Tyre Recommendation Thread

Thought this might be a good idea for people looking to get new tyres and unsure what to go for. Put your recommendations/reviews here based on personal experience only.

I was determined to try Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2s as heard nothing but good things about them, but when I got my Rotas they came with Falken ZE 914s (225/45/17 rears and 215/45/17 fronts) which were barely used. Have to say I'm very happy with them and will be buying them again in the future, was surprised at just how grippy they are in wet or dry conditions, so much so that it would be pointless to have a wider tyre front or rear on my car (M52B25 e36 coupe with 2.93 open diff), they're also comfortable and quiet.

I don't have a huge experience with tyres but I prefer these to Pirelli P Zero, Dunlop Sport Maxx, and Goodyear Excellence. Although I thought the Dunlops were good.

Here's a link to them on Eire Tyres:

http://www.eiretyres.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=124&cart_id=51552218.124.10697&sowigan=So&Breite=225&Quer=45&Felge=17&Speed=&kategorie=6&Marke=Falken&ranzahl=4&tyre_for=&x_tyre_for=&Herst=Falken&rsmFahrzeugart=PKW&search_tool=standard&Label=C-B-71-2&details=Ordern&typ=R-212614

On the E36, I had michelin PS3's up front and PS2's at the rear and I honestly couldn't fault them. Superb tyre in the wet and dry.
Fronts: 225/45 R17
Rears: 245/40 R17

E46 325:I had Falken 452's all round. Mid range quality. Fairly decent tyres but the rears fell off the cliff pretty quicky and they had a bit of thread left on them too. Ended up buying a set of Dunlop SportMaxx for the rears. They were a much better tyre IMO and less road noise.
Fronts: 235/35 R19
Rears: 265/30 R19. Switched to 255/35 R19 for the Dunlops

M3: Vredestein Sessanta. Mid-range but fairly grippy in the dry. I think i'll be going back to Michelins soon as they are the best tyre out there IMO.
Fronts: 235/35 R19
Rears: 265/30 R19

Good idea! Maybe maybe links to sellers/pricing too? Surprised there isn't a sponsor here that does tyres?!

Alloy-Wheels.ie sell tyres also, and they guarantee to match the price of eiretyres / camskill.

See: http://www.bmwhaus.ie/forum/showthread.php?tid=1338

Links would definitely be handy and the car the tyres were on as well.

Stick with wanli,sunny and supagrippyfuntime and you should be fine [emoji2]

Im running the asymmetric 2's and on my 325ci they are very good both wet and dry, but they are soft and if you like to drive your car it will eat them!

Afters years of running most premium brands I'd honestly say the best have been are the Toyo T1R Proxes I'm currently running.

Great in wet and dry conditions but the only fault I've found is that there a soft tyre. Rears have about 3mm left after roughly 15000mls so will get a pair soon.

Michelins would be my top pick if budget wasn't an issue!

I was only thinking they're a great tyre when I was driving your car over the last few days. Good tread pattern too.

My personal favourite is ContiSport Contact5s, had them on the 330 and wish I put them on the m3.

I find vredsteins too slippy on damp roads so will never buy them again

Big +1 on the Michelins, bought a set of PS3s for the e36 and they're a great tyre in wet or dry. Michelin is giving fuel vouchers with every set at the moment too. I got €50 maxol vouchers in the post a few weeks after getting mine :)

Bought a set of vreds for the 330i and I thought they were a decent midrange tyre, but as its been said, not great in the wet.

Michelin pilot super sports are my favourite. They just don't let go in the wet. They cost a fortune but they're totally worth it.

Heard excellent things about the conti sc5 but they don't fit my wheels.

Had Bridgestone blizzak winters on the M6 this winter and i think next year I'll try the Michelin alpin winter tyres.

Have not had huge experience with tyres but of the 3 brands I've had on my car (Goodyear Eagle F1, Falken FK452, Uniroyal Rainsport 2) the Rainsports stand out as having phenomenal grip especially in the wet. I believe the Rainsport 2 is discontinued now so I would like to try the Rainsport 3 next.

Ordering 2 x fronts for the compact this morning....have two to choose from.

Anyone have experience with the Uniroyal Rainsport 3?

It's them or the Kumho KU39'S

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...psaz6jpzyy.png

I have Rainsports all round on the 335 can't really fault them. Had the Kuhmo all round before that and they were fine on front, but rears were dreadful, couldn't get the power down without spinning. Both probably grand on front! Not much help, sorry!!

Well with half the power of a 335, the 318ti shouldn't have the same issue :D

Think it'll probably be the Kumho, the tread patten looks very similar to the Dunlop Sport Maxx on the rear.

