tire advice
02-02-2007, 07:56 AM
#21
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Originally Posted by UUronL' post='386724' date='Feb 2 2007, 11:40 AM
Hello fellow Virginian! I'm in Arlington...
I would opt for non-Mich myself, but that's me. A local shop weaned me from them when I drove my last car. Said the compounds they use are too hard to really be as sporting as the tires could be. While this kind of stiffness can give you crisp turn-in, it rarely does much for overall grip. Crisp turn-in can be deceiving, and a lot of people equate this with good handling. I like Toyo tires, the Proxes T1-S was vastly superior to the Pilot Sport model (the most sporting version) that I had on my old car. Even though turn-in was less sharp, it was much grippier and behaved like a champ during hard cornering or emergency avoidance.
I personally really like my Dunlop OEM RFTs, I have 14700 miles on my car and the tread is deeeeeep. They're louder for sure than when they were new, but I could get another 14700 out of them easily. I try to keep them inflated properly though. That's pretty key for any tire.
If I were you and were considering a non-OEM tire, I would look no further than the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3. It's right in the top 2 for dry handling, and nothing can touch it in the wet. Great price and longevity too.
Car and Driver did an exhaustive test of 11 tires that they printed in the December of 2005 issue. They drove 3 of Tire Rack's E90 325i test cars around the test track at the Tire Rack compound. The results are very illuminating.
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/10252...-the-tread.html
EDIT - Tire Rack has the set for the 545i on sale (and in stock) currently...
$172.00 per tire for the fronts
$197.00 per tire for the rears
Shipping costs are generally pretty trivial and they show up in about 2 days in case you've never bought from them before.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/CompareTireR...mp;RunFlat=None
I would opt for non-Mich myself, but that's me. A local shop weaned me from them when I drove my last car. Said the compounds they use are too hard to really be as sporting as the tires could be. While this kind of stiffness can give you crisp turn-in, it rarely does much for overall grip. Crisp turn-in can be deceiving, and a lot of people equate this with good handling. I like Toyo tires, the Proxes T1-S was vastly superior to the Pilot Sport model (the most sporting version) that I had on my old car. Even though turn-in was less sharp, it was much grippier and behaved like a champ during hard cornering or emergency avoidance.
I personally really like my Dunlop OEM RFTs, I have 14700 miles on my car and the tread is deeeeeep. They're louder for sure than when they were new, but I could get another 14700 out of them easily. I try to keep them inflated properly though. That's pretty key for any tire.
If I were you and were considering a non-OEM tire, I would look no further than the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3. It's right in the top 2 for dry handling, and nothing can touch it in the wet. Great price and longevity too.
Car and Driver did an exhaustive test of 11 tires that they printed in the December of 2005 issue. They drove 3 of Tire Rack's E90 325i test cars around the test track at the Tire Rack compound. The results are very illuminating.
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/10252...-the-tread.html
EDIT - Tire Rack has the set for the 545i on sale (and in stock) currently...
$172.00 per tire for the fronts
$197.00 per tire for the rears
Shipping costs are generally pretty trivial and they show up in about 2 days in case you've never bought from them before.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/CompareTireR...mp;RunFlat=None
02-02-2007, 11:00 AM
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Originally Posted by UUronL' post='386724' date='Feb 2 2007, 04:40 PM
I personally really like my Dunlop OEM RFTs, I have 14700 miles on my car and the tread is deeeeeep. They're louder for sure than when they were new, but I could get another 14700 out of them easily. I try to keep them inflated properly though. That's pretty key for any tire.
My Dunlop's were shot by that mileage and I'm not usually a mad driver!
02-02-2007, 11:56 AM
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Originally Posted by colejl' post='386802' date='Feb 2 2007, 03:00 PM
If you've managed almost 15k on one set then you must drive like my Grandma!?
My Dunlop's were shot by that mileage and I'm not usually a mad driver!
My Dunlop's were shot by that mileage and I'm not usually a mad driver!
