Tyres for a 330i!

PMKeates

PMKeates

PMKeates

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16 Jul 2004
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Despite any consideration to sell my car, I will be keeping it for a short while at least. She's due in for her scheduled hydraulic fluid change at the end of the moth, and something else coming up soon is a new set of tyres.

The two tyre types I am considering are the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3's, and the Michelin Pilot Sport 2's. Anyone have any personal experience or opinions they'd like to share regarding these two tyres, or the tyres on their E46?

I think the F1's come a fair bit cheaper, but I'm not overly worried about the cost :)

Ta in advance
 
I managed to haggle a full set of PS2's down to £640, which was very close to the GS-D3 price.

Worth the extra for the Michelin's imo.
 
Eagle F1's dont seem to last long but do they do grip really well.

If I drive the BMW like I would expect about 7k out of them.
 
merlin said:
I managed to haggle a full set of PS2's down to £640, which was very close to the GS-D3 price.

Worth the extra for the Michelin's imo.
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Did you get a KDS realignment included in that, or was it just for tyres, fitting and balancing?
 
PMKeates said:
Did you get a KDS realignment included in that, or was it just for tyres, fitting and balancing?
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Tyres fitting and balancing.

I've not actually got them yet, just priced them up.
 
merlin said:
Tyres fitting and balancing.

I've not actually got them yet, just priced them up.
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The place near me that's a sort of semi-enthusiast tyre shop have the PS2's for £622.52 including fitting and balancing, and also have a Hunter alignment system available. I think I'll give them a ring and see what deal they can give me on the whole lot :)
 
Just phoned and without any haggling 4x Michelin Pilot Sport 2, fitting, balancing, full Hunter alignment and vat from £641.26 -> £751.48, depending on how much alignment work needs doing :)
 
Vote for the Pilot Sport 2's here, had two sets on mine and I like the balance of grip and reasonable life, quite quiet as well.

KDS is expensive in terms of labour charge and only worth doing if you experience abmormal tyre wear or other issue. Just dont let a tyre place near it with normal or four wheel allingment guages....however good they claim to be.

I believe that the Eagle F1's are also great tyres, I had a loaner 320M Sport vert while my car was in for the work above. It had Eagle F1's all round and I didnt feel it was any less planted or that I broke traction easier. Since you are probably going to be shot of the car before this set wears out then I would go for whichever you can get the best deal on.


You really cant go wrong with either of your choices.
 
If you feel you would be happier getting the wheels aligned and you also feel you can trust them then a Hunter alignment is probably as accurate as you can get without going down the KDS route.

What size are the tyres? are they staggered with wider rears or the same all round? without knowing that it would be hard to say if that price was good or not.

Roughly speaking it is in the ball park of normal prices for a set of tyres on a 325/330 so if you know you can trust them and they won't scratch your wheels then it may be worth paying a small premium. I would certainly be happier going to a specialist than quick fit or other chain outlet.

I find that I get a better price going down and talking to them face to face. If you are on the forecourt and ready to comit to buying there and then they do tend to bend a little.
 
The tyres are 225/40 R18 and 255/35 R18, front and rear respectively. What are the differences between a KDS and Hunter aligment? I can get a KDS alignment for the same money from my BMW specialist, so if it's worth the 50 mile journey from the tyre place, I'll do it!
 
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How come was you going to sell it?

Is that for the new 18inch M wheels
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?
 
Good grief, the price for your tyres make me extremely glad that I've only got 15inchers on my car :p
 
A BMW KDS setup is just a rebadged Hunter DSP600 with BMW customised software on the PC, so there should be no difference in accuracy.

Have you got access to Costco? 225/40/18 PS2's are about £125 from there fitted, but they often have 20% if you buy 4 tyres together.
 
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