Best tyres for best ride comfort and less noise?

[REKX]

So I would like to replace all the run flat tyres with no run flats.

I don't care about performance as it's not my main car, just to go to and back from work really. Just want something very comfortable for my BMW.

Kumho, Falken, Michelin? Budget £60 tyres?

What tyres would you guys recommend for this?

Cheers.

[Mr Tidy]

I've had a few BMWs with RFTs, but never changed them for non-RFTs to date - although I am planning to put non-RFTs on my Z4 when the snow melts (a week too late)!

But last week I bought an E91 Touring (a 325i SE) that has RFT Bridgestone Blizzak tyres (they're winters) in 205/55 X 16 flavour and it rides better and quieter than the E46 325ti Compact on non-RFTs that it replaced.

I don't know which model you have OP, but based on my experience if you want a smooth, comfortable and quiet ride go for the smallest wheels that will fit your car and don't worry too much which tyres you use - but if you have to have blingy 18s or 19s go for non-RFTs!

[REKX]

Hi,

I have a BMW e90, but Im planning to buy a 6 series - 640d and want to know which tyres I will need.

My other car is a Porsche 911, which is definitely a firm ride, but of course it has to be.

Which is why I wish to have two opposites, one very nice fast luxury soft setup and one sporty and tight.

[Monty Python]

If you go on Black Circles, each tyre has a noise level - probably good for comparing them but that's about all. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 look to be one of the lowest.

[rlg43p]

I have had two 640d cars, one Coupe which was recently replaced by a Gran Coupe.

The earlier car never had run-flats on it as I negotiated the fitment of new tyres when I bought the car. That car was fitted with Nokian WRA3 winter tyres on the original 18" rims.

I subsequently bought some 19" wheels from eBay and had them fitted with Dunlop SP Sport 01 245/40R19. I chose these specifically because of good experience with Dunlop tyres previously and because they had the lowest noise rating. I can't really say that they were any quieter than one another. The ride was better on the 18" but not dramatically so.

The GC that I recently bought has VDC and is fitted with 20" runflat tyres. I tend to run the car permanently in Comfort+ mode. The ride quality and road noise are better than the previous car in any guise. However any pothole sends and awful crash through the car. The tyres are Dunlop SP Sport Maxx run flats.

Currently I have put the 18" wheels with winter tyres on the car (even though the TPMS warning now has apoplexy whenever I start the car up). The ride is now brilliant and no nasty crashes in potholes.

So when I next purchase tyres I will probably choose Dunlop SP Sport Maxx in non-runflat to go on the 20" wheels; but only because they are the wheels that I have. With a free choice I would run the car in summer on 19" with Dunlop SP Sport Maxx non runflat.

640d GC with 20"


640d with 19" summer wheels/tyres


640d with 18" winter wheels/tyres

[RafflesNH]

rlg43p said:

I have had two 640d cars, one Coupe which was recently replaced by a Gran Coupe.

The earlier car never had run-flats on it as I negotiated the fitment of new tyres when I bought the car. That car was fitted with Nokian WRA3 winter tyres on the original 18" rims.

I subsequently bought some 19" wheels from eBay and had them fitted with Dunlop SP Sport 01 245/40R19. I chose these specifically because of good experience with Dunlop tyres previously and because they had the lowest noise rating. I can't really say that they were any quieter than one another. The ride was better on the 18" but not dramatically so.

The GC that I recently bought has VDC and is fitted with 20" runflat tyres. I tend to run the car permanently in Comfort+ mode. The ride quality and road noise are better than the previous car in any guise. However any pothole sends and awful crash through the car. The tyres are Dunlop SP Sport Maxx run flats.

Currently I have put the 18" wheels with winter tyres on the car (even though the TPMS warning now has apoplexy whenever I start the car up). The ride is now brilliant and no nasty crashes in potholes.

So when I next purchase tyres I will probably choose Dunlop SP Sport Maxx in non-runflat to go on the 20" wheels; but only because they are the wheels that I have. With a free choice I would run the car in summer on 19" with Dunlop SP Sport Maxx non runflat.

Blimey! Does your insurer approve of all this?

[HustleRussell]

Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance are the quietest and most comfortable tyres I've tried, however they weren't sharp handling.

[rlg43p]

RafflesNH said:

Blimey! Does your insurer approve of all this?

Why should it concern them?

All tyres sizes are as per standard fitments for a 640d - you just look at the tyres pressures and sizes label inside the door jamb and you'll see all the manufacturer recommended sizes and pressures for the vehicle.

However in any case I have checked in the past with the insurer regarding the fitment of winter tyres but it's not really necessary. They had no issue.

[SebringMan]

HustleRussell said:

Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance are the quietest and most comfortable tyres I've tried, however they weren't sharp handling.

What car was it? The sidewalls aren't the best but I preferred them to Uniroyals. On my MX-5 they were great! Turn-in could have been better but they were 185/60s. On the W124 they're great! I'm debating taking the Goodyear DuraGrips off the back as these are grippier! It can get a little tail happy in very wet but cold conditions even with 94BHP!

Michelin PS4s you won't go far wrong with.

[HustleRussell]

205/65r15 on an E34. I’ve gone to 225/55r16 now.