The current Dunlop on the front have about 5mm of tread left but the sidewalls have cracked and look pretty bad...they've a 2008 date stamp on them, so think it's time for a change

I have kuhmo ku39s on the rear of the M3 and can not fault them at all.
Great in dry or wet

Great thanks for that feedback.

The rears are very reasonable in the KU39's so will be easier to match them when necessary

Anyone have any experience with Hankook Ventus Evo 2?

Can get them for a reasonable enough price locally for my Audi and they come recommended.

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Originally Posted by hooch

Anyone have any experience with Hankook Ventus Evo 2?

Can get them for a reasonable enough price locally for my Audi and they come recommended.

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I'm nearly certain my dad put these on his 318Ci last year..have driven it in the wet and dry and no issues with grip!

They have a Y speed rating and A wet grip rating and get good reviews online so I will probably go for them.

Now I know they probably won't be as good as Michelins, Conti's or Eagle F1 but they seem to sit just below them in the rankings.

It's an odd enough size I need to get, 225/45/18 and that limits the choice I have and they are quite costly also! 225/40's are much cheaper.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hooch

They have a Y speed rating and A wet grip rating and get good reviews online so I will probably go for them.

Now I know they probably won't be as good as Michelins, Conti's or Eagle F1 but they seem to sit just below them in the rankings.

It's an odd enough size I need to get, 225/45/18 and that limits the choice I have and they are quite costly also! 225/40's are much cheaper.

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There were Bridgstone Potenzas on the car previously but no issues with the Hankooks.. I think he bought them from Keith in Alloy-wheels.ie - seemed to be reasonly priced but they were 245/40 17

Had the Hankooks before, never had an issue

I'm running a staggered set of 19's csl's on my e46 coupe on jom blue line coilovers and the tyre sizes are FRONT:235/35/R19
and REAR 265/30/R19,
Iv had john C down to Raise the back and roll the arches but I'm still getting rubbing issues, so I realize the back tyres are too wide for the car so I'm going down to the same size as the fronts to solve this with a stretch on the rears,
Any input or info would be great as regards who has tyres and doing the job etc,
Cheers mick.:wink:

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Originally Posted by MICK FORAN

I'm running a staggered set of 19's csl's on my e46 coupe on jom blue line coilovers and the tyre sizes are FRONT:235/35/R19
and REAR 265/30/R19,
Iv had john C down to Raise the back and roll the arches but I'm still getting rubbing issues, so I realize the back tyres are too wide for the car so I'm going down to the same size as the fronts to solve this with a stretch on the rears,
Any input or info would be great as regards who has tyres and doing the job etc,
Cheers mick.:wink:

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Mick where did you get the CSL's out of interest? Offsets might be a little on the low side if they were originally for an E90/E92. Also what tyres are you running at the back? I had Falkens in 265/30 on my old 325 and they were definitely narrower/stretched in comparison to the Dunlops that replaced them so might be another option?

Had rubbing on the other halfs e46 is well 9.5j rim tyre 265/30/19 now running 255/35/19 contisport 5's no issue

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 318 iS Cosmos

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MICK FORAN

I'm running a staggered set of 19's csl's on my e46 coupe on jom blue line coilovers and the tyre sizes are FRONT:235/35/R19
and REAR 265/30/R19,
Iv had john C down to Raise the back and roll the arches but I'm still getting rubbing issues, so I realize the back tyres are too wide for the car so I'm going down to the same size as the fronts to solve this with a stretch on the rears,
Any input or info would be great as regards who has tyres and doing the job etc,
Cheers mick.:wink:

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Mick where did you get the CSL's out of interest?
Yea they were on an E90 and they are on nangkangs, if that's any help?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gar

Had rubbing on the other halfs e46 is well 9.5j rim tyre 265/30/19 now running 255/35/19 contisport 5's no issue

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That's the size I thought might solve it mate cheers, just have to find 2 now!!!:crying:

Try walkinstown tyre centre or tyreland mick they do good prices on new and partworn

Had 19's on my e46 325ci with Eibach prokit and 255/35/19 were perfect on the rear, front's were the same as you mention.

Depending on the offset, I'd say you'll still get rubbing with 255 335 19....I had 255 30 19 on the E46 before and they rubbed, offset was Et40 and 9.5 wide

I'm looking for a full set for the E39 - pretty sure it's 235/45/17 front and 255/40/17 rear but if anyone can confirm that for sure I'd appreciate it.

Any comments on Dunlop Sp Sport Maxx MFS? I've been quoted €490 for a set fitted and balanced.

