Performance BMW — September 2017

92 PERFORMANCE BMW

OUR CARS

THOMAS’ E46 M3

This month seems to have gone by in a bit of

a blur – every second that can be spared has

been spent prepping the M3 in an attempt to get

it on the road. I’ll have a lot to share in this area

soon enough (the engine is now in), but there’s

a few fi nal details that need to be ironed out

before it’s ready.

With the differential successfully sorted

last month, it was time to fi nd some tyres of

a similar calibre. I was perhaps slightly on the

back foot from the start here, as the wheels are

one area on this build where I decided to put

form over function. There’s a strong argument

for running an E46 on 18s, as the extra

side wall height gives a more compliant and

comfortable ride. For me though, aesthetically

they can’t match the look of 19s, and in the

realm of 19s CSLs tick all the right boxes. A set

of CM Wheels CSL reps (yes, reps – sorry) were

therefore purchased in anticipation.

Deciding what tyres to fi t proved a slightly

more diffi cult decision. The car will be primarily

used on the road, but track days are certainly

on the agenda, so I needed to fi nd something

versatile that would be equally capable in both

scenarios. I was also surprised to fi nd that

making the jump to 19s narrowed the tyre

choice considerably, particularly in the 235/35

and 265/30 sizes required.

My fi nal choice of tyre is one that will

probably surprise very few: the Michelin Pilot

Sport 4S. As the successor to the Pilot Super

Sport, the 4S carries over the same great

innovations that made the Super Sport such a

hit on M cars, with a few minor tweaks to boost

performance across the board.

The tyre’s biggest selling point is its clever

use of rubber and tread patterns. The inside

half of the tyre is made from a more durable

rubber, with a tread pattern focused more

towards damp/wet weather performance. This

gives it great ‘everyday’ drivability and excellent

durability. When pushed hard through corners,

however, more of the tyre’s load will pass

through the outside portion of the tyre, which is

where Michelin have been particularly cunning.

Larger tread blocks and a stickier compound

have been placed here, meaning the harder you

push, the more grip the tyres give you. High

speed performance and traction are kept in

check too, with the tyre using a variable tension

‘Twaron’ belt. As centrifugal loads increase on

the tyre, this belt helps to prevent ballooning

and ensures the contact patch is kept as large

as possible.

On paper then, it should be the perfect tyre

for learning my way around the M3 on the road,

whilst also being capable enough to allow for a

few track days. Time will tell, but between the

Wavetrac differential and Michelin tyres any

potential traction issues should be well sorted.

THANKS AND CONTACT

Michelin Tyres

http://www.michelin.co.uk

Michelin Pilot

Sport 4S tyres

are perfect for

the E46 M3

Clever tread pattern

and different rubber

compounds deliver

ultimate performance

PBMW217.our_cars.ed2.indd 92 07/08/2017 08:36