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Tyre dilemma

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Man in Black View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Man in Black Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Tyre dilemma
    Posted: 12 Jun 2016 at 8:33pm
Hi folks... relativelt new to the world of BMW and the forum so please excuse the following if its a bone question....

I am running a 12 plate F30.. front tyres are looking likely to need changed soon and the rears are probably not that far behind so might just bite the bullet and replac the 4 at once. On checking tehm I see the front are 225/50/17 94w  but the rears are 255/45/17. Im struggling to find the 50'S as well never mind figure out why the difference in sizes. 

Can I run the same size al round without effecting the drive which I have to say is fine as it is even if I do  get a little bit naughty from time to time. If so what size to go for and lastly any reccomendations on suppliers / brands would be nice as well. I run Falkens on my civic Type R which are great but am open to suggestions from wiser more experienced heads.

Any advice is appreciated
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Tony View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Tony Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jun 2016 at 12:16pm
You have what's known as a 'staggered' set-up.

It just means that the rear wheels/tyres are wider than the fronts (quite common on RWD cars).

The decrease in profile on the rears (50 to 45) balances out the increase in width (225 to 255) so that the circumference remains about the same front & back.

Nothing wrong with Falkens (F453), and the Hankook S1 Evo (v1 K107 or v2 K117) have a good rep for one of the 'non-premium' brands. Also consider Vredestein Vorti or Michelin PS4 (if they're available in your sizes).
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Mike Fishwick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike Fishwick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jun 2016 at 9:40am
Reading this forum one gets the impression that no-one fits anything but Michelin PS2, although there is another, cost/benefit concious world too!

I have been using Falkens for sixteen years on my 2.8 Z3, from  FK-451 to the current FK-453, and also on our VW Golf TDI which puts 275 lb-ft through the front wheels (more than an E36 M3!) with no untoward problems.

I would certainbly say that they are no worse than my original Michelin PS, and perhaps rather better on initial steering response - even without a little 'BMW Approved' star on the sidewall!

In extreme use they may - and it's a big 'may' be not quite as good as the  Michelin PS2 etc, but are a lot cheaper aad wear well too.  I usually get 30k front and 25k rear, runing at 2.5 bars all round.  I find them (well, the tyres and car combination!) to be unbelievable over the twisty Devon roads I have been playing on since I was about 18, a lot of cars and tyres having been used in that period.

John Safe uses Falkens on his M Coupe, which spends half of its life going round the Nurburgring, which is a pretty good example of their abilities, no matter what the tyre snobs may tell you.  I was once warned that it was 'Folly' to fit 'Budget' tyres to a powerful RWD car, but some of the tyres originally fitted by BMW to new Z3s - Dunlop and Pirelli in particular -  left a lot to be desired.  Dunlop incidentally are now owned by Falken . . .

My advice is that if you can afford them, Michelin or Continental will be very good indeed, but in the world of value for money Falken take a lot of beating.


Edited by Mike Fishwick - 18 Jun 2016 at 12:50pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote issus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jun 2016 at 8:26pm
Originally posted by Mike Fishwick Mike Fishwick wrote:

Reading this forum one gets the impression that no-one fits anything but Michelin PS2, although there is another, cost/benefit concious world too!

I have been using Falkens for sixteen years on my 2.8 Z3, from  FK-451 to the current FK-453, and also on our VW Golf TDI which puts 275 lb-ft through the front wheels (more than an E36 M3!) with no untoward problems.


 
I agree Falkens are good, but as a matter of interest Fulda(Goodyear) Sport Control Tyres are also pretty good; very popular in Germany too. A very much understated Tyre is Nexen 8000 and Nexen 9000. If you listen to those in the trade Nexen seem to be respected....they are also in alliance with OHTSU Tire & Rubber in Japan which is a subsidiary of Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd(They own Falken Tires!). Dunlop are also involved with Sumitomo.

