BMW M3 Forum (E90 E92)

BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Go Back   M3Post - BMW M3 Forum > E90/E92 M3 Technical Topics > Wheels + Tires Sponsored by The Tire Rack
  TireRack

KEEP M3POST ALIVE BY DOING YOUR TIRERACK SHOPPING FROM THIS BANNER LINK!
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      12-03-2010, 08:20 AM   #1
mrh335
Second Lieutenant
mrh335's Avatar
United_States
28
Rep
207
Posts

Drives: 2011 M3 sedan, jet black
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Bay Area

iTrader: (0)

M3 Winter Tire Pressure for Dunlop Sport 3D 18's

I searched and can't find the answer other than a non-openable excel spreadsheet.

I have a 2011 E90 M3 and have the staggered Sport A7 Wheels with the Dunlop Sport 3D tires. This is the 235/40 R18 and 255/40 R18 setup.

I would like to know what the best tire pressure would be for this wheel tire combination. I made the mistable on my 2007 E90 to use the recommended pressure for 17" M&S with my 17" Blizzaks and in the end my rear tires wore out down the center of the tire signifcantly more than the inside or outside edges make overall traction crappy. Therefore, I do not plan to follow the recommendations for 18" tires in the BMW literature.

At present, I have them inflated to 34 psi rear and 32 psi front. I took measurements of each tire with a digital tread depth gauge at the outer, center, and inner treads for each tire and was going to monitor, but if someone else already did the homework to find the proper pressure for correct tire wear and good traction, please post it up.
__________________
2011 E90 M3 Jet Black/Black
ZPP, ZCP, ZTP, ZCW, 6FL, PDC, shades, 6MT
Appreciate 0
      01-12-2013, 07:18 PM   #2
linuxd00d
Private
United_States
4
Rep
84
Posts

Drives: 2012 E93 M3
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Tacoma, WA

iTrader: (0)

Reviving an old thread as I am now asking the same question.

Running the same Dunlop Winter Sport 3Ds as the OP on the stock set of 219M wheels. Discount Tire inflated all four corners to 38psi. Wondering what pressure I should really go with.
Appreciate 0
      01-12-2013, 07:41 PM   #3
mrh335
Second Lieutenant
mrh335's Avatar
United_States
28
Rep
207
Posts

Drives: 2011 M3 sedan, jet black
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Bay Area

iTrader: (0)

After driving on the tires for two winters I can tell you to underglaze several psi. My tears have prematurely worn on the center lines to the winter wear indicators, but the inner and outer tread is deep meaning I need to replace them early. The fronts have worn evenly running 1 or 2 psi under the sticker.
__________________
2011 E90 M3 Jet Black/Black
ZPP, ZCP, ZTP, ZCW, 6FL, PDC, shades, 6MT
Appreciate 0
      01-13-2013, 12:40 AM   #4
linuxd00d
Private
United_States
4
Rep
84
Posts

Drives: 2012 E93 M3
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Tacoma, WA

iTrader: (0)

What does "underglaze" mean?
Appreciate 0
      01-13-2013, 10:19 AM   #5
advans
Advansolosis
215
Rep
1,445
Posts

Drives: ///M+////AMG
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NYC

iTrader: (1)

I think the tire pressure should be similar to stock 18s?
__________________

2011 E90 M3, ESS VT2-650, 2015 GL550
Appreciate 0
      01-13-2013, 10:10 PM   #6
mrh335
Second Lieutenant
mrh335's Avatar
United_States
28
Rep
207
Posts

Drives: 2011 M3 sedan, jet black
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Bay Area

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by linuxd00d View Post
What does "underglaze" mean?
That was supposed to be underinflate.

If you run at stock oem 18 inch pressures, then the tire center will wear much faster
__________________
2011 E90 M3 Jet Black/Black
ZPP, ZCP, ZTP, ZCW, 6FL, PDC, shades, 6MT
Appreciate 0
      01-13-2013, 10:21 PM   #7
linuxd00d
Private
United_States
4
Rep
84
Posts

Drives: 2012 E93 M3
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Tacoma, WA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by mrh335 View Post
If you run at stock oem 18 inch pressures, then the tire center will wear much faster
Thanks. Are you recommending 33 on all four corners?
Appreciate 0
      01-14-2013, 11:21 AM   #8
mrh335
Second Lieutenant
mrh335's Avatar
United_States
28
Rep
207
Posts

Drives: 2011 M3 sedan, jet black
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Bay Area

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by linuxd00d View Post
Thanks. Are you recommending 33 on all four corners?
If I were to replace my tires, I would run the rear 33 or 34 and run the front at 34 or so. Like I said before, the fronts are about 1 or 2 psi less than the pressure on the door jam.

I am not sure how this will affect handling and top speed capabilities. The tires require a certain amount of pressure to support the car as down force increases with speed. They also need to provide side support while turning and enough pressure not to damage the wheel with a pothole.

If you live in a warmer area or have a warm winter like I did last year, then the risk is the tires are soft and easy to over pressurize.

