Tire Suggestions

[Seeker <rfg@xxxxxxx>]

    The tires on my 92 525i  will soon need to be replaced.  I bought the
car used, with 50k miles on the clock, just after it had  been fitted with a
new set of Continental tires.  Now has 90k miles and prudence would dictate
a new set of tires within the next few months.

    Living just outside of Washington, D.C., we do not get enough snow to
make an investment in a set of snow tires worthwhile.  E.g., basically there
has been no snow this season whatsoever.  When it does snow, I am one block
away from a main road which is _always_ plowed and salted and the route to
work is via this road, an interstate, and a U.S. Park Dept. maintained
parkway.

    That said, most important to me is a set of tires with a reputation for
good wet weather handling.  I have been saving posts to the Digest on the
subject of tires for several years and here is a compendium of what I have
saved.  It covers:

Bridgestone SO3PP
Michelin Pilot Sports
Bridgestone Potenza RE 730
Dunlop DSP8000
Dunlop SP Sport 5000

Many thanks,
Seeker

Compendium follows -

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If you want the best wet and dry tires, there are basically two choices:
Bridgestone S03PP ($162/each) or Michelin Pilot Sports ($175/each).
The rest are going to be a compromise in either dry (Bridgestone RE730s) or
wet (Michelin MXX3s) handling.
See more at www.tirerack.com <http://www.tirerack.com/>
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Bridgestone Potenza RE7309s:
I have them on my M3 and they are quiet on the road. Unlike most street
tires they don't squeal at the limit of adhesion - they whisper. So the
closer you are to loosing the traction in a turn the louder they get.
RE730s have roughly 90% of MXX3's dry traction but are head and shoulders
above them in the rain. I've had them for about a year and 10K miles. After
2 DEs and 3 autoXs I still have over 50% of the thread
*******************
Check out 225/50-16 Bridgestone S03-PP's. A little pricey, but absolutely
magnificent in both wet and dry (based on my experience during Bridgestone
autoX this spring). That's what my wife's 328i is getting after we hopefully
finish off the POS Contis at a DE this July.
********************
I am running Dunlop DSP8000's and have been extremely pleased
thus far...the price was right also...about $80 something per. Great in the
wet too.  I don't think you can go wrong with these tires (for the money).
**********************
Several months ago I solicited opinions from the group on all-season tires
for my E34 525iT.  I received very good feedback from many people, and I
appreciate your responses.

Well, after a lot of searching, comparing, emailing, conversing, etc., I
decided to purchase Dunlop SP Sport 5000, size 225/60ZR-15.

The tires are great!  They have excellent dry traction, excellent wet
traction, and great traction in snow.  Cornering ability is high, noise
level is low.
Overall, I'm very pleased with these tires.  And, at $65/ea from Tire Rack,
the price was right, too.
Just wanted to pass on the info.  The Sp Sport 5000 is a new tire from
Dunlop, so there aren't too many reviews published yet.

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