e46 330 staggered setup - tyre choice?

[NiceCupOfTea]

Hi all,

It's new tyre time as my rears are very low. Fronts have lots of tread but have cracks in the grooves which I'm not very impressed with - tyre dates are mid 2015. They are Good Year F1 Asymmetric 3.

I have the "Sport" setup on my touring with the staggered wheels.

I've been impressed with the tyre wear - 22k on the car since I bought it.

Could go with the same again, but don't want tyres that are falling apart in 3 years.
I've used Uniroyal Rainsport 3s on my e36 and loved the wet weather performance but absolutely rinsed them - think I got 6k out of the rears although my alignment was a bit off.
Dunlop Sportmaxx RT2 seem to get a good write up too. Just wondering if anybody had any good experiences specific to the e46 sport...

[daniel-5zjw7]

Kumho ps71's get my vote, 16k in them (325 sport staggered 17s) and have been superb so far

[d_a_n1979]

Vredestein Ultrac Vortis or RainSport 3s as you’ve already mentioned...

However, if you’re wearing them out that quickly, maybe change your driving style a touch

[helix402]

I’m trying Michelin Pilot Sport 4 next on my E46, I’ve found Contis (Sport Contact or Premium Contact) and Goodyear Eagle F1 very good too. The Goodyears wore quite quickly though, hence my decision to try Michelin next.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Thanks chaps! Genuinely don't steer the car from the rear, like I say the alignment was right off on my e36, new set have lasted better (but I hardly drive the car now).

I am leaning towards going with the Goodyears again as they have been good allrounders. The Uniroyals are not much cheaper for a "midrange" tyre. I am unimpressed with the cracking of 3 year old tyres though.

Tempted by the PS4s but blackcircles only seem to do the fronts not the rears.

Conti SC5s are pricey and I have heard not great things about wear.

How about the Vredestein Sessantas? My bro like them on his e36 328 Sport...

Edit: slight complication - my front right wheel is a bit scabby and is losing pressure slowly. I am assuming that the wheel needs refurbing, or will some judicious sanding help before refitting? I remember it worked for my dad for one of his old ones. MV2s.

Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Tuesday 1st January 00:38

[d_a_n1979]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Thanks chaps! Genuinely don't steer the car from the rear, like I say the alignment was right off on my e36, new set have lasted better (but I hardly drive the car now).

I am leaning towards going with the Goodyears again as they have been good allrounders. The Uniroyals are not much cheaper for a "midrange" tyre. I am unimpressed with the cracking of 3 year old tyres though.

Tempted by the PS4s but blackcircles only seem to do the fronts not the rears.

Conti SC5s are pricey and I have heard not great things about wear.

How about the Vredestein Sessantas? My bro like them on his e36 328 Sport...

Edit: slight complication - my front right wheel is a bit scabby and is losing pressure slowly. I am assuming that the wheel needs refurbing, or will some judicious sanding help before refitting? I remember it worked for my dad for one of his old ones. MV2s.

Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Tuesday 1st January 00:38

I'm personally not a fan of PS4s; really don't think they're all that

Re the Rainsport 3s' again, never had any issues and never heard of them cracking . before, could have simply been sods law!

The Vred Ultrac Vorti's have been about the best tyre I've owned; a lot of folk I know (Porsche, a few kit cars in there, a couple of DAX Cobra owners and other BMW drivers) have all rated them very highly and a good saving over premium Goodyear and Michelin rubber; just as good, if not better as well.

Not sure re the Sessanta's; haven't owned them myself. Have a look on tyrereviews website and see how their reviewed etc

Re the alloy losing pressure; agree, a light sand of where it could be leaking might work, but sounds like a refurb might be in order

[Pica-Pica]

I have 19” Pirelli P zero runflats on a 335d xdrive. 24k miles, and probably have about 1mm wear before I get to 3mm left. Impressed with wet and dry grip, and wear. I would go down to 18” for a slightly better ride, in particular for some rarely encountered, but nasty speed humps near me, not sure if I can get the P zeros in 18”. If I was not going runflats, I would try conti all season contact.

[skypeller]

Falkens

Vredestein ultracs

(Don’t laugh....) Kwik fit specials arrowspeed have been good (shock horror I know)

I’ve had 5 330ci’s & a 325i over 10years

[bodhi]

Another vote for PS4s here, I've got them on my 125i and they have been superb. First set of rears lasted 26k, fronts have done 37k now and still have plenty of tread left. Grip well in all conditions - they weren't even completely useless when The Beast from the East turned up last year.

[skypeller]

I currently have my winter wheels on with Michelin pilot alpins not used then before .... fingers crossed. Reviews are good. Summers will go back on the car around April when the car is sold for a m235i / golf R

[skypeller]

Avon zv5 on my kit car (Westfield sigma) they’re ok! Good on a regular road car but need something more sticky on a kit car (looking out for some toyo track tyres etc)

On my ST mountune focus the Avon zv5 were great wet & dry but totally useless in the snow compared to the falkens before them

[Mave]

bodhi said:

Another vote for PS4s here, I've got them on my 125i and they have been superb. First set of rears lasted 26k, fronts have done 37k now and still have plenty of tread left. Grip well in all conditions - they weren't even completely useless when The Beast from the East turned up last year.

I've got PS4s on my E46 330, just changed rears at 20k (lasted much longer then the Eagle F1s previously), fronts have got about 4mm left. Still gripped well even when they were worn.

[skypeller]

Might have to try these ps4’s Then

[NiceCupOfTea]

Black Circles don't seem to do the rear tyre size of PS4s - 255/35 R18

[Pearcy]

I'm now running PS4's all round, previously ran Dunlop Sportmax RT4's. The PS4's are quieter, grip better in low temp/damp conditions and seem to be wearing better too. Dry grip is similar.

[Pica-Pica]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Black Circles don't seem to do the rear tyre size of PS4s - 255/35 R18

What BMW is that? I thought the profile should be 40 for that width and rim size. 35 profile would be the one for 19”.

[skypeller]

225/40/r18 fronts
255/35/r18 rears

Always has been for the mv1 & mv2 alloy wheels fitted to the sport models

You can fit other sizes but it won’t handle the same

[NiceCupOfTea]

That's what's fitted on my MV2s:

F: 225/40 R18
R: 255/35 R18

...also what it says in the door jamb and what it says on blackcircles for my reg.

[skypeller]

Yep mine too! I always found they really amplify tyre choice these cars, had some cheap rubbish tyres and it’s handled rubbish.... good tyres and it handles sublime (for an older m sport car)

[NiceCupOfTea]

OK, to summarise I am interested in:

GoodYear Eagle F1 Assymetic 3s
Michelin Pilot Sport 4s
Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
Uniroyal RainSport 3s

Narrowing it down a bit I will probably go for the F1 Assys or PS4s, but BlackCircles don't have the PS4s in the rear size. On balance will probably go for the GYs again but I am disappointed by the cracking in the tread of the front tyres of the current ones.

One further question - anybody tried All Season tyres? Tempted by Michelin X-Climate+ or something as if it snows none of my cars will get off the drive currently (or, more importantly, get me home if it snows)