Some rumours that Nexen are part owned by Michelin but this maybe doubtful.

ps if you have time take a look at this thread on : http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30792


Edited by issus - 24 Jun 2016 at 8:53pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote davebrindlee36m3 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jun 2016 at 9:03am
Originally posted by Mike Fishwick Mike Fishwick wrote:

Reading this forum one gets the impression that no-one fits anything but Michelin PS2, although there is another, cost/benefit concious world too!

I have been using Falkens for sixteen years on my 2.8 Z3, from  FK-451 to the current FK-453, and also on our VW Golf TDI which puts 275 lb-ft through the front wheels (more than an E36 M3!) with no untoward problems.

I would certainbly say that they are no worse than my original Michelin PS, and perhaps rather better on initial steering response - even without a little 'BMW Approved' star on the sidewall!

In extreme use they may - and it's a big 'may' be not quite as good as the  Michelin PS2 etc, but are a lot cheaper aad wear well too.  I usually get 30k front and 25k rear, runing at 2.5 bars all round.  I find them (well, the tyres and car combination!) to be unbelievable over the twisty Devon roads I have been playing on since I was about 18, a lot of cars and tyres having been used in that period.

John Safe uses Falkens on his M Coupe, which spends half of its life going round the Nurburgring, which is a pretty good example of their abilities, no matter what the tyre snobs may tell you.  I was once warned that it was 'Folly' to fit 'Budget' tyres to a powerful RWD car, but some of the tyres originally fitted by BMW to new Z3s - Dunlop and Pirelli in particular -  left a lot to be desired.  Dunlop incidentally are now owned by Falken . . .

My advice is that if you can afford them, Michelin or Continental will be very good indeed, but in the world of value for money Falken take a lot of beating.
I thought you lived in France not Devon Mike ?
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Mike Fishwick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike Fishwick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jun 2016 at 9:57am
I have not driven on Fulda tyres for ages - early 'eighties I think - when they were original equipment on our Golf GTi, but we could not then buy them in the UK, changing to Continental Aquacontact and later Yokohama A539, both of which were excellent hooligan tyres, and wore well into the bargain.

Yes - I like to visit your damp little country every year for shopping and visiting friends!  Of course, most times my favourite roads are occupied by the usual 40 mph brigade, now growing in numbers as cities spread into what was once countryside, making speed cameras and dawdlers increase in volume.  Still, with a French-registered car and licence I can spit (well, almost!) on your speed limits and parking fines.

The UK has been good for shopping, too, but with current changes your taxation will no doubt rise, making shopping less attractive, but at least you also have some great performances of musicals - we often visit Milton Keynes for this.

And yes - I buy my tyres in the UK too - for the Z3 I save about £150 on a set!  No wonder most French cars have spindly rubber on them!

(Apologies for drifting off-topic!)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote petecossie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jun 2016 at 10:48pm
Originally posted by Mike Fishwick Mike Fishwick wrote:


John Safe uses Falkens on his M Coupe, which spends half of its life going round the Nurburgring, which is a pretty good example of their abilities, no matter what the tyre snobs may tell you. 
My advice is that if you can afford them, Michelin or Continental will be very good indeed, but in the world of value for money Falken take a lot of beating.

I have Falken 453 fitted to my Z3 MC (2nd one) I also had them fitted to the first MC (Falken 451) which I had a few years back.  I took the advice of John Safe back in 2004 just before I bought the first MC when I spoke with him at Gaydon.  As a good all round value for money tyre I think they take some beating.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RENT-A-GOAT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Sep 2016 at 3:25pm
Just to add another tyre choice not mentioned above to the list have you ever tried Goodyears? I used to run them on my VW's pre BMW ownership so once I had got through the woefull Bridgestone runflats on my 3series touring. I went for a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 ASY3's and they have been really brilliant choice and have totally transformend the vehicle to the point it puts a smile on your face each time you drive instead of grimance at every tramline. Great wet/dry grip, low noise and a noticeable increase in MPG. I got mine for less than £100 a corner fully fitted from blackcirlces.


Edited by RENT-A-GOAT - 09 Sep 2016 at 3:26pm
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