A little bit of tyre advice...

[strugglinauthor]

Hi All,

I currently have Goodyear Eagle F1 Asym2 tyres fitted on all four wheels. I've been using this tyre for a while and really like it. I now need two new rears and my local fitter informs me this particular tyre is no longer made. I've had a look online and it would seem he's correct.

Ordinarily I'd just find another tyre, but I'm wary. Why? Some years ago I attempted to switch from Bridgestone to Goodyear by leaving Bridgestones on the front, which still had plenty of life, and fitting Asym2 tyres to the rear. The result was that the car became very unstable with the traction control light flickering like mad. I immediately switched the Goodyears back to Bridgestone and all was well again. When all four Bridgestones wore out I refitted the Goodyears, which had been languishing in the garage, and also fitted Aysm2 on the front. Then all was well again.

So, my choice is to find another tyre that will harmonise (for want of a better word), with the Goodyears that are on the front, or just take the hit and replace all four. If anyone has been in a similar situation and has any advice, then as always it would be appreciated .

Ta.

 

[RMB]

What’s the date stamp, tread depth and condition of the other two? Any cracking?
If they’re really old and worn and you can afford them get all 4.
Maybe get the latest version of the eagles which in theory should be similar?
Perhaps previously you mixed run flat and normal tyres?

 

[B21]

I'd assume the GY Assy 6 would pair as well as any tyre with your old Assy 2..are they not 'old'?

I'd sell a few more books and get a full new set...but then again..I'm not keen on dying..

 

[strugglinauthor]

Thanks for the swift responses. I'd have to dig out the fitting receipt to see how old the fronts are but there's still plenty of tread and no cracking. And no, I hadn't mixed run flats and normal last time round - they were all R/F.

I was pondering the Asym 6 too, but I think I may end up replacing all four.

In that case - any R/F recommendations?? I know some owners have moved away for the improved handling, but I'll stick with R/Fs.

Oh - and if I relied on book sales to fund this I think I'd have a bit of cling film wrapped round my wheels

 

[RMB]

If you must have run flats MPS4 ZP are a big improvement over the hard Bridgestone Re050 and similar old designs. I have them in 17” 45 profile and they’re fine.
I would go non run flat especially if you’re on 18” or bigger. MPS5 if budget allows.
If you look at the tyre walls you will see a date stamp 4 digits. Eg 2518 which would mean manufactured 25th week of 2018.

 

[B21]

Most E89 owners think R/Fs are the work of the devil..but..if you must..

Tyre Test (run-flat) | Auto Express

They’ll get you home after a puncture, but do run-flat tyres perform well the rest of the time? We test the best

www.autoexpress.co.uk

 

[Pondy]

I would just change the ones needed for the available Goodyear equivalent (assy 5 or 6). They will be similar to the old ones, just 'newer'.
I am sure I have seen GY Assy 4s or 5s for sale recently. As they are now 'old' spec tyres, you may get a good deal too!

 

[Pondy]

Most E89 owners think R/Fs are the work of the devil..but..if you must..

Tyre Test (run-flat) | Auto Express

They’ll get you home after a puncture, but do run-flat tyres perform well the rest of the time? We test the best

www.autoexpress.co.uk

Oh, I dunno. The Bridgestone Potenzas may make the E89 unbearably uncomfortable and help to crack wheels.....but....they grip OK and they just don't wear out......ever!

Cheap motoring....expensive chiropractor and wheel bills!

 

[Pondy]

I'd have to dig out the fitting receipt to see how old the fronts are

The manufacturing date is stamped into the sidewall of the tyre. It will be four figures (usually in an oblong 'box'), for example 3922. First two digits are the week, last two are the year, so 39th week of 2022.

 

[B21]

Oh, I dunno. The Bridgestone Potenzas may make the E89 unbearably uncomfortable and help to crack wheels.....but....they grip OK and they just don't wear out......ever!

Cheap motoring....expensive chiropractor and wheel bills!

They aren’t Potenzas later better tyre…

 

[strugglinauthor]

Thanks once again for all the advice .

I know many (most?) Z4 owners have moved away from R/Fs, but I do have a naïve question - and I hope I don't solicit too many sarcastic replies ...but what do you all do if/when you get a puncture? It seems the only option is breakdown cover or Tyreweld. I know I have used the latter in the distant past with not much success. I'm sure a non-R/F will handle better but I like the idea that I should be able to limp home or to a garage should the worst happen.

 

[enuff_zed]

Thanks once again for all the advice .

I know many (most?) Z4 owners have moved away from R/Fs, but I do have a naïve question - and I hope I don't solicit too many sarcastic replies ...but what do you all do if/when you get a puncture? It seems the only option is breakdown cover or Tyreweld. I know I have used the latter in the distant past with not much success. I'm sure a non-R/F will handle better but I like the idea that I should be able to limp home or to a garage should the worst happen.

