't put ditchfinders on, they will kill the car.

[pinseeker]

Had the ku31's for 20k miles+ front wheels on my 330i. Great tyres, ample grip dry and wet would def recommend, you'd have to push them pretty hard to find them slipping.

[ThunderSpook]

I ran Ku39's on my E46 and as rears on my Boxster. Excellent tyres in my opinion and always the first ones I look for.

[stevesuk]

Thanks guys. Since on balance it seems they're not going to kill me at the first roundabout, I've got it booked in for four of them (plus a 4 wheel alignment) on Saturday morning at Christchurch Tyres down here in Dorset. Will report back

[stevesuk]

So, just come back from having 4 new Kumhos fitted, and a 4 wheel alignment check/adjustment. The alignment was quite a way out (especially front camber).

Terrible weather here this morning and the roads are in a bit of state, but I am happy to say that with the car now fitted with 4 matching Kumhos, the alarming tramlining it used to exhibit has more or less vanished. So happy days

Can't fault the service from Christchurch Tyres either, who I'd definitely recommend (after seeing them recommended by others on PH). Definitely worth the 45 minute drive from here.

[BorkFactor]

Glad you are having a good experience with them! I currently have them on the front of my Astra and they are totally fine. I would consider putting them on my E46 when it goes back on the road next year so it is interesting to read your experience