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I tried some Pirelli P Zero Nero on my supercharged MX5. By far the most expensive tyres I’ve ever tried on it, very much premium tyres. They were useless. Even though it had close to 250bhp, the car just couldn’t push them hard enough to generate any heat, hence they didn’t have any grip. The cheap Toyo T1Rs that are on there now are far better.

Doesn’t apply to Z4 as much but makes the point that expensive/premium doesn’t have to mean better. They have to be matched to the car & use its being put to.

I've had mid range tyres too so I'm not talking rubbish.

A good example is the Falken 452 that was often recommended as being good for the money. They were alright but F1s are better.

I acknowledged that expensive isn't automatically better as it's got to fit the purpose.

Toyo T1-R tyres are pants in the wet but fine for the dry.

It’s quite an emotive topic really isn’t it ?

I suppose it all comes down to what car and what you intend to use it for

Ditchfinders on a £500 Corsa that only goes to the supermarket and school is on thing

What someone who runs a Zed as a daily commuter might need as opposed to someone who has it a toy and uses occasionally might WANT would differ

I do however think that this rubber provides you with the safest four inches of your life and should not be scrimped on

But, the main danger with low mileage cars is the age of tyres and the potential for age related problems .. how many people pay any attention to tyre dates or age related deterioration ?

As an aside my former employer had a contract to fit Dunlop tyres on its fleet and everything went onto them as soon as the original fit tyres needed to be replaced

Everything from fiesta’s to transits and high performance BMW and Audi’s

Did you notice a difference ?

On the run of the mill stuff not a chance, but on the faster stuff yes you could in some cases particularly the BMW’s as they took them off the run flats but you just drove around that

Funnily the only cars we didn’t use the generic Dunlop’s on were the Subaru Sti’s which just didn’t work with them at all

We went back to the fleet managers and got them to agree to pay for the OE spec tyres as they were crap with anything else

Personally, I think there is very little difference amongst the top end tyres and good mid range but I’d avoid budget tyres

This thread has been a really interesting read. I agree with pretty much all of it apart from ‘The only reason you'd buy mid-range over premium is if you can't afford it’ which just proves a fool and his money are easily parted.

The CSLs on my M came with Vreds and I was going to change them for premium brand however I no longer feel the need since I drove with some other M cars all on different rubber ( mid and premium). When ‘pressing on’ enough to tell, we all felt our rubber was more than capable of keeping us on the straight and narrrow. I believe that unless you are a very talented driver and tracking your car there are mid range tyres plenty good enough for your needs.

I'd be a fool if I hadn't tried mid range but I did and it's not as good. Period.

Do I disagree that mid range is 'good enough', no I don't. However, given free choice I'll stick with the best.

What sizes and pressures are you running on your E89 Mr Wilks if you dont mind me asking.

After hours of looking at tyre size comparisons to get a comfortable alternative to the RFTs I have on staggered 326M wheels on a E89 3.0i sdrive auto, i'm down to two combinations as I see it, which are 255/35/19 rear & 235/35/19 Front or 265/30/19 rear & 235/35/19, my end game is to achieve a smoother ride and try to prevent any more cracks, the 265s still give me the desired larger dia fronts but I have no feedback on the comfort/crack resistance or handling differences made, I know everyone has there own ideals and this subject has been well trodden, but I am trying to avoid what could be a costly mistake

S26-UkZed wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2018 3:26 pm After hours of looking at tyre size comparisons to get a comfortable alternative to the RFTs I have on staggered 326M wheels on a E89 3.0i sdrive auto, i'm down to two combinations as I see it, which are 255/35/19 rear & 235/35/19 Front or 265/30/19 rear & 235/35/19, my end game is to achieve a smoother ride and try to prevent any more cracks, the 265s still give me the desired larger dia fronts but I have no feedback on the comfort/crack resistance or handling differences made, I know everyone has there own ideals and this subject has been well trodden, but I am trying to avoid what could be a costly mistake

235 35 on 8j rim should improve chance of comfort from 225 35 but its not a major difference as you are actively seeking a distinct improvement why not consider a 225 40 19 front paired with 255 35 rear ? Its used from factory on E46 M3 19inch & offers more wheel protection , comfort & closes down the arch gap too by 10mm ( which the stock Msport E89 can easily stand )

Pressures i would expect 33-35 psi front & 34-36psi rear to be where you would find the best combination

Here's a previous E89 i had on 19inch rims with 235 40 19 profile on front 8.5j rims

I have the standard suspension I believe, I think 225/40/19 will rub on full lock as I only have 10mm clearance now on 225/35 although I agree they fill the arches nicely on you picture Mr Wilks. Its so close with standard on new tyres 640mm Dia vs 40s at 663mm, I do not know the differences between standard and msport suspension but if your tyres (235/40) 671mm Dia. didn't rub on full lock, there has to be one.

