[jlahm]

I am looking to replace the original equipment Continental CV95s on my 2001 330xi with all season tires. I am considering the Continental ExtremeContact and the Pirelli Pzero Nero M&S, both of which get good reviews at Tire Rack. Also, I think I'll go up to 225/45R17s from the original 205/50R17s (more tire for the money). I use my 330xi for everyday commuting and am looking for a good all-around tire with good durability (high performance is not a real concern for me...). Anyone have any experience with either of these tires, or can recommend alternatives?

Thanks everyone.

Jim

 

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The Pzero Nero will have better dry handling and steering response, but the Conti Extremes will likely have a bit better snow traction.

 

[jlahm]

Thanks Gary. Any comments on how they compare for wet performance and durability - especially compared to the old Continental CV95s?

Jim

 

[[email protected]]

The Cv's would be quieter, longer wearing, and better in light snow. Definite improvement in handling and wet traction by going to Pzero Nero M+S, slight improvement with the Extreme Contact.

 

[Karl G]

I ended up purchasing the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S in 205/50/17 as a replacement all-season tire for my 330xi. I also at first wanted to go with 225/45/17, but after doing some reading, I decided against it. I found several posts on car forums about tire sectional width to wheel width ratio, and for best handling, your wheel width should be at least 90% of your tire sectional width. 215/45/17 was another ok possibility, but I didn't want to change the overall diameter much. As for the tire type, I had read about a few problems with the ContiExtremes flatspotting, and the PZero Nero M+S didn't have as good snow traction as the Pilot Sport A/S. Given that, pretty soon these tires will be relegated to the ski-trip-only role, snow traction is the primary function (and 400 highway miles each way). The only downside is that they're a considerable bit pricier than the ContiExtremes or the Nero M+S.

 

[starscream]

wow jlahm.... we are in similar situations. well not really, but we are both in ohio, both have 01 330xi's and want to upgrade tires ( me because i got 2 flats from a :ben: pothole!) what did u end up doing? I need some advice...see my thread here too

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=129348

 

[jlahm]

After some great advice from the folks at tirerack.com, I've decided to go with the larger 225/45R17 Pirelli Pzero Nero M&S tires. Since I will be getting 4 tires, I don't have to worry about matching existing tires like you may have to do.

 

[starscream]

Thanks for the advice, i ended up getting 4 new Michelin Pilot Sport A/S in 205/50-17 from a local dealer...they were more expensive than tirerack by about $20/tire, but i needed some tires ASAP. Hope these will do the trick

 

[Anoninla]

After some great advice from the folks at tirerack.com, I've decided to go with the larger 225/45R17 Pirelli Pzero Nero M&S tires. Since I will be getting 4 tires, I don't have to worry about matching existing tires like you may have to do.

So how do like the new tire size? I have a 2003 BMW 330xi sport package with 205/50R17 OEM run flat tires and cannot find a replacement run flat in that size anymore.

I am considering either going with a 225/45R17 run flat (the Pirelli Pzero Nero All Season) or go with non-run flat in the stock 205/50R17. I think the stock rims are 7" wide.

I am in Los Angeles and very rarely drive to the mountains in the snow to ski/snowboard, so it would mostly be dry roads but I would like good traction in the rain too.

Any suggestions?

 

[Karl G]

So how do like the new tire size? I have a 2003 BMW 330xi sport package with 205/50R17 OEM run flat tires and cannot find a replacement run flat in that size anymore.

I am considering either going with a 225/45R17 run flat (the Pirelli Pzero Nero All Season) or go with non-run flat in the stock 205/50R17. I think the stock rims are 7" wide.

I am in Los Angeles and very rarely drive to the mountains in the snow to ski/snowboard, so it would mostly be dry roads but I would like good traction in the rain too.

Any suggestions?

Holy thread necro, Batman!

The short answer is that rain traction depends more on tread design than rubber compound, whereas snow traction depends on both.

If by "rarely drive to the mountains" you mean "never", then get a summer tire that has good wet traction, and you can even plus size to 225.

If you instead mean "a few times a year", summer tires will not do you any good. I would go with a non-runflat 205, because for good traction in snow, you want a thinner width.

A third option would be to buy a new set of wheels and mount your summer tires on those, and save the stock wheels for a dedicated set of snow tires... that would probably entail more than just "rare" trips, though!

 

[Anoninla]

Holy thread necro, Batman!

The short answer is that rain traction depends more on tread design than rubber compound, whereas snow traction depends on both.

If by "rarely drive to the mountains" you mean "never", then get a summer tire that has good wet traction, and you can even plus size to 225.

If you instead mean "a few times a year", summer tires will not do you any good. I would go with a non-runflat 205, because for good traction in snow, you want a thinner width.

A third option would be to buy a new set of wheels and mount your summer tires on those, and save the stock wheels for a dedicated set of snow tires... that would probably entail more than just "rare" trips, though!

I considered starting a new thread, but this one seemed to be right on point so I revived it.

I probably drive in the snow once or twice a year. I don't have room to store another set of tires/rims, so I've been looking at the Tire Rack categories of "High Performance All-Season" and "Ultra High Performance All-Season" (and perhaps even the "Grand Touring All-Season" category) to buy one set that is a good compromise for my needs.

Ignoring the snow traction for now. Would it make sense to "zero size" the tires to a 225/45R17 (about a 0.78 inches larger section width) so I can still have run flat tires on the car? Or just buy non-run flat tires and stay with the stock 205/50R17 tire size?

 

[Karl G]

I considered starting a new thread, but this one seemed to be right on point so I revived it.

I probably drive in the snow once or twice a year. I don't have room to store another set of tires/rims, so I've been looking at the Tire Rack categories of "High Performance All-Season" and "Ultra High Performance All-Season" (and perhaps even the "Grand Touring All-Season" category) to buy one set that is a good compromise for my needs.

Ignoring the snow traction for now. Would it make sense to "zero size" the tires to a 225/45R17 (about a 0.78 inches larger section width) so I can still have run flat tires on the car? Or just buy non-run flat tires and stay with the stock 205/50R17 tire size?

If you have a spare tire in your car, then buy non-run-flats, unless you have a propensity for getting punctures! (If your spare tire is as old as your car, consider having it replaced, as well.) If you don't have a spare, either purchase one, or get run-flats. I would not drive a non-run-flat car with no spare tire for any significant distance away from home/civilization. Personally, I have never used run-flats, so I cannot comment on their driving dynamics first-hand, but a lot of people dislike how they feel.