Want to swap out the tyres on my E61 M Sport for non run flats. Anyone have a tyre they can recommend ? also what are your experience swapping to non RFT's on an E61 M Sport ? I know plently of guys have swapped-out on saloon versions but what about touring, there is not much written about swapping on tourings, so, any bad or good points you can share. Obviously, I have the car because I live the cornering, handling, so any bad effects on this from swapping tyres.

Thanks.

 

Depends on what you want out of it - all season or summer only? Do you want uncompromising performance, that might come at the cost of comfort? And lastly - and I am not trying to bust anyone's chops - but have you tried doing a search before you posted the topic? We've discussed this issue here a MILLION times.

For all out summer tire, Michelin PS3 is number one.
All season - Continental DWS is the best.
Winter - I think Dunlops, but not sure, bc I don't use winter tires.

 

I assume you mean summer tyres; and you cannot go wrong with Continental Sport Contact 2/3, Michelin PS or Goodyear Eagle. Below these three you'll find Pirelli Zero and Dunlop Maxx - good tires but according to all the tests I've read (and they are a few...) they do not have the same overall level as the free firsts.

You will notice a softer ride; it's like changing 35 profiles for 50, if you understand what I mean. But noise level is the same and I cannot say that there is a different feel in the steering wheel during "normal" driving.

 

When I bought my E61, it already had the runflats replaced with winter tires, I did some research and bought Hancook Ventus, v12 evo tires, 245/45 summer tires, and they are excellent. The rubber is soft, but then the grip on corners is like riding on rails, good in the rain as well. You can get two seasons of pretty tough driving, distance and fun on the highway. I bough them from Tire Rack and with shipping to Canada, it was about $1000. BTW, when you change from run flats, get a mini spare...

Check out the Car and Driver reviews.
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...12_evo_page_10

Cheers

George

 

So you're saying your car didn't come with a spare under the trunk floor??? I thought all wagons did? Mine is a 2010 even that came with RFT's and it still had a spare.

 

PS Do you guys that run 245/40/18 instead of the stock size of 245/40/18 do so to get more sidewall protection and a softer ride? I find the ride on my 245/40 RFT summer tires pretty good already.

 

Somewhat OT, but in Europe we had to pay extra for a spare wheel, so most of us don't have it...

 

Amazing how many things are optional in Europe, and what you can customize. I'm still blown away how so many people in Europe who drive 335's (on the E90Post forums) say they don't have cruise control! I didn't think a BMW could come without it!

 

Nope, no spare, no evidence of there ever being a spare...(bought in TO), 2007 model year pre-LCI, bought used in Feb 2010.

 

You wrote the same size for both options.... please clarify sizes.