Tyre Choices

[Paul Morgan]

Hello,
I've been running a 2013 Z4 18i for 2 years now and it is time for some new tyres, so please can I ask for advice on the current knowledge/thinking as to which would be the best tyres to fit.

Currently it has run flats all round Radar Dimax R8+255/30 ZRF19 91Y on the rear and Bridgestone Potenza RE050A 225/35 R19 88Y on the front. I think the fronts (dated 2012) are original to the car which is now at nearly 50k so it's time for them to go. The rears were new on the car when I bought it and are in good shape showing little ware with plenty of tread and having done about 8k.

Having looked at many posts on this forum and searched a lot of material on the net about the pros and cons on this subject I am now rather confused about which are the best tyres to fit to my Z4.

I don't think I want to go for the original Bridgestone's as it appears pretty obvious most drivers think they rubbish all though clearly they can cover a lot of miles. At the moment I feel I should stay with RF's as some reports that the softer Non-RF's can effect the feel of the steering response even though they may give a softer ride. I haven't ruled them out totally so your opinions on this will be interesting to hear.

So thoughts on what's best please.

My options as I see it are,
a) stay on RF's and replace the front two only with the same as the rears or equivalents.
b) replace all four with RF's
c) replace all for with Non-RF's

I am open to all suggestions on this matter and currently I am keeping my options open.

Thanks, Paul.

[bellamor]

Continental ExtremeContact Sport is a good option, you may want to check out the internet for reviews to save you some time searching for an aftermarket product.

[R_P_M_]

Michelin PS4 or PS4s, conti sportcontact, and Goodyear asymmetric 5 or F1 super sport, all very close so can't go wrong with any of them really.

[brillomaster]

Michelin, Contis or Goodyears are probably 'the best' tyres, but any of the top of the range tyres from Hankook, Pirelli, Dunlop, Vredestein, Yokohama, and even Kumho are all still 'very good' tyres, but a little more wallet friendly.

https://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2 ... e-Test.htm

https://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2 ... e-Test.htm

But yes, definitely ditch the run flats.

[Busterboo]

Michelin, Contis or Goodyears are probably 'the best' tyres, but any of the top of the range tyres from Hankook, Pirelli, Dunlop, Vredestein, Yokohama, and even Kumho are all still 'very good' tyres, but a little more wallet friendly.

https://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2 ... e-Test.htm

https://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2 ... e-Test.htm

But yes, definitely ditch the run flats.

Pirelli aren't included in the tests. Whatever, ditch the run flats.

Remember, too, the advice in the reviews that Michelins 4s wear comparatively fast.

[brillomaster]

https://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2 ... e-Test.htm

https://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2 ... e-Test.htm

Fair point, though Pirelli did do pretty well in the tests they were featured in.

[Pbondar]

The other issue which I didn’t quite appreciate is given now the massive range of wheel diameters and rim widths is just how many variations a manufacturer could make...

So a lot of the newest / most premium rubber is only available in the 19” sizes upwards..

The 17” sizes tend to be more limited..which may be not a bad thing...

With summer tyres it’s not as bad, with winter tyres and all season can be more problematic...

But for the 19” the latest versions of the Continental, Goodyear and Michelin all hover around the ‘as good as it gets’ level..

As Mr Wilks would point out there are many very good tyres that 99% of the population would be happy with at much lower prices..

[SiJar]

If you want to stay with RFT then I highly recommend Goodyear’s.

[Busterboo]

Some reviews report they can suffer from 'bubbles in the sidewalls'.

[Robbo82]

Sorry to thread jack... ! I'm in a similar spot current pricing looks like

295 for falkens plus local install
Rainsport 5 at 350 plus install

399 ish for pirelli p zero and p zero Nero installed
399 ish for Dunlop sport maxx gt installed
440 ish for conti contact premium installed

So everything seems to be in a similar ish price zone. Grip is important to me rather than longevity as I'm not doing tons of miles.

I know Mr wills statement re 99% and I'm prob a regular driver so would be happy with any of these over the run flats

Nexen and nokian seemed harder to track down

Should I just go contis ? Or pirelli which seemed to do well in evo 2019 tests ?

[mr wilks]

Sorry to thread jack... ! I'm in a similar spot current pricing looks like

295 for falkens plus local install
Rainsport 5 at 350 plus install

399 ish for pirelli p zero and p zero Nero installed
399 ish for Dunlop sport maxx gt installed
440 ish for conti contact premium installed

So everything seems to be in a similar ish price zone. Grip is important to me rather than longevity as I'm not doing tons of miles.

I know Mr wills statement re 99% and I'm prob a regular driver so would be happy with any of these over the run flats

Nexen and nokian seemed harder to track down

Should I just go contis ? Or pirelli which seemed to do well in evo 2019 tests ?

If you go Dunlop don't get the Gt it's the Sport Maxx Rt or Rt2 you want.
Not sure if you you are on 18s but right now on Tyreleader you can get them delivered to your door for £340 set of 4
2 x 225-40-18 front £150
2 x 245-40-18 rear £190
Great tyres for the money & whilst Nokian are my current no1 tyre they are around £380 delivered on above sizes for the WrA4 which is all the tyre you will need all year round , I really cannot find any weakpoint in them at all & I have a set on all 3 of my household vehicles.
https://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres/ ... 97v-501099

https://www.nokiantyres.com/company/new ... european-/

[Pbondar]

Currently, and it’s an ever changing evolution, the Goodyear Asymmetric 5, the Michelin Pilot Sport and the Conti Contact Premium are trading the top place crown on multitudes tests..in the tyres sizes that fit E89s for summer tyres..

The only thing that stops them getting marked higher is their higher prices..

But the gap between these and the rest of the premium tyres is not large..

Of course there are track oriented tyres that perform better on pure track conditions..

I’ve used two sets of different Contis Sport Contact 3, 5 , 5P for many years on my E89 but have just bought some asymmetric 5s to try..

It’s such a personal preference..what suits one person doesn’t seem to suit another..

Compounding that issue is so many Z owners have changed their wheels and either intentionally or accidentally changed their steering geometry..

Plus if you’re tracking is out this affects how some tyres feel quite significantly..

[Robbo82]

Thanks both my current tyres are sized as follows:

225 40 18
255 35 18

Could I use 245s on the rear? I think they are mv2 wheels ?

Couple of bad pics below !

[enuff_zed]

Could I use 245s on the rear? I think they are mv2 wheels ?

Indeed you can, 245/40s

In fact, my wife's 2.5i has 245/40s front and rear and she has no issues with heavy steering, but I think I may go back to 225s on the front when the tyres need replacing.

[brillomaster]

blackcircles are doing a great deal on Goodyear F1 5s right now... with the discount, its £80 each including fitting for 225/40/R18 size.

i'm in need of some new fronts, and was going to get Hankooks to match the new rears i've just put on, but seeing as the GYs are currently cheaper and arguably a better tyre, i'm gonna go goodyears on the front, and then switch the rears to goodyears to match when the hankooks wear out.