Tyre choice advice?

[Gebbly]

Its time to put new rear tyres on my Z4M. She is fitted with Apex Arc 8 wheels. I have sought advice from Simon 3.2M (the previous owner) who confirms that the current tyres are the correct size for the wheels. Therefore I am searching for rear tyres measuring 275/35 R18. This size is a little trickier to find so I have gone to a selection of manufacturers and searched their own websites for anything they manufacture in the required size.
Could anyone offer advice or opinions (or alternative suggestions) on the following options I have found on manufacturer websites please?

Michelin
- Pilot Sport 5
- Pilot Sport 4S

Goodyear
- Eagle F1 SuperSport

Pirelli
- P Zero

Continental
- Conti Sport Contact 3

Toyo
- Proxes Sport 2

Yokohama
- Advan Sport V105

 

[ed80]

Tyrereviews has a great comparison of the F1 Supersport and the 4S here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKFdBXwWc9w
and a wider comparison here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQsWlZoh55U

Based on what I have read, I would go for the Eagle Supersports if you mostly drive in the drive in the dry (ie it's a weekend car), or the Pilot Sport 4s if you use it as your daily.

The Pilot Sport 5 is a tier lower in performance, but will have better comfort and be a bit quieter, so if you want a cruiser/gt rather than a sports car then that might be the best. The P Zero, the Yokohama, and the Sport Contact 3 are pretty old tech now, and I wouldn't (personally) consider Toyos for an M car.

What do you have on the front? I would be wary of having something wildly different on each axle.

 

[Gebbly]

Thanks for that info [ref]ed80[/ref].

The car came with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 on all corners. Fronts are 235/40/R18. The car is not a daily driver but a fun car for weekends and holidays away. I prioritise performance and safety far more than noise and lifespan of the tyres. As it is a fun car I will never be driving in ice and snow, mostly in the dry but I would like the reassurance of tyres that can handle rainy british weather.

Based on your descriptions I shall do some reading up on the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S and Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport.

 

[B21]

Surely it would be more logical to put the same brand and model of tyre on the back as on the front?

 

[Gebbly]

That would certainly be logical. If I decide on something other than the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 I might just put new tyres on all wheels. It might be nice to have all new tyres on my fairly new toy anyway

 

[B21]

That would certainly be logical. If I decide on something other than the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 I might just put new tyres on all wheels. It might be nice to have all new tyres on my fairly new toy anyway

Obviously some of your suggested tyre choices are more track focussed / dry road biased..

FWIW the Conti SP3 is hopelessly outdated…look at the SC7 instead..

I’ve travelled extensively in a very well tuned E85M with PS5 and can attest that it seems very competent in all conditions..

I think the PS4 has had its day..

The GY Assy 6 is a great tyre too..

None of the SC7 GY6 MP5 are as track focussed..

 

[Sit]

Having just replaced my wheels with 19” Atomic CSL replicas I have been through a similar dilemma. My approach to it was that I don’t intend to track my car (E86 3.0Si) and I don’t fancy myself as much of a Chris Harris either. The car will be driven according to road conditions and used all year round.

That being the case I couldn’t see to point on forking out for PS4/PS5 etc. after all it’s not a powerhouse that breaks traction at every opportunity.

Instead I went for Uniroyal Rainsport 5’s, lots of good reviews across various marques enthusiast forums and compared to most of the others very very well priced. Given the climate we live in I fancied some decent wet grip was pretty important. So far so good, general grip is good, road noise is down compared to the run flats they replaced and my wallet feels happier.

Worth a look

Si

 

[Gebbly]

Thanks for the good info everyone. Sadly I dont think I can get some of your recommendations in the correct size? I went to each of the manufacturers I mentioned above websites and then did a search based purely on size (275/35/R18) and the only results I got back from each manufacturer are the ones I mention above.

PS5 and can attest that it seems very competent in all conditions.

The Pilot Sport 5 is a tier lower in performance

I'll read up on the PS5, thanks. Does the PS4 have better track performance at the cost of road usage then?

The GY Assy 6 is a great tyre too.

Goodyears website didnt mention this tyre when I put in the size. The only summer tyre it came up with was the SuperSport. Maybe their site is wrong?

None of the SC7 GY6 MP5 are as track focussed

I dont plan to ever take the car on a track. Just legal driving on the roads. (Some twisty 50mph roads can be fun)

don’t intend to track my car (E86 3.0Si) and I don’t fancy myself as much of a Chris Harris either. The car will be driven according to road conditions

I fancied some decent wet grip was pretty important. So far so good, general grip is good

Thanks I'll read up on the Rainsport 5s too.

