Is it ok to just replace my rear tires with S03s? I have Contis on the front.

[ESS]

My rear tires seem to be wearing much faster than my fronts. This is the first car that I have ever had that happen to. Is this normal? I keep them inflated according to the door jam.

I'd like to make the switch to S03s, but it would seem like such a waste to replace the fronts right now. Will Contis on the front and S03s on the rear adversely effect the handling?

Thanks.

2001 330i w/ sport package

[·clyde·]

Originally posted by ESS
I'd like to make the switch to S03s, but it would seem like such a waste to replace the fronts right now. Will Contis on the front and S03s on the rear adversely effect the handling?

It wil probably make you even more prone to understeer as the S-03s are grippier than the Contis. Other than that, you probably won't have any real problems. The genreal rule of thumb is to make sure that the fronts are the same type and the rears are the same type. It's nice when the fronts and rears match too, but its not needed for typical street driving.

[Nick325xiT 5spd]

In the short term, there's no reason not to. As Clyde said, handling will be mediocre... But it will be awesome once you get the fronts worn out. BMWs are very prone to wearing out the rear tires. I balded the rear tires (.5mm tread left!), while the fronts still had 4 or 5mm on them.

[Adrian 330Ci'01]

I had the same decision to make. Based on the feedback I got I decided to change all 4 at the same time.

That said, anyone want to buy a pair of slightly used 8080's?

Perhaps we could start a pool of slightly used front tires that others who fall on hard times can pull from to create complete sets. ;)

[KP]

It's normal for BMWs. I have about 2mm left on my rears at 21.5k and 5mm left in the front. I would not recommend mounting different tires front and rear. You could rotate them front and rear and then wait until all sides wear out. Although BMW does not recommend rotating tires, I think it's ok.

[ESS]

I normally wouldn't be so hesitant to replace all 4, but the fronts look practically new compared to the rears. I have approximately 16K miles on them and I think the fronts can go another 15K, but the rears only about 5K at the most. You would think that I've been doing burnouts or something.

[KP]

Originally posted by ESS
I normally wouldn't be so hesitant to replace all 4, but the fronts look practically new compared to the rears. I have approximately 16K miles on them and I think the fronts can go another 15K, but the rears only about 5K at the most. You would think that I've been doing burnouts or something.

That's why you should rotate them now:thumb: . It should balance out in the end.

[Adrian 330Ci'01]

Originally posted by ESS
I normally wouldn't be so hesitant to replace all 4, but the fronts look practically new compared to the rears. I have approximately 16K miles on them and I think the fronts can go another 15K, but the rears only about 5K at the most. You would think that I've been doing burnouts or something.

Do you do primarily city driving?

I find that the more highway miles I do, the closer my front and rears wear... makes sense.

[ESS]

Rotating is not an option. I have the sports package therefore different size fronts and rears.

[Nick325xiT 5spd]

Here's my two further cents:
WHy not replace the rear tires and see how you like it? There;s nothing stopping you from going right back to the tire shop and having them take off your front Contis.

[ESS]

I probably do about 70% city driving. Maybe I should just replace the rears with new Contis and when the new ones wear out the fronts should be worn out also. I was just anxious to get the highly praised S03s.

[KP]

Originally posted by ESS
Rotating is not an option. I have the sports package therefore different size fronts and rears.

oops:lmao: , I didn't see that you had a 330. Well, perhaps another option would be to get 2 new contis, and by the time the new rears wear out, the fronts will be gone as well?:dunno: Believe it or not, I've seen people rotate the staggered setup:tsk:

[Nick325xiT 5spd]

Originally posted by KP


oops:lmao: , I didn't see that you had a 330. Well, perhaps another option would be to get 2 new contis, and by the time the new rears wear out, the fronts will be gone as well?:dunno: Believe it or not, I've seen people rotate the staggered setup:tsk:

I wonder how that handles, truthfully. Certainly would help understeer. :D

[KP]

Originally posted by Nick325xiT 5spd


I wonder how that handles, truthfully. Certainly would help understeer. :D

Woudln't it be oversteer?

[·clyde·]

Originally posted by ESS
You would think that I've been doing burnouts or something.

Brake harder :bigpimp:

[Nick325xiT 5spd]

Originally posted by KP


Woudln't it be oversteer?

Yep. Oversteer beats the hell out of understeer, though. At least when it's dry.

[Nick325xiT 5spd]

Originally posted by clyde325xiT


Brake harder :bigpimp:

Seriously. I wore out my brake pads and tires at the same time. :D

Edit: Only took me a little more than 10K miles to do it, too. :bigpimp: