Question: What kind of tires are you running.

[Nhopkins1394]

I am really considering selling my RFT's and getting a high performance summer tire for my little Z4 3.0si. I've been reading the tire survey's on The Tire Rack. Very interesting. Do you guys put any belief in those reviews?
I've sorted the reviews to see which tire gets the highest rating. Lots of choices.

I am wanting a quiet, comfortable, high-performance tire.

I don't want to know which tire you think is best (well, OK, go ahead and tell me). I want to know what you have on your car.
Money where your mouth is, so to speak.

What brand and tire model are you running? (no winter tires on this thread please)
What size? 17, 18, 19, or 20?

[ZStig]

hankook v12, 245 19s, and265 19s. overrated tire. enjoyed michelin pilot ps2 more

[gatorfast]

hankook v12 as well. 225 and 255 (stock sizes). I like them so far...much quieter and more comforatable than the stock continentals. Good grip in dry and wet. Havent been to the track with them so dont know how they would fare there but they are great for the street. Very inexpensive when compared to more "premium" brands.

[Nikki]

Continental Extreme Contact DW

[mhughett]

Originally Posted by Nikki

Continental Extreme Contact DW

That's going to be my next tire too. Nikki, how do you like yours so far?

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by mhughett

That's going to be my next tire too. Nikki, how do you like your so far?

I love them. They seem just as grippy or better than the PS2s but much quieter and a comfier ride. They also don't tramline like the Bridgestones I had previously on my last Z.

[tarheel91]

Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Specs.

[vicj]

Hankook V12 in Summer, on OZ Ultraleggeria
Conti DWS in Winter, on factory wheels

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by tarheel91

Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Specs.

+1. Running those in 235/40/18 in the front and 265/35/18 rear on the Z4M. I prefer these to PS2s (had those in the E92 M3, have them on the Cayman) and they're way cheaper. They're a little louder than the PS2s but IMO they have better grip and the square sidewall is well suited to the suspension. These are Extreme Summer Performance not just Max Summer Performance--they work pretty well in the wet but not the cold.

Here's a thread on our Star Spec experience and here is the Direzza thread on Bfest. If I had 18s on the Cayman there would be no question which tires would replace the PS2s (I'm actually thinking of finding some 18" Boxster S wheels and putting Dunlops on them....).

I hated the stock Contis so much I'm soured to the brand, but lots of folks seem to like the Continental Extreme Contact DWs. Not a big Bridgestone fan either...the RE070s tramline and are pretty harsh--great grip but again I like the Dunlops better.

[danlauz]

Ps2 all the way.

[FerRrari]

Bridgestone Blizzaks (LM-60 IIRC), I'll be buying a set of RE-11s in March.

Has anyone done a comparison between RE-11s and Direzzas? I can't decide based on Tirerack's review.

[johanness]

Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta. Best tires. Period.

[fastdad]

Michelin Pilot Sport 1's - stock sizes

[3002 tii]

V12s but I'll try the Direzzas next

[Thisisdudewhoru]

Originally Posted by Dubbedown

V12s but I'll try the Direzzas next

+1

[pokeybritches]

Sumitomo HTR Z III's. They're noisy at the limit, but other than that they have done well. 20k miles on the rear and time for replacement. Overall, I give them an A. Great price, quieter, softer, and grippier than the stock Contis.

IMHO: If the temperature is over 45 degrees, a max performance tire will outperform the top of the line all season tire every time. I'd rather spend $500 less on tires and get a good max performance summer tire, than to buy a slightly better PS2 setup for $1400 out the door. The money saved can be used for mods. If I was going to the track I'd have dedicated track tires. If your budget is unlimited, go with the PS2s (or whatever the new Michelin one is). Mine isn't, and I daily drive my M so I need a good compromise. The Sumis are grippy, quiet, cheap, and have lasted 20k miles, so they get my business.

On my Z4 3.0i I've had the stock RFTs, Pirelli Pzero Nero A/S, Pzero Nero Max Perf Summer, and Sumis. Sumis were the best.

I've had the stock Contis and Sumis on my M. Again, Sumis were the best.

Sumitomo is affiliated with Dunlop.

[RBull]

Yokohama Advan Neova AD08 in OE size

[Huz-Z]

Nhopkins - aside from color, my car is almost identical to yours - its a Montego Blue 2006 3.0si roadster.

Since August, I am running with Hankook Ventus V12's in the stock sizes that I got from TireRack.

I don't track my car at all. Around town and on the highway, I have found the Hankooks to be a vast improvement over the stock RFTs. Tramlining and that awful and constant steering wheel jitter are now practically nonexistent. The ride is also much quieter and smoother.

In fact, when the car had the stock RFTs on it, my wife hated to drive it, owing to the outrageously harsh ride and the worry that the car would dart into oncoming traffic. Now, she says its like a different car.

I bought the Hankooks largely because of positive comments here, and because they were amazingly cheap. I have not been disappointed in them. If you are tracking the car or pressing it to the limit, then theere may be better, albeit more costly tires. But for the average joe, the Hankooks are hands down way better than stock.

IMHO, that is!

[ga41]

I've also got the Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas and really like them. Good price/performance ratio.

[onebluemcm]

PS2s in stock sizes on stock wheels, about 1/4 - 1/3 worn from original tread. On the RG63s, Conti EC-DW in 255/40 front, 285/35 rear. Given the slightly worn PS2s compared to the bigger Contis, I still concur with Nikki's statements - if not the same, I think the Conti's may be quieter, ride is the same if not better. Can't comment on an apples-to-apples comparison of grip because the new ones are substantially wider, but in and of themselves, the grip is more than I'll ever need on the street. Pretty easy to "run out of road", fantastic dry grip. Don't get it out in the wet if I can help it, but from the M3 forums, I hear the Conti EC-DWs do great in the wet too.

Incidentally, you might peruse M3Forum.net, the E46 forum for tire comments - many of them run same of very similar tire sizes to the Z4M, and there are so many more M3s you get a broader picture of comments over there on things like tires sometimes.

[wrh3]

Originally Posted by johanness

Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta. Best tires. Period.

x2 but harder to find on the East Coast.

I am running Vreds on the M3, Toyo T1Rs on the Z4M, and Hankook V12s on the MCS.

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by johanness

Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta. Best tires. Period.

Vreds are getting long in the tooth tech wise.
They were good at the time but definitely not "Best tires. Period." now.
IMO they were in the same class as PS2s, a notch below the extreme perf. tires available now.

I have to get a set on order for spring.
I'm looking at Z1 Star Specs & NITO NT05.