What's the best non-RFT summer tire for the E90 w/ sport pkge?

Riding on snows, Blizz LM-25s, and need to order summer non RFTs in a few months. Want to get a poll from the BMW tifosi on which max performance (tire rack's code) summer tire is best with the E90 (sedan, of course) with sport pkge suspension. As you know, the suspension was designed to incorporate a tire with a very stiff outer wall - as in the RFT. I'm curious to know if the PS-2's outer wall in non-RFT version is as stiff or almost (as intended by the engineers) as stiff as the RFT Re050As. What about the Bridgestone RE-01Rs? How about the Re050A non-rfts? Any others?

I love my Blizz LM-25v's by the way but they do have the car "sway" a little bit during agressive lane changing moves (even way under 40 degrees F). The Mich winter PA2s I had on my Boxster S never let the car sway like the LMs do - but it might be the softer than intended sidewall on the non-RFT LM 25s that's causing that. If so, then I need obviously to take that into account and order a summer tire with a stiff sidewall in non-RFT form. I WILL NOT USE RFTs - I think we all put that issue to rest.

1st choice: Michi PS2

2nd Choice: RE-050 non - rft. I have these on my Porsche TT and although I was disappointed the car didn't come with PS-2, I've found they are pretty good tires.

9th choice: Conti Sport Contact 2. These came on my 550i sport, and although I'm trying hard to burn them up before getting new Michis, but I may just dump them after 7,000 unsatisfying miles.

Dick

I think that tirerack.com has the most comprehensive review for tire ratings.

Too soon for me to give a proper review (since I just got them installed this past weekend) but I went with Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetrics. They are rated in the same ballpark as the PS2 and they cost considerably less. There's also a rebate on them right now.

1st Choice - Michelin PS2 (other than the price, I don't think there are any drawbacks)

2nd Choice - Continental ContiSport Contact 3 (I'm currently using. Not the equivalent of the PS2 but a very respectable tire and costs less. Far better than Contact 2.)

Plain ol Michelin Pilot Sports

Originally Posted by AK

Too soon for me to give a proper review (since I just got them installed this past weekend) but I went with Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetrics. They are rated in the same ballpark as the PS2 and they cost considerably less. There's also a rebate on them right now.

After a few hundred miles. let me know what you think - I assume you have the sport package on the 335i?

Originally Posted by mkh

1st Choice - Michelin PS2 (other than the price, I don't think there are any drawbacks)

2nd Choice - Continental ContiSport Contact 3 (I'm currently using. Not the equivalent of the PS2 but a very respectable tire and costs less. Far better than Contact 2.)

Are you talking from experience with the PS2 non-rft on your 335i with sport package or just from general market research?

Potenza RE-01R hands down.

Just put a set of Yokahama S.drives on - satisfied - good wet and dry traction. Good reviews and price

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....=(Y)&minLoad=S

They are being used year-round.

Don't you feel the turn in is a little soft on the S-drives, or do you have the sports package?

Originally Posted by chaz58

Don't you feel the turn in is a little soft on the S-drives, or do you have the sports package?

My E92 is equipped with ZSP. There was a little loss of immediacy but nothing any worse than going from any RFT to a non-rft - IMO

Originally Posted by westwest888

Potenza RE-01R hands down.

Do you have them on? is the turn-in as sharp, less sharp, or more sharp than the OEM RFT RE050As? How about noise level with that tire - it's an extreme performance category tire with fast treadware. Please discuss in detail. I need a little more than "hands down."

1. PS2
2. RE-01
3. Pilot Sport

None of the other tires mentioned even merit consideration for real performance driving. The RE-050s are a great option for the Cayman/Boxter, but for whatever reason, don't work as well on the 3er.

How long are you guys getting out of your RE-01's and PS2's? Is there a tire that is 90% as good as those with 2-3x the life for similar prices?

Originally Posted by robdokwon

Are you talking from experience with the PS2 non-rft on your 335i with sport package or just from general market research?

I'm talking from my 40k miles personal experience. I had PS2 non-rft on my 330i ZHP for about 20k miles. And also the previous tires of my current E90 330i ZSP for about 20k miles. I'm currently using Continental ContiSport Contact 3.

Originally Posted by carve

How long are you guys getting out of your RE-01's and PS2's? Is there a tire that is 90% as good as those with 2-3x the life for similar prices?

