BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
M2 Technical Topics > Wheels / Tires -- Sponsored by The Tire Rack > Contis in the front; Michelins in the rear?

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      05-10-2020, 05:05 AM   #1
Arregueti
New Member
Luxembourg
9
Rep
21
Posts

Drives: M2 MT - Evora S - 325xi (E90)
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Luxembourg

iTrader: (0)

Contis in the front; Michelins in the rear?

Hi,

I had a look but didn't find this topic being discussed before.

My rear Contis are worn at 11,8 k kilometers (is that normal?) but the front ones still look good to go for a while. It seems to me a waste of money to replace the four now, so I considered replacing only the rear tires with Michelin PS4S and replacing the front tires later on.

This is something I do on my Evora as the front tires in that car last forever given the little weight being carried at the front compared to the rear, but I am not sure I can apply the same logic here.

Has anyone just replaced the rear with Michelin PS4S and kept the Contis in front? Any advise, experience? I am aware that there would be some inconsistent level of grip from the two axles but I can live with it, I guess. Would this significantly affect the performance of the car, in your view?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions and shared wisdom.
Appreciate 0
      05-10-2020, 05:47 AM   #2
cncmastr
Colonel
cncmastr's Avatar
United_States
1569
Rep
2,401
Posts

Drives: E46 ZCP, F85, E70, G07
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Outside Atlanta

iTrader: (3)

Garage List
2018 X5 M  [0.00]
2020 M2 CS  [0.00]
2005 BMW X5 4.8is  [0.00]
2006 BMW M3  [0.00]
It's not something I would do, especially since your only connection with earth is through your tires.

I feel like brakes and tires are the two most critical things on your car that you shouldn't overlook or look to cut costs.

You don't have to go, but you need to stop.
__________________
Appreciate 2
      05-10-2020, 05:51 AM   #3
nioh_lbbm2
Lieutenant Colonel
nioh_lbbm2's Avatar
1717
Rep
1,899
Posts

Drives: M2
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: California

iTrader: (0)

Don't mix different tires. Unpredictable handling can result.

Mixing old and new of the same tire is fine but not two totally different tires.
Appreciate 2
      05-10-2020, 07:47 AM   #4
Arregueti
New Member
Luxembourg
9
Rep
21
Posts

Drives: M2 MT - Evora S - 325xi (E90)
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Luxembourg

iTrader: (0)

Thanks. That sounds like common sense and good advise. I would just like to know if someone has tried and tested this path.
Appreciate 0
      05-10-2020, 07:53 AM   #5
VisualEcho
Banned
VisualEcho's Avatar
United_States
6626
Rep
4,145
Posts

Drives: '18 M2 6MT
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Missouri

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2018 BMW M2  [10.00]
This topic comes up all the time on every forum.

The answer is simple; it depends on how you drive your car.

If you're driving it normal, or in a mildly-spirited manner, then you'll be just fine. If you're pushing the limits of the car, then no.

Contrary to popular belief, doing this will not cause your car to explode the moment you get out on the road, and don't listen to the idiots that say it will.

The best advice here is your own advice. Buy the rear tires, use them, tell us all what happens, and if you don't like the feel, buy a new front Michelin set.

Problem solved.
Appreciate 3
jkoral1016.00
Kankles1484.50
      05-10-2020, 08:26 AM   #6
Arregueti
New Member
Luxembourg
9
Rep
21
Posts

Drives: M2 MT - Evora S - 325xi (E90)
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Luxembourg

iTrader: (0)

Ha ha. That is true, too. I don't think I am Ayrton Senna but I would like to preserve the talents of the car. I did take the car to Spa last year but it was not on-the-limit driving. I am not that talented. 🙂

It is also true that in the Evora I always stick to the same tyre, while here I would change tyre brands.

Thanks for your input. I will give it some thought and update the thread if I decide to keep the Contis in the front.
Appreciate 0
      05-10-2020, 11:23 AM   #7
VisualEcho
Banned
VisualEcho's Avatar
United_States
6626
Rep
4,145
Posts

Drives: '18 M2 6MT
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Missouri

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2018 BMW M2  [10.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arregueti View Post
Ha ha. That is true, too. I don't think I am Ayrton Senna but I would like to preserve the talents of the car. I did take the car to Spa last year but it was not on-the-limit driving. I am not that talented. 🙂

It is also true that in the Evora I always stick to the same tyre, while here I would change tyre brands.

Thanks for your input. I will give it some thought and update the thread if I decide to keep the Contis in the front.
Depending on the life left in the Conti's, and if you have someone local, you might be able to unload them for enough to mount and balance the new set, which is a win/win.
Appreciate 1
      05-10-2020, 12:15 PM   #8
Arregueti
New Member
Luxembourg
9
Rep
21
Posts

Drives: M2 MT - Evora S - 325xi (E90)
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Luxembourg

iTrader: (0)

I thought of that,too, but I don't think I would sell them here. I can always try.
Appreciate 0
      05-10-2020, 02:29 PM   #9
DanG
Major General
DanG's Avatar
United_States
10444
Rep
6,877
Posts

Drives: 2018 M2 AW DCT
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Seattle, WA

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2018 BMW M2  [7.68]
The biggest problem is your tires will have different traction in the rain. Handling will definitely suffer. Do yourself a favor and buy four new tires.
Appreciate 0
      05-10-2020, 07:37 PM   #10
VisualEcho
Banned
VisualEcho's Avatar
United_States
6626
Rep
4,145
Posts

