Hi all
I currently have Continental Contact SSR UHP tyres on my car. I have about 4.5 mm at the front and 5mm at the rear, but I am seeing the outer edges of the front tyres wearing out. I have the X5 go through a wheel alignment every 6 months (the last one done 3 months ago and the car was "perfect"). I also check the tyre pressures once a month and there is very little, if at all leakage in pressure, so I am putting this wear down to the weight of the car and the fact that it is mostly used for short journeys (Unless the fine people of this forum have some thoughts on this).
I am about to embark next month on a 3,000 mile trip to France and Italy and I will be travelling with the family, dog, roof box, and tow bar mounted bike rack (so very loaded). With this in mind I have a 2 questions on my mind. Would you advise that I replace the tyres prior to this trip, bearing in mind the current tread depth and the wear of the front tyres?
Secondly, I am unimpressed with the Continental tyres. They are noisy and hard riding (but what do you expect with runflats) so I am reluctant to replace the tyres with the same ones. I have been doing some research online and I came across Avon ZX7. I was wondering if anyone has fitted these their car and what there experience is of them. Also any tyre advice would be very welcome as well.
Cheers All
RC
My Car details are:
X5 e70 2007 3.0D SE Dynamic
Front tyres: 255/45 R19 V 107
Rear tyres: 285/45 R19 V 107
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Avon ZX7 Tyres - Advice needed
Re: Avon ZX7 Tyres - Advice needed
Beware of changing just one pair, especially if non '*' marked. This seems to be the most frequent cause of wrecked diffs or transfer boxes. These cars are not tolerant of wide tread depth or tyre type variance.
If having done it you get any grumbling from the transmission system that it a sure sign of impending trouble.
If having done it you get any grumbling from the transmission system that it a sure sign of impending trouble.
Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.Re: Avon ZX7 Tyres - Advice needed
Hello,
You post raises some questions in my mind having owned an E70 of similar age to yours for 8 years.
First, mine too has 19" wheels and the fronts are the same size as yours, but the rears are 285 x 45 x 19 111V, not 107 like the fronts. Is the information in your post accurate? The extra load is important so can I suggest you check the car's spec to make sure any new rear tyres bought have the extra load capacity.If you are going to tour for several thousand miles with a lot of weight it seems to me that the weight rating of the rear tyres is key to note!
Secondly, the Avons are not run flat tyres. There have been many posts about runflats versus non runflats and in my mind the jury is out. Tyres marked with a * are BMW recommended - and all are runflats for the E70. Some readers of the forum say they are needed to protect the transfer box. Everyone seems to agree that what is important is to have the same make front and rear, and the same degree of wear front and rear. With all the weight you'll be carrying there'll be no room for 2 spares (different front and rears) and I'd be very wary of using a "get you home" thin spare wheel on such a big car with a heavy load. I'd weigh up the pros and cons of runflats v non runflats with a couple of cans of tyreseal in the boot.
Thirdly, there is a lost of evidence to show that the tyres do indeed wear differently. The fronts often wear on the outer edge - the price of having a heavy engine and cornering hard. Often the near side wears more than the offside if journeys often mean turning right at roundabouts which throws the weight onto the front nearside. Is there still visible tread there? The cure is not to corner too hard.
The rear geometry often causes wear on the inner edges and it's worth checking the alignment there. Is there visible tread on the inside? Even with normal inflation rears often also wear in the centre so its worth checking them there as well. Remember too that the equipment used should show the full alignment front and rear simultaneously otherwise even if the front on its own is right, and the rear on its own is right, if front-rear is misaligned the car can crab down the road causing uneven wear.
In terms of wear, new tyres are 6-7mm deep. Can I ask if your measurements are of all the grooves where tyre-wear indicators are present? If you have visible tread all round with all the grooves having the depth you mention you should be OK for 3000 miles more dependent on how hard you corner. Take care if there are torrential thunderstorms because of the risk of aquaplaning, especially on motorways - it can even be a problem with new tyres
The tyre pressure monitor should be reset whenever your check tyre pressures - it will show any difference between them if one loses air.
