I had high hopes for this tyre as it scored very well in several comparison tests here in Europe, including the DAC (German auto club). The price is quite reasonable, nearly the least expensive of the major name brands offered on mytyres.co.uk (the UK division of Delticom, a large German tyre company that operates all over the world). This is not an RFT. I noticed tonight that Delticom does not offer this tire for sale now. It could be due to demand outstripping supply.
Here is the tyre:
http://www.uniroyal-tyres.com/www/uniroyal_tires_de_en/themes/summertires/fd_rainsport-3/rainsport-3.html
Uniroyal has been calling itself 'The Rain Tire' for decades now, with its characteristic little umbrella on the sidewall. So expectations were high for its performance in wet weather. It did not disappoint.
Initial impressions:
Favorable, but with reservations about dry traction and size. I installed them at first on the rear only, with the OE Bridgestones RFTs on the front. Big mistake! The X5 40d had kittens at nearly every twisty bit, its stability control cutting in heavily with brake intervention on the outer side of the car and massive throttle cuts. No fun. But it was clear that the Uniroyals had less traction than the Bridgestones on dry tarmac. I swapped them front to rear and handling went back to normal, but again it was clear that the Uniroyals had less grip on the front. I only ran this way for a few days until another pair of Uniroyals arrived via the nice white van man.
Dry traction:
Once I had a balanced set of all four Uniroyals on there, the car felt well planted but if pushed at all hard in the dry the Uniroyals would start to sing a little protest song. I had an impromptu race with a sodder in an chipped A6 and on arriving home I noted feathered edges on my front tyres. It began to be clear to me that dry traction was not this tyre's strong suit. That impression continued throughout the roughly 10k miles that I ran these tyres this Autumn. Dry cornering traction could be better, but dry braking is very good.
Wet traction:
One dark day the French rain began to fall, and I was prepared to be impressed. Indeed, wet traction with these Uniroyals is phenomenal. They grip nearly as well in the rain as they do in the dry. The asymmetrical tread pattern evacuates water neatly, leaving a trail of spray behind the car several feet high. You can hear the water being thrown clear. The limits of wet traction come predictably, with no nasty surprises. This may be the best rain tyre I can remember. Wet braking is astonishing. If you value wet performance (Scotty!), this tyre is hard to beat.
Noise and ride:
This is not a particularly quiet tyre, as there was some tyre whine that developed as they wore. But it is quieter and much smoother than the OE Bridgestone RFTs. Of course, it's not RFT which means more flexible sidewalls and that improves smoothness. I bumped up tyre pressures about 3psi in order to compensate for the softer sidewalls as compared to RFTs. As mentioned above, they do sing in dry corners, but it's not a strident squeal, rather it's a low whine that does not turn heads much.
Size:
These tyres are noticeably smaller than either the OE Bridgestones they replaced or the Nokian winter tyres I just put on. Fortunately BMW compensates automatically for tyre size and speedometer error. But they are supposed to be the same size. This is a bit of a pet peeve with me, and does not give a favorable impression. I see it as a shady cost-cutting measure that shaves a few quid off the cost of manufacture. But I would rather pay a bit more and have a full-sized tyre.
Wear:
The Uniroyals did not wear particularly well. See the photos below for their condition after 10k miles. The front tyres have lost all their tread on the outer shoulder, and will only be good for another 5k miles or so more on the rear next Spring. True, we had a relatively dry Autumn, and I do live in a country setting with twisty rural roads, but I expected better wear. I suppose that this is the price one pays for such excellent wet traction. Finally, remember that the X5 is a heavy car with strong brakes and good power – this all adds up to less tyre life!
Bottom line:
An excellent value and excellent rain tyre. But they are undersize, only average in dry cornering, and they wear fast. I don't plan to buy another set, but then I like to experiment with different tyres. If you live in a rainy area, I would recommend a set to you.
