2009 BMW M3: Sticky Rubber

I got 26K on my PS2's on my SRT-4. Sure, they were on their wear bars and my girlfriend commented on how I looked terrified whenever it would rain, but, you know, they can last if you really work them...

Tyre marks, M3... sounds about right.

I hate how BMW does Runflats for all the models. They work well, but they make your ride crap, and are terrible for the environment.

20k miles on Z-rates? That's difficult to attain even before you consider the 414HP / 295 Lb-Ft of torque and the lead-footed, aggressive driving tactics it is likely to endure in the hands of Edmunds...=)

I've never been a fan of Z-Rated tires on everyday cars, V-Rated is more than most people need on a day-to-day basis, and they deliver superior life.

I'm going to go with 11,000 miles, tops.

No so fast, adavis: These M3 tires are not runflats. And our M3 does indeed filter-out the small cracks and seams better than a 335i because of it. Yet another reason to save your money for an M3.

@ tryan: Z-rated tires have gotten a little confusing these days. These are actually Y-rated tires (see "97Y" above).

A Z rating used to mean "good for speeds greater than 149 mph." But how much greater? Top speeds have increased since this definition was written, so a more definitive high speed rating system was needed.

So now Z has been redefined and split into two subcategories:

W: up to 168 mph (270 kph)
Y: up to 186 mph (300 kph)

Both of these will still have "ZR" in the size, but the real speed rating comes after the rim diameter and is paired with the numeric load rating. Here that's, 97Y.

I hear you about "V", but this isn't an everyday car and automakers are required to fit tires of sufficient rating to support the top-speed potential. And the super-sticky high-po tires any autocrosser would want are invariable Z-rated, even though they might not exceed 50 mph in a slalom event. That's just the way it goes.

I easily get at least 25,000 miles out of the W and Y rated rubber on my MS3(Bridgestone RE050A), 3 Series(Kumho Ecsta SPT), and X3(Pirelli P Zero Nero M+S).

@actualsize - it is a good thing that these are not run flats.

But an M3 does not come with a spare - this is what the literature on the BMW USA website says

"Please note: M3 Coupe and Sedan are not equipped with spare tire and wheel. They include the M Mobility System, which offers lifetime BMW Roadside Assistance for tire assistance."

So if you bust your tire, I guess you just twiddle your thumbs - and wait for roadside assistance to come and help you. What would that involve? A tow to the nearest dealer? Coz there is no spare to change - they would have to just fix that tire right away... or god forbid, get a new one?

Seems like an awful amount of headache...

I have 17,500 on the original michelin PS2's on my cayman. Either I'm not driving like I'm supposed to (but I think I am), or the light car is easy on tires. The fronts have a lot of life left. The rears have a few thousand miles (but still over 4-5/32nds currently).

"M Mobility System" = can of "fix a flat" gunk and sometimes a small compressor. Never used it myself, but if the situation called for it...

Better than waiting in newark on the side of the road for FIVE hours...

Jatbeni,

Do you think a Ferrari, Porsche or Lambo carries a spare?

It's okay...

bluguydotcom,

ferrari's and lambo's are driven 2-3K a year - a Porsche - maybe some more.

An M3 does not compete with these cars - with 4 doors, I could think of it as my next fun family car. Not JUST my toy (OK - there is a high toy element, but it is practical too).

You can't compare an M3 to a Ferrari or a Lambo. BMW better decide what this car is - if it is a toy, it better loose some weight - pronto. If it is a practical performance car - well... I would appreciate a spare.

My MINI doesn't have a spare either, and I don't wear run flats. I haven't had to use the fix-a-flat yet and I'm dreading the day I do. I agree with jatbeni: if its not RFT, give me a spare.

I have a set of those (PS2s) waiting to go on my E91 3er. Can't wait to get the run-flats off of it!

I personally don't expect to get more than 15k miles out of PS2s. If you use your M3 properly (if you know what I mean,) you should be looking for replacements (on the cheap, no doubt) in 8-9k.

It's "PILOT" Sport. Just so when it's time to replace them, you don't look like an idiot at your local tire shop: "yeah, I need a new rear set of them there Pilor Sport tires for my Beamer M3 - it's the one right there with either an UCLA or USC license plate frame"
-Chuck

Hey Chuck,

Ease up. Will ya? Dan probably just made a minor typo.

Your buddy,
Buddy (a.k.a. Bible Man)

---------------------------

The 220 treadwear rating is surprising. With the happy right feet the Edmunds and IL staff have, 20,000 miles on the shoes seems *very* unlikely. :o)

Oops. Yep, it's a typo. I don't have spell check on this end, either. But I can go back in after the fact. Thanks for the heads-up.