It would be nice to have a tire expert provide help on this to ensure we are inflating our tires to a dangerous level.

With that said, I have no recommendation to what you inflate tires to especially if it is different than what is written on the door jam. I am just sharing what I might do and have done.
__________________
2011 E90 M3 Jet Black/Black
ZPP, ZCP, ZTP, ZCW, 6FL, PDC, shades, 6MT
Appreciate 0
      01-14-2013, 07:07 PM   #9
linuxd00d
Private
United_States
4
Rep
84
Posts

Drives: 2012 E93 M3
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Tacoma, WA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by mrh335 View Post
With that said, I have no recommendation to what you inflate tires to especially if it is different than what is written on the door jam. I am just sharing what I might do and have done.
Are you an attorney? Don't worry, I'm not going to sue you if my tire explodes. This is an internet forum. I take advice as what it is: advice from the internet

Thanks for the feedback. I think I'm going to try 33F / 35 or 36R since that's what the book recommends for 18" M+S tires. And I may lower the rear if I notice the uneven wear you describe.
Appreciate 0
      01-14-2013, 08:39 PM   #10
mdosu
Banned
No_Country
311
Rep
8,496
Posts

Drives: Double Vanos'd Civic-M3
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: San Francisco

iTrader: (6)

how does the 255/40/18 fit on stock 18s? I use to use 245/40/18 all around, and sometimes the seal leaks in the rear wheels. The last 2 years, it would leak about 5 psi every 2 weeks. I went with 265 40 18s this year in the rear
Appreciate 0
      01-15-2013, 09:27 AM   #11
linuxd00d
Private
United_States
4
Rep
84
Posts

Drives: 2012 E93 M3
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Tacoma, WA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by mdosu View Post
how does the 255/40/18 fit on stock 18s? I use to use 245/40/18 all around, and sometimes the seal leaks in the rear wheels. The last 2 years, it would leak about 5 psi every 2 weeks. I went with 265 40 18s this year in the rear
I got mine mounted 2 days ago, so I can't comment long term. I think I can tell visually that the tires are a little less wide than the stock 265, but that could be because I know they are. I doubt they will leak, I spent a ton of time researching this topic and 235F/255R is a very common winter size for our wheels.

What winter tire did you get in 265/40/18? I didn't find any good option in that size.
Appreciate 0
      01-19-2013, 03:45 PM   #12
WarrantyTracker
Track? What Track? I was just riding along . . .
United_States
46
Rep
694
Posts

Drives: Alpine White E92 M3
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: An Undisclosed Location

iTrader: (1)

I'm using the 255s in the rear with no problem thus far.
Appreciate 0
      11-01-2017, 06:17 PM   #13
GORDON.M3
Colonel
GORDON.M3's Avatar
Canada
1403
Rep
2,987
Posts

Drives: E92 M3 • F25 X3 M-Sport
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: LAX/YYZ/NRT

iTrader: (11)

Does anyone know what the correct pressure is for winter tires 255/40R18?

Thanks!
Appreciate 0
      12-23-2023, 05:04 PM   #14
Lucky1
Colonel
Canada
639
Rep
2,045
Posts

Drives: '08 128i Coupe SGM 6MT
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Toronto

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
I would like to know as well!
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2023, 12:22 PM   #15
M3SQRD
Major General
M3SQRD's Avatar
1883
Rep
5,240
Posts

Drives: E92 M3,G20 330ix,F22 240iX,F82
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Mid-Atlantic

iTrader: (11)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky1 View Post
I would like to know as well!
I’m running Dunlop 3D on the e92 M3 (235/255), and Pirelli Sottozero 3 on the G20 330ix (225/245) and m240ix (235/235). After a few seasons of driving on them, I’ve found F/R 34/34 psi works well for both tire types in bad weather and performs well in dry cold conditions.

If you’re carrying a lot of luggage/weight, I’d bump the pressures up to 36-38 psi temporarily. If running at sustained high speeds, I’d run the recommended pressures on the door jamb/owner’s manual temporarily (verifying tire max pressure isn’t exceeded).
Appreciate 0
      01-11-2024, 08:21 AM   #16
gkgsvensson
Private
gkgsvensson's Avatar
73
Rep
80
Posts

Drives: 2007 Z4 M Coupe
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Boston

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by M3SQRD View Post
I’m running Dunlop 3D on the e92 M3 (235/255), and Pirelli Sottozero 3 on the G20 330ix (225/245) and m240ix (235/235). After a few seasons of driving on them, I’ve found F/R 34/34 psi works well for both tire types in bad weather and performs well in dry cold conditions.

If you’re carrying a lot of luggage/weight, I’d bump the pressures up to 36-38 psi temporarily. If running at sustained high speeds, I’d run the recommended pressures on the door jamb/owner’s manual temporarily (verifying tire max pressure isn’t exceeded).
On your m3 what tire profile and wheel diameter are you running?
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 02:36 AM.




m3post
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