My previous experiences with treadlife on most of the max performance tires were somewhere around 20k to 25k miles if you're not punishing them consistently. The PS2 lasted about 20k. I have yet to find one that is 90% as good but with 2x the life.

Originally Posted by mkh

My previous experiences with treadlife on most of the max performance tires were somewhere around 20k to 25k miles if you're not punishing them consistently. The PS2 lasted about 20k. I have yet to find one that is 90% as good but with 2x the life.

Mostly freeway driving? I got 13k max out of a set of PS2s, staggered or square, didn't matter. I do mostly twisty roads tho.

I have Nitto Invos and find them 90% what the PS2 was performance wise, 2/3 the cost. Don't know about mileage yet. Like the S.Drives, they like a little more pressure to get crisp turn-in. I run them closer to 40psi all around.

When you have used them up, write a post. Alot of the Corvette folks that went to NT555 are now switching to Invos, but I haven't heard much in the way of good or bad feedback yet.

Originally Posted by TLudwig

1. PS2
2. RE-01
3. Pilot Sport

None of the other tires mentioned even merit consideration for real performance driving. The RE-050s are a great option for the Cayman/Boxter, but for whatever reason, don't work as well on the 3er.

I submit that for most 3s that have spent less than 1percent of their entire miles on a track (which so far is the case for me), you will never know the difference. My wallet sure does though.

And I seriously doubt you will see any real significance in road grip between an Sdrive and say one of the other higher priced ones you mentioned.

I guess on your M maybe.. but im talking more conventional 3s.

Originally Posted by jvr826

Mostly freeway driving? I got 13k max out of a set of PS2s, staggered or square, didn't matter. I do mostly twisty roads tho.

About 60/40 freeway and city. Not much twisties in my area. That explains the shorter life of yours.

Originally Posted by 335e92tx

I submit that for most 3s that have spent less than 1percent of their entire miles on a track (which so far is the case for me), you will never know the difference. My wallet sure does though.

And I seriously doubt you will see any real significance in road grip between an Sdrive and say one of the other higher priced ones you mentioned.

When comparing tires, we are not just talking about the limit of traction alone which I agree that it takes a track to explore its absolute performance. But we are gauging their overall characteristics such as steering response, tramlining, road feeling, handling neutrality, ride quality, noise and vibration, etc. And these do not need to be experienced on the track. In fact, a lot can be told within the first few miles of even street driving, and the differences among tires are not subtle. I consider those actually more important than raw performance in daily use.

Originally Posted by mkh

Oh no.... we are not just talking about the limit of traction. We are talking about the overall characteristics of the tire such as steering response, tramlining, road feeling, understeering, noise and vibration, etc. And these do not need to be experienced on the track. In fact, a lot can be told within the first few miles of street driving, and the differences among tires are not subtle.

All those characteristics were certainly improved from going to the Sdrive from the OEM/RFTs in my experience. Would there be a 50 percent additional improvement (comparable to the price difference) from switching to one of the $$$ tires? I cant see it.

Originally Posted by 335e92tx

All those characteristics were certainly improved from going to the Sdrive from the OEM/RFTs in my experience. Would there be a 50 percent additional improvement (comparable to the price difference) from switching to one of the $$$ tires? I cant see it.

Agreed. I'm not familiar with the Sdrive so I can't comment. Maybe you're right, the Sdrive might be the bang for the buck for $$/performance ratio. But I think the OP was asking for the best. So, for me, regardless of price, the PS2 has no equal.

Originally Posted by robdokwon

After a few hundred miles. let me know what you think - I assume you have the sport package on the 335i?

Yes, mine has the sport package.

I still haven't driven a full tank of gas on them yet but so far my impression is that there's slightly less harshness on rougher pavement and a little less noise. I knew the non-RF tires would be less harsh but the fact of the matter is that 40- and 35-series tires are practically rubber bands to begin with, so it's not a tremendous difference. Steering response is pretty similar to the OEM Bridgestones, which IMHO is a good thing. I have yet to throw the car into some corners at high speed so I can't really comment on that. The weather's also been fairly chilly here as of late and we all know summer rubber doesn't stick well on cold pavement.

If you do some research online, you'll find that this tire (Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric) performs pretty well in comparison tests against the usual suspects (RE050A, PS2, Contisport 3, etc). Their price at Tire Rack, coupled with the rebate, makes them far less costly than PS2s.

Oh, I was surprised to see that they also said MADE IN GERMANY on them