Help me choose tires

[Chapel]

tire size is 225/45/17
Going on my 328i.
Noise, ride quality, wet grip and longevity are important
Dry grip isn't that important to me.
190hp isn't going to be lighting any fires. And an LSD will stick my rear end just fine.

what about the BFG gForce Sport COMP 2?
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=g-Force+Sport+COMP-2&partnum=245WR7GFSPC2&fromSurvey=true

reviews seem really good on them

here, I made a wishlist...
http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=BT6&url=/upgrade_garage/WishListFriend.jsp&userid=chapel976@gmail.com

The Bridgestone S-04 Pole Positions seem like a good deal too.
#2 behind the Michelin Pilot Super Sports (which everyone says are the BEST... but I don't have $200 a tire money)
I'd like the price to be $130 or less

[ezbmr]

The comps are supposed to be great. I had the Sumitomo HTRZIII and really liked them. The S-04 are the best for the buck. The new Michelin PS A/S 3 have great stats.

So you have 89 for the Sumitomos, 111 for the S04 and 141 for the Michelins.

BFG are owned by Michelin, it is like getting a Michelin at a lower price. What you will want is something with a firm sidewall. Stay away from the Continental DW & Hankook V12, due to their soft sidewall.

[Chapel]

why though? softer sidewalls generally ride quieter and aren't quite so boomy over the nasty roads up here.

I'm torn between the S-04 and DW

[MatthewH]

I like the Sumitomo HTR Z IIIs a lot, but they can wear really fast. Really make sure your alignment is solid. I wore out a 215/45R17 set in a few months on my 325i.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/t1/s720x720/542698_2479270796505_384460075_n.jpg

I really like the 215/45s on 7.5" wide wheels--better gearing, and better responsiveness. The narrow size will also be better in the wet. The 225/45 sidewalls are taller, and they could really use about an inch more rim width. I bought another set of the 215/45R17 Z IIIs for my Saturn, and they have been wearing just fine.

The Michelin Pilot Super Sports are probably the best wearing of the bunch and the 215/45R17 size is a bit cheaper ($148). Still almost twice as much as the Sumitomos though ($78). The DWs, S-04s, and Comp 2s are all good. The DW seems to be the best in lots of water.

I would also suggest light 16" wheels for improving the ride.

[Critter7r]

Michelin Primacy MXM4.

Your size is a little pricier than what I paid for my 205/55/16s, but after more than a year of driving on them I can say that I have been super impressed with their inclement weather performance. I'm not a racer-boy by any means. Like a master carpenter with a really nice, well-balanced hammer ... it's still just a hammer (but even most laypersons can pick it up and know that it's a really nice hammer). My car is a tool that gets me from place to place, and I appreciate the refinement in the way in which it carries me, but it's still just a car.

To be honest, I'm not even really sure how the dry-cornering traction stacks up against other tires, but I know that the wet and snow traction are amongst the best I've driven short of actual snow tires.

[scooper]

look into bfg ss a/s, bridgestone re970 a/s, kumho ecsta 4s, pirelli pzero nero a/s, yoko envigor a/s. If dry handling is more a concern get the bfgs. For wet, re970. For budget, the kumhos or yokos. Pirelli is a good all around tire. Why A/s? Because they last a lot longer then summer only tires and because you live in MA. I like to run michelin and bridgestone A/s tires.

[ezbmr]

Softer sidewalls tend to feel like you are getting loose in corners. Can set off traction control. You can adjust through air pressure though. I equate it to a BMW vs American car, esp an older american car. Do you want the ride to be a near perfect combo of sport and ride, or do you want a bit of a flounder.

[HamsM5]

I currently have cars that are riding on Michelin PSS, Bridgestone S-04, Michelin PS2's and Conti DSW's.

Of the group, I like the Michelin PSS the LEAST. I know they have RAVE reviews, but they are just as noisy as my PS2's and offer the least grip of any of my tires. Of the group, I actually like the Bridgestone S-04's the most. They are a tad rougher ride than the Conti DSW's, but seem to have better grip. With that to say, I would certainly recommend the Conti DSW's because they are definitely better in rainy weather. If this helps, I am getting ready to send my CCW LM20's back to CCW to be refinished and have new tires put on. I can say at the sizes we run, money is not an object for me in choosing a tire. I will be going with the Bridgestone S-04's. I have been most surprised/impressed with their ride quality and grip. My second would be the Conti DSW, then the Michelin PS2 and the PSS dead last. I will never buy those again. I have had them on two different cars and they just aren't worth the money compared to other tires in that category.

Hope that helps!

Chris.

[Chapel]

very much. thank you!
So, the DWS are smoother and better in the rain but the S-04s have better dry grip?

[HamsM5]

That would be a good summary; yes.

[MatthewH]

The DWS isn't particularly good in the rain, or are you refering to the DW?

Tire Rack has tested these things a few times.

Wet lap times:
test 3: V105>PSS>S-04>Maxx RT
test 2: F1 A2>PSS>S-04
test 1: PSS>DW>S-04

The PSS is always faster than the others in the dry lap times. The V105 was closest.

Extreme tires in wet:
AD08R>RE-11A>ZII
RE-11>AD08>Z1*

[HamsM5]

I am speaking of the Contri Extreme Contact DW.

Tire Rack reviews and tests are great. I bought the PSS's based on the reviews. I like them the least of the tires I have on my cars right now. - I am offering my opinion based on real-world experience, not based on what I've read.

The PSS's are very greasy once they've had some miles on them. I have other friends who have used them on their Porsches with the same result.

I personally do not feel they are worth the extra cost when compared to the Conti DW(sorry) or the S-04.

Chris.

[tommyt2010]

I'm very happy with my Cooper RS3-A. It was either that or Conti DWS when I was deciding. I got a good deal on the Cooper tires. They're also a top 4 consumer reports tire.

[sid the sloth]

My summers are Conti ExtremeContact DW (225/45R17) and they ride great with fantastic grip in the dry and wet. The only time I lost it was on a night where it started raining very heavily and I didn't see a huge pool of stagnant water.
My parents' cars have Michilin Primacy MXV4 (all-season) and they are good solid tires with good wear and handling. Granted they are mounted on non-sports cars, the difference in handling when taking turns and maneuvering is noticeable.

[Jim@tirerack]

I would go with the S04 Pole Position. In our testing they were second only to the Pilot Super Sport but they are a much better price. If I can help let me know.