Two big decisions for the BMW 330 ZHP ...

[zhpnsnv]

Decisions which require the help of those who know/care:

1. Summer tires are absolutely finished. Once the winters go on, I've got the whole winter to buy new summers. Seems like I can spend over a grand and get amazing tires, or spend around $700 and get okay tires that are pretty good for the $.

2. My stock wheels are beat up like a cheap hooker who doesn't pay her pimp on time. My choices are:
- VMR CSL reps (I love 'em) in 18x8.5 all around or wider in the back. Offset ideas?
- Refinish my 135s.

I love the stock wheels and a stock look, hence the CSL reps should I go that direction. I'm not worried about weight or rotating mass since this is my DD.

So, what say you?

[Alphatek45]

Refinish. DIY -or- find a good place that will do them for @ $75 a wheel. Thats what I did and they literally look brand spankin new. Very happy. Good luck either way.

[danewilson77]

Refinish the 135's and get some Hankooks....

[zhpnsnv]

I think that's the way I'm leaning.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Refinish stockies.

[Alphatek45]

Whats the verdict?

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Keep the stocks. Refinish them.

[zhpnsnv]

That's the verdict! Gonna keep the 135s and look for some good refinishing options. I go back and forth on tires by the minute.

[jjcools]

I think it was Eli that said the Nitto Invo tires are supposed to be alright and they are pretty cheap.

Are you going to go with the stock tire sizes also?

[zhp43867]

PS2s for the best compromise price no object.
Z1s for the best handling & tied for best rain performance.
Hankook V12s for the best bang for your buck.
Continental DW for the quietest, smoothest, and lightest tire that is still very high performance.

[mimalmo]

I think it was Eli that said the Nitto Invo tires are supposed to be alright and they are pretty cheap.

Are you going to go with the stock tire sizes also?

Nope, not me. My previous setup had Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tires and I was very happy with those.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

My car currently has Falken FK-452 on them. The previous owner put them on. They're not bad at all.

[jjcools]

I wish the previous owner of mine was that kind. This guy put on some crap Nexen tires. I can't wait to get something real with less road noise.

[danewilson77]

Mmm..I know someone that has a Falken distributor license....

[adb1028]

I wish the previous owner of mine was that kind. This guy put on some crap Nexen tires. I can't wait to get something real with less road noise.

same here. I bought the car with a brand new set of Nankang Sport Ns-2's the previous owner just put on. The grip is pretty good for the price, but there noisy as hell and lethal in the rain. I can't tell you how many times I've fishtailed around turns and skidded when pressing the brakes a little too hard when the roads wet. The worst part is that they seem like they're going to last forever. 3k on them and I see no wear at all. Good thing I have a set of Blizzaks for the winter....

[zhp43867]

My car currently has Falken FK-452 on them. The previous owner put them on. They're not bad at all.


Mmm..I know someone that has a Falken distributor license....


Falken 452 FTMFL
look what happened to my Falkens on my E46 today on the freeway
sighh.... i hope the wheels are still ok.....

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/3319/dsc0158vq.jpg
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/981/dsc0159jz.jpg
http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/103/dsc0160j.jpg



My previous set of Tires on the E55 were FK452's as well. Lasted me no more than 6 months (I wonder why), but I also experienced a blow out, luckily I wasnt on the freeway tho. I will never run those tires again. Too soft for my liking.


i think this happened to my falken back in high school as well, blew out on the freeway

good thing the wheel doesn't look too damaged!

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls430/528459-another-fk452-failure-have-you-seen-one-this-big.html

I wouldn't...

[Marcus-SanDiego]

And those are BBS reps. Looks like they held up pretty well.

[danewilson77]

Damn...I bet you sheeeet your pants.

[Alphatek45]

Damn...I bet you sheeeet your pants.

I would have... It looks like they are ok though. Cant imagine how!

[Jon D]

I think it was Eli that said the Nitto Invo tires are supposed to be alright and they are pretty cheap.

