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[46m3csl]

I bought this tires today guys I only have about 30 miles on them first thing I noticed is that they are really soft and just don't have that BMW feel to it anymore, feels more like a Camry since they absorb the bumps so well. Second they slightly numb the turn in a bit. Although having a soft ride isn't a bad thing but just don't have that solid feel to the car not that its bouncy. They really do grip good and are extremely quite at any speed, even at higher speeds they do handle well and the grip is pretty amazing. I read reviews about the tire before from tirerack and few other sites, also some on e90post as well, nothing really bad just the softness is bugging me since my last tires felt like riding on rails. But they handle pretty good and are amazingly quiet,those of you who have used these before any input will help thanks

[Moony]

We're you on runflats before? I know when I swapped from runflats they were a night and day difference. I don't mind the softness. I love the advantages to nonrunflats compared to runflats. I'd rather have a slightly bumpier ride then driving uncomfortably. Running over a pothole isn't as deadly as it was anymore

[driverman]

I've been running DW's for years after running RFT's and PS2's.

Initially, the DW's felt very (too) soft. They felt better after a few hundred miles and quite a bit better after a few thousand. Now after tens of thousands of miles, they don't feel soft at all. Have over 40K miles on the fronts.

Increasing tire pressures a few PSI firms them up when they are new.

[GSXR1000]

I just did the swap from oem run flats to cont. EC DW yesterday. I immediately loved them
Better. I like the softness. It didn't seem to change my actually suspension... Just absorbed bumps better. It's so much more of a smoother ride!

[captainaudio]

Originally Posted by 46m3csl

I bought this tires today guys I only have about 30 miles on them first thing I noticed is that they are really soft and just don't have that BMW feel to it anymore, feels more like a Camry since they absorb the bumps so well. Second they slightly numb the turn in a bit. Although having a soft ride isn't a bad thing but just don't have that solid feel to the car not that its bouncy. They really do grip good and are extremely quite at any speed, even at higher speeds they do handle well and the grip is pretty amazing. I read reviews about the tire before from tirerack and few other sites, also some on e90post as well, nothing really bad just the softness is bugging me since my last tires felt like riding on rails. But they handle pretty good and are amazingly quiet,those of you who have used these before any input will help thanks

You may want to experiment with tire pressures. I went from the original RFTs to Pirelli P_Zero Nero to Continental Extreme Contacts and found that each type of tire worked best for me at different pressures. I kept the Pirellis 3 pounds higher than the numbers on the door sticker and keep the Contis at the recommended pressure.

The softer sidewall of a non-rft will make the turn in feel a bit less "crisp" than the OEM run flats but as I have posted here before the crisp turn in of the RFTs is more of an illusion of good handling rather than actual good handling. To achieve maximum grip a tire needs to have a certain degree of sidewall flex (called slip angle) so a tire that has too stiff of a sidewall will be as detrimental to handling as a tire with two soft of sidewall. Additionally the RFTs have a nasty habit of bouncing around and losing contact with the road surface when they encounter bumps.

Any time you feel like you are "riding on rails" you are well below the limits of the car (which you should be on public roads). Once you approach the limit the RFTs give much less warning when they are about to break loose.


CA

[SilverII]

i love mine... i just run it at higher PSI

[Blubaron79]

They will always be a little soft till you wear off the break in compound.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

^^^^ +1
Very pleased with mine.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by driverman

Have over 40K miles on the fronts.

WOW! I have Michelin PSSes which are only somewhat lower on the treadwear scale (300 vs 340) and based on actual treadwear rate on my car I can usually expect 14-16K miles on all corners. Although I can't say for certain since one round of tires was cut short when I caught a roofing nail the week before a track weekend after the tires only had 10K miles (took the opportunity to switch from PS2 to PSS all around), and at my most recent track weekend I corded the outside edges of my two fronts after they'd had a service life of 3 track weekends, 9 months, and 7K miles. Getting camber plates installed to hopefully even out the wear a bit better, and of course get a little extra grip up front.

So granted I may be driving harder than you here, but I can't imagine driving gingerly enough to get 40K miles out of front tires....

[PKizzle]

I am switching out the stock Bridgestone RFTs and having PSS installed today. The car has about 21K miles and the rears have worn down well over the wear bars, fronts still have some tread left but the outer edges are almost bare of tread. Had the alignment checked recently and the front-end was off by a little, so that could explain the non-uniform wear on the fronts.

BTW, I've been inflating the RFTs to the pressure indicated in the door frame (~ 36 psi front, 42 psi rear). So are you guys using the same/similar tire pressures for the non-RFTs as well? Seems a little high compared to the 33-35 psi all around that I normally run on my E36.

I did get the Slime 70005 repair kit to throw in the trunk. Anything else I need to be aware of when switching to the non-RFTs?

[J-Spec Dan]

i've had them on LM Reps (235/35R19, 265/30R19) and just put them on my Style 219M's (235/40R18, 265/35R18). i thoroughly enjoyed them on my LM reps and that's why i decided to go with them again with the Style 219M's. great grip, great comfort, relatively affordable pricing.

i highly recommend them.

[UltraRacer13]

I have tried Nitto Invos, Hancook v12's and by far these are the best. Best ride, best feel, best wear. And they look goob.

[PKizzle]

Oh...and to get back on topic about the Contis, I have been running the Conti DW on my E36 M3 for a year or so now. Have done 3 track weekends at VIR, 2 auto-Xs and ~ 3K street miles. My thoughts are it's a good tire...but not a great one. The tires are grippy but I feel that they are a bit soft on initial turn-in and the overall feel is just a bit vague. Wet traction is amazing however. Again...all this is based on how they felt on the track...no complaints whatsoever for a street tire, especially for the price.

