[Sportstick]

I don't think an SUV/SAV/CUV, etc. is what is needed. The primary benefit of those taller vehicles is longer suspension travel which can help when the road surface results in full jounce and rebound. It seems OP is experiencing the harshness of smaller displacements on severely-edged rough pavement, i.e. potholes. The taller sidewall tire on a smaller diameter rim already discussed earlier should be quite adequate without giving up an entire vehicle.

[Viffermike]

My advice (granted, I'm in Texas) is to invest in some forged wheels in combination with rubber more compliant than the PSSs. Forged wheels will be far stronger -- and lighter.

And I'm in akuan99's situation, too; I'm seriously considering year-round UHP all-seasons when I replace my RFTs (probably in the spring) primarily to hedge my bets in the wintertime in the Dallas area. I've done that on a few other performance cars -- RWD, FWD, and AWD -- and have been generally pleased with the tradeoffs vs. the risks, depending on the tire. I've historically gone for PS A/Ss, but may consider the DWSs for the BMW based on this thread's feedback -- and with the exception of Hankook and a couple others, i believe Continental and Michelin are the only two makers who offer UHP A/S tires that fit the staggered setup.

[Luftwaffe1O1]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

Philadelphia has nothing on the Southeast Michigan area, including Detroit, for crappy roads. Our major political topic is not the presidency, the police, it's how the state will implement legislation for road improvements. Anyway, it's not so much the car...it's very much the wheels and tires.

Here is one solution.
http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showt...&highlight=BBS

And, a ready finger for the Comfort setting on the MAdaptive suspension switch. I choose Comfort vs. Sport based on two factors:

1) Is my wife in the car
2) What route/road conditions I'm facing

Perhaps DWS06 tires, which as UHPAS, will also be a more forgiving model, while still providing very good performance, although clearly not PSS league. Life is full of trade-offs, but you don't need to trade off the entire car.

I actually switched to the DWS 06 on my z3 recently (to see how long I can have them last, previous set of Potenza re760s lasted 12k miles), and I gotta say it does make things smoother. But going from a high performance summer tire to a performance all season, it is noticeable.

[bimmerfile]

Originally Posted by BMW335iOn18s

I do, but a 3er is as far away from a 2er as I'm willing to go. I'm not a fan of SUVs. Maybe an X3 would be nice though...

Have you seen the new gen 2016 X1. Looks great...
We had a 2013 X1 until last Feb and it was superior to any other SUV we've ever owned or test driven - it has a lot BMW performance and handling feel that we (BMW aficionados) love about the brand.
If I were looking for something a bit more crappy road friendly, I'd certainly give the new X1 serious consideration.

[BEM-S4]

The all road is also a really nice car for what it is, and the XC60 is supposedly going to be amazing once they release the new one with all the goodies from the big one that just came out.

[BMW335iOn18s]

Hey guys, I ended up purchasing a replacement set of DWS06 for my car in the OEM size.

WOW, what a difference! I honestly wish I drove to the tire place right from the dealership. My car rides exactly how I want it to. It might be too soft for some of you hard core track guys, but for daily driving on the stupid roads of Philadelphia, it's as sporty as you can reasonably go. I don't think it will absorb a pothole impact like a thick sidewalk would, but driving over broken pavement and manhole covers are absorbed even better than a 17" 45/55 profile RFT on a 3/5 series (like I wanted to trade my car for).

Another HUGE thing, is that these tires feel like there's much less rolling resistance, which has changed the car in several ways. Specifically, gear shifts are smoother because I lose less speed between gears, engine braking is actually necessary (before, with the pilot super sports, coasting was as effective as engine braking), and the steering feels a little lighter and more communicative. The car generally feels lighter on its feet. I think I'm going to see an increase in MPG as well, but I'll have to do a high way trip to confirm. I give these DWS06 a 12/10.

Oh, and they also come with a 12 month road hazard warranty from continental! (Which hopefully I won't need)

[csg]

Originally Posted by BMW335iOn18s

Hey guys, I ended up purchasing a replacement set of DWS06 for my car in the OEM size.

WOW, what a difference!