I hope this helps - perhaps I should say what I use! I'm currently running on Goodyear runflats for the summer. They seem harder than the Contis and Bridgestones I've had in the past, but after about 3000 miles seem to be softening a little, unless it's my imagination! They're cheaper than Contis or Bridgestones. I run on Vredestein Wintrac Extremes in the winter - non runflat so I have a coupe of cans of tyreseal in the boot. Touch wood after three winters I've not needed them.
Graeme
You post raises some questions in my mind having owned an E70 of similar age to yours for 8 years.
First, mine too has 19" wheels and the fronts are the same size as yours, but the rears are 285 x 45 x 19 111V, not 107 like the fronts. Is the information in your post accurate? The extra load is important so can I suggest you check the car's spec to make sure any new rear tyres bought have the extra load capacity.If you are going to tour for several thousand miles with a lot of weight it seems to me that the weight rating of the rear tyres is key to note!
Secondly, the Avons are not run flat tyres. There have been many posts about runflats versus non runflats and in my mind the jury is out. Tyres marked with a * are BMW recommended - and all are runflats for the E70. Some readers of the forum say they are needed to protect the transfer box. Everyone seems to agree that what is important is to have the same make front and rear, and the same degree of wear front and rear. With all the weight you'll be carrying there'll be no room for 2 spares (different front and rears) and I'd be very wary of using a "get you home" thin spare wheel on such a big car with a heavy load. I'd weigh up the pros and cons of runflats v non runflats with a couple of cans of tyreseal in the boot.
Thirdly, there is a lost of evidence to show that the tyres do indeed wear differently. The fronts often wear on the outer edge - the price of having a heavy engine and cornering hard. Often the near side wears more than the offside if journeys often mean turning right at roundabouts which throws the weight onto the front nearside. Is there still visible tread there? The cure is not to corner too hard.
The rear geometry often causes wear on the inner edges and it's worth checking the alignment there. Is there visible tread on the inside? Even with normal inflation rears often also wear in the centre so its worth checking them there as well. Remember too that the equipment used should show the full alignment front and rear simultaneously otherwise even if the front on its own is right, and the rear on its own is right, if front-rear is misaligned the car can crab down the road causing uneven wear.
In terms of wear, new tyres are 6-7mm deep. Can I ask if your measurements are of all the grooves where tyre-wear indicators are present? If you have visible tread all round with all the grooves having the depth you mention you should be OK for 3000 miles more dependent on how hard you corner. Take care if there are torrential thunderstorms because of the risk of aquaplaning, especially on motorways - it can even be a problem with new tyres
The tyre pressure monitor should be reset whenever your check tyre pressures - it will show any difference between them if one loses air.
I hope this helps - perhaps I should say what I use! I'm currently running on Goodyear runflats for the summer. They seem harder than the Contis and Bridgestones I've had in the past, but after about 3000 miles seem to be softening a little, unless it's my imagination! They're cheaper than Contis or Bridgestones. I run on Vredestein Wintrac Extremes in the winter - non runflat so I have a coupe of cans of tyreseal in the boot. Touch wood after three winters I've not needed them.
Graeme
-
rickyclean
- Member
- Posts: 64
- Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2015 7:02 pm
Re: Avon ZX7 Tyres - Advice needed
[quote="X5Sport"]
Beware of changing just one pair, especially if non '*' marked. This seems to be the most frequent cause of wrecked diffs or transfer boxes. These cars are not tolerant of wide tread depth or tyre type variance.
If having done it you get any grumbling from the transmission system that it a sure sign of impending trouble.
[/quote]
Hi X5 Sport,
Thanks for the tip about non '*' tyres, I see there is a lot of people commenting on this on the web and real food for thought. I would never (and never have) run a car on mismatched tyres especially having non run flats and run flats mixed up. If I was to change to the Avons I would do all four wheels (They came up on Black circles as an option and the seem to have a very good wet performances and lower db levels than the continentals).
