BMWLand: Where Power Meets Control - UK BMW

plowy · BMW m3

New 3 series sport models with 18'' alloys come with either Bridgestone Potenza or Michelin Pilot Sports I belive, What is the best suited tyre for this car?? does anyone have experiance of both on there car, a mate of mine runs a 330ci on the Bridgestones and has constantly moaned about how the car 'Trams' on the front, is this common of this car with this size tyres or is it down to tyre brand suiting the car better????? Confused

rocketron · Posted: Sun, 27 Jun 2004 20:40:29 UTC Post subject:

I think the 18 inchers often suffer from tramlining and its something you have to put up with on that size and profile. The Michelin sports seem to hold most favour in previous threads as the favorite tyre. I find them to be a good compromise between handling/noise and wearability.

bulb · Posted: Sun, 27 Jun 2004 21:13:52 UTC Post subject:

Michelin sports for me!

mystic sport · BMW E60 M5

My car runs michelins. Interesting to note that tonight my wife drove me back from a party and she hasn't driven the car for a couple of months. She owns a 318ise with the standard 15 inch wheels and I asked her to try and make some comparissons and give me her opinion on the road manners of my car verses hers. She said that the car feels as though it wants to drive itself and make all the decisions regarding its road position. I though this when I first owned it but now I don't even realise that it is tramlining in the least. You just adjust to whatever you drive.

keith4444 · Posted: Sun, 27 Jun 2004 23:12:58 UTC Post subject:

I'm running Dunlop SP9000's and have had no problems so far Wink

copperband · Posted: Mon, 28 Jun 2004 12:16:07 UTC Post subject:

I have Bridgestones on mine but had Michellin Pilot sports on my previous BMW (325Ci) personally I have neved liked the Bridg. and would go for the Mich. every time especially in the wet or greasy road conditions where the harder compound sems to struggle for grip.

whitt121 · Posted: Mon, 28 Jun 2004 12:58:41 UTC Post subject:

I run Mich Pilots currently, and they tram as well, its not so much the tyre but the wheel size that makes them pull. You will find they are worse in the slow lane due to lorries wrecking the tarmac.

Think i am going to give the Dunlops a go next time...

nadeem · Posted: Mon, 28 Jun 2004 13:19:18 UTC Post subject:

Potenza's for me - love 'em

jas · Posted: Mon, 28 Jun 2004 16:11:52 UTC Post subject:

I've had Bridgestone Potenza's previously and have just had the Piot Sports fitted today. Car seems to tramline less and is much quieter.

poonpatch · Posted: Mon, 28 Jun 2004 22:32:10 UTC Post subject:

I've got bridgestones and in the dry they're fine...in the wet they're fine....give them an in-between greasy road and they're possibly the worst tyre I've ever experienced....i'll be buying michelins when it's time to change....

jas · Posted: Mon, 28 Jun 2004 22:36:59 UTC Post subject:

The Michelin Pilot Sports I've had fitted have three major grooves going through them and the centre part is totally slick!! Its about 15mm wide. Must be great in the dry but I'm sure that won't be helping me too much in the wet!! Confused

mystic sport · BMW E60 M5

My pilot sports are superb in the wet but I think my tread design is different to yours. Do you have the PS2s?

plowy · BMW m3

I have a personal prefrance for the michelins just from past experience on other cars, if the bridgestones are a harder tyre do you get a better mileage from them on the BMW ?

Dude · Posted: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 19:35:56 UTC Post subject:

My son runs a 330Ci Sport, that was previously fitted with Michelin Pilots, and when he switched to Dunlop SP Sports there was a vast improvement as they are far better at reducing tramlining although they will not completely eliminate the problem.

I know all you fans of 18" wheels don`t want to hear the plain truth that if you want a BeeM to handle properly with absolutely zero tramlining, you need to stick with non sports suspension and 16" wheels.

mystic sport · BMW E60 M5

Handling isn't about zero tramlining, that will just stop the car feeling nervy going in a straight line, if you want it to hold the road even better then stick the fat 18s on with sport suspension. My wife has a 2001 318ise with standard suspension and 15 inch wheels. I can corner my car so much quicker as the suspension keeps the car far flatter through a corner and the fat rubber holds it to the road like poop to a blanket. I just feel that i have so much more confidence in the handling department (especially through the twisties) in my sport than her SE. This is just my opinion so don't flame me as this is how i like my car to feel. I suspect quite a few others will feel very different. Horses for courses.

jas · Posted: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 22:43:26 UTC Post subject:

smorin23 · Posted: Wed, 07 Jul 2004 16:23:11 UTC Post subject:

I can't comment on the Bridgestone, but I found the Mich Sport woo full in anything but the dry!

Goodyear F1's now grip in all conditions extremely well!! Smile

plowy · BMW m3

My new 330d sport arrived last week on Bridgestones, I have covered 700 miles already, although taking it relitively easy 3-3.5k rpm it does get enough pace together at that to exploit the handling and cornering abilities of the car and I have found the Bridgestones to be faultless so far..

garyc06 · Posted: Fri, 09 Jul 2004 07:37:24 UTC Post subject:

I recently replaced the OEM dunlop 9000s (dreadful tyre), with PS2s and am delighted at the improved feel, turn in and improved dry grip.

I ran Bridgstones So2s on a previous E46 328Ci and they were fine.

a3ternus · Posted: Sat, 31 Jul 2004 13:24:56 UTC Post subject:

I ve driven the Vectra with Michelin P Sports and it was superb (definately soft kind of rubber but VERY sticky and progressive).
The BMW with the Bridgestones is alos grippy,but the rubber feels definately harder...they also do not seem to last long...
So,i d go again with the Michelins...
N.