Tyres..what do you use?

[Elecblondie]

Yes a very large part of me, I think if tyres were cheap then I'd probably change them but the fun in the wet is just too good. My only concern is that I've had to get used to much longer stopping distances . At least now I've put in standard road pads it doesn't lock up just by looking at the brake pedal.

[pirate952]

meh stopping distances are for fools lol im used to 40 year old austins with drums all around and no servo on crossplys, so the bm stops pretty well haha. actualy it doesnt, ive not locked the wheels but i do need to look at the discs or pads and they fade out a bit

[Elecblondie]

I lock up quite a lot, it unsettles passengers the first few times but they get used to it. The tyres are so hard I don't have to worry about flat spots and I have grooved and vented discs so I don't have so much of a problem with brake fade.

[Fushion_Julz]

Anyone got anything good to say about Avon ZV3, my local tyre place has them on offer?

Not used ZVs, but I have ZZ3s on my M3 (225/45/16) and they are pretty good, especially for the price...

Certainly enough grip for the road and not too bad on the track in the wet, either.

I use Toyo T1R (195/55/15) on the 325 and they are great for grip and crap for wear...

I've also got a set of 195/50/15 Toyo R888 and they are fantastic on the track in the dry but wear out way too quick to be of use on the road...

Currently the 320 still has a set of cheapy tyres in 195/65/14 and different front and rear just until they need replacing...The difference in grip and feel is amazing, tbh...
My advice is don't buy cheap brand tyres for your E30 cos you'll ruin the adhesion and feel especially in the wet!

[Simon13]

my last set of toyo proxies did 20 laps round the ring, then i swapped the tread over as they had worn on the inside edges front and rear. Then they did 11,000 miles on the road. I'd say thats good wear life on a car that was heavily lowered. (the one in my sig)

Really it alot depends on what you use the car for? but cheap tyres are a false economy..........

[stevoE322]

Anyone got anything good to say about Avon ZV3, my local tyre place has them on offer?

Not used ZVs, but I have ZZ3s on my M3 (225/45/16) and they are pretty good, especially for the price...

Certainly enough grip for the road and not too bad on the track in the wet, either.

I use Toyo T1R (195/55/15) on the 325 and they are great for grip and crap for wear...

I've also got a set of 195/50/15 Toyo R888 and they are fantastic on the track in the dry but wear out way too quick to be of use on the road...

Currently the 320 still has a set of cheapy tyres in 195/65/14 and different front and rear just until they need replacing...The difference in grip and feel is amazing, tbh...
My advice is don't buy cheap brand tyres for your E30 cos you'll ruin the adhesion and feel especially in the wet!

[spook]

I have heard the expression balloon tyre on the zone, would this refer to a 55 profile tyre?

[BadDave]

I have heard the expression balloon tyre on the zone, would this refer to a 55 profile tyre?

I consider anything more than a 45 section tyre to be a "balloon"type tyre

[Bob_S]

205/50/15 bridgestone potenza re040... quiet, relatively hard wearing and grip levels are superb even on a moderately damp road you can still make dicent progress

in my experience, kumho's and champiro's have been a nightmare and put me in situations all the time

[StuBeeDoo]

I had a set of Lassa Impetus II on my MiM's (I know, I'd never heard of them either!).
I recently had to change the 2 on the rear and bought Uniroyal Rallye 550. I wish I hadn't now. The back-end feels very twitchy and loose. They haven't actually let go yet, but they don't inspire confidence in me.
I think I'm going to replace them with Toyo's - they seem to be the tyre of choice here.
I actually might even have another set of the Lassa's, they seemed to have good grip in the dry and reasonable in the wet. I got over 40k miles out of them too!

I 'phoned my usual supplier today and he reckons he can't get Toyo's in 205/55x15 anywhere, anyhow. He offered me more Lassa's, Kumho's, Goodyear's, Falken's, more Uniroyals. I nearly got a pair of Lassa's fitted, but then I tried another place. They've got Toyo's - I'm getting a pair tomorrow - but they're far from the prices I've seen bandied-about here. They quoted me £74 a corner! That's £12 more than the Uniroyals were.

[Jon_Bmw]

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php? ... b103s289p0

There you go. If you are getting 4, then definatly get them from there. Free delivery on 2 or more tyres and a great service. I always get the local tyre fitters a crate of beer for changing a set of 4. So thats about £8 if you are lucky at Tesco.

[monkey]

I run toyo t1rs on the front of mine and find them very good , mine cost me £110 for the pair inc vat . I did squeeze them on price though

[town325i]

ive had avon zv3's on my old car they where sh#t in the wet and didnt last very long

[StuBeeDoo]

I always get the local tyre fitters a crate of beer for changing a set of 4. So thats about £8 if you are lucky at Tesco.

That's if your local tyre place are really friendly! Mine are friendly enough, but they still stick rigidly to their £10+VAT per wheel fitting charge. So that would make Camskills £257 for 4 for me - ie £64.25 a corner, a long way off the "£50 a corner" I recently saw in a post here.
There's a possibility that I can get mine a bit cheaper tomorrow - I'll update as necessary.
I often wish I still worked in a dealership and could fit and balance my own tyres (and other stuff).

[StuBeeDoo]

As it's known that the 205/55x15 market was always small and is shrinking - ie choice will become more limited as time goes on - maybe it's time to think about getting my speedo re-calibrated and going to 50 profile.