RC
Beware of changing just one pair, especially if non '*' marked. This seems to be the most frequent cause of wrecked diffs or transfer boxes. These cars are not tolerant of wide tread depth or tyre type variance.
If having done it you get any grumbling from the transmission system that it a sure sign of impending trouble.
[/quote]
Hi X5 Sport,
Thanks for the tip about non '*' tyres, I see there is a lot of people commenting on this on the web and real food for thought. I would never (and never have) run a car on mismatched tyres especially having non run flats and run flats mixed up. If I was to change to the Avons I would do all four wheels (They came up on Black circles as an option and the seem to have a very good wet performances and lower db levels than the continentals).
RC
-
rickyclean
- Member
- Posts: 64
- Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2015 7:02 pm
Re: Avon ZX7 Tyres - Advice needed
[quote="Graeme"]
Hello,
You post raises some questions in my mind having owned an E70 of similar age to yours for 8 years.
First, mine too has 19" wheels and the fronts are the same size as yours, but the rears are 285 x 45 x 19 111V, not 107 like the fronts. Is the information in your post accurate? The extra load is important so can I suggest you check the car's spec to make sure any new rear tyres bought have the extra load capacity.If you are going to tour for several thousand miles with a lot of weight it seems to me that the weight rating of the rear tyres is key to note!
Secondly, the Avons are not run flat tyres. There have been many posts about runflats versus non runflats and in my mind the jury is out. Tyres marked with a * are BMW recommended - and all are runflats for the E70. Some readers of the forum say they are needed to protect the transfer box. Everyone seems to agree that what is important is to have the same make front and rear, and the same degree of wear front and rear. With all the weight you'll be carrying there'll be no room for 2 spares (different front and rears) and I'd be very wary of using a "get you home" thin spare wheel on such a big car with a heavy load. I'd weigh up the pros and cons of runflats v non runflats with a couple of cans of tyreseal in the boot.
Thirdly, there is a lost of evidence to show that the tyres do indeed wear differently. The fronts often wear on the outer edge - the price of having a heavy engine and cornering hard. Often the near side wears more than the offside if journeys often mean turning right at roundabouts which throws the weight onto the front nearside. Is there still visible tread there? The cure is not to corner too hard.
The rear geometry often causes wear on the inner edges and it's worth checking the alignment there. Is there visible tread on the inside? Even with normal inflation rears often also wear in the centre so its worth checking them there as well. Remember too that the equipment used should show the full alignment front and rear simultaneously otherwise even if the front on its own is right, and the rear on its own is right, if front-rear is misaligned the car can crab down the road causing uneven wear.
In terms of wear, new tyres are 6-7mm deep. Can I ask if your measurements are of all the grooves where tyre-wear indicators are present? If you have visible tread all round with all the grooves having the depth you mention you should be OK for 3000 miles more dependent on how hard you corner. Take care if there are torrential thunderstorms because of the risk of aquaplaning, especially on motorways - it can even be a problem with new tyres
The tyre pressure monitor should be reset whenever your check tyre pressures - it will show any difference between them if one loses air.
I hope this helps - perhaps I should say what I use! I'm currently running on Goodyear runflats for the summer. They seem harder than the Contis and Bridgestones I've had in the past, but after about 3000 miles seem to be softening a little, unless it's my imagination! They're cheaper than Contis or Bridgestones. I run on Vredestein Wintrac Extremes in the winter - non runflat so I have a coupe of cans of tyreseal in the boot. Touch wood after three winters I've not needed them.
Graeme
[/quote]
Wotcha Graeme
Many thanks for the thorough response very helpful sir.
RC
Hello,
You post raises some questions in my mind having owned an E70 of similar age to yours for 8 years.
First, mine too has 19" wheels and the fronts are the same size as yours, but the rears are 285 x 45 x 19 111V, not 107 like the fronts. Is the information in your post accurate? The extra load is important so can I suggest you check the car's spec to make sure any new rear tyres bought have the extra load capacity.If you are going to tour for several thousand miles with a lot of weight it seems to me that the weight rating of the rear tyres is key to note!