Glad to see you found a good tire that meets your needs. Being the office "car guy" people always ask me how they should spend their money on their cars. After I finish telling them they're better off lighting money on fire, I tell them to buy tires. 11 times out of 10, tires are the best bang for the buck upgrade all around. It is for this reason that my [eventual] m235i will have 3 (three) sets of wheels and tires. My wife is going to love it.

1) daily driving tires on stock wheels (probably something very similar to yours)
2) oversize width, square track tires on APEX wheels (if I get the gusto to track this car instead of my E30 in a couple years)
3) square tires with high performance winter rubber on 7.5" OEM wheels


My E30 already has two sets and I'm picking up a third this year. It isn't that I'm a wheel whore, it's that I've been spoiled by driving on proper tires in appropriate conditions.

[EEBreh]

M235i is fine in RI/CT/MA with the crappy roads we have around here. I usually leave it in comfort with TC off (so I get the nice MPE gargle) unless I am passing someone then I will switch it. Since the roads are much worse in the winter, I went with a tire with a bigger sidewall and got BBS wheels (don't trust the chinese ones). If you are cautious and try your best to go around huge potholes you should be fine. This is provided you havent lowered the car and played around with the springrate/bushings.

Try driving a old vintage porsche with delrin/polyurthane bushings, higher front spring rates, and bigger torsion bars in the winter. Nothing can be worse than that, except maybe driving an old model t.

[BMW335iOn18s]

Originally Posted by EEBreh

M235i is fine in RI/CT/MA with the crappy roads we have around here. I usually leave it in comfort with TC off (so I get the nice MPE gargle) unless I am passing someone then I will switch it. Since the roads are much worse in the winter, I went with a tire with a bigger sidewall and got BBS wheels (don't trust the chinese ones). If you are cautious and try your best to go around huge potholes you should be fine. This is provided you havent lowered the car and played around with the springrate/bushings.

Try driving a old vintage porsche with delrin/polyurthane bushings, higher front spring rates, and bigger torsion bars in the winter. Nothing can be worse than that, except maybe driving an old model t.

I was going to go with 17" BBS SR, but didn't want to shell out $1500 (rims + tires + shipping + mounting). Especially since I don't know whether I'll keep my car or upgrade to the m240i or M2 after my lease is over.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by BMW335iOn18s

I was going to go with 17" BBS SR, but didn't want to shell out $1500 (rims + tires + shipping + mounting). Especially since I don't know whether I'll keep my car or upgrade to the m240i or M2 after my lease is over.

Just an FYI those particular rims fit on a lot of cars. I have them for my 235 but did confirm that they will work on an S3 for instance.

[BMW335iOn18s]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Just an FYI those particular rims fit on a lot of cars. I have them for my 235 but did confirm that they will work on an S3 for instance.

I believe the 3/4 series has different figment though, which could be another possibility

[csg]

Originally Posted by BMW335iOn18s

Especially since I don't know whether I'll keep my car or upgrade to the m240i or M2 after my lease is over.

Not sure you'll find what you're looking for in an M2 if the ride is already too harsh in an M235i...

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by BMW335iOn18s

I believe the 3/4 series has different figment though, which could be another possibility

Yeah from what I can tell the 2 is the bitch to fit. So most 2 stuff will work elsewhere, within reason of course, but in general most stuff won't work on the 2 if that makes any sense. So buying wheels for your 2 is the hardest part, although specific cars obvs won't be compatible.

[BMW335iOn18s]

Originally Posted by csg

Not sure you'll find what you're looking for in an M2 if the ride is already too harsh in an M235i...

Believe it or not, M cars usually have fatter sidewalls than their m-sport 19 inch counterparts. Look at the F80 M3 with 18s. They have tractor tires . I'm sure if I had an F80 with DWS in 18s it would ride very well. And honestly an M car is an M car. You buy it knowing it's gonna be a pain in the ass.

[pz619]

Originally Posted by BMW335iOn18s

Believe it or not, M cars usually have fatter sidewalls than their m-sport 19 inch counterparts. Look at the F80 M3 with 18s. They have tractor tires . I'm sure if I had an F80 with DWS in 18s it would ride very well. And honestly an M car is an M car. You buy it knowing it's gonna be a pain in the ass.

Yes, but the M2 doesn't have an adjustable suspension I believe. It's likely be stiffer than the m235i which will likely negate the benefits of a slightly taller tire.

