The Neverending Tyre Debate

[el-bunyip]

Hi all, I need to get 4 new tyres for my 1989 325i Sport, the question is what ones? I want good all round tyres for a reasonable price. I've got Goodyear Eagle NCT5s on currently, there good tyres, but damn noisy. A mate of mine who's a mechanic has recommended either AVON ZV5s or FALKEN ZE912s, trawled around for reviews online and there ain't much between them. So any opinions or any other suggestions would be gratefully received.

[jonny323i]

if you want an allrounder i have used the good year excellence good grip not too noisy rim protector and only about £60 a tyre
i know most prefer toyos over falkens but i never liked them they wear out too fast

[E30BeemerLad]

Avons are poo IMO

For the money, it is difficult to look beyond the Toyo T1-R

What size boots are you running, standard 205/55/15?

[pnd]

old topic but as I have said before i don't rate toyos, vredstein sportracs and uniroyal rainsport are better in the diminishing number of options still available for 205/55/15. The old bridgestone potenzas in that size were easily the best tyres i have had ona 325 in twelve years of owning them.

[darkchild]

vredstein sportracs

This. Used these for the best part of 10 years on E36s and E30s and they're a really good tyre. The best for their price IMO. Sportrac 3s are the current version iirc.

[jonny323i]

those goodyear excellence are availible in the 205/50/15 too

[polsta]

need to get a new set of tyres myself soon when refurbed wheels come back

i bought 2 new falken ze912s myself last year on recomendation of felix who has them on his alpina,and found them to be excellent, done 9k on them and still fine with 6mml tred (this was on rear of the car too) ,il probably get a set of those , as from what people said the toys wear out too fast

[el-bunyip]

Avons are poo IMO

For the money, it is difficult to look beyond the Toyo T1-R

What size boots are you running, standard 205/55/15?

Yep, standard size boots at ther mo. Found a place online that does new Alpinas for the E30 (16in 7.5J front 8J rear), but £1300 for just the loys, it'll be awhile before I can upgade to them.

Ok AVONs are a NO NO, cool. FALKENs Seems a mixed bag.

Heard to many bad things about Toyos haven't even considered those especially if they where out quick. Had a set of Pirrelli P6000 pros on before the Goodyear and the rears only lasted about 8months (6k miles approx), they were like an amus bouche for the car.

Will see what I can find out about Vredstein Sportracs and Bridgestone Potenzas as I've never come across them in my search for boots.

Thanks for the replys Dudes and if anyone has any other opinions to offer please feel free, gona be atleast a week before I sort out the new rubber.

[ian332isport]

I've tried all sorts over the years, but still can't find anything better than Bridgestones. Currently running RE050a's. Kin brilliant Tyres. Not especially cheap, but really very good.

Ian

[Brianmoooore]

My vote's for the Toyos! Really can't fault them at all, other than the wear rate, but this is countered by the low cost.
My previous tyres were always NCT5s, as per the OP, and while these were good, the Toyos are better. The NCT5s wore well, but often ended their life prematurely with sidewall damage.

[bss325i]

Continental sport contact 2's or 3's. AWESOME. That is all.

[e30topless]

my local tyre fitter (mahmoods tyres) always recomends Nankang ditchfinders...

on thursday I found out that they work very well, at finding ditches ect,

I love toyo's, they work well in all situations, they wear out quicker due to them having grip ....something Falkens don't have !

[capri_rob]

I've used Falken ZE912's for the last 3 Years - no complaints but I don't drive it hard

[m8782538]

Mine has Avon ZV3's 205/55/15 and i have no real complaints, sure not great in the wet but acceptable, if you don't drive hard there is no reason to discount them.

Uniroyal Rainsport are great tyres but come with a large price tag too. Nexxan Tyres are pretty good (Mid Range tyres, read the reviews as they are mostly positive) and i believe come in the right fitment. (E-Tyres fit them and always stock Nexxan).

[DHFiS]

I like the Toyo T1R but long life isnt an issue for me.

[Duke137]

vredstein sportracs

This. Used these for the best part of 10 years on E36s and E30s and they're a really good tyre. The best for their price IMO. Sportrac 3s are the current version iirc.

+1 well kept secret these, a brilliant tyre!

[daimlerman]

I guess that tyres are like brake pads,there's no 'best',just what suits a particular car/driver combination!

I had a set of s/h Eagle NCT's on the touring,they had about 6mm on when fitted and ran about 15k miles before they were worn to the point of only being fit for rear axle use.... but rode well and gripped well.
Over this winter I have just about worn out a set of 'darkhorse' ditchfinders on the touring and have now fitted a pair of s/h directional tyres marked 'Tigar Prima' to the front and I intend to run off the remains of the ditchfinders and Goodyears on the back over the summer.

Last summer I bought the cabbie a pair of brand new Toyo's in the correct 205/55 15 size(first ever brand new tyres for one of my E30's!) and was delighted with the way they rode and gripped.8k miles and very little wear noticed.

My intention,now,is to run out the current stock of assorted s/h tyres and stay with Toyo's.That's how imppressed I am.

[pnd]

I had a set of s/h Eagle NCT's on the touring,they had about 6

My intention,now,is to run out the current stock of assorted s/h tyres and stay with Toyo's.That's how imppressed I am.[/quote]

of course toyos are better than cheap /used shite. My opinion is based on a comparison of good tyres on good, properly set up cars.

[el-bunyip]

Are Toyos really that good? I'm tempted to try them from whats been said.

As I've said before the only tyres I've had experience with in the 8 years I've own my E30 are Pirellis which were shite and just disappeared, and the NCT5s. Which are good tyres, never had a problem with grip in the the dry or the wet and they even surprised me in the last bout of snow, wears been great too. But the rides a bit harsh and F&@K ME they're noisy and it gets worse the more they wear.

Any body want to give an estimate of the the T1Rs?

The Vredstein Sportracs are intriguing too. I've been looking at reviews and both are mostly really good but the Sportracs come off better. There again the Bridgestone rate well too!

[TouringMatt]

Are Toyos really that good?

In my comparison to the Falken ZE912s i now run they are.

I dont push my car that hard these days, but have nearly been caught out twice now on damp roads, never had a sniff of trouble with the Toyos unless i was being a preeek.

In fact i tore a side wall at 50+ on a front when i was running them, wrote the tyre off but never even hinted at a loss of control.

[e301988325i]

Another thumbs up for toyo's, both my beemers have 4 matching tyres, most of my 'car' friends use toyo's too. When I was over in Germany, at least half of the nurburgring users were usin toyo's.

[Morat]

If you're after something cheaper I've just got a set of Kumho Ecsta SP on the E30 after finding them good and nicely durable on the E46. Pretty grippy, cheaper than the Toyos but maybe a bit soft in the sidewall although with all the potholes that have appeared round here after the winter I'm not complaining.

The sporttracs are great, although I've only got a set on bottletops they're nice and predictable.

Best tyres I've ever driven for performance are Michelin Pilot Sport2, but they're pricey so make sure you've got your tracking/alignment spot on before you fit them.

[el-bunyip]

Are Toyos really that good?

In my comparison to the Falken ZE912s i now run they are.

I dont push my car that hard these days, but have nearly been caught out twice now on damp roads, never had a sniff of trouble with the Toyos unless i was being a preeek.

In fact i tore a side wall at 50+ on a front when i was running them, wrote the tyre off but never even hinted at a loss of control.

No point in getting Falkens if your in any way a spirited driver then! Which I am. Not a maniac, but definitely right foot happy the majority of the time.

I'v looked at Kumho Ecsta KU31s, but I'd heard they where a bit slack in the side wall and I don't like the sound of that.

I think you guys might have convinced me to go with Toyo's, if I don't get on with them I'm sure I could run them down quick enough. But I've got the feeling I'll be more than pleasently surprised!

Thanks again for all your opinions!

[TouringMatt]

What size you after?

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=192782

No point in getting Falkens if your in any way a spirited driver then!

Possibly, yet to find the limit in the dry, but just found the Toyo's a better all rounder.

Had a set of Yoko's on my FWD shopping cart a few years back, stuck like glue in the dry but were horrendously bad in the damp/wet, just the way some tyres are!

[Ant]

hate the bridgestones I have on my 'Pact, tramlines like its scaletric(sp) FFSK, almost fubaarred now, hard decision for me soon.

Toyo are OK, but I still think the carcass moves too much laterally when loaded, I call it the Toyo shuffle, have to go on the shortlist though, everytime.

I tried Falken, they were like plastic, both directional and non patterns, Avon are landfill IMHO.

Goodyear eagle GSD 3 was my alltime fave, but long gone alas.

vredstein sportracs a good suggestion .

avoid the nexen/riken/woosung kinda brands though, Kuhmo best budget choice IMHO.

might try Conti for the 'Pact this time around,

[bss325i]

Conti rock wet or dry and have good wear rates.

[Ant]

Noisy ?

my Shoguan has less tyre noise than the 'pact on the motorway, 20K plus a year it makes a big difference.

I went to Somezetttttt a while back, A303 route with 7/8Jx16 and Pzero combo, never again , like a landrover on 750/16s lol.

[bss325i]

Not bad really. Tried them on the E30, E46's E90's (although runflats so a bit noisier than non RF's).

The conti RF's are much quieter than the bridgestone or pirreli ones.

[el-bunyip]

[quote="TouringMatt"]What size you after?

Standard size 205/55/15.

Definitely a hard decision, looked at Conti's too and Kleber and even Dunlops, but boy are they pricey.

[quote="Ant"]avoid the nexen/riken/woosung kinda brands though, Kuhmo best budget choice IMHO.

Do you rate the Kumho's or Sportracs above Toyo's?

[m8782538]

Maragoni aren't bad, Bridgestone's are pretty good but you need the nice ones which don't come cheap, give conti's a wide berth, they are total crap. Michellin are ok, Pirelli P Zeros are good put fitment may be an issue.

Try a nice 205/55/15 etc Toyo R888, then get some Uniroyal Rainsports on a set of 195's for winter use, best of both worlds.

[320Touring]

Another vote for Toyo's here..

And the 195/50/15 fits lovely on both the wallet and the wheel- if you dont mind a speed overread

I get about 20k out a set, and as most can tell you, i'm not exactly known for my mechanical sympathy

[mr_dink]

Another vote for Toyo's here..

And the 195/50/15 fits lovely on both the wallet and the wheel- if you dont mind a speed overread

I get about 20k out a set, and as most can tell you, i'm not exactly known for my mechanical sympathy

195/50 toyos are a penny pincher's delight, I got a set of 4 for £112!

Proper size 205/55 about £60 a corner, like here, still not too bad.

[BEERBOY123]

I've done a whole heap or research and Uniroyal Rainmaster seem the 'best' to me, just can't get hold of any in 205/55/R15!

[12345kevin]

I have found the Yokahama S-Drive to be probably the best tyre I've had on the E30, far gripier that the Toyo's we ran as a back to back comparison at a track day.

Survived several track days, 2 ring trips and 2 zone roams together with about 12,000 miles. Fronts will do this years zone roam as well.

Becoming a bit hard to get now and a recent quote was £90 a corner, if they could get them !

[bss325i]

, give conti's a wide berth, they are total crap.

Which conti's?