Secondly, the Avons are not run flat tyres. There have been many posts about runflats versus non runflats and in my mind the jury is out. Tyres marked with a * are BMW recommended - and all are runflats for the E70. Some readers of the forum say they are needed to protect the transfer box. Everyone seems to agree that what is important is to have the same make front and rear, and the same degree of wear front and rear. With all the weight you'll be carrying there'll be no room for 2 spares (different front and rears) and I'd be very wary of using a "get you home" thin spare wheel on such a big car with a heavy load. I'd weigh up the pros and cons of runflats v non runflats with a couple of cans of tyreseal in the boot.
Thirdly, there is a lost of evidence to show that the tyres do indeed wear differently. The fronts often wear on the outer edge - the price of having a heavy engine and cornering hard. Often the near side wears more than the offside if journeys often mean turning right at roundabouts which throws the weight onto the front nearside. Is there still visible tread there? The cure is not to corner too hard.
The rear geometry often causes wear on the inner edges and it's worth checking the alignment there. Is there visible tread on the inside? Even with normal inflation rears often also wear in the centre so its worth checking them there as well. Remember too that the equipment used should show the full alignment front and rear simultaneously otherwise even if the front on its own is right, and the rear on its own is right, if front-rear is misaligned the car can crab down the road causing uneven wear.
In terms of wear, new tyres are 6-7mm deep. Can I ask if your measurements are of all the grooves where tyre-wear indicators are present? If you have visible tread all round with all the grooves having the depth you mention you should be OK for 3000 miles more dependent on how hard you corner. Take care if there are torrential thunderstorms because of the risk of aquaplaning, especially on motorways - it can even be a problem with new tyres
The tyre pressure monitor should be reset whenever your check tyre pressures - it will show any difference between them if one loses air.
I hope this helps - perhaps I should say what I use! I'm currently running on Goodyear runflats for the summer. They seem harder than the Contis and Bridgestones I've had in the past, but after about 3000 miles seem to be softening a little, unless it's my imagination! They're cheaper than Contis or Bridgestones. I run on Vredestein Wintrac Extremes in the winter - non runflat so I have a coupe of cans of tyreseal in the boot. Touch wood after three winters I've not needed them.
Graeme
[/quote]
Wotcha Graeme
Many thanks for the thorough response very helpful sir.
- Regarding the rear tyres you are spot on. I just checked and they are indeed 85 x 45 x 19 111V so thanks for the steer on this.
- I have a BMW tyres seal kit which I bought for my much loved (and missed) 330i touring, as I swapped to non run flats on that car. The improvement on the ride and noise was eye opening.
- The tread is still visible, but noticeably worn
- I get the alignment done at F1 autocentres using Supertracker alignment system - I do trust them with this job, but I am going to get the alignment done by the before I travel and I will ask them if they do perform the test as you described (A top tip there so thank you)
- I am measuring the tread across the tyre-wear indicators are present. What actually made me think about replacing the tyres was the fact that I did aquaplane a little on the motorway recently. I checked the wet weather performance of the Continentals and I saw there wet weather rating was average
RC
-
rickyclean
- Member
- Posts: 64
- Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2015 7:02 pm
Re: Avon ZX7 Tyres - Advice needed
Just had a new set of front tyres put on the car yesterday. As it was an emergency and Kwik Fit had the right tyre at the right price (a rare thing indeed), I went with the ContiCross Contact UHP SSR. However, I was told by Kwik Fit that the rears will need doing very soon. So I am looking at getting the same tyre type for the rears (285/45R19 111V) and my searches keep showing that the same tyre but with a speed rating of W rather than V are up to £25 a corner cheaper....W is for higher top speeds (168mph compared to 149mph for the V), but apart from that the tyres is identical in name. My question is, is it essential that I stick with the V and pay extra or am I fine with saving a bit of cash and buying the W speed rating?
