Star rated tyres. I am now convinced!

[Dimsum]

I have had an unpleasant noise coming from the transfer box on my facelift 3.0d for quite a while now. I did my research and came across the many apparently negative effect of NOT having BMW star rated tyres on the car. I had been running Continental Cross Contacts on the front and Hankook's on the rear.

I have just replaced all 4 tyres with Bridgestone Turanza ER30, BMW star rated tyres and would you believe it, no more unpleasant noise!! Gone.. Totally gone. No vibration, no grinding type noise, nothing.


I am chuffed and thought I would share.

[sid10]

Result  well done !

[X5Sport]

Occasionally one wonders if 'special' tyres are marketing hype, but this one definitely isn't.  Good result.

[mikem]

To play devils advocate, I'm on my second set of Bridgestone dueller HP's. The rears are * marked (BMW) and the fronts are N marked (Porsche). No issues at all.

I'v run winters that aren't * marked for 4 winters now with no issues either but a friend ran a set of Kumhos with a big difference in circumference front to back and the rear diff failed.

It could be that the slight differences have a more noticeable effect on different cars (age/mileage/use etc.) ??

[chrisn7]

I am pleased that you achieved a good result, but the conclusion that the * tyres is the answer to your issues might, or might not, be correct. You stated that you were running different brands front and rear, so this in itself might have been the cause.

Its possible that changing to all Continentals or all Hankooks might equally have produced a good result.

[Raj]

I agree it would be more to do with differing brands than the * rating. All manufacturers tyres differ even when they are the same profile etc. As well as the actual overall width being different the circumference will also differ and add to the front/rear axle ratios.