[AD18]

I'm looking to replace all 4 tyres on my car in the near future. Currently I've have Pirelli P-zero's after switching from the bridgestone runflats. I've found them to be better than the run flats (not hard i suppose!) but looking for other choices now as they haven't been my favourite.

Let me know what tyres you currently have and how you are finding them. Is anyone still using run flats? Have they improved since they were first released on E-series cars?

Also, I'm wondering whether its worth going for the top tier tyres if all I'm doing is going up and down a motorway everyday, so is it worth dropping down to the next level and looking at things like Hankook, Falken etc and save some money?

Cheers

[Alpina 91]

Michelin PS 4 . Can’t beat them for grip

[therealdb1]

Avon ZV7

Cannot beat them for performance per pound.

Same wet grip rating as the Michelin and I've even used them in snow!

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by Alpina 91

Michelin PS 4 . Can’t beat them for grip

...or feel, or treadwear! Also decently efficient.

Originally Posted by therealdb1

Avon ZV7

...Same wet grip rating as the Michelin...

The basic ratings listed by fitters really aren't the be-all and end-all. I'd actually hazard that the ZV7 is rated 'A' for traction (molded into the sidewall of the tyre), where I know the PS4 is rated AA (more A = more grip). Treadwear of the PS4 is 320 (higher = lasts longer), which is another thing to bear in mind.

[Sir_Dave]

Pilot Sport 4's.

Simply the best all round tyres money can buy, well, barring the Pilot Sport 4S lol.

[AD18]

I've also been reading good initial reports on the new Goodyear Eagle Asymmetric 5 but I dont think they are available on all 4 corners yet.
They also have a range of 'super sport' tyres appearing which look promising, they are meant to take the fight to each of the Michelin iterations.

[therealdb1]

Originally Posted by AD18

I've also been reading good initial reports on the new Goodyear Eagle Asymmetric 5 but I dont think they are available on all 4 corners yet.
They also have a range of 'super sport' tyres appearing which look promising, they are meant to take the fight to each of the Michelin iterations.

Yes they are similar to the Fulda Sport Contact 2 which I like but are very difficult to get in the UK.

In fact Fulda are a Goodyear owned company manufacturing tyres in Germany so I am certain that there is some technology sharing going on.

Reverting to the OP, if it is motorway pounding that you are doing then are you really looking for the grippiest rubber available? Surely more important to you is noise (which can vary a lot between tyres believe it or not), mileage and fuel efficiency.

[Tambohamilton]

That's the reason why the PS4 is so damn good; good wear, low noise, good efficiency, excellent grip (safe!), and excellent handling. They aren't the cheapest (or the most expensive) but there really isn't anything to dislike. Other tyres may compete, but none are better all round

[AD18]

Originally Posted by therealdb1

Yes they are similar to the Fulda Sport Contact 2 which I like but are very difficult to get in the UK.

In fact Fulda are a Goodyear owned company manufacturing tyres in Germany so I am certain that there is some technology sharing going on.

Reverting to the OP, if it is motorway pounding that you are doing then are you really looking for the grippiest rubber available? Surely more important to you is noise (which can vary a lot between tyres believe it or not), mileage and fuel efficiency.

Yeah I'm not sure hence why I thought I'd see what people were using. To me it doesn't make too much sense getting something like Pilot Sport 4s when i'm doing motorway miles, however I dont know whether their superior wear rates would bring down the overall cost when you factor that in.
But my simple thinking was to just go for a slightly less expensive tyre, e.g. the likes of Hankook, Nankang, Avon etc but I have no experience with these. I'd like to avoid turning the car all mushy and soft however, I do enjoy driving and like to take the back roads from work on the odd occasion.

[AD18]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

That's the reason why the PS4 is so damn good; good wear, low noise, good efficiency, excellent grip (safe!), and excellent handling. They aren't the cheapest (or the most expensive) but there really isn't anything to dislike. Other tyres may compete, but none are better all round

I've heard the wear rates for Michelin are meant to be the best so this has me wondering whether they would still be the best even for largely motorway driving.

[NoGuru]

PSS 4S

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by AD18

I've heard the wear rates for Michelin are meant to be the best so this has me wondering whether they would still be the best even for largely motorway driving.

I'm sure you can find better wear ratings than the PS4, but I doubt you'll find a tyre with better wear and comparable grip/handling.

Here's a handy site, though it's by no means exhaustive:
https://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle-Shoppers/Tires-Rating

[therealdb1]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

Here's a handy site, though it's by no means exhaustive:
https://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle-Shoppers/Tires-Rating

Would be a useful site if it was up to date enough to include the tyres we are discussing. It still rates the Avon ZV5 which has not been available for a couple of years but the ZV7 is not listed and neither is the Goodyear Assy5 just the 3.

Fine if you just blindly buy PS4's because they have been good previously but other brands develop. I remember when Yokohama were the go to brand for performance tyres but you rarely see them mentioned these days!

Unfortunately, everyone has their own favourites so it is unlikely to get agreement. Personally I would not pay Michelin prices but then again my last set of Avons lasted 8 years! I understand it can be an expensive mistake to make but then if you are a high mileage driver changes shall be more frequent and any of the known brands will probably be acceptable.

