240/45 415 Tyres
Discussion
It's a classic metric size (M6 I believe) - most people just swap the wheels out for some 'proper' ones as you can get cheap wheels & tyres for less than the price of two metric tyres.
There was this note on a newsgroup a few months ago from someone called John Hardaker...<i>"My garage friend has some of these tyres/alloys for sale. He tells me they are the fancy metric size that nobody wants. If you have an interest in such things give the man a call on 01865 883413 for more information. Say you got it off the net; he will be impressed."</i>
Or there is a current auction on for metric wheels and tyres here http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2461263587&category=28648
There was this note on a newsgroup a few months ago from someone called John Hardaker...<i>"My garage friend has some of these tyres/alloys for sale. He tells me they are the fancy metric size that nobody wants. If you have an interest in such things give the man a call on 01865 883413 for more information. Say you got it off the net; he will be impressed."</i>
Or there is a current auction on for metric wheels and tyres here http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2461263587&category=28648
I used to own an E28 M535i which also had the dreaded metric size rims/tyres...390 in this case if I remember correctly? 415 were fitted to 6-Series and some early E32 7-Series I believe?
Your options are several:
1) Ditch the metric rims and tyres completely. Probably the 'thinking man's route' if you're going to be driving the car as a daily driver and you're not too worried about originality.
Don't know what your car is but chances are it's one of the two above and something like a largish size Alpina rim might suit?
I say this is the sensible route because it's CHEAPER and perfomance-wise there are no decent metric tyres! Not by todays tyre standards anyway! Michelin TRX(the original and most expensive option) were ok in their day but now comparatively have poor grip, are noisy and wear badly.(I destroyed a set of Michelin TRX in under 6K miles in normal driving on my M535i...and so have others I know.)
2) Stick with the metic rims but buy a make of tyre other than Michelin. Avon do them...they're a bit cheaper. Then there are the much cheaper makes...Colway...Conway(I think?) They were only about £60 a go when I had my car. I was keen to stick with the metric size on my car because I actually liked the look of the original M535i M-tech rims! (Probably the only person in the whole World who actually does
)
The cheapo ones are actually not a bad option at all! The were grippier than the Michelins and sure they did wear even faster than the Michelins but not so fast that the extra cost of the Michelins made them worth getting!
3) Stick with the Michelins and do loads of hunting and ringing around. You may get lucky and find a set or some tyres going cheap. I once got a full set of Michelins from a tyre dealer for £320 for the set because they'd been sitting on the shelf for about 6 years unsold. Alternatively, 415's seem to come up on Ebay pretty regularly and they're cheap. If you're going to keep the car for any length of time keep looking and start storing set up!
Good luck!
Your options are several:
1) Ditch the metric rims and tyres completely. Probably the 'thinking man's route' if you're going to be driving the car as a daily driver and you're not too worried about originality.
Don't know what your car is but chances are it's one of the two above and something like a largish size Alpina rim might suit?
I say this is the sensible route because it's CHEAPER and perfomance-wise there are no decent metric tyres! Not by todays tyre standards anyway! Michelin TRX(the original and most expensive option) were ok in their day but now comparatively have poor grip, are noisy and wear badly.(I destroyed a set of Michelin TRX in under 6K miles in normal driving on my M535i...and so have others I know.)
2) Stick with the metic rims but buy a make of tyre other than Michelin. Avon do them...they're a bit cheaper. Then there are the much cheaper makes...Colway...Conway(I think?) They were only about £60 a go when I had my car. I was keen to stick with the metric size on my car because I actually liked the look of the original M535i M-tech rims! (Probably the only person in the whole World who actually does
) The cheapo ones are actually not a bad option at all! The were grippier than the Michelins and sure they did wear even faster than the Michelins but not so fast that the extra cost of the Michelins made them worth getting!
3) Stick with the Michelins and do loads of hunting and ringing around. You may get lucky and find a set or some tyres going cheap. I once got a full set of Michelins from a tyre dealer for £320 for the set because they'd been sitting on the shelf for about 6 years unsold. Alternatively, 415's seem to come up on Ebay pretty regularly and they're cheap. If you're going to keep the car for any length of time keep looking and start storing set up!
Good luck!
Tx all for your most helpful suggestions. I have adopted the most sensible which is to get a set of 225/60's.I bought a complete set with hardly used tyres for £200--can't complain. Spoils the originality of course but needs must and I still have the originals if a buyer wanted them. I can now get tyres for £60 a corner---improvement on £200+ for the metric ones.
magnus
magnus
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