S26-UkZed wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2018 6:38 pm I have the standard suspension I believe, I think 225/40/19 will rub on full lock as I only have 10mm clearance now on 225/35 although I agree they fill the arches nicely on you picture Mr Wilks. Its so close with standard on new tyres 640mm Dia vs 40s at 663mm, I do not know the differences between standard and msport suspension but if your tyres (235/40) 671mm Dia. didn't rub on full lock, there has to be one.

Can't say 100% saying they wouldn't but i really doubt they would rub i,m lowered on H & Rs currently with my E89 & run 235 35 19 on 8.5j et 35 fronts ( so sit almost identical to a 326 or 296 ) never had any rub & the numbers are only 2mm different from a 225 40 19 on 8j et 29 wheel (as 296 or 326 ) plus your car is at least 15mm-20mm higher

mr wilks wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2018 6:48 pm

S26-UkZed wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2018 6:38 pm I have the standard suspension I believe, I think 225/40/19 will rub on full lock as I only have 10mm clearance now on 225/35 although I agree they fill the arches nicely on you picture Mr Wilks. Its so close with standard on new tyres 640mm Dia vs 40s at 663mm, I do not know the differences between standard and msport suspension but if your tyres (235/40) 671mm Dia. didn't rub on full lock, there has to be one.

Can't say 100% saying they wouldn't but i really doubt they would rub i,m lowered on H & Rs currently with my E89 & run 235 35 19 on 8.5j et 35 fronts ( so sit almost identical to a 326 or 296 ) never had any rub & the numbers are only 2mm different from a 225 40 19 on 8j et 29 wheel (as 296 or 326 ) plus your car is at least 15mm-20mm higher

Salutations lol, Ive just been out and had the wheel turned whilst I measured and there is at least 15mm gap

S26-UkZed wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2018 8:20 pm

mr wilks wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2018 6:48 pm

S26-UkZed wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2018 6:38 pm I have the standard suspension I believe, I think 225/40/19 will rub on full lock as I only have 10mm clearance now on 225/35 although I agree they fill the arches nicely on you picture Mr Wilks. Its so close with standard on new tyres 640mm Dia vs 40s at 663mm, I do not know the differences between standard and msport suspension but if your tyres (235/40) 671mm Dia. didn't rub on full lock, there has to be one.

Can't say 100% saying they wouldn't but i really doubt they would rub i,m lowered on H & Rs currently with my E89 & run 235 35 19 on 8.5j et 35 fronts ( so sit almost identical to a 326 or 296 ) never had any rub & the numbers are only 2mm different from a 225 40 19 on 8j et 29 wheel (as 296 or 326 ) plus your car is at least 15mm-20mm higher

Salutations lol, Ive just been out and had the wheel turned whilst I measured and there is at least 15mm gap

now you just have to decide which brand

mr wilks wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2018 8:29 pm

S26-UkZed wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2018 8:20 pm

mr wilks wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2018 6:48 pm

Can't say 100% saying they wouldn't but i really doubt they would rub i,m lowered on H & Rs currently with my E89 & run 235 35 19 on 8.5j et 35 fronts ( so sit almost identical to a 326 or 296 ) never had any rub & the numbers are only 2mm different from a 225 40 19 on 8j et 29 wheel (as 296 or 326 ) plus your car is at least 15mm-20mm higher

Salutations lol, Ive just been out and had the wheel turned whilst I measured and there is at least 15mm gap

now you just have to decide which brand

Seriously looking at Khumo KU39 now in 255/35/19 & 225/40/19 from Camskill.co.uk i'm never going to need that ultimate grip, what I need to know is they will stop in the wet and not feel unpredictable at 70mph plus of couse absorb the road surface better than the bone shaker RFTs.

S26-UkZed wrote: ↑Fri Feb 23, 2018 1:38 pm

mr wilks wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2018 8:29 pm

S26-UkZed wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2018 8:20 pm
Salutations lol, Ive just been out and had the wheel turned whilst I measured and there is at least 15mm gap

now you just have to decide which brand

Seriously looking at Khumo KU39 now in 255/35/19 & 225/40/19 from Camskill.co.uk i'm never going to need that ultimate grip, what I need to know is they will stop in the wet and not feel unpredictable at 70mph plus of couse absorb the road surface better than the bone shaker RFTs.

If wet braking is one of your priorities look at the tyre label information, it's one of the three criteria measured

I've always used Michelin Uhp summer tyres generally.

Is it because they're better than others? I'm sure I've never pushed them to their limits to know, but what kind can do is read reviews that put them top in the situations where you really need that grip; emergency braking.

This, added to the fact they wear really, really well, makes them a no brainer at £30 a tyre more than "midrange" options. A friend has got over 15k out of a set of rears on an E46 M3 and still has 3mm left, can't say fairer than that!