[toxicnerve]

That sounds really under-inflated to me.

I run 2.7/3.2 front/rear respectively and my car feels spot on.

Also, with pressure that low you might encounter uneven wear issues...

[Dave_3]

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

That sounds really under-inflated to me.

I run 2.7/3.2 front/rear respectively and my car feels spot on.

Also, with pressure that low you might encounter uneven wear issues...

Bear in mind that you get different spec tyres. Off the top of my head my rear Michelin zp (with star) and "y" rating run from 2.4 to 3.0, while the other spec is listed at 2.8 to 3.2. Check the swatch on your door pillar.

I have found that if I run my michelins too high at the rear it becomes too fidgety and unsettled, especially on small winding roads. I have them set to the lower spec.

Agree that even a wee fiesta steers more sweetly than my car ...

D.

[FPO]

Originally Posted by ss134

What tyre pressures are you running? On my 335i with the manufacturers pressures my car felt exactly as you are describing - i reduced the pressures (cold) to 2.3 bar F and 2.4 bar R and the car felt much better in all circumstances - try it.

The standard tyres pressures were about 2.7 F and 3.2 R and that was when I was tramlining etc.
I'll try the reduced pressures for a day or so and then maybe increase pressure on peoples advice and see what differences I feel.
The sooner I remove these RFT the better!

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

That sounds really under-inflated to me.

I run 2.7/3.2 front/rear respectively and my car feels spot on.

Also, with pressure that low you might encounter uneven wear issues...

That's near where I'd expect to be on 19" wheels, I see 2.5/2.7 bar front/rear being the lower end from BMW recommended pressures (correct?) for the 335i/335d E92. So we really do need to be somewhere in between.

I'd also be concerned for the wear pattern at pressures lower than 2.5/2.7 front/rear.

HighlandPete

[Dave_3]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

I'd also be concerned for the wear pattern at pressures lower than 2.5/2.7 front/rear.

As I stated above that will be entirely dependant on the tyre specification (not size) fitted. As the "Y" rated rear tyres can run 2.4 as defined by BMW in 18", and printed on the swatch on the door jam. I'll grab a pic.

There is a noticeable diffrence in ranges depending on tyre spec.

First, best to determine what spec tyre the OP has, and what diameter wheels.

D.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Dave_3

As I stated above that will be entirely dependant on the tyre specification (not size) fitted.

..... First, best to determine what spec tyre the OP has, and what diameter wheels.

Totally agree... do you see different listings for 19"? I see it for 18" W & Y ratings, but don't see a different spec for the 19".

HighlandPete

[doughboy]

OP - have you actually checked the tyre pressures since delivery?

Both my new 3ers were massively over inflated from delivery at the dealers - 50psi all round on both occasions.

Just

[ss134]

Originally Posted by FPO

The standard tyres pressures were about 2.7 F and 3.2 R and that was when I was tramlining etc.
I'll try the reduced pressures for a day or so and then maybe increase pressure on peoples advice and see what differences I feel.
The sooner I remove these RFT the better!

I tried all sorts of tyre pressures over a period of 3 or 4 months after i bought the car and 2.3/2.4 felt the best by far (to me) in all situations , even at V Max on the autobahn - when i took my car in for a problem i got it back and within 3 mins of driving i knew they had inflated the tyres back to the original spec as the car felt awful - the difference was very noticeable.
BTW there are many forum members who run similar tyre pressures on the RFTs. When i sold the car aftre 11000 miles the tyre wear was even across all four.

[FPO]

Yeah doughboy they were around 3.0 F and 3.3. R.
I reduced them to pressures above and to be honest with you the car has driven considerably better today. It doesn't feel so floaty at the reduced pressures whilst driving spiritedly!
Just to give you a run down:
Tyres:- Pirelli P-Zero
Rims:- 313m 19"

Does anyone know the exact recommended pressures for the above tyres at those sizes?

Thanks for everyones help so far!