Are you going to go with the stock tire sizes also?

I'm very happy with my Nitto's

[zhpnsnv]

What do you guys think of the conti DWs?

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Continental&tireModel=ExtremeContact+DW&frontTire=24YR8ECDWXL&rearTire=535YR8ECDW&autoMake=BMW&autoYear=2005&autoModel=330i%20Performance%20Pkg&autoModClar=

[Alphatek45]

Funny you should ask. I was literally just pricing them at tire rack, and Kaufman. (Only bc another post here said they are solid) I was shocked to see that tire rack was only 60 bucks cheaper. Then you have to lug the tires to a shop to get bent over for mounting/balancing etc. If they aren't making profit on the rubber Id assume they will kill you on the labor. Not worth it to me. Maybe the discounts are better on other sets.
At the end of the day I think I'm going with Michelin's either the Sport or the PS2... I really need tires so I will have feedback on my decision shortly.

[danewilson77]

^buy new rims with your tires....from tirerack. Balanced, mounted, and delivered to your doorstep.

Problem solved.

[jjcools]

^buy new rims with your tires....from tirerack. Balanced, mounted, and delivered to your doorstep.

Problem solved.

+1
Dane is a whale!!!! He buys rims and tires together. Forget tire rotations, forget balancing, mounting, just buy new sets and give me all your "used" crap ;)

[Marcus-SanDiego]

+1
Dane is a whale!!!! He buys rims and tires together. Forget tire rotations, forget balancing, mounting, just buy new sets and give me all your "used" crap ;)

Exactly. Dane is a: :pimp:

[danewilson77]

You guys kill me...

[az3579]

You guys kill me...


Yet you still won't die. :D

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Yet you still won't die. :D

:chainsaw:

[pyreguy]

These new smileys are gonna be fun!

[Marcus-SanDiego]

These new smileys are gonna be fun!

:cool:

Agree.

[zhpnsnv]

So I'm probably going to buy the Conti DW. Since I just saw the ad up top, I'll purchase by clicking through this site. Any deals to be had? I probably won't buy until after the holidays...

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Yeah. Let me see what I have available through Continental. Just let me know when you're going to buy.

EDIT: As of now, I see a Tire Rack ad in my inventory for Continental tires -- but no discounts on them.

[jsachs71]

OK... so, just back from Discount Tire... Looks like I can have Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport for pretty much the same as the Hankooks.... Any opinions? Dude there said he thought the Hankooks had more flex and that the Bridgestones were in the "Best" category, rather than "Better".... All opinion/comment would be helpful!

Thanks!

[danewilson77]

I'm a Hankook guy. Don't know about BS's...

[jsachs71]

Yeah... I know you like them Dane... you have no issue with flex? Mind you, I'm not tracking the damned thing, but I do tend to make my passengers nauseous from taking turns rather fast.. That was my only concern.

[jvr826]

I'm on a private track junkie/racer mailing list and FWIW, many of the guys there run those 760's on their street cars which include E9x BMWs. If it's just street driving and spirited canyon carving you're after, they should be fine. One of our guys, KrisL, who also has a ZHP Sedan, is working thru a set of 760s now and doesn't love them for autox. If you autox, then there are better choices.

IME, Dunlop Star Spec is the best dry handling street tire out there. I've tried several and I currently run RE-11s and wish they were Star Specs. Now, when it comes to wet weather, Bridgestone gets my vote. These RE-11s are outstanding on damp and wet roads and I have no reason to believe the 760s would be any different. On my E39 I went thru sets of S-02 and S-03s and they too were outstanding in the wet.

I really don't remember how the star specs were in the wet as I didn't really drive the car much last winter... so can't really say they weren't good.

[az3579]

^^
I love my RE-11's. Makes me feel almost invincible on the auto-x course. :biggrin
Definitely improved my run times by about a second-and-a-half.




(up until a cone jumps out at me from nowhere... nasty little buggers)