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Caught the edge of a tyre on a verge today and blew the sidewall.
So obviously I need two new tyres (even wear etc) - but should I replace the front with new or put the rears on the front and buy new rear tyres (as they'll wear faster).
3 series
IMO always put new tyres on the rear axle.
Better to have the front slide than the rear step out - unless you're a driving god etc
IMO always put new tyres on the rear axle.
I always thought that was the advice for FWD cars, seeing as oversteer is much harder to correct in one. Then again, if cars were as susceptible to such minute changes in tyre wear as people suggest, the roadside would be littered with smashed up vehicles.
Anyway, I tend not to drive so haphazardly that I end up with the back overtaking the front, or the front heading straight on while I'm attempting in vain to steer round a corner. I've also tended towards RWD cars with staggered wheel width, so the decision has always been made for me.
Back to OP, just replace the fronts. Assuming you don't take every corner sideways then I'd suggest your biggest risk of accident comes from not being able to stop quickly enough. All the talk of oversteer/understeer pales into insignificance when you consider the majority of your braking is done by the fronts, so you want the best possible grip there.
Assume you don't have staggered tyres? Most modern BMW's are staggered these days.
E46 not staggered.
Zr18s
Staggered?
Front.
Biggest improvement in handling I've noticed is by replacing average road tyres with high performance versions. Braking and steering is night and day, especially in the wet. Having front end grip is the key for that model. Even more so if you have one of the more powerful engines.
(Former E46 owner)