Thoughts on tyres - E39 M5 ?

[WindsorRob]

Hi all - in a bit of a quandry re new tyres for the motor - would appreciate thoughts. Tyres are as I purchsed the car, otherwise, wouldn't have this situation.

Currently have Conti Sport 3 on the rear (I notice labelled MO, which is Mercedes spec). Plenty of life left (sorry !) On the front, Goodyear F1's which need replacement. Problem as follows :

- I dont like mixed brands
- But I don't want to replace all as rears are ok
- Conti 3's no longer available - or just as MO
- Conti 5's are available

Would you go for the 3's and accept they officially for Merc (the rears have been fine, or go for 5's ?

Or any other ideas !

[Quinten]

Can't offer any advice, but I'm getting to the same point, where my rears are near enough limit to justify a replacement, and my fronts are near enough looking like new. Mine are Kumho KU31's and at the time (2 years ago) the only I could get for front and rear as a matching set.

I will probably end up going for a different (better) brand this time around, and figure that as long as the axle matches, the difference in brand is not going to make much of a difference.

[Gad]

I have heard VREDSTEIN come highly recommended

I am currently running DUNLOP SP SPORT 01 all round (on car when i purchased)been good so far no complaints

mine will be due changing soon(rears anyway) so will keep an eye on this thread

[nonuts]

I'm not that bothered about mixing front and rear brands but can very much recommend Goodyear F1 Asymmetric 2 as I just got my rears replaced and it's transformed the car. Currently have dunlops on the front (again from when I bought it) but the difference on the rear has been so big I'm thinking of swapping the fronts over to the Asymmetric 2s as well.

[thepony]

Have u tried Michelin Pilot Sports Series such as PS2 or Michelin Pilot SuperSport ?

The Michelin Pilot Sport Series was OEM for the BMW M3 E46.

[scarecrow]

Currently on a set of Vredestien Ultrac Sessanta.
Excellent tyres IMO
Superb in wet and very predicatable in dry.

Bit of road noise (hum depending on road surface)

2002 E39 M5 on 19" alloys 245/35 19 up front and 275/30 19 at the rear.

11,000 miles on them so far and still approx 4mm tread left on rears 6mm on fronts.

[POORCARDEALER]

Gad said:

I have heard VREDSTEIN come highly recommended

I am currently running DUNLOP SP SPORT 01 all round (on car when i purchased)been good so far no complaints

mine will be due changing soon(rears anyway) so will keep an eye on this thread

Just put them on ours after Contis, really rate them and cheaper too.

[Sideways Rich]

scarecrow said:

Currently on a set of Vredestien Ultrac Sessanta.
Excellent tyres IMO
Superb in wet and very predicatable in dry.

Bit of road noise (hum depending on road surface)

2002 E39 M5 on 19" alloys 245/35 19 up front and 275/30 19 at the rear.

11,000 miles on them so far and still approx 4mm tread left on rears 6mm on fronts.

Same here, running Vredesteins and very happy with them.

[tjlazer]

nonuts said:

I'm not that bothered about mixing front and rear brands but can very much recommend Goodyear F1 Asymmetric 2 as I just got my rears replaced and it's transformed the car. Currently have dunlops on the front (again from when I bought it) but the difference on the rear has been so big I'm thinking of swapping the fronts over to the Asymmetric 2s as well.

Yep the new eagle f1s are bloody good. Quiet, great in wet, very good tyre

[ecain63]

Got Vreds on my E61 M5. Just as good as i remember them on my C5 RS6. Ace in the wet and very good in the dry. Now ive got 500 miles on them they grip just as well as a softer / higher priced compound. Just a shame they are not always available in the right sizes.

[mmm-five]

I'd be happy with any one of Michelin Pilot Supersport, Conti SportContact 5 or Goodyear F1 Asymmetric 2.

My Z4M is wearing Supersports and they have about 20k on the fronts and 17k on the rears (including 2 40 lap 'Ring weekends) and I've still got over 4mm on them.

A 25% price premium is not OTT either (e.g. £160 for the fronts & £210 for the rears for an Z4M for mine - and about the same for M5 sizes - from Camskill) - considering they seem to last about 50% longer than the Vreds.

[cosworth330]

Another vote here for Goodyear Asymmetrics.

[Seesure]

LOL - maybe we should find a way of merging topics on diffferent forums...

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/69519-tyre-recommend...

My comments on there back in June + to add still very pleased with the Vreds having now added a further 2-3k on them:

"A lot is driving style and journey type as well in regards to longevity...

Personally I found the Dunlop SP9000 lasted 30k+ miles on the rears and 40k on the fronts. (Good grip levels)

Dunlop A1 Asymetric were 26k and 33k, (awful IMO grip)

Pirelli PZeros 23k and 27k resptively, (So so grip but not worth the premium)

Now on Vredstein Ultrac Sessantas, (Good grip levels especially on the B road twisties, but haven't had them long enough to comment on wear as the rears have only done about 6k and the fronts about 10k so far but loads of life left in them) "

[AreOut]

Michelin Pilot Super Sport is the best road tire for performance cars, put them in front and don't worry.

[R5YUP]

cosworth330 said:

Another vote here for Goodyear Asymmetrics.

Slightly different but I put them on my old mk5 GTI last year and they really did make a huge improvement over the Conti's.

They'd come top of the Evo tyre review at that time.