[jy228i]

Earlier today I took an on-ramp at a fairly high speed and the back end felt really light, almost like I was going to lose control of the car.

I did some research, and I found that all car reviewers have tested the 2014 228i on the skid pad anywhere from 0.86-0.88g. Other cars in the same sector push it to over 0.90g.

Is this because they tested it with the Bridgestone Potenza S001 run-flats?

I?m upgrading to Michelin PSS?s soon, so will this significantly improve the handling?

[SteveInfante]

Yes that will significantly improve the handling of your 228i. I made the swap to BFG Sport Comp 2's and it made a ton of difference. The RF's are crap.

[Sportstick]

Yes, tires will make a dramatic difference. I also found that swapping out the lower control arms for the M2 variety is a great upgrade! Turner Motorsports has the kit needed.

[Viffermike]

jy228i This is odd considering the base 230i was tested at 0.96g by C/D -- which reported the 0.86g figure on a base 2014 model and has not changed its testing parameters since the 1970s -- and there were no appreciable suspension changes between the 228i and the 230i base models.

Another oddity: OP, your sig states that you have an M Sport model, which came with an upgraded suspension over the base model, even in 2014: 10mm lower ride height, slightly stiffer spring rates, 1-inch larger diameter wheels, and (IIRC) beefier anti-roll bars. I guarantee that your particular car is generating more than 0.86g of grip.

Finally: what constitutes "other cars in the same sector"? The Scion FR-S and Mustang V6 that Road & Track tested the 228i against? The Mustang, maybe ... the Scion, no: Not quite the same kind of car. The Audi A3 Quattro and the M-B CLA that C/D tested the 228i against? Those are both four-door sedans, and the Audi was AWD, which will increase its skidpad speed (as evidenced by the xDrive base 228i C/D tested the following year, which generated 0.87g). Not the same kind of car.

Digging into these reviews reveals that all 228i models you refer to (C/D, R&T, Edmunds.com) were wearing all-season tires, which come standard on the base models. Your M Sport will not have those unless the previous owner put them on the car. As someone who switched from Max Summer RFTs to all-seasons on his 2015 228i M Sport and noted a slight decrease in ultimate grip, I can attest to this firsthand.

[jy228i]

Originally Posted by Viffermike

jy228i This is odd considering the base 230i was tested at 0.96g by C/D -- which reported the 0.86g figure on a base 2014 model and has not changed its testing parameters since the 1970s -- and there were no appreciable suspension changes between the 228i and the 230i base models.

Another oddity: OP, your sig states that you have an M Sport model, which came with an upgraded suspension over the base model, even in 2014: 10mm lower ride height, slightly stiffer spring rates, 1-inch larger diameter wheels, and (IIRC) beefier anti-roll bars. I guarantee that your particular car is generating more than 0.86g of grip.

Finally: what constitutes "other cars in the same sector"? The Scion FR-S and Mustang V6 that Road & Track tested the 228i against? The Mustang, maybe ... the Scion, no: Not quite the same kind of car. The Audi A3 Quattro and the M-B CLA that C/D tested the 228i against? Those are both four-door sedans, and the Audi was AWD, which will increase its skidpad speed (as evidenced by the xDrive base 228i C/D tested the following year, which generated 0.87g). Not the same kind of car.

Digging into these reviews reveals that all 228i models you refer to (C/D, R&T, Edmunds.com) were wearing all-season tires, which come standard on the base models. Your M Sport will not have those unless the previous owner put them on the car. As someone who switched from Max Summer RFTs to all-seasons on his 2015 228i M Sport and noted a slight decrease in ultimate grip, I can attest to this firsthand.

By the competition I was talking about the A3 and CLA250. I didn?t know that the m sport model sat lower than the base model, thanks for the info

[wdc330i]

Originally Posted by jy228i

Earlier today I took an on-ramp at a fairly high speed and the back end felt really light, almost like I was going to lose control of the car.

I did some research, and I found that all car reviewers have tested the 2014 228i on the skid pad anywhere from 0.86-0.88g. Other cars in the same sector push it to over 0.90g.

Is this because they tested it with the Bridgestone Potenza S001 run-flats?

I?m upgrading to Michelin PSS?s soon, so will this significantly improve the handling?

This is one of the issues that made me add the LSD. I also did not like that feeling at all, which I experienced in my M240.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by jy228i

By the competition I was talking about the A3 and CLA250. I didn?t know that the m sport model sat lower than the base model, thanks for the info

Well, bottom line is that your particular car is, more than likely, generating well more than 0.9g of grip ... and by most accounts, the CLA is an absolute dog handling-wise despite what the mags might say.

Don't take everything you read at face value. Dig deeper, and question. That's how you learn.

[overcoil]

I had been running the Michelin PSS now using the A/S version, so I googled about the Bridgestone S001 runflats and the Bridgestone certainly does not appear to be a trash tire.

For the original posters experience of the rear getting light at high speed, think about this - the sensation of getting light is a good indicator your reaching the limit. If the tire didn't give you a sensation of getting light and you had no warning you we're losing traction, then a sudden loss of traction is the worst kind of tire trait.

Also, how many better cars are there then the 240 plus horsepower 228? From what I gather reading global car reviews it's one of the best chassis design's on the market.

Should you upgrade to Comp T/A or Michelin PSS which is being phased out? Maybe, but the 228 with any tire is a pretty dialed in car from what all the articles I read say.

[morphomeman]

Question: how many miles do the tires have on them? How much tread do they have left? Any car will fail under these circumstances if the tires are bald enough.

[3rdcoast228i]

I've had no complaints with the Bridgestones. The only time I've felt light is because of the road surface, not the tire. There is one spot I drive that I can consistently and smoothly get the the back end to slide out when turning. But not anywhere else I drive.

[jy228i]

Originally Posted by morphomeman

Question: how many miles do the tires have on them? How much tread do they have left? Any car will fail under these circumstances if the tires are bald enough.

I got it CPO but I think the previous owner replaced the tires, so they?re pretty new.

[morphomeman]

Measure the tread depth. That is the simplest way to know if they are OK.

[nelsdvn]

Are your tire pressures correct?

[ralawren]

Originally Posted by morphomeman

Question: how many miles do the tires have on them? How much tread do they have left? Any car will fail under these circumstances if the tires are bald enough.

Actually in dry conditions the less tread depth you have the greater the contact path. So bald tires are like slicks and have better grip. There are other variables like if the rubber has been abused and over heated, but to keep it simple ignore those factors. So well worn tires will corner faster. New tires with lots of tread will actually move and you can feel it as you near the threshold of friction.

The other thing to keep in mind is testing and real world numbers. I have had my 228i on the handling track at NCAR and VIR for track days. The stock MPSS tires felt great but I was hard pressed to get more than .7 Gs recorded on BMW's MTimer App. I have seen others post higher Gs so it may be my driving style but high 8's and '9s on Public roads seem hard to achieve. If you are there then I hope there aren't any bicycles or pedestrians on the road.....