Comfy and Quiet tire suggestion for socal driving.

[newnovice]

Good tire suggestion - 205/55/R16 (91 H - Continental procontact currently on)- comfy ride, less road noise....

I live in LA and needing to change tires. I drive a very basic and simple 325i-e46

I need a very comfortable ride with good cushioning from bumps and very less road noise..... am not looking to spend more than 120$ per tire.... with decent tread wear

I also had a questions about getting a different ratio tire 225 may be? by getting an aspec of 60 - will i get better cushioning? also most tires in stores are rated 89 H - is that alrite?

Hey TireRack man !!! help me pls :)

Thanks!

(a store guy offered hankook optimo 727 for 420$ installed on all 4 tires - shud i get these... 700 A B - treadwear, low on temp rating)

[Jim@tirerack]

I will answer your questions first. You can go with a 225/50R16 but not a 60 Series. The 60 Series is too tall. The height is the same as the 205/55R16 with the 225/50R16 they are just wider. The tire that the store guy recommended would not be a good tire on your car. They will handle like mush.
What I would look at is the new Yokohama Avid Envigor. They are V speed rate with a 60K mileage warranty. They offer very good handling and a low rolling resistance rubber compound and a quiet and smooth ride.
If I can help let me know.

[newnovice]

thanks for ur comments Jim

With the wider tire - what changes will i see, this is no sports cars like the boys on this forum with all the mods n m3's :D - just my daily driver to n back from work....

will i see a drop in mileage? tighter steering?

i never drive over 90 or 100.... almost never.... so the speed ratings dont mean much to me....

Will i be gaining anything from going to a different tire ratio? A more comfortable ride? Less noise?

I would gladly buy online.... but i see the same prices in stores on craigslist in LA... so was thinking why pay the shipping...

lemme know your thoughts.....

[Jim@tirerack]

They will only be 2/3" wider. It will improve handling and fill up the wheel well more but that is about it. You should be good to go.
If I can help let me know.

[samger2]

Sorry Jim, but the one area I will disagree on is the fact that an H rated tire will handle like mush. Now if the OP were dropping to an S rated tire I'd agree, but on a base E46 H was the factory performance rating, almost every E46 base that I see come through has an H rated tire on it, and by no means do they handle like mush.

[newnovice]

he says i can get the Yokohama AVID ENVigor (H&V) (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Yokohama&tireModel=AVID+ENVigor+(H%26V)&partnum=25VR6ENV&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes) - totals to $428 installed. with Rating: UTQG: 560 A A & Serv. Desc: 92V

the ones am looking at: Hankook Optimo H727 (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Hankook&tireModel=Optimo+H727&partnum=055TR6H727&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes) - $420 totally installed... UTQG: 700 A B, Serv. Desc: 89T.

I will get more treadware.... for the same price.... hmm.....

or he says i can get Bridgestone Potenza G009 205/55 R16 91H (http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=135&Cookie=froogle&details=Ordern&typ=R-111105&ranzahl=4&nichtweiter=1) for $350 installed.... with rating of - UTQG: 460-A-A.....

(he also has the Goodyear eagle LS (http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_09586516000P) - 66$ - 325$ all 4 tires installed - with rating: 360 A B - 91 T.... too less tread rating i think)

are they gonna be really that mushy..... ?? i just need a budget tire guys...

[Jim@tirerack]

The Hankook mentioned is only a T speed rated tire. I never said an H speed rated tire would handle like mush.

[samger2]

The Hankook mentioned is only a T speed rated tire. I never said an H speed rated tire would handle like mush.

My apologies Jim. I see now where the OP mentioned the Hankook in his original post. I must've looked past that initially.

The performance rating (called by many, the SPEED rating) has to do with the strength and stiffness of the sidewall of the tire, and less to do with the actual speed you are traveling.