I carry an 'Airman' kit with the pump and bottle of gloop. But I'm aware of it's limitations so I remain a member of the AA or RAC: whichever gives me the best discount each year.
If you do a search for 'rats tails' on here you'll see another option. @Smartbear was a great advocate of those.

 

[brillomaster]

This'll no doubt jinx it now but I've never had a puncture that wouldn't hold a bit of air.

The worst was waking up to a flat tyre and needing to drive 60 miles home. Pumped it up with a footpump, then checked it every half an hour or so. Held up fine.

But the benefits to the ride and handling of non run flats greatly outweighs the negatives, IMO. Just keep a 12v tyre inflator in the boot.

 

[B21]

Thanks once again for all the advice .

I know many (most?) Z4 owners have moved away from R/Fs, but I do have a naïve question - and I hope I don't solicit too many sarcastic replies ...but what do you all do if/when you get a puncture? It seems the only option is breakdown cover or Tyreweld. I know I have used the latter in the distant past with not much success. I'm sure a non-R/F will handle better but I like the idea that I should be able to limp home or to a garage should the worst happen.

It’s a very reasonable question..

And there’s no simple answer..

In contrast to others of the 10+ punctures I’ve seen on other Zeds / my Zeds / my other cars ..in 10 years..8 were not fixable with gunk or rat tails..

I did / still do carry gunk, rat tails, AA card and now full size spare..

Depends where you live, how far from home you routinely venture etc..

Up here in Scotland rescue and especially recovery can be a long way / long time away..so even a run flat may not bail you out..

However for me and most up here we prefer to manage the puncture risk and go for decent non run flat tyres..

 

[abar121]

Thanks once again for all the advice .

I know many (most?) Z4 owners have moved away from R/Fs, but I do have a naïve question - and I hope I don't solicit too many sarcastic replies ...but what do you all do if/when you get a puncture? It seems the only option is breakdown cover or Tyreweld. I know I have used the latter in the distant past with not much success. I'm sure a non-R/F will handle better but I like the idea that I should be able to limp home or to a garage should the worst happen.

I only get punctures on cars with runflats, after decades of running normal tyres. Dunno why!

I carry a the original compressor, but tyre weld as the original canister of sealant has expired on the M.

I think in your example with non-matching tyres, the rears still had the release agent on them. That can sometimes take quite a while to remove and could be lethal.

I've run F1 Asymmetric 2s with 4s on the back, now 5s on the front and 4s on the back. All fine. The 5s and 6s are noisier in terms of road noise, but you soon get used to it and/or it gets better when the sharp edges round of a little.

 

[strugglinauthor]

Thank you all. Very helpful comments. I shall put all the advice into the calculator that's linked to my wallet and come up with a decision . Have a great Christmas.

 

[Oilyfingers]

Your problem may not be related to the tyre brand.
The E89 is well known for having a very sensitive ESP system.
Just before our Scotland vacation I put a pair of new Michelin PS5 at the rear. The front PS4s still had >4mm left.
The car was outright dangerous at high speeds and spirited dring. With ESP switched off everything was fine.
After some internet research I found that the way the ESP is calibrated on the E89 makes it difficult to cope with different tire diameters.
It is recommended therefor to change only complete sets.
Apparently this is true for more cars with a staggered setup (like the Audi TT etc)

 

[B21]

Your problem may not be related to the tyre brand.
The E89 is well known for having a very sensitive ESP system.
Just before our Scotland vacation I put a pair of new Michelin PS5 at the rear. The front PS4s still had >4mm left.
The car was outright dangerous at high speeds and spirited dring. With ESP switched off everything was fine.
After some internet research I found that the way the ESP is calibrated on the E89 makes it difficult to cope with different tire diameters.
It is recommended therefor to change only complete sets.
Apparently this is true for more cars with a staggered setup (like the Audi TT etc)

The unofficial view is that you should ideally keep the front / rear combo within 1% but definitely not more than 2%

 

[mmm-five]

The latest Goodyear Asymmetric runflat is the Asymmetric-3...and is what I had to fit when I needed 2 replacements for the 335xd.

The other option of course was to swap to non-runflats and pick 4 identical ones from any of the newer performance tyres, but as the other 2 tyres were at 5-6mm I thought it a waste.

 

[Mr Tidy]

The latest Goodyear Asymmetric runflat is the Asymmetric-3...and is what I had to fit when I needed 2 replacements for the 335xd.

I would have thought they ought to be compatible with your Asym 2s seeing as abar121 didn't have any issues running 2s and 4s, then 4s and 5s.