Re: Avon ZX7 Tyres - Advice needed
Hello,
There is no problem with using a higher speed-rated tyre. Mine are W rated. It's probable that more w rated tyres are made so there is a cost benefit leading to lower prices.
Following the advice of others about keeping the fronts and rears as similar as possible - make, type, tread depth - now you have new ones on the front I'd get new conti cross contacts on the back ASAP.
I've had several sets of conti cross contact run-flats without any trouble - they've lasted about 24-25k miles with the rears wearing out before the fronts, probably because with X drive the rears are driving more of the time, especially on straight roads and dual carriageways
Graeme
There is no problem with using a higher speed-rated tyre. Mine are W rated. It's probable that more w rated tyres are made so there is a cost benefit leading to lower prices.
Following the advice of others about keeping the fronts and rears as similar as possible - make, type, tread depth - now you have new ones on the front I'd get new conti cross contacts on the back ASAP.
I've had several sets of conti cross contact run-flats without any trouble - they've lasted about 24-25k miles with the rears wearing out before the fronts, probably because with X drive the rears are driving more of the time, especially on straight roads and dual carriageways
Graeme
Re: Avon ZX7 Tyres - Advice needed
It is worth checking the rating plate on the B-pillar as well as that lists the approved size, speed and load rating which you must not go below. As above, going higher is no problem at all. I think mine ar all 'Y' speed rated which I'll never get near!
Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.-
rickyclean
- Member
- Posts: 64
- Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2015 7:02 pm
Re: Avon ZX7 Tyres - Advice needed
[quote="Graeme"]
Hello,
There is no problem with using a higher speed-rated tyre. Mine are W rated. It's probable that more w rated tyres are made so there is a cost benefit leading to lower prices.
Following the advice of others about keeping the fronts and rears as similar as possible - make, type, tread depth - now you have new ones on the front I'd get new conti cross contacts on the back ASAP.
I've had several sets of conti cross contact run-flats without any trouble - they've lasted about 24-25k miles with the rears wearing out before the fronts, probably because with X drive the rears are driving more of the time, especially on straight roads and dual carriageways
Graeme
[/quote]
Thanks Graeme
Hello,
There is no problem with using a higher speed-rated tyre. Mine are W rated. It's probable that more w rated tyres are made so there is a cost benefit leading to lower prices.
Following the advice of others about keeping the fronts and rears as similar as possible - make, type, tread depth - now you have new ones on the front I'd get new conti cross contacts on the back ASAP.
I've had several sets of conti cross contact run-flats without any trouble - they've lasted about 24-25k miles with the rears wearing out before the fronts, probably because with X drive the rears are driving more of the time, especially on straight roads and dual carriageways
Graeme
[/quote]
Thanks Graeme
Last edited by rickyclean on Thu Jun 30, 2016 4:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
rickyclean
- Member
- Posts: 64
- Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2015 7:02 pm
Re: Avon ZX7 Tyres - Advice needed
[quote="X5Sport"]
It is worth checking the rating plate on the B-pillar as well as that lists the approved size, speed and load rating which you must not go below. As above, going higher is no problem at all. I think mine ar all 'Y' speed rated which I'll never get near!
[/quote]
Hi X5 Sport
Thanks for the advice. Everything will be the same according to the guide lines (it would be madness not to), it was really a case for having a higher speed rating and if that would a be a specific issue. Sounds like I am see to go to W rated tyres (can't see me getting close to the 168 MPH either :blink:)
Going to order these tonight
It is worth checking the rating plate on the B-pillar as well as that lists the approved size, speed and load rating which you must not go below. As above, going higher is no problem at all. I think mine ar all 'Y' speed rated which I'll never get near!
[/quote]
Hi X5 Sport
Thanks for the advice. Everything will be the same according to the guide lines (it would be madness not to), it was really a case for having a higher speed rating and if that would a be a specific issue. Sounds like I am see to go to W rated tyres (can't see me getting close to the 168 MPH either :blink:)
Going to order these tonight