Only reason I am switching to the PSS for the 335is is because the 335is suspension is pretty floaty as is even with the RFTs. I am guessing the suspension is calibrated for the very stiff RFT sidewalls and I am hoping that the PSS may be at least a little bit stiffer than the soft Contis.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by PKizzle

BTW, I've been inflating the RFTs to the pressure indicated in the door frame (~ 36 psi front, 42 psi rear). So are you guys using the same/similar tire pressures for the non-RFTs as well? Seems a little high compared to the 33-35 psi all around that I normally run on my E36.

FWIW, the doorjamb sticker on the M3 (which comes stock with non-RFTs) says tire pressure should be 35 front and 36 rear. My recollection is that people who switch to non-RFTs generally drop tire pressure, but I'm not certain and don't have time to search for threads on the subject at the moment. Good luck!

[46m3csl]

I didn't have run flats but some second had tires that were put on by the dealer when I bought the car. I didn't change them since they had 90% thread they weren't bad, they lasted about 25,000 miles. But compared to these they didn't handle and grip anywhere near these, only problem with these is they seem to dampen everything and they make taking bends just so easy it seems like you barley moving such as taking a curvy road that has posted speed of 25 but doing 50 when taking it, but still feels like 30 its actually a good but doesn't feel like your moving much lol. Like some of you have mentioned they have stiffened up just a bit compared to yesterday, but they are mighty smooth and pretty hard to break them loose. You could do a 100 and never know until you get pulled over they are that smooth. I am running 33 psi up front and 39 in the back.

[driverman]

Originally Posted by jphughan

WOW! I have Michelin PSSes which are only somewhat lower on the treadwear scale (300 vs 340) and based on actual treadwear rate on my car I can usually expect 14-16K miles on all corners. Although I can't say for certain since one round of tires was cut short when I caught a roofing nail the week before a track weekend after the tires only had 10K miles (took the opportunity to switch from PS2 to PSS all around), and at my most recent track weekend I corded the outside edges of my two fronts after they'd had a service life of 3 track weekends, 9 months, and 7K miles. Getting camber plates installed to hopefully even out the wear a bit better, and of course get a little extra grip up front.

So granted I may be driving harder than you here, but I can't imagine driving gingerly enough to get 40K miles out of front tires....

The DW's are my 3rd set of tires:
- Bridgestone RFT's
- Michelin PS2's
- DW's

My driving style is about average for an enthusiast. Why buy a BMW if you aren't going to enjoy the great handling?

I swapped out the RFT's at 11K even though the fronts had some life left in them. I got 16K out of the PS2's. And I've now got over 40K on the DW fronts (I replaced the backs after I got a nail in one of the sidewalls). I was very surprised the fronts lasted this long after my experience with the RFT's and PS2's. Plus, they are still usable. I hated the PS2's during the last few thousand miles.

If Michelin made PSS's in my size (225/45/17 front, 255/40/17 rear), I'd get them. Based on Tirerack's and Car & Drivers' comparison tests, they are best tires out there for our cars. I'm not sure what I'm going to buy next - DW's, S-04's or PSS's with 245/40/17's in rear.

[gimmethemuumuu]

I've got a pair of nearly brand new Continental ExtremeContact DW tires in 265/35-19 size.

PM if you're interested. I'm sure we can work out a deal :thumbup:

[GSXR1000]

Originally Posted by gimmethemuumuu

I've got a pair of nearly brand new Continental ExtremeContact DW tires in 265/35-19 size.

PM if you're interested. I'm sure we can work out a deal :thumbup:

Should be 265/30 for 19"
for our cars. 265/35 for 18"

I don't mean to kill your buzz lol but that will rub even on stock suspension.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by driverman

I got 16K out of the PS2's. And I've now got over 40K on the DW fronts (I replaced the backs after I got a nail in one of the sidewalls). I was very surprised the fronts lasted this long after my experience with the RFT's and PS2's. Plus, they are still usable. I hated the PS2's during the last few thousand miles.

If Michelin made PSS's in my size (225/45/17 front, 255/40/17 rear), I'd get them. Based on Tirerack's and Car & Drivers' comparison tests, they are best tires out there for our cars. I'm not sure what I'm going to buy next - DW's, S-04's or PSS's with 245/40/17's in rear.

Interesting, assuming your driving style has remained relatively constant, this suggests that the treadwear rating in the Contis is way lower than it probably should be. That sounds more like what I'd expect from the DWS model with its 540 rating, not the DW with 340 -- but even then I'd be surprised at 40K. You sure you didn't accidentally get the DWS?

From the articles I've read on Tire Rack and elsewhere comparing these tires, the general conclusion seems to be that PSS is the best all around, but the added traction only matters if you'll be running them at the track, otherwise DW is less expensive (and FAR less expensive per mile based on your experience) and offers just as much grip on public roads as PSS while delivering a softer, quieter ride.

[WULFFZA]

As others have mentioned, I also class the Conti DW as a good tire, not a great one, but a great all rounder. Consider mileage claims which seem higher than the competitors and the handling and grip it offers is possibly the best deal for the money out there.

I put them on my E60 M5 and once they were broken in they felt stable and grippy - a track day helped get them settled :-)

I just switched out the RFTs on my 335 to Conti DW as well. What you lose in "sharpness" is more than made up for in ride comfort, noise suppression and more progressive loss of traction.