Tire Replacement

[Rick330Cic]

The sidewall split on my right rear ContisportContact 245/40ZR-17 and I was wondering whether, if I was going to either replace it with the same tire or a different one (I'm strongly considering the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2) should I replace BOTH rear tires, ALL tires or just the one?

I would estimate the tread life left on the other tires are in the 5k mile range.

Also, if someone has a strong recommendation on a different tire or good/bad experiences with the ones I mentioned, I'd appreciate hearing about that, too.

Thanks,
Rick

 

[epj3]

If you can afford to put PS2's all around, do it. They will feel SOOOOO much better then the contisport's.

 

[///M SPEED]

Contisport's are very good tires. I happen to like them very much. I wouldn't go as far as to say the PS2's are "SOOOO" much better. For an all around summer tire the PS2's will perform better, but overall year around driving the Contact's will be better. The Contact's will last a lot longer too.....

 

[jkronq]

I too am in need of 4 new tires. I have heard very good things about the PS2's. I have 19 inch rims. The stock size's are 225/40 front and 255/35 rear. The Tirerack.com suggests 245/35 front and 275/30 rear. I am considering going with that option with the Goodyear Eagle F1's. Anyone have any thoughts about that?

 

[codex57]

I've heard great things about the F1. I would have gotten them had I not gotten a great deal on PS2's.

So far, the PS2's are alright. Nothing too special so far. I was quite fond of the OEM Dunlops I had. I'd prolly get those (if they still make em) for all around durability, handling, quietness, wet weather performance.

 

[epj3]

Contisport's are very good tires. I happen to like them very much. I wouldn't go as far as to say the PS2's are "SOOOO" much better. For an all around summer tire the PS2's will perform better, but overall year around driving the Contact's will be better. The Contact's will last a lot longer too.....

It's just from what I've heard - over on m3forum.net, it seems as if people claim huge driving improvements when getting rid of the contisport's for a better tire. Not to say it's a bad tire - I've always been a continental tire fan, but not for summer stuff
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/10252/tire-test-the-quick-and-the-tread-page12.html

Also, how do you know they will last longer too? The wear ratings aren't standardized (ie by the ISO). The tires on my car (and my friend's 325i) have a wear rating of 200 - the bridgestone re750's (that the same friend USED to have on his car) have a wear rating of 340. The hankooks with a 200 wear rating (which started with less tread depth to begin with) are outlasting the bridgestones. Just look at the S03's. 320 wear rating? But we both know they won't last longer then a season on either of our cars.

 

[Average Jae]

i run contisports for my talon for a/s and were really nice in the winter. but you live in fl, so i don't really see the need for a/s tires, except for longer tread life.

but you live out in fl, get the nice summers, like the ps2, but do remember the fast wear and the price tag on the tires.. tirerack has pretty comprehesive user feedback

according to tirerack, goodyear f1-gs-d3s are also pretty nice, with a lower price tag.

totally off topic: summer tires in Korea are freakin expensive!! PS2 255/35/18s run over $400 a pop!! damn, if i ever bring my ride over, i'm getting new tires slapped on there before i bring em over.. rediculious!!

 

[///M SPEED]

It's just from what I've heard - over on m3forum.net, it seems as if people claim huge driving improvements when getting rid of the contisport's for a better tire. Not to say it's a bad tire - I've always been a continental tire fan, but not for summer stuff
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/10252/tire-test-the-quick-and-the-tread-page12.html

Also, how do you know they will last longer too? The wear ratings aren't standardized (ie by the ISO). The tires on my car (and my friend's 325i) have a wear rating of 200 - the bridgestone re750's (that the same friend USED to have on his car) have a wear rating of 340. The hankooks with a 200 wear rating (which started with less tread depth to begin with) are outlasting the bridgestones. Just look at the S03's. 320 wear rating? But we both know they won't last longer then a season on either of our cars.

I know by personal experience. I have the benefit of 3000+ miles (so far with tread to go) on the Contact's that I never got out of the PS2's. This with the same driving style and the PS2’s on my 328i and the Contact’s on the ///M. I can guarantee the Contact’s have had a little harder life being on the ///M as well….

I agree the PS2's are a better and sticker tire for summer use, but for what I use my car for the Contact's are more than capable. With that said, the performance differences between the two tires for general street use are not at the opposite ends of the spectrum. One just needs to factor in price and longevity when deciding. There really isn't a bad choice between the two. This topic is null if tracking or auto-crossing......

 

[jkronq]

So what do you think about me changing my tire profile from 225/40/19 front and 255/35/19 rear to 245/35/19 front and 275/30/19 rear? Is this a good move? I would think that handling would be better due to the lower profile.

 

[epj3]

So what do you think about me changing my tire profile from 225/40/19 front and 255/35/19 rear to 245/35/19 front and 275/30/19 rear? Is this a good move? I would think that handling would be better due to the lower profile.

Probably not a good move - Check m3forum.net to see what people have done. I doubt it's going to do anything but hurt the overall balance of the car. On the e36 M3, the stock tire size on the euro 92-95 and US '95 models were 235/40/17 on all four corners. The car ended up being "too neutral" for some drivers, so they decided to go with a staggered setup, 225/45/17 front, 245/40/17 rear. The car still drives and handles awesome, but has a much stronger tendency to understeer (which is safer for every-day drivers.) I decided to put 235/40/17's on all 4 corners on my car - I have nothing to compare it to, other then it feels like driving in a video game and is SO easy to navigate the corners.

So, is the same true for the e46 m3? I'm not sure - again, check out a forum with people who know this stuff from experience.

 

[DSK]

Persoanlly I would never change just one tyre alone, its either 2 (so that you have the same 2 tyres on the same axle) or all 4 tyres.

Being in the tyre trade, I do test tyres but in my opinion, if you can comfortably afford the Michelin PS2 then go fot it, its a great tyre and Michelin's tend to be harder wearing than its main rivals. Usually, when you are talking about Ultra High Performance (UHP) tyres, from the leaders such as Pirelli, Michelin, Goodyear, Continental and Bridgestone, the Ultra High Performance (UHP) stuff they produce is impressive, but its vital to take into account the vehicles they are fitted to and also the driving style of the driver. Each of us will prefer a different feel to the next person. You cannot go wrong with UHP tyres from the leading manufactures, its a case of trying some and see which tyre suits "you" best.

However, on my BMW 328i and Volvo C70 T-5 I tried Pirelli's P-Zero Assimetrico. These are amazing, a lot better than what I expected in terms of grip and feel but they do wear quickly!! its the quickest wearing tyre I have every tried but I am hooked on these now simply due to performance.

 

[jkronq]

Probably not a good move - Check m3forum.net to see what people have done. I doubt it's going to do anything but hurt the overall balance of the car. On the e36 M3, the stock tire size on the euro 92-95 and US '95 models were 235/40/17 on all four corners. The car ended up being "too neutral" for some drivers, so they decided to go with a staggered setup, 225/45/17 front, 245/40/17 rear. The car still drives and handles awesome, but has a much stronger tendency to understeer (which is safer for every-day drivers.) I decided to put 235/40/17's on all 4 corners on my car - I have nothing to compare it to, other then it feels like driving in a video game and is SO easy to navigate the corners.

So, is the same true for the e46 m3? I'm not sure - again, check out a forum with people who know this stuff from experience.

EPJ3 - thanks for the info. I will check out m3forum.net but keep in mind that I am running 19 inch rims. I would think that going with the Goodyears with the lowe profile would give me more sability. But maybe not..............