[Tambohamilton]

Yeah, but it's the only website I've found which lists actual treadwear and traction ratings.

Agreed that good tyres are all fine - none of us here can drive at the limit of a tyre and therefore make use of any advantages, at least on public roads. But then, if you can buy better, why wouldn't you? It's literally the only thing keeping you on the road!

Would you mind posting the treadwear and traction ratings of your ZV7, for reference?

[therealdb1]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

Would you mind posting the treadwear and traction ratings of your ZV7, for reference?

According to the sidewall they are W speed rated, traction is AA and wear is 240.

Ok they may not wear as well as PS4 but they are £63 per tyre cheaper at Black Circles prices. So save £250 per set! How many extra miles do you get for £250?

[Chappers 71]

I find the attached site useful for comparing tyres.
I used to have good year F1s assey 2s on the rear with pilot super sports on the front & I was very happy with that set up, a although the rears didn't last very long.
I now have pilot super sports on the rear & pilot 4S on the front, once the rears need replacing I'll be buying the 4S.

I would say that the F1s gave better wet/cold weather grip than PSS but I only used to get between 6-8k out of a pair of rears, whereas the PSS have currently done 18k & still have plenty of tread left.

The new F1's have good reviews & should be a good choice but personally I will be sticking with the PS4S's if the rears are as much of an improvement as the fronts are over the Super Sports.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...koe-xAdpXZ75Mi

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by therealdb1

According to the sidewall they are W speed rated, traction is AA and wear is 240.

Ok they may not wear as well as PS4 but they are £63 per tyre cheaper at Black Circles prices. So save £250 per set! How many extra miles do you get for £250?

Thanks for that. Fun fact, which is frustrating; tyre manufacturers are permitted to understate the wear rating (hinting at better grip, perhaps), but not to overstate. So potentially the ZV7 actually wears as well as the PS4, but they're just not telling us

Just think though, for your extra £money per tyre, you also get to keep a bunch of tyre carcasses out of landfill

The real reason I initially went for the PS4 was that a friend who worked for a well known British supercar manufacturer at the time told me that their engineers always wanted Michelin tyres for their cars, but instead every time they ended up with custom bridgestones. Apparently in back to back testing the Michelin's (presumably PSS, at the time) consistently outperformed the tyre they actually used. Anyhow, I'm happy enough with them that I'll continue to pay the premium price. At least they're cheaper than the OE bridge stone rft!

[DriverLDN]

Goodyear Eagle F1s. Great all around tyres, decent handling, wet grip and quiet.

[Maxlude]

Have PS4 on the rear on my 330d that's remapped to 280hp/450ftlbs...since Oct last year. They have been the best tyres I've had in the 11 years I had this car. Really grippy even in cold damp conditions. The conti sport 5 I replaced used to light up even in warm dry conditions with 2 passengers in the back and not even full throttle in 2nd/3rd gear

[AD18]

Tyrereviews have just released this nice comparison video of the top ultra high performance tyres, including the new Goodyear Supersport which goes up against the P4S and Continental SC 6. Seems to be quite an impressive tyre and takes the fight right to Michelin and Conti. Could be quite an attractive option if, like their other tyres, Goodyear price it less than the other big names. Depending on final prices it could well be an option, let me know what you think, still P4S or would you consider the switch?!

[Chappers 71]

A pair of 4S are going on the back of my 35i tomorrow £205 each fitted. As its only been 3,800 miles since it last had a 4 wheel Hunter alignment & the cars eaten the passenger side rear inner edge of a perfectly good PSS down to the canvas, they are doing another alignment for free.
I've dropped the car off with them tonight so as they can give all the parts a good squirt of penetrating fluid

[Chappers 71]

Originally Posted by AD18

Yeah I'm not sure hence why I thought I'd see what people were using. To me it doesn't make too much sense getting something like Pilot Sport 4s when i'm doing motorway miles, however I dont know whether their superior wear rates would bring down the overall cost when you factor that in.
But my simple thinking was to just go for a slightly less expensive tyre, e.g. the likes of Hankook, Nankang, Avon etc but I have no experience with these. I'd like to avoid turning the car all mushy and soft however, I do enjoy driving and like to take the back roads from work on the odd occasion.

I had khumos on my E39 540i 6mt & they weren't good in the dry & terrible in the wet, I also had hankooks on my E36 328is & they were equally poor. I promptly changed both to pilot sports.
The old directional PS1s on the 540i & PS2 on the 328i and have stuck with the Michelins ever since, although I did run GoodYear F1 Assy 2s for a while on the rear of the 35i.
I know that tyre technology has improved & I suspect Hankooks &Khumos are better than they were but I wouldn't have them on my 35i.

OP you drive a 335i, for the few extra ££s go with the Michelin or GoodYear F1s, although I only managed between 6-8k out of a pair of rears, the PSS currently on mine have covered over 18k with 4-5mm of tread left in the centre, unfortunately somehow I'm currently running -2°24' of negative camber on the left rear & it's worn through to the canvas on the inner edge, hence the 4S's being fitted tomorrow.