Wich tyres for my BMW E90?

marc1

My BMW 3 series 320d E90 will be needing a new set of tyres next month. I have had runflats on it since I bought them, but I am looking for normal tyres for comfort & cost reasons.

Currently there are 255 / 40 / R17 on the back and 225 / 45 / R17 on the front.

I have looked around online and in the forums to find out what effect the different sizes have on handling, comfort and performance but I have not managed to get a clear answer. I understand that the 255 on the back tyre is the width of the threaded area, but does that mean I can not put 225s on the back as the alloy would be too wide?

What's best to put on for comfort? I do a lot of M50, but also a lot of back and forth to Donegal...

gilbert2009

Its best to stick with the tyre sizes recommended for the car imo,Firestone make a very good allround tyre comfort/durability/grip levels.

marc1

Agreed, but I am not sure that the recommended size is on them - the car is 6 years old and I have not changed the tyres since I bought it. I have been trying to root around on the BMW website, but they seem to be keen that I go to a BMW Approved Workshop :-)

bazz26

Alot of folks on the BMW forums recommend the Falken FK452 or the Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta

Front:
Falken - http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m54b0s16p6205
Vredestein - http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m54b0s16p12403

Rear:
Falken - http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m54b0s321p6210
Vredestein - http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?details=Ordern&cart_id=17836050.124.5904&typ=R-158085&ranzahl=4&Breite=255&Herst=Vredestein&Quer=40&Felge=17&Speed=W&weiter=0&kategorie=6&Ang_pro_Seite=15&Transport=P&dsco=124

However there is a fair difference in price between the two brands, both are excellent however so it is hard to justify the extra cost for the Sessantas.

gilbert2009

marc1 wrote: »

Agreed, but I am not sure that the recommended size is on them - the car is 6 years old and I have not changed the tyres since I bought it. I have been trying to root around on the BMW website, but they seem to be keen that I go to a BMW Approved Workshop :-)

Im not 100% but it sounds like the tyres on your car are the correct size,a lot of bmws use those tyre dimensions.I think it says the recommended tyre sizes on the inside of the drivers door pillar..;)

Nissan doctor

If you are changing from runflats to standard tyres you will feel a massive improvement in comfort anyway, but keep in mind that, according to BMW at least, the suspension on the e90 has been tuned to work with the runflats so may end up too soft.

Also remember that you don't have a spare wheel..

gilbert2009

If you do go the route of non runflats and have no spare wheel,afaik a kit can be bought from bmw which includes a spare wheel and housing that bolts into your boot where the spare should usually sit.this is possible in the case of an e60 so i would imagine its the same story for an e90..

bazz26

Most BMW owners who have switched from run flats to non run flats have no regrets. As soon as my current run flats need replacing I'll be replacing them with normal tyres. And BMW dealers have a spare wheel kit available, costs around €300 I think and includes a space saver tyre, jack and wheel brace. The only downside is that the E90 doesn't have a tyre well in the boot.

My guess is that the OP has the M Sport model as afaik they all have the staggered wheels (wider on the rear). My one has 225/40/R18 on the front and 255/35/R18 on the rear from the factory.

Anan1

I'd ditch the current wheels in favour of 16" RFT - that way, you get both acceptable ride comfort and the benefit of not having to worry about punctures.

marc1

Anan1 wrote: »

I'd ditch the current wheels in favour of 16" RFT - that way, you get both acceptable ride comfort and the benefit of not having to worry about punctures.

I thought about that, but it would mean getting new alloys as well...

Anan1

marc1 wrote: »

I thought about that, but it would mean getting new alloys as well...

True, but with a bit of time & luck you might pick up a good set cheap. FWIW, my local BMW dealer were selling 16" OEM alloys with winter tyres for €880 last winter.

marc1

Anan1 wrote: »

True, but with a bit of time & luck you might pick up a good set cheap. FWIW, my local BMW dealer were selling 16" OEM alloys with winter tyres for €880 last winter.

Yeah, I saw that on their site actually, that is very reasonable. I think they must be doing a special deal on them: Being held up by 100k worth of 7 series after half a centimeter of snow is not good advertising for them :-)