2006 530I SPORT (DUNLOP) IDEAL TIRE PRESSURE FOR PERFORMANCE, tight handling

:dunno
Hi folks,
I need your help on this one!
I have a 2006 BMW 530I with sport package and dunlop tires that i purchased in July.
At the time i purchased the car it was set at 33.5R:30.5F.
While the car felt smooth, it was not overly responsive at all, and with 4 poeple in the car, it felt plain sluggish. Although i think there may be a problem with my active roll stabilization since the rights rear end dips sometimes and is not happy going over bumps (currently awaiting investigation of it by BMW NA).
These are the pressures that i have been advised to try by dealers:
29F:36R
32F:32R
34F:36R
34f:38R
35F:41R

so as u can imagine, i am a bit confused and annoyed,. I mean, there must be one set of tire pressures to maximize both straight line performance and cornering grip -- not even concerned with ride as much and not fuel economy. i bought a bmw to driv eit like a bmw, u know?

So far, 34F:36R feels the best, but still not great...my last bmw a 2003 330i, you could feel the communication between the front and the rear, the reacted at the same time, hoever, with this car and the ttire presssures givien to me, i cannot say the same.

so if anyone has any idea, please let me know.
also, if u hve a 2006 530i and u think ur car runs just fine, can u please share what pressures u are usuaing with me? (i have dunlop, remember)

thanks guys/girls, anyone

I think you will find tire pressure is a matter of preference, one pressure doesn't fit all. I have a 2001 540 sport pkg with Dunlops 2000E when I drive by myself (which is most of the time) I run 36 front and 41 rear, so far so good on tire wear and handling. ( I drive spiritly...that's what there made for) When I cruise on longer drives with a full load I increase front pressure to 39 and rears to 44. This set up seems to work for my car. Your 530 is lighter so pressure selection will probably be different.

IMHO: you will need to experiment with pressures to determine what works best for your driving style, and weight load. Wheel and tire size, ride height, suspension set up etc. all play role in finding the right tire pressure.

Thanks for the advice,
can people who have e60 530is tell me what they have their cars set at so that i can try the pressures out?

I also have a 2006 530i and I've found the best pressures for me are: 34F/38R. There is a significant difference between the 29F/36R my car came with per the driver's door jam. With 34F turn in is crisp and I'm very happy with the handling considering the size of the car. This car will never feel as agile as your previous 330i or my previous M3 but with proper pressures and a properly functioning ARS you should be pretty impressed.

hi, thanks for the suggestions.
so at 34F:38R the car feels fine?
how is the responsiveness and the acceleration?
the cornering is good?
i may have to try it.
did u find the car felt "loose" at the 29F:36R??

Originally Posted by andrewnicholas

hi, thanks for the suggestions.
so at 34F:38R the car feels fine?
how is the responsiveness and the acceleration?
the cornering is good?
i may have to try it.
did u find the car felt "loose" at the 29F:36R??

34F/38R is what I prefer but it's really personal preference. I played around a lot with tire pressures on the track in my M3s and generally found a higher pressure (but not too high) will reduce understeer and provide a crisper and more immediate turn in. Just play around with the pressures and you'll find what you like best. Also make sure your ARS is working properly. Good thing you didn't end up in one of the 5-series competitors because they sure don't handle as well as the sports package E60.

Also keep in mind that these runflat tires have a ways to go before they provide the feel of the best regular high performance tires.

Forget asking the dealer. I'd start with what the manual recommends and adjust from there. Generally, higher pressures will improve cornering up to a point at the cost of ride quality. Lower pressure up front will make the car tighter not looser...however you may not be familiar with these terms. Tight = understeer, loose = oversteer.

Your car has a 3.0 liter six cylinder engine and its a heavy sedan ..of course it feels sluggish with 4 people in the car. That's what the 545 is for!

Yes i know its a 3.OL engine, but it is also the same engine as the new 330I and weighs about 70lbs more. Do you think that the 70Lbs would make such a dramatic difference?
When i say it feels sluggish, i mean, compared to other examples of the SAME car that i have subsequently driven.
I've tried my hand at the manual, but the two extremes do not seem to be the best.
you are right, with lower prssures int he front, the car feels tight in a straight line, or if moving the steering wheel slowly, but at the same time it seems like there is a delay in reaction time.
Maybe i just need to trade it in for a Lexus? HAHA, ok, ok, that was a joke...