Tyres

[LGK6D]

Hi Everyone,

I'm going to have a new set of tyres fitted and so I've been reading through the searches on what tyres you're all using. What's considered to be the best? There seems to be quite a lot of choice.

Also, the spare has never been out of the wheel well and so is still the brand new Dunlop 245 oddball (albeit 16 years old). Should I leave it alone as I'm sure it'd get me home and it's original or should I just have 5 new tyres fitted and forget about that?

Many thanks
David

[AlWyn]

Pirelli P Zero Rosso or the Falken 452s in 225 45 17 for me. Modern 245 are too wide and will rub at the rear

[darkhorse1210]

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetrics for me...same size as Al recommended

[LGK6D]

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetrics for me...same size as Al recommended

I noticed on another post a lot of people rate the Goodyear Eagle F1's, but not for the snow!? Also, is there a problem in getting the Pirelli's I think I read somewhere on here that they've been discontinued?

[scillyisles]

Michelin PS3 225/45ZR94Y Costco currently have their 20% discount offer. I have a set of these on and they are the best tyre i have tried on the RS2. GTRS is also running these tyres but in 91Y rating and he too is impressed.

[LGK6D]

Michelin PS3 225/45ZR94Y Costco currently have their 20% discount offer. I have a set of these on and they are the best tyre i have tried on the RS2. GTRS is also running these tyres but in 91Y rating and he too is impressed.

Haha, never thought of Costco for tyres! How does it work, do you buy them mail order? I've noticed cam skill.co.uk have them for £125 ish

I read GTRS's write up about his suspension freshen up, I'm sure it was hard with such a massive freshen up to see what difference the tyres were contributing.

Am I right in thinking that the Michelin PS3 is a non directional tyre? If so it makes sense to include the spare, these directional tyres are all well and good if you've got a stupid space saver or tyre gunk, but with a full size spare it means you can only have a flat on one side of the car!

[scillyisles]

More or less every Costco store has a tyre centre with a fitting bay - all are state of the art. They are an approved Michelin tyre centre - chances are they won't have the 94Y version in stock - I had to order mine - came within a couple of days. PS3 are non directional and yes I did all 5. You can also take the tyres away and come back within a year to have them fitted just keep the receipt.

[GTRS]

You're right to aim off due to my suspension refresh - and of course that all I previously knew was PS2s in the wrong size. Scillyisles is probably the most qualified of anyone to comment on such things having been through several sets on what is I'm sure a car like mine as Audi and Porsche intended. One thing the suspension doesn't account for, though, is the dramatically road noise at motorway cruising speeds - I can't imagine the previous 245s accounted for such a difference, though others with a direct comparison may be able to comment. I've not tried them in the snow yet, but the PS2s were pretty good - and the 20% discount is not to be sniffed at! It would, though, be duller forum if we all ran the same tyre.

I did a lot of research before taking a punt on the PS3s (I think I was the first to fit them). I'm very glad that I did - they are the most up-to-date tyres available. As for 91Y vs 94Y, I went for the former (after RS2 specialist advice) - I don't think the RS2 is a particularly heavy car, but then my other car isn't an M3 CSL....

[LGK6D]

One thing the suspension doesn't account for, though, is the dramatically road noise at motorway cruising speeds - I can't imagine the previous 245s accounted for such a difference, though others with a direct comparison may be able to comment. I've not tried them in the snow yet, but the PS2s were pretty good - and the 20% discount is not to be sniffed at! It would, though, be duller forum if we all ran the same tyre.

Are they particularly noisy tyres then?

It's good to get real world experiences from what others are using especially on the same cars, so thanks everyone for the input.

ScillyIsles, what do the tyres work out at through Costco?

[GTRS]

For that read 'dramatically reduced road noise'. Had been a long day...

[scillyisles]

[quote="LGK6DScillyIsles, what do the tyres work out at through Costco?[/quote]

I bought 5 x 225/45 ZR17 94Y Michelin PS3 on the 20% offer at Costco earlier this year. From memory the price was around £568 for 5. Note that the 94Y rated tyre is more expensive than the 91Y rated tyre in the same size. Tyre prices have probably increased since then.

I would agree with GTRS comment that the PS3 are a very quiet tyre with much reduced road noise. The tyres I had on the RS2 prior to the Michein PS3 were Pirelli Neros in 225/45ZR17 94Y and these also were a good tyre (better than the Rossos which my Audi dealer fitted by accident)
I run Pirelli Neros on my M3 CSL which is one of my other cars.
In general, I am very much of the opinion that tyre choice has a big influence on the way a car drives and handles - it is for example the point of contact with the road.

[darkhorse1210]

Scilly...you have an M3 CSL, I've never driven one but I find myself checking the price of them frequently on Pistonheads. I had an E36 M3 Evo a while back and whilst it was good in the dry but the handling in the wet was diabolical, and not only at high speed or when cornering, I had to move it on after 18 months which I have never regretted.

I take it you have the manual CSL? How would you rate the car overall from your experience of ownership??

[scillyisles]

I have an E46 M3 CSL which I have had from new - same as I have had my RS2 since new. The E46 M3CSL was only produced with an SMG gearbox (which is a manual gearbox operated by electrohydraulics) The CSL has very good handling as you would expect from a car that can lap the Ring in 7.50 and is good in the wet - BMW paid for all original M3 CSL owners to go on a ProDrive driving day at their handling course in the Midlands which included a skid pan plus various handling tests/tracks. Overall the car has been very reliable with no real issues in my ownership - I used to commute into London in the car daily but nowadays the car is very much a garage queen. Mine has specially made OEM trimmed Recaro seats in it to replace the standard CSL seats that I found very uncomfortable. The combination of race tuned straight six M Sport engine which revs to ~9K with a NASCAR sound from the carbon fibre airbox plus handling/grip on the CUP tyres is addictive. Economy is pretty good too as the car will average more than my RS2 despite being appreciably faster.

[MattyB1]

I've been looking at tyres also - what I have on now are decent in the dry but a little scary in the wet, and with winter coming up I don't want to take any chances - although its either the tyres or an MRC custom map, head says I should do the former...

Was really impressed with the PS2's on my GTA so PS3's sound like a good shout. As the RS2 is a fairly heavy car I think I'll be going with the 94Y option despite the extra cost...just need to find someone who's a CostCo member now

[darkhorse1210]

Scilly - thanks for that, I suspected you would be loving that car, what an enviable collection you have. I've noticed that Nick Johnson has similar tastes...except he seems to prefer the RS4 to the RS2.

I didn't think there ever was a CSL manual but then viewed one on PHeads the other day and the interior shots looked like it had a convential gearstick, maybe I seeing what I wanted to see!

I've always fancied one I have to admit but prices are holding up a little too well for my liking. Maybe one day.