I'm with vvk on this one. The way you guys drive your cars you'll get 8-9,000 miles tops. My buddy had an 06 S4 with PS2s and they only lasted 8,500 miles, but we drove it the way we were supposed to ;)

As for replacement tires I suggest going with the PS2s again. The same S4 had the PS2s replaced with a cheaper alternative ("bro it's the exact same tire just mad cheaper" as the gentleman at the tire shop explained) and it was never the same performance. I believe they were Yokohamas but I could be mistaken. Anyway once you get used to the way it drives with the PS2s, you won't want to switch.

Are the PS2's on the M3 different than the PS2s you can run down to Discount Tire or Tire Rack and order? I know that cars like the ZR1 and the Elise SC wear tires that are branded as PS2s and Advans, but have been tuned by Chevy and Lotus specifically for those cars. Does BMW do the same thing for the M3?

About 90% of the tires sold on cars are co-developed with the automaker for that specific application. This happens up and down the scale, from Porsche and Ferrari to the Kia Rio and the Smart.

A "name" tire from a tiremaker's lineup is the starting point, but the internal construction, the tread compound and even subtle tread details are altered to meet the targets set forth by the automaker. Auto and tire engineers work together to tune and tweak the tire until the targets are met.

Tiremakers then fill in the gaps between these OE sizes to flesh-out their lineups.

So while I have not talked with BMW specifically about this very tire, I'm 99.9% sure it was co-developed for this specific application.

For those who didn't get my previous reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Aames

And...

USC FTW! Fight On!

"... you should be looking for replacements (on the cheap, no doubt) in 8-9k."

No doubt they will go to Stokes Tire and eat it for $400 per front, $500 per rear. Why don't you guys do something a real enthusiast with an M3 will do -- order from the Tire Rack?

I still think 11K miles, tops.

Keep the guesses coming. I'm writing them down. We'll see who was closest (without going over) in a year. Or maybe 6 months.

I hope the PS2's last 20k miles. I just put PS2's on my '02 Z06 last October. I got 19k out of the first set of OEM Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercars, and 20k out of the second set, and the PS2s have the same treadwear and traction ratings as the F1 Supercar. That tire life is with plenty of hard street driving and cornering, and includes one or two autocrosses, and one or two high speed track days. Although I plan to do more of both this year, so I will be happy if I get 15k out of them.

It will be ridiculous if I have to change my tires more often than I have to change the oil!

jatbeni,

The M3 doesn't compete with Porsches? Huh?

And as someone else mentioned: minis lack spare tires too. It's not a big deal. Multiple cars with RFTs and multiple cars where I ditched them for real tires.

Motorcycles don't have spare tyres (apart from Ural sidecars but those don't count). And yet you see them all over the planet in the middle o nowhere...

Put me down for 12,000 for replacements. I think these will last about the same as the MR's tires.

:-)

blueguydotcom,

read my post - it says that a M3 does not compete with a Ferrari or a Lambo - when did I say that it does not compete with a Porsche?

And Mini's come with run flats...

Well truly speaking, in my book, the 4 door M3 sedan in question HERE does not compete with any existing Porsche - I cannot think of one Porsche that I would cross-shop with a M3 sedan... an M3 Coupe maybe, but not an M3 sedan... the competitors for the sedan that I think of are the C63, the S4 and the RS4 - and... that's it. Talking about the coupe - many more competitors, but that's not the car in question here.

Anyhow, seems like a needless argument, so Audi's still give you a spare - this is one way that BMW has found to increase profits. A little below the belt in my book - but if your comfort levels allow it, then so be it.

Here's some food for thought. Will the long-term E90 M3 Sedan see any road course time as part of a comparison test? Please say, "Yes!" :o)

I only get about 9.5K miles out of our ZR Rated tires. Anything more than that is dangerous on the big benz.

I say maybe 11K for the M3

My apologizes: the 'T' sort of does resemble an 'R' on the tire's sidewall, in that photo at least.

Subydurex: You seem very well connected to everyone there at Edmunds - why don't you please explain that to the rest of us here - maybe you're their self-appointed mascot, or something similar?

-ChuckEvo

For the record, yes, the PS2's on the M3 E90/E92 are specifically developed versions.

Cheers

My Mini Cooper S came with Run Flat Pirellis. I've got sixty K on the car, and they have to be replaced nearly every 12000 miles -- it sucks. But the tires sure are grand!

And yes, FIGHT ON!

Hey Chuck, if you're busy enough to nit pick then so am I. The nick name for a BMW is a "Bimmer" not a "Beamer"

Writing "Beamer" is much worse than a simple typo.

Whenever I see a typo I look whether the correct letter is close to the one typed. Guess what? R and T are right next to each other. Give the guy a break.