new tires for e46

"anoop"

Not knowing what you expect from the tires makes it hard to recommend something. There are many different types of tires with different characteristics geared towards different requirements (dry grip, wet grip, snow grip, comfort, steering response, noise, treadwear, price, etc.)

That's normal because your car is RWD. If front and rear tires are the same size, you should have been rotating them every 5K miles or so - this would ensure they wear out evenly.

Most reputable tire shops will have the kind of "stick on" weights that you put on the inside of the rim and not on the lip. They will use them unless there is so little space between the rim and the brake caliper that it would cause issues.

Cheers,

Pete

There's no snow where I live, but the winters do get pretty wet. I care most about handling, followed by noise, followed by treadwear. I'm flexible on price as long as it's not outrageously more expensive than the Continentals which I consider acceptable for my requirements.

The owner's manual doesn't say anything about rotation, so I assumed it wasn't necessary. Looks I was wrong about that.

Anoop

Toyo proxes are excellent, sticky, smooth and quiet. Kumho are sticky, not as quiet but much cheaper Continental is expensive because they are original equipment, I would avoid them, you can get a lot more for your $$ Michelin also have so great tires, pilot... you must rotate regularly to keep them in shape.... better luck this time!

If you're happy with them and the price is OK there's no particular reason to switch.

This is normal. There is always a bit more wear on the drive wheels.

My biggest worry is that the tire shop will damage the rims. But, yes, they should use taped weights as BMW does and not the kind that scratch the wheel when hammered into place.

scratch

The tire shop that I called for the quote (America's Tire Company) says that they deal with BMWs all the time and that the weights they use have not been a problem. The dealer wants a little over $250 more for exactly the same set of tires, and they won't sell the weights separately. I'm inclined to just go with America's Tire Company and hope for the best :-)

Anoop

DO NOT GO TO THE STEALER!!!!! their tires are about 50% overpriced! Go get some toyos for the same or less $$ and 10 times the tire, did you not read my post??? The weights are simple stick on ones, all shops have them and should be smart enough to know when to use them, SPECIFY, although I am sure your shop will do it right. There are also special new machines that are more delicate with wheels to no scratch them.... find the right shop with high end goods. Forget the stealer and their weights, you DO NOT NEED it. You should easily find a reputed tire shop in your area that specialises in high end, go there, not the dealer. I told you, original equipment tires are NOT As GOOD and cost wayyyyy more. don't be a sucker. you can alsdo go to tirerack.com

your car info and they do the work.FORGET THE BULLSHIT THE DEALER FEEDS YOU.or if you have the money to burn, I will give you my address, you can send me some too. why would the shop damage your wheels??????? it is what they do for a living... they know how to do it! just find a good one.

"anoop" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...

Check your tires. Some BMWs (s/ZSP or ZHP options?) have DIFFERENT size tires on the front and back. In this case, you cannot rotate your tires.

[ But a plain 325i without ZSP probably has the same size tires all around. ]

This is a sign that 1.) you failed to rotate the tires, and 2.) you regularly apply aggressive doses of the small pedal.

No, the new tires will require new weights. The tire shop has the weights. The tire shop also has tires, so this works out pretty well. You get all of the stuff you need in one stop.