 

[B21]

Thanks for the good info everyone. Sadly I dont think I can get some of your recommendations in the correct size? I went to each of the manufacturers I mentioned above websites and then did a search based purely on size (275/35/R18) and the only results I got back from each manufacturer are the ones I mention above.

PS5 and can attest that it seems very competent in all conditions.

The Pilot Sport 5 is a tier lower in performance

I'll read up on the PS5, thanks. Does the PS4 have better track performance at the cost of road usage then?

The GY Assy 6 is a great tyre too.

Goodyears website didnt mention this tyre when I put in the size. The only summer tyre it came up with was the SuperSport. Maybe their site is wrong?

None of the SC7 GY6 MP5 are as track focussed

I dont plan to ever take the car on a track. Just legal driving on the roads. (Some twisty 50mph roads can be fun)

don’t intend to track my car (E86 3.0Si) and I don’t fancy myself as much of a Chris Harris either. The car will be driven according to road conditions

I fancied some decent wet grip was pretty important. So far so good, general grip is good

Thanks I'll read up on the Rainsport 5s too.

The broader range and selection of higher performance tyres is now moving into 19” and 20”

18” is no longer where the latest and greatest are ..especially in more exotic sizes..

I moved to 19” wheels on my E89 for that reason..

I’ve not driven PS5 vs PS4S so can’t offer advice..from what I can see in most cases the PS5 is much a substitute for the PS4S..

 

[Gebbly]

I'm just watching the Tyre Review channel https://youtu.be/GFv1hcj165I?feature=shared
and he does a nice explanation of the difference between the standard Pilot Sport and the S version. Also how the Pilot Sport 5 should be seen as a progression of the Pilot Sport 4 rather than a progression of the Sport 4S. For that reason if I go with Pilot Sport I am leaning towards the Sport 5 rather than 4S (especially as I currently have the standard Sport 4).

Thanks [ref]B21[/ref], I'll bare the size changes in mind but I think I would like to try and stay with 18 rather than increase the size.

 

[plenty]

I've run both Goodyear SS and PS5 on my E85 and my experience, the limits of both the dry are higher than what can be realistically achieved on the road.

Driver skill and suspension setup are far more relevant as limiting factors than tyre performance, once you get to the UHP level.

The PS5 lasts longer than the SuperSport.

 

[Gebbly]

've run both Goodyear SS and PS5 on my E85

Thats really good info thanks, plenty.

Uniroyal Rainsport 5’s

I had a look on Uniroyal's website but I got as far as specifying 275/35 and they only do 19 and 20 diameter so I cant go that route.

I'll do a bit more reading on options but I think I am leaning towards the PS5 at the moment.

Thanks for all the really useful info everyone.

 

[Gebbly]

A late contender has popped up. The Bridgestone Potenza Sport. Sounds like it could be good for road. I need to do more reading on wet and dry road performance on this and the PS5. Anyone tried the Potenza Sport?

 

[ed80]

I think the Bridgestone is more of a competitor to the F1 SuperSport/PS4S, rather than the Eagle F1/Ps5. I get most of this information from tyrereviews youtube though
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKFdBXwWc9w

 

[RedUn]

For weekend blasting and occasional track go for the 4S, that's what I run on the zed, well suited.

PS5 is for a daily, running these too on a daily, fantastic tyre!

 

[flimper]

Don't overlook the Vredestein's... I'd have those over Pirelli, Toyo, Yokohama, pretty much all except Michelin

 

[Gebbly]

Thanks for the first hand experience [ref]RedUn[/ref].

Don't overlook the Vredestein's

Which Vredestains in particular?

Given there are several people who have tried these tyres, could I ask how you think they handle wet conditions? Are the more track oriented tyres like the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S and the Goodyear SuperSport better or worse in the wet than tyres like the Michelin Pilot Sport 5? Do they sacrifice wet handling for better track performance?

I am just thinking about going on driving holidays when I will have to drive the car even if the weather turns bad.

 

[flimper]

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=147003

Previously discussed on here. I don't have these (yet) but had the Sessanta's before which were very good.

 

[Gebbly]

Thanks [ref]flimper[/ref], unfortunately I just looked on Vredestein's website and they dont do my size (275/35 R18)

 

[plenty]

Given there are several people who have tried these tyres, could I ask how you think they handle wet conditions? Are the more track oriented tyres like the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S and the Goodyear SuperSport better or worse in the wet than tyres like the Michelin Pilot Sport 5? Do they sacrifice wet handling for better track performance?

The PS4S and SS aren't really track tyres. They would stand up to a few laps better than the PS5 and Asymmetric 6, but wouldn't handle sustained track use at full pace.

Think of them as UUHP road tyres compared with the UHP of the PS5 and Asymmetric 6, with slightly better dry performance and comparable wet performance.