Drives: '18 M2 6MT
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Missouri

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2018 BMW M2  [10.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by DanG View Post
Handling will definitely suffer.
You can say that there will be increased grip at the back, but you can't say that the handling of the car will definitely suffer because of it. Again, it's all in how you drive the car.
Appreciate 0
      05-11-2020, 07:03 AM   #11
CTSean
First Lieutenant
323
Rep
392
Posts

Drives: LCI BSM MT M2
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: CT

iTrader: (1)

This guy does just this


"Unfortunately" the purpose of the video is to show how dangerous mixing budget and good tires, but he does make some comments about conti front Michelin rear and his wet lap was only slightly slower than full contis. If you skip to about 8:00 he makes a few comments about mixing premium brands. Do whatever you want with this information
Appreciate 1
      05-11-2020, 10:15 AM   #12
Arregueti
New Member
Luxembourg
9
Rep
21
Posts

Drives: M2 MT - Evora S - 325xi (E90)
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Luxembourg

iTrader: (0)

^That was indeed useful. Thanks for posting CTSean
Appreciate 1
RyeM23.00
      05-11-2020, 02:06 PM   #13
chris719
Major General
7272
Rep
7,252
Posts

Drives: '08 M Roadster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: NJ

iTrader: (0)

Well, I’d always do all 4, but if you are going to do this then having the lower grip tires on the front is best. It probably won’t kill you or anything. Not like mismatching left and right on the same axle anyway.
Appreciate 0
      05-11-2020, 08:03 PM   #14
Anthony1s
Banned
756
Rep
2,149
Posts

Drives: 2018 Mineral Grey M2
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Pennsylvania

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by nioh_lbbm2 View Post
Don't mix different tires. Unpredictable handling can result.

Mixing old and new of the same tire is fine but not two totally different tires.
This isn't true. Handling may be different, but it will be consistent and predictable.

Let's take the extreme. Putting snow tires on the front and summer tires on the rear. Driving in the winter, the car is gonna have a ton of understeer. But it will always be consistent and predictable handling. Because nothing is changing each time you drive.

So let's say you put on a slightly more grippy rear tire. Well, the balance of the car will be slightly different than OEM (more rear grip, more understeer) or of matching tires, but it wil still be consistent and predictable.

Say that the tire you put on is worse in the rain. Well, in the rain, the rear will have less grip. But, still predictable and consistent.

Absolutely nothing wrong or dangerous with running unmatched front/rear tires.
Appreciate 1
Kankles1484.50
      05-13-2020, 09:26 AM   #15
scrammer
Captain
scrammer's Avatar
Canada
421
Rep
735
Posts

Drives: 2017 M3 Ultimate
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: BC - Canada

iTrader: (0)

I understand that much like the e92 M3, the rear tires on the M2 basically wear out twice as fast as the fronts.
Why not get another pair of conti's for the back now and when all four are worn out (another 11,800 km) replace all four with the tire of choice
__________________

Current ///M: 2017 M3 Ultimate
Past ///M Cars: E92 M3 ZCP 'CDN LRP' … E85 Z4M-R ... E92 M3 ZCP Frozen ... E90 M3 ... E46 M3 Cab ... E46 M3 ZCP ... E46 M3
Appreciate 1
      05-13-2020, 10:19 AM   #16
Anthony1s
Banned
756
Rep
2,149
Posts

Drives: 2018 Mineral Grey M2
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Pennsylvania

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by scrammer View Post
i underdtand that much like the e92 M3, the rear tires on the M2 basically wear out twice as fast as the fronts.
Why not get another pair of conti's for the back now and when all four are worn out (another 11,800 km) replace all four with the tire of choice
The Conti 3 that came on the M2 aren't for sale anymore. I think the only conti available in 265/35 is the ExtremeContact Sport, with a 340 AA A UTQG rating. Compared to the Conti3 which I think was 280 AA A. So the matching idea wouldn't really pan out. However, the ExtremeContact Sport is cheaper than the PS4S, so it would be a good option for cheaper rears until the front wear out enough to replace all 4.

This is exactly what I plan to do once my current tires were out. I have my original rear 265/35 Conti3 in storage that I plan to use in the front once my current tires wear out. Will pair them with 285/35 ExtremeContact Sports rears when the time comes. And the higher tread wear should make them last a bit longer compared to the fronts.
Appreciate 1
      05-13-2020, 12:13 PM   #17
Arregueti
New Member
Luxembourg
9
Rep
21
Posts

Drives: M2 MT - Evora S - 325xi (E90)
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Luxembourg

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by scrammer View Post
i underdtand that much like the e92 M3, the rear tires on the M2 basically wear out twice as fast as the fronts.
Why not get another pair of conti's for the back now and when all four are worn out (another 11,800 km) replace all four with the tire of choice
I thought about that, but indeed Conti SC 3 are no longer available. Also, Michelin's seem to outlast the Contis at a significant rate, so I am fearing that I might need two more sets of rear Conti tires to actually wear the fronts out...

Plus I have a mate with Michelin PSS on his E92 M3 getting much better mileage than me on the Contis...

Haven't decided yet, but all good advise. Thanks
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:35 AM.




m2
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST