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I needed to replace the tires on my 2001 BMW Z3 2.5i.

I went to Corsi Tire in Ossining, NY and asked for Michelin Pilot A/S, size 225/50/16 as they were the original equipment tires that came with the car. I described my need as spring-summer-autumn as the car is stored for the winter. They convinced me to buy summer tires as they would result in better handling, obviously the preference for a car like this (it rarely even goes out in the rain). With the car just coming out of the garage and a sunny day coming up, it sounded good to me, so I ordered them without doing any research, after all, I had been dealing with these guys for years (yeah, I know, I'm an idiot). The tires they sold me were Michelin Pilot Primacy, they also say XSE on them. The Michelin website, which I didn't find until after the purchase, says that they are performance tires for "luxury sedans" and that they are Mercedes original equipment. They are not listed as tires for the Z3. I went back the next day and complained, but they didn't want to hear it and would not exchange the tires for one of the models listed by Michelin for my car. They claimed that they were the same size and speed rating and that they should handle better than what I originally asked for, but I can't find info on this anywhere.

So, is there anybody out there who can shed some light on this for me who is familar with these tires? This is really bothering me as this would be a mistake that I could barely afford. I have not driven the car since as I do not want to put wear on these tires.

Thanks,
Fudbutter  

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UPDATE (posted in hope that somebody else can avoid the same problem):

So I've spent the last week talking to Michelin (4X), two local BMW dealers, and several other tires dealers. Turns out that there is a signicant difference between "High Performance" or HP tires and "Grand Touring" or GT tires and any driver could easily notice it.

The is difference is in tread design, materials and hardness. To simplify, HP tires are more responsive in directional change and hang on to the corners much better. The trade off is a harder ride, but that does give you a better road feel. GT tires are for a much more comfortable ride where you don't feel road imperfections and bumps as much. The trade off is a less responsive tire. A Michelin rep says that this is the reason that they make different tires for each application. It would be more cost effective to make more tires and less models, but they need to meet the needs applicable to each car and truck. That is why certain tires come up as recommended for the Z on their web site and others, like the ones I was sold, don't.

So which tire do you feel should be on a Z3? Yup, I though so. Michelin understands, BMW dealers understand, Mavis Tires understands, Inter-City Tire understands, but the folks that I bought these from can only say, "but they are the same size and speed rating, therefore the same tires"

The tires that they sold me have a 30 day total satisfaction gurarantee. Michelin tells me that my only recourse is to exchange for other tires. For the Z, there seem to be 3 basic choices: Sport A/S, Exalto PE2 and PS2. There will be no refund of the price difference and I will have to pay the price difference for any upgrade. That means that, if I exchange for Exalto PE2, I paid about $80 more than I would have if they sold me the right tires to begin with. If it's the original equipment Sport A/S, I will have left about $150 on the table. PS2, on the other hand will cost me another $230 or so, and looks like an overkill for my little 2.5 liter car.

This all assumes that the dealer will honor the guarantee, but there are two problems: 1) The dealer refuses to change the tires and they treat me like an idiot when I come in to talk about it and keep repeating the Size and Speed rating mantra and 2) Michelin's response to all of this is to "simply talk to the dealer and have them call us is they wish to discuss anything", except that the dealer won't call

Meanwhile, I won't drive my car in case I have to buy new tires and sell these other ones on E-Bay.

Remember that I have this issue because I'M AN IDIOT. Save yourself from this same fate and, if they don't have or have never heard of the model you ask for, walk away and go elsewhere.  

Wait.. You're causing yourself a lot of unneeded grief. You're not going to like this but here it is. If the dealer replaced your tires with the same size and speed rating with a tire that Michelin says was for Mercedes and you drive a BMW you are OK. That tire was originally made for Mercedes but can be put on ANY car with the same requirements.

You are ok...  
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