[dxb335d]

Remember there staggered. 225 f and 255 rear!

[seanblee]

Originally Posted by Dave_3

As I stated above that will be entirely dependant on the tyre specification (not size) fitted. As the "Y" rated rear tyres can run 2.4 as defined by BMW in 18", and printed on the swatch on the door jam.

As an experiment yesterday, I tried running my CSC5P on 18" at 33F/35R (so about 2.3F/2.4R in bar). The car felt like its weight had doubled - turn-in was gone, and it just felt doughy. That's the recommended pressure for the Y-rated tyres on the placard on the door jam. Stuck an extra couple of PSI in (so about 2.4F/2.6R) and it feels spot on now.

[ss134]

Originally Posted by seanblee

As an experiment yesterday, I tried running my CSC5P on 18" at 33F/35R (so about 2.3F/2.4R in bar). The car felt like its weight had doubled - turn-in was gone, and it just felt doughy. That's the recommended pressure for the Y-rated tyres on the placard on the door jam. Stuck an extra couple of PSI in (so about 2.4F/2.6R) and it feels spot on now.

Are the CSC5P RFT ?

[seanblee]

No, normal tyres. Tried it as I saw the handbook pressure for M3 18" is 33/35, but it didn't work at all for my tyres.

[ss134]

Originally Posted by seanblee

No, normal tyres. Tried it as I saw the handbook pressure for M3 18" is 33/35, but it didn't work at all for my tyres.

A lot depends on the sidewall stiffness of the tyres among other things - RFT have very stiff sidewalls and i found that lowering the pressures on the RFT's gave a much more planted feel without sacrificing the sharp turn in.

Every tyre is different - perhaps in your case the sidewalls requiere extra PSI to give that stiffness and enhanced turn which the RFTs don't.

[TMP]

Late to this thread, but something MUST* be wrong with your car or setup.

Wifey had an A3 which I ended up with. The Driving experience was so detached I had little confidence when pressing on. They are nice average cars and only the S3 makes sense if you want to drive it fast.

*Really Really wrong

[toxicnerve]

Oh, another thing. It might be worth getting a KDS/Hunter Alignment carried out. If the car feels that wrong then perhaps you're suffering from a poor geometry??/

Just a thought...

[briers]

Originally Posted by TMP

Late to this thread, but something MUST* be wrong with your car or setup.

Wifey had an A3 which I ended up with. The Driving experience was so detached I had little confidence when pressing on. They are nice average cars and only the S3 makes sense if you want to drive it fast.

*Really Really wrong

I second that, the A3 2.0tdi i drove a few years ago was awful. Engine was awful, steering completely numb, noisy, crap power band, dirty, smelly and couldn't see what all this audi fuss was about.

[ss134]

Originally Posted by briers

I second that, the A3 2.0tdi i drove a few years ago was awful. Engine was awful, steering completely numb, noisy, crap power band, dirty, smelly and couldn't see what all this audi fuss was about.

So.........i take it youre still undecided on whether you liked it or not

[FPO]

I don't know what a standard a3 is like to drive but the a3 I had was a 3dr 2.0tdi s-line dsg 140hp bluefinned to 170hp. I thought it was a fantastic car. Got 63mpg on a long trip to Manchester once doing 80mph. Could always get approx 50mpg driving hard and had very little problems reliability wise.
For the money it was faultless imo. But that's only my opinion!

[TMP]

Originally Posted by FPO

I don't know what a standard a3 is like to drive but the a3 I had was a 3dr 2.0tdi s-line dsg 140hp bluefinned to 170hp. I thought it was a fantastic car. Got 63mpg on a long trip to Manchester once doing 80mph. Could always get approx 50mpg driving hard and had very little problems reliability wise.
For the money it was faultless imo. But that's only my opinion!

S-line is a standard A3 They all share the same steering, brakes, setup etc, its just the S-line has lowered/stiffened springs so you can feel every bump on our not-so smooth roads