Tyre advice - mismatch

[Philpatton]

folks,
On my z3 there are is mis-match of tyres, which I’ve noticed has sent the dsc into a bit of a panic whilst going around some tight bends.
On the front wheels, there are 2 Continental tyres with plenty of tread. I don’t know their age but they look to be in good condition.
On the back, there is a Michelin pilot premacy and a cheapo Winrun tyre, which I suspect has caused the dsc to chuck a wobbler.
My question is this, should I rotate the tyres and move the Contis to the back and the mich and winrun to the front, or dump the winrun and fit a similar Michelin?
I don’t do many miles in the car, but I want it to be right.
P

 

[billz]

I always run the same tyre front and back. I never mix them. So if it was me i would put 2x new conti on to make them the same

 

[Mario]

Are they all 4 the same size I would be very surprised most 2.2s I have seen come with staggered alloys and tyres wider at the back. your best bet is to maybe find a second hand replacement michelin pilot or better a couple of new matching tyres if budget allows.

 

[mwpe]

I agree with @billz, if the Contis on the front are good, buy a matching pair for the back.

 

[Sean d]

Tyre brand really won't upset the DSC as long as they are the correct size

 

[t-tony]

I would agree with Sean, assuming you're not driving it too hard especially on damp roads.

Tony

 

[petecossie]

To me the very least you can do in the short term is dump the Winrun tyre. Even when tyres are the same size as stated on the tyre wall they will most likely have a different rolling circumference which could be causing your DSC problems. I suspect the Winrun was probably installed as a cheap option as the original Michelin on the rear wheel went pop at some point, was unrepairable and so the Winrun is newer than the Michelin. Trouble is even if you get another Michelin to match the one you have got, then you will also have the same problem with different rolling circumferences because one is part worn and the other is new
So really to put things right and you are happy with Contis you should get two new tyres the same pattern as the fronts and fit them to the rear wheels. Keep the Contis on the front where they are as they will have a different wear pattern to tyres fitted on the rear axle due to suspension geometry and the fact that they have subjected to different running conditions.
Personally for the last 25 years on all the BMWs I've owned I have always fitted 4 matched tyres which ever manufacturer I end up using.
Hope this helps you with your decision.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

A bit late, I know, but matching tyres all round is definitely the way to go. Back when I got mine it had not-matching tyres and the DSC didn't like it at all, fitted matching (staggered) Avons all round and no more DSC flashing. When they wore out I couldn't get all four tyres at the same time, so wound up with new at one end and worn out at the other and the DSC was back again. So try to stick to matching tyres all round, the car will be much happier. And so will you.

 

[mrscalex]

I’d always associated this issue with an imbalance of tread depth across the axle rather than different manufacturer.

 

[t-tony]

It's the different levels of grip really as well Rob.

Tony.

 

[abh29]

I have Yokohama C drive 2 on the front and Contisport Contact 94Y on rear , and very happy.
When fronts needed replacing I could not get Yoko C as they had been stopped ( in fact these need replacing now as they are 5 years old )
so fell back on my old favourites Contis
When my son bought her back in May 2012 she had one Firestone Firehawk Z90u and one Accelera ALPHA on the front (correct size)and a pair of Contisport Contact 94Y 255 x 40 x R17 on the rear. (should have been 245x40R17) All about 6mm thread Handling with that set up was "interesting"

 

[Redline]

Minimum of same tyres on the same axle, but, always better to have the same tyre all round.

Under normal conditions having different tyres won’t make much difference. Start putting more power through the rears and the higher torque is likely to bring out effects of different construction and rubber compounds.
Add into that uneven and/or wet road conditions those differences are likely to me magnified. Worse still if there are any issues or play in the suspension. The car will bite you far more quickly than most of us mere mortals can react.

The tyres are what keep you out of the green stuff and, in the limit, out of a box.
Never worth compromising for the sake of a few quid especially if your not going to drive like granny.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Should have (maybe) said, my Z started out with two Goodyears on the front and two Chinese tyres on the back, didn't recognise the names and they were two different manufacturers. Tyre sizes on the sidewalls are what you might call "nominal" at times, and these Zs do seem to be a bit too sensitive at times. The DSC depends on tyre rotational speeds being round about the same, and a difference in overall diameter can (and does) make a difference, as I found out with a mix of new and worn-out Avons on mine.
And no-ones mentioned tramlining yet, either. Oh bu88er, I just did.