Tire recommendations for my BMW wagon

[911dean]

I need to buy tires and not sure what to get. The car is a 2001 325it w/ sport package so it has a stiffer suspension with 17's and a 5 speed to boot. It just had a complete suspension refresh and I installed Bilstein shocks/struts. I would like summer only tires in a 225/45/17. I'll buy a set of snow tires this winter. The car is my daily but will share duties with another recently acquired car(summer only).

Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Continental ExtremeContact DW

[sketchers356]

Thats what I had on my 540 sport.

[aigel]

My TDI Golf came with ContiProContact tires in the size you are asking about. I guess they are all weather, but look like plain summer tires to me. I am very happy with them and it looks like they will last for 50k miles before hitting the wear bars. I am starting to think what I will replace them with, and am likely going to stay with them. They are $164 each at Tire Rack.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Continental&tireModel=ContiProContact&partnum=245HR7CPC

I just saw, they also have a mail in rebate, bringing the set down to the 500s.

Cheers,

G

[RANDY P]

Go to tirerack and get either (in order of $$$)

1)- sumitomos

2)-Bridgestone RE760, or the Pole Positions

3)-Michelin Pilot Sports.

Tire Rack will likely recommend those.

[look 171]

Which Sumitomos? I have the HTR IIIs on my S2000 but it didn't last all that long. 20k up front and 10k in back. They do stick like glue I am sure its not as good as a Goodyear or Michelin, but they are also 30 % plus more. I know they are not 30 % more sticky then the Sumitomos.

I also like Kumho Ecsta XS on my 930. I was surprise how well they grip and the ride quality is excellence. I came off a set of Goodyear Eagle F1s. I am running 315, so not too many choices there.

[RANDY P]

HTR III.... The II's get good reviews as well but according to Tire Rack the III is superior...

I'm having the same dilemma as you are- which one?

rjp

[look 171]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

I'm having the same dilemma as you are- which one?

rjp

Which one? The 930 tire or the wear issues?

[RANDY P]

figuring out which tires for my BMW...

PS that S2000 is gonna eat anything you give it. Just the nature of the beast. That wear your are experiencing is typical...

For long life, might have to do all season tire

[look 171]

I knew that going in. A large part of it is the way I drive that car. Life's too short to drive all season tires on a sports car around here. Same for you too out your way. You get even less rain if any at all.

I am running 225 and 245 out back. I am on my second set. Before that, I have always ran expensive Bridgestones. They were great, but not that much difference to the Sumitomos if you ask me. I am on my 6th set of rear tires, and it has 61,000 miles on it.

[RANDY P]

Yep, I'm debating the wear VS cost aspect...

Too much time on my hands, I guess. Next big deciding factor is a sale price.

Maybe I'll just do Sumitomos- car has Conti's now and they suck.

[look 171]

No summer tire is going to wear well. Knowing what's on your car, you would always want to test them. A little hooliganism around the curves isn't always bad for us young men? What kind of BMW? I am going to buy them again when this set of rear goes. I like them that much.

They guys that work on my S2000 tell me that the Hankook Ventus V12 is a great tire for the price. They seem to think its as good as the HTRIIIs. They are they ones who talked me out of buying expensive Bridgestones and suggested the Sumitomos. If anything they should know, because 2/3 of their business is building time attack track cars, so they are messing around with tires all the time. Being budget oriented, they suggested the Hankooks. If these guys recommend it, I personally would not hesitate to try it.

[onewhippedpuppy]

You couldn't pay me to have another set of Sumitomos. Getting them off of my 996 made it like a different car. Same experience with my 951, C36, and 911T. They are cheap tires, where you often get what you pay for. If you want your car to be louder and ride like a truck - go for it!

I'm a big fan of the Tire Rack surveys, and nearly always end up with Firestone/Bridgestone. I think they are equal in quality to Michelin (top notch) but at a more reasonable price. They are also frequently in the top two of the aforementioned surveys. I've put more sets of Potenzas on cars than I can count and have never been disappointed, just put S04s on the 996 for summer.

No single attribute influences your ride quality, comfort, safety, and quiet as much as tires. You probably spent $1500+ on that suspension refresh, why waste it by buying cheap low quality tires?

[willtel]

I have the same car and I'm running Kumho Ecsta LXs on mine with 18" wheels. It's an every day car for me and isn't very powerful so all seasons are fine.


IMG_0100 by willtel, on Flickr

[onewhippedpuppy]

Looks like the top four in max performance summer are:

Pilot Super Sport
Potenza S04
Pilot Sport PS2
Conti ExtremeContact DW

The Potenzas and Contis are both under $500 for a set.

[RANDY P]

I went from Michelin PS1 to Hankook V12's on my C36 - I liked them, quiet but they were squishy unless you stepped up the tire pressure.

I'm hesitant to try them on my 540 since it's a considerably larger car and at the price I'm paying there's much more choices available...

PS Tire Rack reviews seem to think the Sumi's are a good deal- I'm just afraid about build quality..

[911dean]

Thanks guys! Pole positions are on the way.