An H rating is pretty much the entry level of performance ratings...since BMW by nature is a performance oriented vehicle, they choose an entry level rating. So the handling characteristics you're used to are in part due to the performance characteristics of the tire. So, if you drop to a T rating, you'll most likely get longer tread life, but you'll sacrifice a bit of handling characteristics...in other words, the sidewall won't be as "stiff" per se. Hence what Jim was referring to when he mentioned the tire would feel "mushy". In my opinion, if you drop to an S rated tire, you'll DEFINITELY notice it. Going from an H to a T will be less noticable, but still maybe noticable at times when you maybe cornering like taking an on or off ramp, or going around a corner fast. it's a give and take when it comes to performance vs longevity.

In my opinion, I'd try to stay with an H rated tire. You can still get good mileage and comfort from an H as well as keep the factory performanc rating.

[AZIMUTH]

Good tire suggestion - 205/55/R16 (91 H - Continental procontact currently on)- comfy ride, less road noise....

I live in LA and needing to change tires. I drive a very basic and simple 325i-e46

I need a very comfortable ride with good cushioning from bumps and very less road noise..... am not looking to spend more than 120$ per tire.... with decent tread wear

I also had a questions about getting a different ratio tire 225 may be? by getting an aspec of 60 - will i get better cushioning? also most tires in stores are rated 89 H - is that alrite?

Hey TireRack man !!! help me pls :)

Thanks!

(a store guy offered hankook optimo 727 for 420$ installed on all 4 tires - shud i get these... 700 A B - treadwear, low on temp rating)

Newnovice, look for a decent tire from dunlop in that size. It should fit your pricerange. Another tire brand I will always suggest is Michelin....but its like the Apple Company of the tire world. The comperable cheaper "knockoff" would be a kumho!

THe reason I recommend these particular tires is not only due to experience! I've participated in many tire sponsored "ride-and-drives". I've also heard testimonials from the best and worst of them. I've mounted, dismounted, repaired and diagnosed many a tire in my days!

Tire construction is paramount. However, you cannot discount the absolute necessity of a brand new alignment, good shocks/struts, and adequate suspension bushings, bearings, control arms...and other goodies near your wheels. If you have excessive camber/caster your tires are going to make an awful bit of noise anyway! Look for a smooth continuous center line. The outer edges of the tire should have snipes for good grip and water dispersion. There should be a consistent asymetrical design within the rest of the tire tread without the tread blocks being less than an inch thin. This ensures smooth contact with the road. THe continuous center assists in breaking up road harmonics which will end up driving you insane on long drives.

A high treadwear rating generally means a harder rubber composition. THis will immediately become a problem when cornering on "new" tires! Please don't expect to get good street apexes for at least a week with those new tires!

An aspect ratio of 60 will not matter, in terms of cushioning! If there is a reinforced sidewall the only thing saving your butt will be the suspension dampening. Hope this helps! Continental and Hankook should be fine in the size you mention as there are many offers in that size. Just be wary of the treadwear rating. Someone mentioned before, anything over 400 just means "hard rubber!"

[newnovice]

What do you guys think about Toyo tires...

http://www.1010tires.com/tire.asp?tirebrand=Toyo&tiremodel=Versado+LX

any thoughts or ideas.....

[Jim@tirerack]

I have never driven them so I couldn't say. Bridgestone makes very quiet and smooth riding tires. The new Yokohoma Envigor is a good choice as well.

[newnovice]

Alright.... i guess am going with this one... Continental ExtremeContact DWS (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Continental&tireModel=ExtremeContact+DWS&partnum=055WR6ECDWS&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=BMW&autoYear=2003&autoModel=325i%20Sedan&autoModClar=)

Jim, Do you know if this is a normal profile tire or a low profile tire ??

thanks a lot for your help.... i plan to order the tires once i know this....

[Jim@tirerack]

The tire size decides if a tire is low profile. If you pick the size that came on your car they are the same profile.

[newnovice]

Car: 2003 BMW 325i Sedan - stock 16 inch wheels.... same size on all 4 tires.

Size on now: 205/55ZR16 Conti pro contact 560 AA 91H...

[Jim@tirerack]

The 205/55R16 is considered a low profile but they are going to be the same size you have now. If I can help with the tires let me know.