USA model E90 factory tires

NuovoTech · 04-30-2005, 11:41 AM

Quote:

I have heard of a lot of flat-spotting problems with those tires on the TL, in addition to complaints about the traction/handling of the tire...

Before we get too discouraged here, remember the BMW's are using an all new version of the EL42. The Acura TL tires were different sizes & not RFT. So far no reviewer has mentioned any tire problems with the non-sport types.

No one else(that I can find) even makes an all-season RFT in those sizes. Maybe it's Michelin Man to the rescue here???

segfault · 04-30-2005, 12:08 PM

Hope they are indeed "all new" and just happen to have the same name and tread pattern... If they are susceptible to the same flat-spotting issue you will probably feel it worse in a BMW than an Acura.

I ordered my 325i with the sport package, so I should get the summer tires which have overwhelmingly better reviews.

Wildcat Jon · 04-30-2005, 03:37 PM

With my TL, they are 17 inch rims with the EL42s (I now have LSZs since I replaced them) but the TL unfortunately is wound tighter than a drum on hard patches of concrete overpasses, etc. and the thing jiggles like ripe jello. But there is no tradeoff for better handling etc, for the tight ride. It is like the worst of both. I could live with the better ride if I gave up handling and vice versa, but neither match the 3 or 5. Anyway, bc of the too tight suspension, tires matter ALOT. I'm just warning you. I hope I'm wrong. By the way, the sport tires were Bstone Potenzas on the one I saw on the lot, not EL42s. I think the EL42s are only for the all season 330i. I didn't pay attention to the tires on the std. 325 in the showroom.

NuovoTech · 04-30-2005, 04:31 PM

When I visited the BMW dealer, both 325i & 330i std tires were EL42's.

segfault · 04-30-2005, 10:13 PM

Maybe we are overreacting about the EL42's. I checked some of the TL boards, and it appears that the flat-spotting issue was a production problem at Bridgestone that has been corrected, and at least one poster suggested that the TL's have vibration issues unrelated to tires. Wildcat Jon, did your problems resolve with the new tires?

Just to reiterate, the EL42's will not be offered on sport package cars, as these cars come only with summer performance tires, not all-season performance tires. The Potenza RE050a summer tires that are likely to come with the sport package seem to be a better regarded tire than the EL42's. The treadwear rating on them is 140, so I would not expect more than 30,000 miles out of them, though.

Wildcat Jon · 04-30-2005, 11:38 PM

No, I still have vibration issues with the TL, which I hope to have resolved by having Acura buy the vehicle back. But, look at the reviews on the EL42s on tirerack. Terrible. Potenzas would be much much better. Or, the Pirellis used on the Euro cars.

kchika · 05-01-2005, 03:54 PM

Went to the showroom today. The 330i (euro-spec) had Continental Sport Contact 2's (17's).

04-30-2005, 12:08 PM	#24
segfault Private First Class 9 Rep 137 Posts Drives: No longer own a BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: . iTrader: (0)	Hope they are indeed "all new" and just happen to have the same name and tread pattern... If they are susceptible to the same flat-spotting issue you will probably feel it worse in a BMW than an Acura. I ordered my 325i with the sport package, so I should get the summer tires which have overwhelmingly better reviews.
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04-30-2005, 03:37 PM	#25
Wildcat Jon Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 248 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH iTrader: (0)	With my TL, they are 17 inch rims with the EL42s (I now have LSZs since I replaced them) but the TL unfortunately is wound tighter than a drum on hard patches of concrete overpasses, etc. and the thing jiggles like ripe jello. But there is no tradeoff for better handling etc, for the tight ride. It is like the worst of both. I could live with the better ride if I gave up handling and vice versa, but neither match the 3 or 5. Anyway, bc of the too tight suspension, tires matter ALOT. I'm just warning you. I hope I'm wrong. By the way, the sport tires were Bstone Potenzas on the one I saw on the lot, not EL42s. I think the EL42s are only for the all season 330i. I didn't pay attention to the tires on the std. 325 in the showroom.
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04-30-2005, 04:31 PM	#26
NuovoTech Private First Class 1 Rep 125 Posts Drives: 1996 318ti Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	When I visited the BMW dealer, both 325i & 330i std tires were EL42's.
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04-30-2005, 10:13 PM	#27
segfault Private First Class 9 Rep 137 Posts Drives: No longer own a BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: . iTrader: (0)	Maybe we are overreacting about the EL42's. I checked some of the TL boards, and it appears that the flat-spotting issue was a production problem at Bridgestone that has been corrected, and at least one poster suggested that the TL's have vibration issues unrelated to tires. Wildcat Jon, did your problems resolve with the new tires? Just to reiterate, the EL42's will not be offered on sport package cars, as these cars come only with summer performance tires, not all-season performance tires. The Potenza RE050a summer tires that are likely to come with the sport package seem to be a better regarded tire than the EL42's. The treadwear rating on them is 140, so I would not expect more than 30,000 miles out of them, though.
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04-30-2005, 11:38 PM	#28
Wildcat Jon Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 248 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH iTrader: (0)	No, I still have vibration issues with the TL, which I hope to have resolved by having Acura buy the vehicle back. But, look at the reviews on the EL42s on tirerack. Terrible. Potenzas would be much much better. Or, the Pirellis used on the Euro cars.
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05-01-2005, 03:54 PM	#29
kchika Lieutenant 55 Rep 532 Posts Drives: E36 M3 Evo, E46 M3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0)	Went to the showroom today. The 330i (euro-spec) had Continental Sport Contact 2's (17's).
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