I've ben driving around with my winter tyres for a week now and I'm experiencing a very rough ride. Going from 245x35x19 to 245x40x18 (M+S), I thought the ride would be a bit better but it's definitely worse...

As a Manual-junkie I filled the 18" with 2.5 mbar and 3.0 mbar as recommended.. but maybe that's to much? I've reduced it in the rear to 2.9 just to get some kind of comfort back. The tyres are GY Ultra Grip 3, prodweek 30/07, so they're brand new.

Any comment from you guys who also are driving with 18" or 19" on your winter tyres...?

 

First of all - great choice on the tires. Had those on my 18" winter setup and they did just great on my car.

As for the pressure, i was somewhere in the region of 2,4 on all four. when i sold the wheels on saturday, i had hardly any wear on the tires even though i nearly drove 2 seasons with them (somewhere between 7,9 and 8 mm)..

 

Only 2.4? I thought I was being radical by going down to 2.5 front and 2.8 rear...

Good tip, rsyed - I'll try reducing a bit more and see if it helps...

 

Sounds very strange that your winter tyres should give you a harder ride.
Most wintertyres gives you the opposite effect cause the "winter-rubber" is softer than the "summer-rubber"
The only explanation as I can se it is that the 18-inches are runflats
Sorry for that
Actually I think the sidewalls of the Ultra Grip must be harder than on your summertyres.

I have just changed from 18" RF-summer to 19" nonRF-winter. And the ride is much softer. So ...

 

Changed to Good year winter tyres last Tuesday and are really pleased with the ride.
Abit noisy because the studs! The tyres are 245/45-18 Goodyear Extreme with studs......And yes they are 5% higher then my summer tyres but the GY Exterme tyres didn?t come in 245/40-18.
Dont know how many mbar but i think 3,5 all around. (3,5kg in swedish)
Did beat your prodweek! Mine are 37/07....

 

I was informed by a Michelin expert that the pressure must comply with the load rating on the tyres. If it's 18 or 20 does not matter, the pressure the tyre is designed for is only depending on load rate and stated by the car manufacturer. I think it's 2,5kg front and 3kg in the rear as default from BMW on our E61's.

I have Hakka-5 and they are not the best on asfalt roads, but on ice and snow they are hard to beat.

 

I'm down to 2.4 in front and 2.8 rear with much improved ride. But it's maybe as you say titanium, the side walls are probably stiffer. So, until the whole family goes for a trip I'll keep that pressure for a while.

 

True!

But don?t forget tyre wear and fuel consumtion!
If you drive a lot of miles thats inportant too!
And don??t forget to wear your new winter tyres in!