Tyres for an older BMW

[gazzab]

My commuting hack (a 94 525iSE Touring) is getting low on tread all round.
I notice that Nankang tyres are pretty cheap. Seem to be able to get them for £45 each.
My local tyre shop dont sell them but they reckon they are a good tyre for the money. Anyone tried them? Are they ok?

[SJobson]

When I bought my E34 Touring it had a set of Nankangs on it. I had to replace one pair as they were worn out; held off replacing the other two as they were still legal, and all I could get locally were hideous Pirelli P6000s at the time.

The Nankangs were vastly better than I expected, though with the now rather worn ones on the back and newish tyres on the front, traction is more of an issue. But only in an amusing way

[gazzab]

Thanks - so I might go for them then. Your 530i looks like a good spec etc.....

[derin100]

What size rims are you running?

The reason I ask is my wife's E34 has been running on Nexens for over 4 years now and we've very impressed with them. We had to replace the rears last summer before going to Le Mans...but they'd lasted ages! (Actually, I think now we've replaced all four). But they did a seriously impressive mileage. Something about 'silicon technology' or something....certainly tens of thousands of miles more than the Bridgestone SO3's on my E30 M3!!!

Apparently, they're a Goodyear F1 'copy'...that Goodyear actually tried to sue them about!

I think the cost of the tyres (16" ) was circa £55 each last summer.

Edited by derin100 on Sunday 31st December 01:26

Edited by derin100 on Sunday 31st December 01:29

Edited by derin100 on Sunday 31st December 01:29

[agent006]

The main problems i've had with the cheaper tyres is with the construction quality. Mostly manifests itself in the balance, or lack of. One of my nankang ditchfinders on the Range Rover is something ridiculous like 250grammes out.

[gazzab]

derin100 said:

What size rims are you running?

225 60 15 I think!?

Edited by gazzab on Wednesday 3rd January 13:44

[jamesk]

agent006 said:

The main problems i've had with the cheaper tyres is with the construction quality. Mostly manifests itself in the balance, or lack of. One of my nankang ditchfinders on the Range Rover is something ridiculous like 250grammes out.

I would aghree with this. I have an E34 540 with Nangkang 2's all round. Front balancing has been a constant issue in so far as everytime someone checks them they are out of balance, despite having been balanced last time. Both fronts have also torn where they have pinched the curb at some point (I assume). Could just be bad luck but i suspect the rubber is relatively brittle if that makes any sense.

I really don't want to be spending £100 a corner so can anyone recommend a happy medium?

Edited to add that I am running 235 45 17's all round.

Edited by jamesk on Tuesday 2nd January 14:26

[Andrew D]

I've had positive experience with Nankangs, although it was on a previous car (not my BMW).

A friend of mine owns a tyre garage and when I came to swap the boots on my first car (a Fiat Cinquecento Sporting!) he recommended Nankangs. Previously the only tyres available for it were Pirelli's at £75 a corner, which were alright but wore pretty badly. The Nankangs were significantly superior in every area. They had a wider contact patch, looked better on the rims, lasted between 50% and 100% longer and cost half the price!

[neil_cardiff]

I'd have a gander at Marshalls, as I've been recommeded them by my local tyre dealer (who I do trust for several reasons) and he pointed me over to their MATRAC TX KU17 tyres (for mine obviously) and explained that they too have the 'Silicon Technology' just like the F1's

They do them in pretty good sizing ranges http://www.marshaltyre.co.uk/mcar.html">www.marshaltyre.co.uk/mcar.htmlhttp://www.marshaltyre.co.uk/mcar.html - and they came up pretty bloody cheap for me on the rear - 245/40/17 for £88 each (knowing that Pilot Sport II's can be upwards of £160 each) so you may find a bargain there.

I take the attitude on the rears that I'll be ragging them around with the rwd so I might as well get 'better' cheaper ones than scrimping on 'cheaper' better tyres. If you see what I mean.

[Hemibum]

I was surprised today to get a phone call from the Garage where my 840 is in for an oil service and suspension bushes, that my rear tyres (265 / 40 / 17ZR ) are under 2mm of tread.

So, that means that Fulda Extremos only last 12,000 miles. Strangely the fronts are still on 6mm. Is this unusual? I know I like pushing on and it's a heavy old beast but.....

Forking out £370.00 for a pair of Michelin Pilot 2s as I can't get the Fuldas locally.

[Gazzab]

...by the way I got some tyres. Kumhos. 225 60 15s for about £60 each incl Vat and fitting. So far they seem ok.

[dave_s13]

Another 'cheap' option is federal SS595's. Got 4 on my E39 replacing conti sports and I cannot tell the difference!

Mine were £45 each