Author Topic: Replacement Tire question - 91 318ic (Read 4933 times)

BlackBMWs · « **on:** August 12, 2009, 08:31:00 AM »

Did a search, and nothing concise really pops up on this topic.

I'm looking for a new set of tires for a set of 14" Basketweaves I picked up for my 91 318ic. I'm replacing bottlecaps with Kumho 'H" rated tires. I just installed a set of Bilstien HDs all around. Stock height springs. Other than that, all stock. Setting up the car up as a daily driver.

Looking for solid performance first priority, road noise/feel second priority, tire wear third priority.

I realize folks have totally different opinons as to what's best, I'm just looking for your feedback on what tires you like in this catagory and why. Please include the tire size you use on your 14" stock rims.

Thanks in advance! :cool:

AtlBMW · « **Reply #1 on:** August 14, 2009, 10:30:51 AM »

I can't tell you an exact tire for these cars but I was very happy with the Kuhmo all-season tires on my e39 540i.
Go to tirerack and read reviews

I'm just glad to not have to buy $230. 18" for my e64 330i anymore.

3bvert · « **Reply #2 on:** August 14, 2009, 11:37:24 AM »

my cars
91 318ic currently with basket weaves sumitomo htr hr 205/60x14. that came off my parts car. fronts are down to the warning bars however, the car the came off of , the front end is totally dead, control arm on pass side was the worst I have ever seen, tie rods were shot. paperwork showed 15k on them, with that said, the tires handled better then what was on it ( below)
handling wet and dry has been good, road noise, cant tell, have a pretty free flow exsaust.
car #2
91 318is parts car ( what was on the vert and switched to the weaves) 14" botlecaps. bridgestones about 15k on them 195/60/14's , still good for prob another 10k.hoever siewalls are starting to crack like as if they were 10 years old ( only 3 years old). handling was good, rain and dry were good, snow ere not good, could not hear road noie over exsaust. will probablly switch them back to the vrt when the rainy season hits ( even though the car looks great with the weaves) as I dont think the worn sumitotos will do well on ice or rain, wiht the lack of tread, and restore the weaves this winter, and get great tires for next year........so Ill be watching this thread to see what input you get since we have the same car

my vert however, has a fully rebuilt suspension in the front , wthi offset cabs, and eibaceh pro kit springs and billy sports all around

BlackBMWs · « **Reply #3 on:** August 16, 2009, 01:40:12 AM »

Thanks all! these are for a 2nd daily driver. My normal DD is a 540it. I did pick up 5 of the Goodrich TAs as a "better than I have now tire" at $58 apiece delivered.

I had them installed this morning and they are better than the Kumhos that are on the Bottlecaps. I had run Kumhos on my E28 before I got the Fuzions and they were a good all around tire.

While performance is a higher priority, I'm using 14" Basketweaves on stock springs, so, I'm not expecting track tires, but just a good balance. for the price, they were hard to pass up.

The 318ic has stock springs running Billy HDs all around. :cool:

PumpItUp · « **Reply #4 on:** August 19, 2009, 09:43:00 PM »

Should I get. :confused: Stock 14" 318is

I've lowered the car, should I perhaps get lower profile or thinner to avoid rubbing?

Does width make much of a difference (i.e. 185 vs 195 vs 205) or 65 vs 60

People who go to track regularly tell me 15" is a huge step up, but I want to stick with the stock rims, and I don't really care about track times. It's fun when the rear slides out, and it's bloody hilarious going 1/2 block sideways at 10-20mph (what Pirelli's are good at) :rolleyes: but I really need to change the front two so I can avoid plowing through the barrier of a downhill interchange from the slightest bump in the road or bit of moisture, killing myself and more importantly wrecking the car.

Can someone with experience recommend something? Is Falken or Kumho a step down from the likes of Bridgestone, Dunlop or Yokohama.. I don't need something that lasts a decade, 2 years is fine. I'll probably emigrate by then. Most important thing, (besides being able to afford them) is traction, as long as they won't go bald from one burnout. Not that I do that sort of thing often, mostly just in the rain. I know it's killing the LSD but there's barely anything left in there anyway

Sorry to sound like a whiner, but I'm penny pinching right now and tires are the last thing I wanted to throw money into after spending a fortune to pass the blasted California smog :mad: But tires are one of those things, well how do you decide!? It's like a cellphone plan, once you find out its crap, you're already signed up for 2 years. We've got the technology now, perhaps some game dev. needs to make a simulator, like Life for Speed or GTR2, except specifically for comparing tires, with different values for handling, traction while braking, road noise & comfort, etc

roundel318 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 20, 2009, 12:05:48 AM »

I have some General Altimax HP's (H rated Grand Touring All Season) 205x50x16's all around with no rubbing, Eibach Pro Kit springs with Bilstein Sport dampers (little to no fender / wheel gap, looks rather nice)
The Generals had a good price at Tire Rack and perform reasonably well in the snow and wet, along with decent dry performance too. The level of road noise is pretty low as well. I used to have Fuzion HRi's which were not impressive, especially compared to wet performance and road noise, the General's blow them out of the water.
I have found the 50 series sidewall on the 16 inch wheel is a nice compromise of looks, performance and ride quality.
I even have a 5th on a spare wheel for a "full size spare" in the trunk.

beta14ok · « **Reply #6 on:** August 20, 2009, 12:21:48 PM »

I had the same question: http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7569 .....folks liked the Falkens.

I moved to 16x7's and never looked back once I bought the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec.......nice tire! Not much worries about snow in North Carolina, but I'll prolly mount-up some Blizzaks on the ol' 14" weaves.....just in case.

BlackBMWs · « **Reply #7 on:** August 21, 2009, 09:12:16 AM »

So, after a week of zipping around, I can say I do like these BFG TA Tractions 195/65 R14") better than the Kumhos that were on the car. Quiet, good dry traction (for a DD), holds up good on the on-ramp cloverleafs.

Not track tires, but not bad for the $49 a corner... :cool:

sfv_rider · « **Reply #8 on:** August 23, 2009, 06:06:25 PM »

Amazingly, I just bought a set of the Goodyear TA Tractions mentioned abobe for $45 per tire on closeout from Tire Rack.

They're good tires, but it seems that the window is closing for OEM-sized tires for the e30.

The next time I go to buy a set, they may well be NLA.