Or look out for a set of 16" Hartge's.

[bss325i]

As it's known that the 205/55x15 market was always small and is shrinking - ie choice will become more limited as time goes on - maybe it's time to think about getting my speedo re-calibrated and going to 50 profile.



Or look out for a set of 16" Hartge's.

I'll have a set of 16" hartges up for grabs in a month or so.

[StuBeeDoo]

I'll have a set of 16" hartges up for grabs in a month or so.

You have PM.

[Jesus325iTouring]

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php? ... b103s289p0

There you go. If you are getting 4, then definatly get them from there. Free delivery on 2 or more tyres and a great service. I always get the local tyre fitters a crate of beer for changing a set of 4. So thats about £8 if you are lucky at Tesco.

£8?????????

69p


On topic,i'm running on Accelera budgets,not really false economy as the Touring has an easy life most days now,just a bit of pootling about locally.
That said the missus does complain they make the car wander in puddles.

[gooner1]

Falken 205/55x15 on mine. More than happy with them, but then a cab is for cruising not throwing about.
Much.

[Grantley]

Goodyear Eagle F1's, best tyres I've had on any car ever !

[Jon_Bmw]

A crate is 20 or more Rog!

Off topic, bring the tow pole

[Jesus325iTouring]

Off topic, bring the tow pole

Will do

[320imoredoor]

The cheapest possible tyres ever, look like they have been on the car a million years

but they will be changed in the near future with some borbets eventually when finances allow

[danman2k]

if you are lazy like me and want them to do it while you are at work ETYRES are ok, prices are steep though

[Tonks]

I have standard bbs 14 inch 6.5J and have found Falkens give great grip. I use 205/60 profile which is not widely available in 14 inch.

[sideshowbob]

If you live in the South / Hampshire area the best and cheapest place for any performance tyre is Micheldever Tyres. They are the importer and stockist for Falken, Kumho and all other brands, if they don't stock it, it isn't worth putting it on your car
Tel. 01962 774437
http://www.micheldever.co.uk/

Folks go there from miles around and the service is spot on. Wheel alignement and tracking is first rate and if you run 16'' or bigger then they ultrasonically clean your wheels free as part of the service. Believe you me they come up like new.
Wouldn't even consider buying tyres from anyone else.

[Hyperion]

currently running Toyo Proxe 4 , size 205/40R17.
Toyo's are good, and i have been happy with them, i am thinking of going to 215/40R17 as i hear this size will give a better ride!? any suggestions.

[Elecblondie]

If you live in the South / Hampshire area the best and cheapest place for any performance tyre is Micheldever Tyres. They are the importer and stockist for Falken, Kumho and all other brands, if they don't stock it, it isn't worth putting it on your car
Tel. 01962 774437
http://www.micheldever.co.uk/

Folks go there from miles around and the service is spot on. Wheel alignement and tracking is first rate and if you run 16'' or bigger then they ultrasonically clean your wheels free as part of the service. Believe you me they come up like new.
Wouldn't even consider buying tyres from anyone else.

Everyone in my motorclub swears by them but for some reason seem to actually use a place called Taj's Tyres for partworns

[StuBeeDoo]

that would make Camskills £257 for 4 for me - ie £64.25 a corner, a long way off the "£50 a corner" I recently saw in a post here.
There's a possibility that I can get mine a bit cheaper tomorrow - I'll update as necessary.

OK. My Toyo's cost me £49.16 each inclusive of VAT (ie over £3 per tyre cheaper than Camskills). Fitting was the usual £10+VAT per tyre.

Micheldever Tyres

Bugger! Are they still going?? I can remember when they first opened. Must have been about 1974 - it was before I passed my test. They operated out of a couple of tin shacks and a Portakabin up a rough old farm track about 2 miles from Micheldever Station, on the back road to Overton.

[Blitz]

My tyres are NEXEN CP641. Anyone got them?

[spook]

Dude, thats stuffs weaker than holy water

[MrAsp]

Currently running Avon ZV3, 195/60r14.

Not so sporty tyres, in my humble opinion.

[Fushion_Julz]

My Toyo T1Rs are getting close to needing replacements on the rear (the fronts are about half-worn)...So I checked last night through my receipts...

They are 15mths old (June 07) and have covered a bit under 15K miles...

Make of that what you will, but I'd say the wear rate wasn't brilliant...However, it is a little better than the Falken ZE512s I used to run on my Nissan 200SX that would only last 12K miles on the rear...

[steve955i]

Just fitted Cooper Zeon XTC. Not my first choice - far from it - but urgently needed all 4 for the MOT and this was all that Merityre had in stock last Saturday. Been looking on the web for more info - they're supposed to be low on road noise (true) and not bad for handling in the wet and dry (too early to tell but feels quite planted even in all this rain). Paid £74 each. Good guys Merityre - tell them you're from the owners club and they'll knock off a few quid.......

[zimmer-320i]

im on 205/55/16's im wondering if im running the right rolling radias, or will a decent set of 215 50 16's be better on the rear and michilen 205/50/16 on the front?
or shall i go for them toyo semi slicks i mean summers past now so maybe some cold weather tyres?? and ill sort some summer tyres and wheels out with the semi's on? but what the best size to go on the back i want as wide as possible with out rubbing and its been lowered 40