Tire wear

Oracle · 4 Mar 2006 at 19:57

Doonhamer said:
Possibly over inflated or the wear could simply come from his heavy right foot and wheel spin.

Not on the front wheels of a rear wheel drive car it couldnt! That would be impressive!

NickXX · 4 Mar 2006 at 20:18

Oracle said:
If its the BMW Nick, they are not illegal. Are they the contis!? They dont have much left in them tho, but as it goes they're not too bad. What I can say tho is that you dont have any front camber issues which is a good thing on an E46 (especially an 330d).

Check the inside edge of the rears as the contis like to let go early on the E46s, and will take most of your suspension housing out with them!

Hi mate, I've Got Pirelli PZero's on the fronts and Bridgestone Potenzas on the back. The Potenzas are fine on the back.

I've just gone out to have another check - the fronts don't seem to be worn down the the marker, but there is only about 1mm before the tread will wear down to the same level. Is it when the tread is the same level as the marker that the tire becomes illegal?

I really want to hold out as long as possible, because they do still grip well, and replacements aren't cheap at £160 a corner.

[TW]Fox · 4 Mar 2006 at 20:19

Enfield said:
Illegal.

You can clearly see the blocks from the photo.

Don't be daft you can clearly see the blocks on a brand new tyre, its when the level of tread is equal to the height of the blocks that you can start worrying.

Enfield · 4 Mar 2006 at 20:22

[TW]Fox said:
Don't be daft you can clearly see the blocks on a brand new tyre, its when the level of tread is equal to the height of the blocks that you can start worrying.

Two of the blocks look like they've completely worn away!

Oracle · 4 Mar 2006 at 20:23

OMG! Nick...PZeros are the poopiest (insert stronger swear word) tyre that you can buy PERIOD let alone for an executive mark like the 330d! Change them out of principle!

18" yes? Eagle F1s will come it at around £90 a corner and are far superior for this vehicle application. Yes, they dont suit everyone so please save me from your "Eagles are pap" rubbish comments. They work on the E46s very VERY well!

NickXX · 4 Mar 2006 at 20:27

Enfield said:
Two of the blocks look like they've completely worn away!

Ah, no - I've just been out to check, it's just a bad photo. They're still at least 1mm above the height of each of the blocks.

Oracle - Lol

, didn't realise the Pirellis were that bad, but they still grip, so I may just hold out for another few weeks. I'm going to get Michellin Pilot Sports fitted at Costco I think.

Muncher · 4 Mar 2006 at 20:30

They are well and truly legal, maybe another 5,000 miles left on them.

They are illegal when the wear indicators reach the same level as the tread next to them.

Oracle - PZeros are not rubbish tyres at all, why do you think they are standard fit on Ferrari, Lambos and Porsches?

[TW]Fox · 4 Mar 2006 at 20:32

Muncher said:
Oracle - PZeros are not rubbish tyres at all, why do you think they are standard fit on Ferrari, Lambos and Porsches?

There are various different types of PZero though, and the type found fitted to low end BMW's are not generally the same as those which will appear as standard on your 430 Spider.

Muncher · 4 Mar 2006 at 20:44

[TW]Fox said:
There are various different types of PZero though, and the type found fitted to low end BMW's are not generally the same as those which will appear as standard on your 430 Spider.

Sure, but PZero are therefore not a bad tyre per se, in fact they can be excellent in some guises.

Oracle · 4 Mar 2006 at 20:51

Yes, I dont deny that they can be good tyres in certain applications, and (my bad) I should have made the point that Fox did about there being 'PZeros' and the 'PZeros'!

But I dont think an E46 is a suitable application for the PZero

I've just had really really bad experiences with them in the past and swapped to GSD3s and have never looked back!

Third Opinion · 4 Mar 2006 at 21:28

Sorry if I am being a bit thick but are they Avons?

NickXX · 4 Mar 2006 at 22:05

Third Opinion said:
Sorry if I am being a bit thick but are they Avons?

They're Pirelli PZero Rossos 18/225/40. Rears are Bridgestone Potenza's 18/225/35

TomO · 4 Mar 2006 at 22:50

NickXX said:
They're Pirelli PZero Rossos 18/225/40. Rears are Bridgestone Potenza's 18/225/35

are you sure on those sizes or is that a typo? 225/35 or 255/35?

Dangerous · 4 Mar 2006 at 22:51

TomO said:
are you sure on those sizes or is that a typo? 225/35 or 255/35?

I was thinking that as well.

L0rdMike · 4 Mar 2006 at 22:52

My Rev1 has a larger profile on the back wheels, real drag car affect. Would look real dast the other way around and is that even legal?

NickXX · 4 Mar 2006 at 22:55

TomO said:
are you sure on those sizes or is that a typo? 225/35 or 255/35?

You're right - just checked. The rears are 255/35, fronts are 225/40.

Does anyone know what the dimensions represent, is it width/profile?

L0rdMike · 4 Mar 2006 at 22:57

Is it normal to have a lower profile on the rear at all?

Strikes me as odd but I know little.

NickXX · 4 Mar 2006 at 22:59

L0rdMike said:
Is it normal to have a lower profile on the rear at all?

Strikes me as odd but I know little.

Hmm, good point - going to double check that..again (stupid tires

).

NickXX · 4 Mar 2006 at 23:01

Yup, 255/35 on the back, 225/40 on the front. Seems odd - anyone know if this is right?

L0rdMike · 4 Mar 2006 at 23:02

Is it possible your wheels got swapped around?

Fronts put on the back?

Might explain your tyre wear on the fronts?