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Tyre options/recommendations

2003 - 2009, roadster, coupe, facelift
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Peterboroughdave
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Tyre options/recommendations

Post by Peterboroughdave » Tue Mar 21, 2017 9:48 pm

My first new post despite long time viewing of the forum.

Car is a 2.2 e85 with 17 x 8j turbine alloys and has been owned by my wife for almost 10 years. Due to back pain issues she wants to reduce the harsh (relatively speaking) ride and it would be nice to slightly increase the overall wheel size to better fill the arches.

Current tires are non-runflats 225 x 45 x 17 but I am considering replacing these with 235 x 50 x 17 in order to increase height of side wall.

Wheel dia. will increase from 634mm to 667mm which is 5.1% over existing. Any advice as to whether this will be (1) OK for car on standard original suspension, (2) comments on impact on ride quality and handling and (3) recommendations for tire manufacture/model.

As the suspension is getting fairly tired (54 plate with 57,000 miles) handling is pretty poor and next plan is to refresh suspension components which may involve slight reduction in ride height (circa 15mm) . Question (4) will tires still be Ok, with and without 20mm Rear / 15mm front wheel spacers and finally (5) recommendation for new shocks/springs that will improve handling, slightly lower the car and not be too harsh.

Thanks in anticipation

Dave and Sarah

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mr wilks
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Tyre options/recommendations

Post by mr wilks » Tue Mar 21, 2017 9:59 pm

No reason at all why you can't go to 50 profile but i would stay with the 225 width as opposed to 235
My own preference would be Uniroyal RS3s https://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres/ ... 98v-572785
& i would have these fitted + balanced then try the ride / drive out before taking any further steps in replacing suspension parts
Is the car giving any clunks at low speed over humps or feeling loose through the wheel at speed ?
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Peterboroughdave
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Tyre options/recommendations

Post by Peterboroughdave » Tue Mar 21, 2017 10:48 pm

Thanks mr wilks, I will have a look at the e res in the link that you posted.

Why not the 235 ?, I thought this would better protect the wheel rims, look a bit wider and increase the wall height by 50% of 10mm ie . an extra 5mm. more than just increasing the 225's from 45 to 50 series

No rush with the suspension, it does feel vague at mid to high speed and does not inspire confidence. Handling/steering has definitely deteriorated from the time , approx 5 years ago when we fitted the non run-flats tires.

Dave

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kis
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Tyre options/recommendations

Post by kis » Tue Mar 21, 2017 11:04 pm

In my experience the age of the tyre plays a part in the performance too. If the non run flats haven't been changed since you got them first (some 5 years ago) then just replacing the rubber will give you more confidence.

Not to mention if you've not got 'decent' tyres then this will exasperate the situation. i.e. stay away from budget tyres!

Best of luck in the search! :)
My E85 Z4 3.0i SMG

BMW Family History (past and present):
1 Series - E87
3 Series - E46 Coupe, E46 M3, E90 (x3)
4 Series - F36, F82 M4
5 Series - E34 (x2), E39
7 Series - E32
X5 - E53, E70
X6 - E71

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