Hehehehehe. No, not quite. Most of my driving is 70 to 85mph on smooth highways. So... properly inflated with not a whole lot of roll resistance, tires last a very long time.
02-02-2007, 12:44 PM
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My Ride: My ex-ride: EU '08 LCI 520dA. Space Grey, Sport Seats in Black Leather/Fabric Anthracite, Sport Steering Wheel, A/C with Extended Features, Hi-Fi Speakers, Cup Holders, Cruise with Braking function, Folding Rear Seats, Xenons, Park Distance Control.
The German ADAC says in a Test 03/2006:
http://www.adac.de/Tests/Reifentests/Somme...urcePageID=8772
Well, the link mode doesn't work better than above but for short,
Bridgestone Potenza RE050A and/or Pirelli Pzero Nero.
http://www.adac.de/Tests/Reifentests/Somme...urcePageID=8772
Well, the link mode doesn't work better than above but for short,
Bridgestone Potenza RE050A and/or Pirelli Pzero Nero.
02-04-2007, 07:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Ricracing' post='386843' date='Feb 2 2007, 04:44 PM
The German ADAC says in a Test 03/2006:
http://www.adac.de/Tests/Reifentests/Somme...urcePageID=8772
Well, the link mode doesn't work better than above but for short,
Bridgestone Potenza RE050A and/or Pirelli Pzero Nero.
http://www.adac.de/Tests/Reifentests/Somme...urcePageID=8772
Well, the link mode doesn't work better than above but for short,
Bridgestone Potenza RE050A and/or Pirelli Pzero Nero.
Very disappointed with Pirelli. Anyone getting the same experience?
02-05-2007, 04:17 AM
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Originally Posted by the-oneil' post='386732' date='Feb 2 2007, 08:56 AM
I get the feeling Car and Driver ranked the PS-2 4th due in part to its price.
02-05-2007, 04:18 AM
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The PS2s are great, but if much of your driving is simply commuting on the highway or in traffic, then I don't think they're worth the price.
If you tend to push the car in corners and canyons or whatnot, then I guess the extra performance can be justified. However, another car that I've been driving is equipped with some michelin grand touring tires. These are several notches below the PS2s, but I drive them hard and am rather impressed by the performance. After this experience, I've come to the conclusion that unless the car is seeing track work or autocross work, then a tire like the PS2 is just not worth the price.
With that said, I'm always interested in performance, but I'll pass on the PS2s next time and try either the Yokohoma Advan Sports or the bridgestone RE050A pole positions.
If you tend to push the car in corners and canyons or whatnot, then I guess the extra performance can be justified. However, another car that I've been driving is equipped with some michelin grand touring tires. These are several notches below the PS2s, but I drive them hard and am rather impressed by the performance. After this experience, I've come to the conclusion that unless the car is seeing track work or autocross work, then a tire like the PS2 is just not worth the price.
With that said, I'm always interested in performance, but I'll pass on the PS2s next time and try either the Yokohoma Advan Sports or the bridgestone RE050A pole positions.
02-05-2007, 04:27 AM
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I personally really like my Dunlop OEM RFTs, I have 14700 miles on my car and the tread is deeeeeep. They're louder for sure than when they were new, but I could get another 14700 out of them easily. I try to keep them inflated properly though. That's pretty key for any tire.
02-05-2007, 06:34 AM
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Originally Posted by colejl' post='386802' date='Feb 2 2007, 08:00 PM
If you've managed almost 15k on one set then you must drive like my Grandma!?
My Dunlop's were shot by that mileage and I'm not usually a mad driver!
My Dunlop's were shot by that mileage and I'm not usually a mad driver!
02-05-2007, 07:08 AM
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I have PS2 on my grand old Alfa GTV6 Grand Prix from 1987 and I kiss my tyres in utter reverance after each trip with that car. Those tyres can do anything, even boil an egg.
Those tyres can do anything, even boil an egg.