Sport Coupe Tyres

[niva441]

I've just ordered a C220cdi Sport Coupe because the BMW I bought last year was a disaster. Part of the reason for this was the ridiculous tyre spec, which prevented it from being useful all weather transport (I prefered using a 20 year old TVR to it). To try and prevent a repeat of some of the problems I had, I've put on the Sport Coupe order that the tyres fitted to the car are to be approved by me. However the salesman hasn't managed to tell me yet which tyres are fitted to the Sport Coupe. Can anyone tell me which brands and models of tyre are original fittment to the Sport Coupe, the car is to be fitted with the standard SE alloys with 205/55 tyres.

Thanks for your help.

Todd

 

[television]

Tyres with new cars can be anything from Dunlop,Michelin,Continental,Pirreli.
I am not sure if there is provision to specify your own

Malcolm

 

[niva441]

Well I made a point of writing it on the order form (based on post BMW legal advice), so hopefully it should be binding.

 

[jberks]

There is no way to spec from the factory. However, the dealer may figure that worst case, if you do complain (and they will be hoping you don't), they can pop it down to their fitter and swap the tyres for another brand. They can always re-use your old ones on used cars so they don't lose out.

Also remember that the handling is not just the tyres. Its a combination of things, weight, suspension, geometry etc. So just because you have a downer on a make on BMW doesn't necesarily mean that the exact same tyre on a C class will be a problem.

However, a poor handling BMW? - they may be many things but handing and balance are BMW's speciality !

 

[niva441]

Also remember that the handling is not just the tyres. Its a combination of things, weight, suspension, geometry etc. So just because you have a downer on a make on BMW doesn't necesarily mean that the exact same tyre on a C class will be a problem.

However, a poor handling BMW? - they may be many things but handing and balance are BMW's speciality !

In dry conditions it was great, however whenever it got even slightly damp it's performance dropped off considerably. Most of the problem not being lateral handling, but traction and braking. Looking at the tread pattern it was very dry weather biased, half the tyre being ribbed with no sipes. In a recent Auto Motor und Sport test of the next size up tyres on a 3 series, the Continentals I had fitted came well last with 155 points compared to 193 points for the Michelin. The next worse was the Pirellis with 172 points, this test was done using a variety of conditions, the wet peformance being particularly poor for the Continentals.

As I'm looking for a car to give as consistent performance as possible all year round the tyres are critical, I'll happily sacrifice some dry grip for poor weather performance.

Getting back in the Mercedes again it was a far more mature and composed drive, less nervous and fidigty.

 

[SimonW88]

I'm a novice.... but i assume traction control would make a huge difference on rear wheel drive cars, and yes i agree that tyres can make a difference but would it make that much of a difference on a new car?

I drive a 1997 E280 with 18's and Eagle F1s and i seem to wheelspin alot on acceleration. ( i know its my driving style and not the car.)

 

[niva441]

Well the car I drove was dire in damp/wet conditions (wet grass forget it). Which corresponds to the AMS test results, from the snippet of results I got the other tyres were considerably better in the wet.

At the end of the day the tyres are the most critical contributor to grip. The suspension can be doing lots of clever things, but if the interface between the vehicle and ground isn't up to the job, then it makes no difference.