Tires.... What To Buy? - BMW Forum

dberger · 02-04-2005, 08:45 AM

I need to buy 2 rear tires ( my fronts have 80% left on them )
Any advice on a pair of mid-range priced tires?1998 528i Sport.

thanks
Dan

sp0rky · 02-04-2005, 01:08 PM

I have the Fuzion ZRi tires and ABSOLUTELY LOVE them. Amazing for the price. They are a sub-company of Bridgestone. Check them out at Tirerack.com and read some reviews. Can't beat em.

dberger · 02-04-2005, 01:43 PM

I know BMW recommends to replace all 4 tires with the same kind but how important is it. My two front tires are in great shape and I don't want to spend more money than I have to. Any thoughts?

Dan

Apogee · 02-16-2005, 09:10 AM

I am in the same position, I do about 20000 miles a year and have only had the car since July and need new tyres. I have shopped around, and am going to buy some Toyo KS1s. I have heard they do about 15,000 between changes. They are going to set me back about £350.

CosmosBlack · 02-20-2005, 11:32 PM

Hey sPorky! I am using the same ZRi's and so far they have been fine!
At least better than the previous more expensive Toyos and Yokohamas I had.

But at 4000miles now I'm beginning to hear some rolling tire noise at low speeds...we'll see how bad it gets. My previous tires were very noisy.

sp0rky · 02-21-2005, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CosmosBlack@Feb 20 2005, 11:32 PM
Hey sPorky! I am using the same ZRi's and so far they have been fine!
At least better than the previous more expensive Toyos and Yokohamas I had.

But at 4000miles now I'm beginning to hear some rolling tire noise at low speeds...we'll see how bad it gets. My previous tires were very noisy.

[snapback]295881[/snapback]

I've had mine for the same mileage, maybe a TAD more... and I got some noise in too, but thats to be expected with all tires (at least in my experience) But my car is also lowered and I drive it pretty aggressive lately, what about you?

I think a lot depends on road condition.

superdeadman · 02-21-2005, 08:06 PM

my bro got 17" pireli (or however you spell em) tires for like 120 a piece. they are very good and they a w rated (168mph).

CosmosBlack · 02-21-2005, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sp0rky@Feb 21 2005, 12:00 PM
I've had mine for the same mileage, maybe a TAD more... and I got some noise in too, but thats to be expected with all tires (at least in my experience) But my car is also lowered and I drive it pretty aggressive lately, what about you?

I think a lot depends on road condition.

[snapback]296288[/snapback]

I wouldn't say I drive aggressive, I'm prety decent with the tires.
The car has the sport package so it's lower, also the tires tend to wear on the insides due to the factory-set negative camber.

BeelZibub · 02-22-2005, 05:48 AM

Putting different tyres on the front to the rear is NO problem at all - some people, including myself will choose different tyres purposefully for their different abilities. I run Dunlop Sp Sport 2000 on the front and Nankang on the rear. The nankangs are a newer Japanese tyre so are cheap but as they are soft compound (like most jap tyres) they stick the back end to the tarmac like s**t in the dry and are quite good in the wet too. However, for this very same reason (soft) they don't last that long. As far as road noise is concerned I have never noticed the difference between any tyre I have bought - I don't think I've ever driven anywhere without the radio on.

I've never tried them personally but if you search the forums you will hear a lot of people recommending the Fuzion ZRi, that Sporky and Cosmos are running. Otherwise the Dunlop SP Sport's usually last well (The one's on the front of mine were on it 10,000 miles ago when I bought the car and still have over 7mm on them), grip well and are a decent price.

PS Good to see you both (spork and cosmos) - you've not been around a lot lately.

Eric S. · 02-22-2005, 10:15 PM

On the noise topic, I must point out that although I am running the stock Dunlop 2000 E's on my 1999 540 Sport, I am quite happy with their stickiness and their quiet. No untoward vibration and no tire roar, and they are pretty worn; I'd say I have 5K, maybe 10K left on them, and they're at about the 20K point now.

I am a total Michelin man, but the frappin' Pilot Sport A/S are very expensive, so I've been giving this tire thing some thought too. I have a friend who swears by Falken and it helps that they are inexpensive. But these Dunlops aren't very expensive and I've had good luck with these, so I may just stick with them. Just my 2 cents...

da_bull · 02-23-2005, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CosmosBlack@Feb 20 2005, 11:32 PM
Hey sPorky! I am using the same ZRi's and so far they have been fine!
At least better than the previous more expensive Toyos and Yokohamas I had.

But at 4000miles now I'm beginning to hear some rolling tire noise at low speeds...we'll see how bad it gets. My previous tires were very noisy.

[snapback]295881[/snapback]

I have the ZRi's as well and so far so good, about 3k miles on them, I will look/listen for the noise. I had some Kuhmo's that came with the wheels and they didnt last me 20k, never again. I dont drive hard as I have the "small-motor-heavy-car-its-a-M20-needs-M50-no-performance-unless-going-downhill-with-the-air-off-shoulda-bought-an-E36-but-like-the-space-and-ride-of-E34" syndrome.

Cosmos, I am also curious about the camber issue. My tread wore out on the Kuhmos WAY before I thought it was time (less than 20K?). I have talked to my buddy and others around town about alignment, but I get the "there is not much to adjust, live with it" speech.

superdeadman · 02-23-2005, 11:32 PM

the previous tires were noisy as hell and when i was driving, there was a loud hum present. Then when the tires were being replaced, the rear tires looked like drag racing tires, as in, the middle was completely bold (on one of them, you could see the cord ripping through), and had some thread on the sides. Now that pirellis are on the car, the ride is quite and they handle nicely.