Z4m replacement tires

[Robo Squirrel]

Hey guys....my rear tires are shot (due to camber wear) I've been thinking about replacing all 4 tires, instead of just the 2. What is a good, affordable tire to put on my car? Thanks guys!

[Finnegan]

The Dunlop Star Specs (235/40/18 in the front and 265/35/18) are great. With about a 1,500 miles on them they're quiet, a huge improvement over the stock tires, and have great handling. Can't speak to the longevity of this tire, but lots of guys are running them. In this size, if I recall they were about ~850 for all 4 from Tire Rack (through the banner) including balancing and mounting.

Here's a link to some specifics. If you search, there's lots on this tire around. Folks really seem to like them....

[Robo Squirrel]

Thanks man!

[dekaliber]

Hankook Ventus V12's are supposed to be quite good as well for how much they cost -- on par with PS2s, if not better.

[thekurgan]

Originally Posted by dekaliber

Hankook Ventus V12's are supposed to be quite good as well for how much they cost -- on par with PS2s, if not better.

+1, also look at the Conti Extreme Contact DW, not too far off price but the ventus did get several great reviews against the venerable PS2s.

[schwank]

It depends on what you're looking for. I run the direzzas for hpde and love them. The felt grippier in the rain when they were new than the stuck conties. I liked them for daily driving, but I'd stick to stock sizes, they throw a lot of dirt if you go bigger.

I just put the hankook v12's on the back, with stock conties on the front. The v12's are quiet and ride nice, but the seem to have some sidewall flex. The kind of squirm a little at highway speed on an aggressive lane change. I am told that this is common with new tires, (mu conties were bald, ad an inch of tread, and it will flex) so I can't be sure. Ive put a few hundred dry highway miles on thm, they seem nice. Grippier than cconties.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

The Dunlop Star Specs (235/40/18 in the front and 265/35/18) are great. With about a 1,500 miles on them they're quiet, a huge improvement over the stock tires, and have great handling. Can't speak to the longevity of this tire, but lots of guys are running them. In this size, if I recall they were about ~850 for all 4 from Tire Rack (through the banner) including balancing and mounting.

Here's a link to some specifics. If you search, there's lots on this tire around. Folks really seem to like them....

Are those on the stock wheels? Curious to see how those tires look if so. Got any pictures?

[bosstones]

The stock Contis w/ < 800 miles on them for $300 obo.

[ebruder]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

The Dunlop Star Specs (235/40/18 in the front and 265/35/18) are great.

I'm running the same size with Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R, which have now been replaced by their RE-11. Mine are on stock wheels and have tremendous grip. Tire Rack had them on close out sale last March when I bought them for $100 for the fronts and $108 for the rears.

If you can still find them anywhere, you will score a great tire at a great price, but they are probably not available any longer, but you can try. The newer RE-11 are in the $250 range.

The Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec tires are excellent and are on sale right now at Tire Rack.

EB

[007MCoupe]

Originally Posted by thekurgan

+1, also look at the Conti Extreme Contact DW, not too far off price but the ventus did get several great reviews against the venerable PS2s.

+1. Conti's are what came on mine from CPO. but when it comes time to replace, i'll most likely go with the V12's unless something else comes along between now and then.

[Master Apex]

Hankook Evo is excellent during its initial life but the grip degraded quickly after 6 months of use....This is where PS2 shines...consistent performance over its life.
During C&D comparison, the tire performs well but no one compare tires during its mid-life....especially the long tread wear tires, you have to suffer longer (wait for the tread to wear out) before replacing them.

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e60...ntact-2-a.html

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Are those on the stock wheels? Curious to see how those tires look if so. Got any pictures?

Yes, on the stock wheels. I take some photos and post them up today or tomorrow.

On other tires, no question the PS2s are great tires as well. Kurgan, the Conti Extreme Contact DWs--those aren't the Contis that were OEM are they? (I was very unimpressed with those.....) Next generation of tire?

Back on the PS2s, they cost a bit more than the Dunlops, and the sidewall construction is more "rounded" and seems to be a bit softer than the Star Specs which are more "square" with a stiff sidewall.

I can't seem to find it, but I seem to recall a discussion at one point (here or on another board--can't recall) about how the more square/stiff sidewall seemed to work better with the Z4M's suspension (in particular what is essentially the E36 front suspension). The key point being discussed was something to the effect that the square/stiff design provided crisper and more precise turn in. But this is a vague memory, and since I can't find the threads/posts I could be way off. I haven't run both on the Z4M, so I can't personally chime in as to whether there's anything to this....

