Hi guys,
I wonder of i can get your advice on something please?
On the 9th February, i needed new tyres for the E46 vert M3, so i went a round a few tyre dealers. Most dealers didn't have stock of the 255/45/19's that i needed until i came across Millenium Tyre Tuning on al Quoz. The have a nice workshop there and the said that they could get a quick delivery (the same day) of the ContiSport Contact 5 tyre straight from Continental. However, they said that they couldn't get the 255/45/19's that i currently had fitted, but instead they would fit 255/35/19's and assured me there would be no problem. Sure enough, the tyre arrived all wrapped up, and they were all manufactured in 2010. I paid 1700aed each including balancing and alignment.
Since i drove away that day, i have not been happy with the tyres. The car has felt very underpowered and in corners (even at low speeds) the tyres give me no sensation of grip at all. On my old M3 coupe, i had Hankook S1 Evo Summer tyres fitted, and they were excellent. Now, i know that because i now drive a convertible, the performance and handling is going to be "weaker" than in my coupe. But honestly, the car feels awful, nothing like an M3 should feel. It's felt so sloppy and the performance has been so poor...i have always thought the tyres were the problem. Both from a standing start and in the corners, the rear tyres have felt like they are slipping. When pulling away in 1st gear, and sometimes in 2nd gear, the acceleration isn't smooth...instead the car stutters, and it feel like the tyres are slipping. Note that i only ever use the car for "normal driving". I certainly don't race the car or drive aggressively.
Anyway, in the past week or so i had noticed some vibration in the steering wheel so took the car back to Millenium to get the balancing checked. Sure enough, the front tyres were out of balance so they redid the balancing. However, when they removed the rear tyres, the tread was all but gone. There's probably 2-3mm left. That's after 5 months of driving, probably 6000-8000kms. The front tryes still look pretty much like brand new. I am now in dispute with Millenium Tyres. They said things like "they're sports tyres, that's what happens" and "it's an M3, the car will wear the tyres quickly". But that's not right, is it? I understand that my rears will wear faster than the fronts, but not to the point where the need replacing after 5 months. The Hankooks i had previously on my coupe had done 20,000kms+ when i sold the car and they were still in excellent condition.
So what might be going on here?
- faulty tyres?
- does the fact that i am fitted with 35/19's rather than 45/19's matter? They said at the time that this would be no problem at all.
- has anyone else ever run these tyres? What was your experience?
- should i see more tyre wear on a convertible than a coupe?
Any help you can offer would be appreciated because now i will no doubt have to argue with Millenium to get any money back or some new tyres fitted for free. I think the will wash their hands of it and tell me it's my fault, it's the car, it's the way i drive etc. What should i do now? Take it to X or BMW to get a 2nd opinion? I don't feel like i should have to do that...after all, Millenuim are tyre fitters, and the KNOW the wear isn't right or normal. But, of course, they won't take responsibility.
Thanks all. I hope everyone is well and enjoying the joy of BMW!
I wonder of i can get your advice on something please?
On the 9th February, i needed new tyres for the E46 vert M3, so i went a round a few tyre dealers. Most dealers didn't have stock of the 255/45/19's that i needed until i came across Millenium Tyre Tuning on al Quoz. The have a nice workshop there and the said that they could get a quick delivery (the same day) of the ContiSport Contact 5 tyre straight from Continental. However, they said that they couldn't get the 255/45/19's that i currently had fitted, but instead they would fit 255/35/19's and assured me there would be no problem. Sure enough, the tyre arrived all wrapped up, and they were all manufactured in 2010. I paid 1700aed each including balancing and alignment.
Since i drove away that day, i have not been happy with the tyres. The car has felt very underpowered and in corners (even at low speeds) the tyres give me no sensation of grip at all. On my old M3 coupe, i had Hankook S1 Evo Summer tyres fitted, and they were excellent. Now, i know that because i now drive a convertible, the performance and handling is going to be "weaker" than in my coupe. But honestly, the car feels awful, nothing like an M3 should feel. It's felt so sloppy and the performance has been so poor...i have always thought the tyres were the problem. Both from a standing start and in the corners, the rear tyres have felt like they are slipping. When pulling away in 1st gear, and sometimes in 2nd gear, the acceleration isn't smooth...instead the car stutters, and it feel like the tyres are slipping. Note that i only ever use the car for "normal driving". I certainly don't race the car or drive aggressively.
Anyway, in the past week or so i had noticed some vibration in the steering wheel so took the car back to Millenium to get the balancing checked. Sure enough, the front tyres were out of balance so they redid the balancing. However, when they removed the rear tyres, the tread was all but gone. There's probably 2-3mm left. That's after 5 months of driving, probably 6000-8000kms. The front tryes still look pretty much like brand new. I am now in dispute with Millenium Tyres. They said things like "they're sports tyres, that's what happens" and "it's an M3, the car will wear the tyres quickly". But that's not right, is it? I understand that my rears will wear faster than the fronts, but not to the point where the need replacing after 5 months. The Hankooks i had previously on my coupe had done 20,000kms+ when i sold the car and they were still in excellent condition.
So what might be going on here?
- faulty tyres?
- does the fact that i am fitted with 35/19's rather than 45/19's matter? They said at the time that this would be no problem at all.
- has anyone else ever run these tyres? What was your experience?
- should i see more tyre wear on a convertible than a coupe?
Any help you can offer would be appreciated because now i will no doubt have to argue with Millenium to get any money back or some new tyres fitted for free. I think the will wash their hands of it and tell me it's my fault, it's the car, it's the way i drive etc. What should i do now? Take it to X or BMW to get a 2nd opinion? I don't feel like i should have to do that...after all, Millenuim are tyre fitters, and the KNOW the wear isn't right or normal. But, of course, they won't take responsibility.
Thanks all. I hope everyone is well and enjoying the joy of BMW!
Comment