Tires: Toyo Garit KX fit, 1998 bmw 328is, alignment settings

Question
Hi,

I just got a standard 1998 BMW 328is with an odd tire situation: Hankook winter W404 in the front and some Goodyear all season in the back. For that matter I am going to replace them all with stock size Toyo Garit KX performance winter tires 225/50/16. Reading answers on this site I was wondering if the particular tread pattern of these tires may cause noise issues from the beginning or later after normal wear. Should I go with narrower tires? I live in Calgary and although the winter is long we rarely get significant amounts of snow.

http://www.toyocanada.com/products/GaritKX.asp

The car does not seem to have allignment problems but I think I will get one anyway. Currently there is a whining noise at certain speeds or in turns but the inspection and test road I just had for a brake job at MIDAS states that the source of the noise is likely a light tire separation and not a wheel bearing. I got them to move the winter tires in the back and all season in the front and that made a difference in when the noise occurs: it became stronger when I coast to a stop rather than at 50-60 mph.

Please let me know what you think about that Toyo model fit to a 328is BMW that will not be driven in a spirited fashion. Also, wondering if the noise I mentioned could be from some transmission component. The noise is the same at 50 mph with gas, 50 mph coasting in gear or 50 mph in neutral.

Thanks,
Calin

Answer
Calin,

First let me state that BMW's have alignment issues relative to tire wear.  The specified alignment settings tend to develop irregular wear and the only way to insure you do not get irregular wear is to use a non-stock setting.  

Do I know what the alignment settings should be?  No, I only know that the stock setting tends to generate tire wear issues and that rotating tires helps minimize the wear issues.  BMW doesn't recommend rotating tires and their recommendation is based on the idea that handling is of prime importance.  They don't care one bit about tire wear (If you don't believe that, search the internet about how they are handling the noise / wear issues for run flat tires).

So to hear you have a possible tire noise issue on a BMW is not a surprise.  In fact it is to be expected.