I was also considering high quality part-worns (Michelin etc) but I'd prefer a matching set and that'd be hard to find. Maybe not necessary. Any suggestions?

People usually only have good things to say about Dunlop sportmaxx, seems like a good price too! Check oponeo.ie though before you pull the trigger in case there's a better deal to be got.

Where are you getting the Sport Maxx at that price?

Have a set of 4 already that need replacing and they're coming in at €160 a corner.

Very good tyre for grip and road noise. Not so much for length of time they'll last though!

Holy thread resurrection!!

I need new tyres on the e30 before it comes out of slumber.

The size is, of course, 205/55/15 so what’s available is somewhat limited.

Right now I’m between Continental PremiumContact 2 or Uniroyal Rainsport 3s.

Normally Contis are my go to choice for tyres but the PremiumContact 2s are an older design at this stage. Also the RS3s get great reviews apart from wear, which isn’t really an issue given the low mileage the e30 does.

Does anyone have experience of either, specifically on an e30? Or is there something else I should consider?

Yeah - as you said the Conti's are fairly old technology at this stage.

I suppose a lot would depend on the type of driving you do, and do you want something leaning towards sporty or comfort ?

I've RS3's on the wife's VW CC and they are fantastic in the dry and equally so in the wet (as you'd expect). I've yet to come across a tyre that is as confidence inspiring in the wet TBH (even with plenty of standing water). Helps of course that the asymetrical tread design looks the business too....:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Big H

Yeah - as you said the Conti's are fairly old technology at this stage.

I suppose a lot would depend on the type of driving you do, and do you want something leaning towards sporty or comfort ?

I've RS3's on the wife's VW CC and they are fantastic in the dry and equally so in the wet (as you'd expect). I've yet to come across a tyre that is as confidence inspiring in the wet TBH (even with plenty of standing water). Helps of course that the asymetrical tread design looks the business too....:)

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Thanks, it’ll be brought into daily use during the summer with the odd bit of weekend pootling around.

I’m not looking for a track tyre but the car will be used enthusiastically, particularly when I’m running late so I don’t want it to be wallowy or too soft. The one thing that really bugs me in a tyre is when it’s damp out and tyres slip when you’re pulling away from a junction.

I have RS's on the e60 and would concur with Big H's comments on them in the wet. However, one of the ways of achieving this is to make them fairly soft and squishy on the sidewalls, even with 50 profile on the e530i they do mean it isn't the sharpest steerer. I can only imagine that they might feel a bit loose on the iS. I had some positive experience with Vredstein Sporttrac's in a close size on an e36, but that was a few years ago. No recent experience.

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Originally Posted by dergside

I have RS's on the e60 and would concur with Big H's comments on them in the wet. However, one of the ways of achieving this is to make them fairly soft and squishy on the sidewalls, even with 50 profile on the e530i they do mean it isn't the sharpest steerer. I can only imagine that they might feel a bit loose on the iS. I had some positive experience with Vredstein Sporttrac's in a close size on an e36, but that was a few years ago. No recent experience.

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Thanks Dergside, exactly the insight I’m looking for but unfortunately it brings me back to zero. I had Verestein Sessantas on the e46 years ago and hated them because they slipped in the damp so I ruled out Vreds since. I must look into Sporttracs now though.

I'm running Hankook Ventus Prime 3 (195/45R16) and find them brilliant.... Was going to go Uniroyal but apparently they wore out very early compared to others.

Interestingly the Bild 2018 15” tyre test puts the Hankook Ventus Prime 3 top of the pile.

It is 1st in dry braking & handling and 3rd in wet braking & handling. It’s only 15th in the aquaplaning test but this is likely to be less relevant as the e30 won’t be out in the pouring rain.

By contrast the RS3 is 19th in dry braking, 17th in dry handling, 17th in wet handling, 2nd in wet braking and 1st in Aquaplaning.

Given it’s so bad for handling and not a huge amount better for wet braking I think we have a new contender.
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article...-Tyre-Test.htm

Ive Hankook Ventus S1 Evo2's on the E39 and a great tyre so far...just another thumbs up for Hankook

Side comment re. RS's. A lot of review, etc. of these tyres mention the wear rate as being high.

The 530 had these tyres on when I bought it, fronts weren't new but didn't have a huge amount of wear and the rears could have been, maybe, half worn. I added 10k to the rears before I replaced them. I'd guess they'd covered 18-20k in total.

I can't even remember what I changed them for, Goodyear possibly. They gripped well but were shot within 15k miles.

The front RS's were replaced after I'd added 24k miles, plus whatever from before me. Full set of RS's added again and 12k miles in I doubt that either front or rear is more than half worn at this stage. Nothing shabby about that.