PS2’s / Kwik Fit big up...

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   Was a bit bored yesterday so decided to get some new boots on the 330. Went round all the usual suspects seeing what the best offer on some quality rubber was for 4 x staggered 225/40/18 and 255/35/18. Anyway, results were as follows (didn't bother with mailorder):
Budget: Goodyear F1 GSD3 �500
Kwik Fit: Pirelli P Zero Rosso �415
Kwik Fit: Michelin Pilot Sport 2 �590
All prices were all in inc VAT. Although the offer on the P Zero's was bloody good in my opinion, after some internet lovin' decidied to go for the PS2's. Bloody hell. I've had a set of crappy tyres on the car since I bought it and what a difference. Grip is phenominal, handling alot sharper and almost no road noise at all. We had a couple of late afternoon showers so gave it a blast to see how the TC handled it and it was only activating when nailing it in 1st ( I used to get 2nd and 3rd spin sometimes).
One point of interest though. After reading many posts about some serious/dangerous problems when only changing the rear tyres I decided to try it (don'y know why). Handling was awful. TC kicking in round almost every corner with the cornering brake control causing some feckin' scary back end wobbles.
What seems to happen is that the TC system is "fooled" by two circumstances. 1: differential in grip between front and back (i.e. two different brands of tyres) and 2: different rolling radius between front and rear (i.e.new rubber and worn). Although the later is marginal, it is enough to become part of the TC's system calculations. BMW have acknowledged this problem and it is a particular problem on 330's. One potentially fatal combination seems to be Dunlop 9000's on the front and PS2's on the rear.
So, to all you E46 owners out there, as we all already know, don't be stingy (I know we're Scottish) when it comes to rubber. Get the best you can afford and do all 4 wheels. Pressure adjustment and an alignment check shortly after will also prolongue the tyre life.
Sorry to rant on, got up too early on Sunday morning.

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330ci-Sport Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member I Joined: 24-May-2004 Location: At the Shell garage....again Status: Offline Points: 146	Topic: PS2’s / Kwik Fit big up... Posted: 08-May-2005 at 04:58
	Was a bit bored yesterday so decided to get some new boots on the 330. Went round all the usual suspects seeing what the best offer on some quality rubber was for 4 x staggered 225/40/18 and 255/35/18. Anyway, results were as follows (didn't bother with mailorder): Budget: Goodyear F1 GSD3 �500 Kwik Fit: Pirelli P Zero Rosso �415 Kwik Fit: Michelin Pilot Sport 2 �590 All prices were all in inc VAT. Although the offer on the P Zero's was bloody good in my opinion, after some internet lovin' decidied to go for the PS2's. Bloody hell. I've had a set of crappy tyres on the car since I bought it and what a difference. Grip is phenominal, handling alot sharper and almost no road noise at all. We had a couple of late afternoon showers so gave it a blast to see how the TC handled it and it was only activating when nailing it in 1st ( I used to get 2nd and 3rd spin sometimes). One point of interest though. After reading many posts about some serious/dangerous problems when only changing the rear tyres I decided to try it (don'y know why). Handling was awful. TC kicking in round almost every corner with the cornering brake control causing some feckin' scary back end wobbles. What seems to happen is that the TC system is "fooled" by two circumstances. 1: differential in grip between front and back (i.e. two different brands of tyres) and 2: different rolling radius between front and rear (i.e.new rubber and worn). Although the later is marginal, it is enough to become part of the TC's system calculations. BMW have acknowledged this problem and it is a particular problem on 330's. One potentially fatal combination seems to be Dunlop 9000's on the front and PS2's on the rear. So, to all you E46 owners out there, as we all already know, don't be stingy (I know we're Scottish) when it comes to rubber. Get the best you can afford and do all 4 wheels. Pressure adjustment and an alignment check shortly after will also prolongue the tyre life. Sorry to rant on, got up too early on Sunday morning.


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Coasting Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II www.TOTALTORQUE.net Joined: 05-February-2005 Location: Not with the two-faced bloke. Status: Offline Points: 2125	Posted: 08-May-2005 at 05:46
	I concur. Michelin PS2's are quite simply the best there is in my opinion. I have the following on mine: RR 255/35/19 Michelin PS2 XL run-flats FF 225/40/19 Michelin PS2 XL run-flats ...and they grip like superglue in most conditions. They only last about 9,000 to 10,000 miles but I expect that anyway. I really do think everyone would have learned by now that to shod your car with cheap rubber is the biggest mistake you can possibly make. There is no quicker way of impacting on your safety, reducing the quality of the car's ride and degrading handling....than putting cheap tyres on.
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