[VinnieAces]

I've been running the Hankook Ventus V12 Evo's for about 2000km's (1250 miles) and i love them! they stick amazingly so far and are a HUGE improvement over the stock tires

[RBull]

I've just ordered some Yokohama AD08's in OE size so will see how these work.

[thekurgan]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

Kurgan, the Conti Extreme Contact DWs--those aren't the Contis that were OEM are they? (I was very unimpressed with those.....) Next generation of tire?

These are a new series I believe, and an all-season DWS.

[bosstones]

Has anyone here run Goodyear Asymmetrics?

[jbh]

I have the conti contact DW that came on my cpo car. I ran an autox on them a few weeks ago and was very unimpressed. I have a second set of wheels I mounted my star specs from my previous car on and ran them Monday on the car and I agree, turn in was crisper, grip was higher, but ride quality suffered. One disclaimer was that the front tires on the star specs are 245''s, not 225 so this would explain some of the extra grip. This was all on the street so I could not really push them. I will run an autox this weekend on the star specs to get a better feel at the limits and beyond.

I like the conti's for my daily driver set but I dont push it to hard on the street.

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by jbh

I have the conti contact DW that came on my cpo car. I ran an autox on them a few weeks ago and was very unimpressed. I have a second set of wheels I mounted my star specs from my previous car on and ran them Monday on the car and I agree, turn in was crisper, grip was higher, but ride quality suffered. One disclaimer was that the front tires on the star specs are 245''s, not 225 so this would explain some of the extra grip. This was all on the street so I could not really push them. I will run an autox this weekend on the star specs to get a better feel at the limits and beyond.

I like the conti's for my daily driver set but I dont push it to hard on the street.

Ride compared to the older stock Contis (OEM on the 2007) was better with the Star Specs, so the newer version must have improved some. I wonder if some of the ride difference you notice is due to the smaller diameter of the Star Specs (less rubber between the rim and the road--similar to 19" wheels). The diameter (running a 235/265 setup) is smaller, as is probably the case with your 245s as well.

I'll be interested in your impressions after your autox day.

[thekurgan]

I'd like to see some long term wear regarding the Star specs, they are also on my list.

[jbh]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

Ride compared to the older stock Contis (OEM on the 2007) was better with the Star Specs, so the newer version must have improved some. I wonder if some of the ride difference you notice is due to the smaller diameter of the Star Specs (less rubber between the rim and the road--similar to 19" wheels). The diameter (running a 235/265 setup) is smaller, as is probably the case with your 245s as well.

I'll be interested in your impressions after your autox day.

I think the 245/45 are actually taller than stock. I know I am having some front clearance issues with them - definately do not recommend that size, go with a 40 profile instead on that wide of a front tire. These are just the tires I already had. The ride is stiffer with star specs, I think because the sidewall is stiffer on the star specs which explains the sharper turn in. I will run on the same concrete surface at the AutoX, different course of course. I hope some of the same cars are there so I can benchmark myself.

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by jbh

I think the 245/45 are actually taller than stock. I know I am having some front clearance issues with them - definately do not recommend that size, go with a 40 profile instead on that wide of a front tire. These are just the tires I already had. The ride is stiffer with star specs, I think because the sidewall is stiffer on the star specs which explains the sharper turn in. I will run on the same concrete surface at the AutoX, different course of course. I hope some of the same cars are there so I can benchmark myself.

Yes, the 245/45/18 is about 2.6% larger in diameter than stock. Star Specs come in 245/40/18 as well, which is 1% smaller in diameter than stock. I completely agree the 245/40/18 is the size to go with.

[CalRick]

Originally Posted by thekurgan

I'd like to see some long term wear regarding the Star specs, they are also on my list.

It's such a crapshoot trying to find that kind of data on that kind of tire because there is such a wide variation in usage - particularly tires like Star Specs that are so frequently used for track and autocross. The best indicator is probably the wear ratings on the sidewall. The Star Specs on my E36 have a little over 5k miles on them, including about 10 track days - they should have enough left for four more trackdays at Laguna Seca this weekend and if there is any tread left after that we should cord them at El Toro at the end of the month. Overall that's quite good service from them and is probably equivalent to 20k+ miles of general road driving.

The Star Specs that I use for tracking on my M coupe have not worn as well, but they have some time at El Toro on them, which is a particularly abrasive surface. For general street use it wears the Hankook V12s which so far seem to be working quite well for that, though they don't have the grip on track that the Star Specs have.