Tyred and confused

[MagicalTrevor]

I have some confusion with tyres. Whilst I'm after tyres for my 1 series, this is generic in a way.

The intention is to swap from Run Flats to normal tyres but I'm a bit confused with working out which tyres are appropriate for my car.

I need:
Front - 205/50 R17
Rear - 225/45 R17

Whilst I understand what the above is all about, I'm not sure about the speed and loading (I've googled it but still don't 'get it' ).

I was looking to use something like Continential Contact Sport 3 all around and I can see that the rears are available in 225/45 R17 W91 which seems appropriate for the speed rating but unsure about the load rating.

The fronts, however, are available as 205/50 R17 but either '89V FR TL' or '93W XL FR TL'. Should I be going for the 89V tyres or do I need to have the 93W tyres?

Next, I see that the Contact Sport 5 tyres are available. Should I be getting them instead? Camskill have them but they appear to be labelled as 'Mercedes' versions here and I can't work out why they would or wouldn't be appropriate to use.

So, help, I'm a bit stuck! I don't fully understand what I should be selecting. Am I also making the right decision with the tyres themselves?

Thanks

[jon-]

You must at least match the load rating as specified by the manufacturer, so your handbook should tell you what the minimum load rating is.

Regarding tyres, lots of people have been switching runflats to the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 and I've yet to hear a bad word about the swap.

[RobCrezz]

Cant go wrong with the Contis or the Goodyear F1s, but consider the Toyo T1 Sport also. Much better than the old T1R, has an assymetric tread like the Conti/Goodyear.

Ive had them on my car in 235/45/17 for a little while and can recommend them.

[MagicalTrevor]

Cheers, that's brilliant, I understand now.

But can anyone shed any light on the 'Mercedes' label on the Contisport 5?

[KevinA3DSG32]

Some tyres are specific to car manufacturer. The car manufacturer has worked with the tyre company to get a specific compound, tyrewall strength etc to suit their cars.

Dependent on use I doubt it makes much difference. As for the load and speed ratings you need to look at your existing tyres (or handbook) to get the minimum ratings you require. Load is the numbers e.g. 89, speed is the letter e.g. H

[MagicalTrevor]

Thanks again chaps.

The handbook (well the sticker on the drivers door B pillar) says 89V front and 91V rear and the Contisport3 are available in exactly that spec.

4 tyres sorted for less than £400 (Camskill) rather than paying £360 for 2 runflat rear tyres

Will take them to Protyre in Bristol for them to be fitted.

Job done!

[mmm-five]

The 'Mercedes' label is purely to show that it has been approved for use on Mercedes vehicles (usually due to needing extra load rating or such).

It doesn't mean it can't be used on anything else, but it might not be exactly the same compound/structure as an equivalent tyre that's BMW/Porsche/Ferrari approved.

The safest thing to do is get a tyre that's got an identical spec to the one your replacing, but as you're swapping your run-flats out it's not possible. The speed rating is the T/V/W/Y/Z/etc. at the end of the load rating, and your owner's manual/door pillar should tell you which is appropriate for your vehicle.

[MagicalTrevor]

Just to close this thread off.

I bought:
2 x CONTINENTAL SPORT CONTACT 3 - 205/50R17 89V FR TL £ 198.80
2 x CONTINENTAL SPORT CONTACT 3 - 225/45R17 91W FR TL BMW £ 190.40

TOTAL £ 401.16

The BMW spec rear tyres happened to be cheaper than the non-BMW version so I figured that I might as well. The tyres bought were exactly the specification stated on the B pillar of my car.