[Killramos]

Its a performance car, not a Swarovski crystal statue.

it doesn't give a shit how many cracks in the road you drive over.

If you think this car is to uncomfortable to be in buy a Buick or something lol. Because its not harsh at all no matter what tire is on it

[BMW335iOn18s]

Originally Posted by Killramos

Its a performance car, not a Swarovski crystal statue.

it doesn't give a shit how many cracks in the road you drive over.

If you think this car is to uncomfortable to be in buy a Buick or something lol. Because its not harsh at all no matter what tire is on it

Actually it does. BMW suspension / bushings last only 40-60,000 miles, clearly they don't take crappy roads very well.

[3tekcorps]

I'd go down an 1" in wheel size with a lower performance tire. In my experience there's a huge difference from one tire to the next in ride quality. You have to avoid the ultra high performance tires with really stiff sidewalls, and you need to get some sidewalls too.

Those roads must suck bad. I just demo'd a 228 for 24 hours and it seemed to be fine on the bumps and seams.

[wjones14]

Going back and re-reading your original post, I'm wondering if this isn't a relative perception? I say that because the M235i is my first BMW, and I'm coming from a background of 6 Mustang GTs and Camaro Z28s. All these were solid rear axle cars.

My first impression of the M235i on the 900-mile ride home from the PCD experience in SC, was that BMW managed to produce a better handling car than any I had ever driven. And at the same time, BMW also delivered a car with a much softer ride than my previous cars.

Prior to the brand new S550 Mustang and 6th Generation Camaro with modern IRS, the Mustangs and Camaros handled pretty well for their size, but they did so by compromising the ride quality. Those cars rode like skateboards compared to the M235i.

I feel like I finally have a sports car that is also close to a true luxury car with this BMW. And I especially like the PSS tires for their lack of noise, grip, and ride quality.

That said, we did hit one horrendous highway pothole in NJ on the way home from SC, and it either bottomed the suspension or hit the rim hard, because there was a huge jolt and noise. I was sure we'd have a flat, but to my surprise, there was seemingly no permanent damage done. I've never hit such a pothole since, but if I was constantly running into them, then I would be worried about possible damage at some point - like I would with almost any car.

[BMW335iOn18s]

Originally Posted by wjones14

Going back and re-reading your original post, I'm wondering if this isn't a relative perception? I say that because the M235i is my first BMW, and I'm coming from a background of 6 Mustang GTs and Camaro Z28s. All these were solid rear axle cars.

My first impression of the M235i on the 900-mile ride home from the PCD experience in SC, was that BMW managed to produce a better handling car than any I had ever driven. And at the same time, BMW also delivered a car with a much softer ride than my previous cars.

Prior to the brand new S550 Mustang and 6th Generation Camaro with modern IRS, the Mustangs and Camaros handled pretty well for their size, but they did so by compromising the ride quality. Those cars rode like skateboards compared to the M235i.

I feel like I finally have a sports car that is also close to a true luxury car with this BMW. And I especially like the PSS tires for their lack of noise, grip, and ride quality.

That said, we did hit one horrendous highway pothole in NJ on the way home from SC, and it either bottomed the suspension or hit the rim hard, because there was a huge jolt and noise. I was sure we'd have a flat, but to my surprise, there was seemingly no permanent damage done. I've never hit such a pothole since, but if I was constantly running into them, then I would be worried about possible damage at some point - like I would with almost any car.

The ride quality is now legitimately GREAT! Like, very comfortable! I no longer feel tired after driving for more than 40 minutes. PSS are seriously stiff, and they make loud noise upon impact with poorly leveled manhole covers or even minor potholes. I avoid potholes and I drive very slowly, but the roads here are just very uneven and covered in patches. These patches made the car jump up and down and tramline left and right. It felt like a sports car should! There's nothing wrong with that, it's just that I got tired of it after a while. With the DWS06, the car takes bumps like a sport package E46, where it's stiff but it doesn't punish you. (The punishing ride started with E90s and run-flats). It no longer hops and skips, nor does it tramline over patches when braking. Also, as I said before, the shifts are now smoother because the tires have less rolling resistance and higher treadwear.