Winter Star Marked Runflats.......

[CondorX5]

Just a heads up for anyone wanting some for winter, they are really not that easy to find......lots of non-* marked and lots of non runflats,  but apparently little stock available of the * marked runflats in 255/55R18 (recommended BMW size for winters)

I ended up with Goodyears as there were no others to be found and they were not cheap - even with discounts they were £660 delivered and fitted.

Was hoping to get another season from the 21” summers, but found a nail in one of the fronts and a nail in one of the rears.......even though the wear was nice and even following a Hunter alignment, with about 4mm front and 4-5mm rear remaining,  I decided against repairs as the idea of a repaired tyre at motorway speeds was not appealing.    So an expensive summer looms - at least the alloys can be refurbed before then. 

[X5Sport]

It’s one of the reasons that I ended up with a staggered 19” set with Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow - but even those were hard to find!

[Slipperyshoe]

Do you really need star marked? I have owned a 335xdrive from New and took the runflats off in the first week to change for Michelin pilot super sport with no stars (on M performance 20” wheels). I also added Non runflat winter tyres to the stock 19’s (no star). Both sets are staggered. I’ve never had any probs with them at all. Even had the winter wheels replaced under warranty, had a new suspension bush under warranty and had a drivetrain error investigated for over a week and 28 he’s of Labour (unrelated software issue in the end!). BMW never mentioned the tyres.

[X5Sport]

Depends upon whether the 335x has the same issues, or potential issues, as the larger X series.  Their transmissions may be less sensitive due to lower weight.  It shouldn’t be necessary on any car.  My 4x4 Škoda doesn’t have special tyres but larger Audi’s do (different AWD systems).

And the answer is that you should use the correct tyres on X cars.  An increasing number of owners are having diffs and transfer boxes replaced because the wrong tyres were used.  Audi and Merc do the same and have their matched sets.  It isn’t yet known which tyres are more likely to cause a problem and it really only affects those with staggered wheel setups.

BMW will (and have) walk away from any warranty if the wrong ones are used if they suspect tyres as being the cause.

[gmc15]

Do you know if you could use Audi or Merc tyres on an X5?

[sid10]

Speed rating , load rating and star marked are what BMW recommend , if it is still under warranty then if it does have a problem with the car they won't cover it . I have a set for sale star marked in the for sale section .

Lots of problems with X3 s and X5 s not many 3/4 series xdrivers reported , but a bill of over 4K is not great when the warranty won't cover it , then your cheaper tyres aren't so cheap .

[CondorX5]

My E70 has had the transfer box replaced once already not long after I bought it - nothing to do with my tyre choices, obviously under previous ownership.  It was a warranty job as an AUC but was very longwinded - I can categorically confirm that they focus ENTIRELY on the tyres and rims fitted to the car as the first part of their algorhythm......in my case, they insisted on swopping the wheels out with another set from an E70 they had in stock before getting to the transfer box fsilure eventually. 

The service manager told me that if the tyres were not star marked or the rims not OE BMW, there would have been an issue and warranty would have rejected the claim, even if the box was subsequently proven to be faulty  Although how an AUC could be sold by a BMW dealership without correct tyres or rims is another matter - I guess they would claim that the buyer had changed them for non OEM or non-star marked tyres.

The tyre dealer I have used for years told me about an X3 with the same horrible slow speed judder when new non star marked tyres were fitted - apparently this completely vanished when the tyres were swopped for star marked tyres.

While star marked tyres for E53s are definitely not necessary ,the E70 is a completely different beast.

I would personally never use a non-star marked tyre on the E70 as I really don’t have the money to splash out on multiple transfer box replacements - my car is under extended BMW warranty and I would prefer to have them pay for repairs and not void my warranty by saving a few quid using non-BMW approved tyres.
When I swopped over to winters this weekend I binned my 21” tyres, all 4,  as two had nails in them- even if they are “fixable”, I prefer to know that the rubber between me and the road is the best I can possibly provide at the time. 

[CondorX5]

[quote="gmc15"]
Do you know if you could use Audi or Merc tyres on an X5?
[/quote]

You probably can, if they are the correct size, but if they are not star marked indicating BMW approval,  would you want to risk the transfer box?

[X5Sport]

[quote="Slipperyshoe"]
Do you really need star marked? I have owned a 335xdrive from New and took the runflats off in the first week to change for Michelin pilot super sport with no stars (on M performance 20” wheels).
[/quote]

The non-X cars seem to use a Haldex 5 System which is far less prone to trouble.  I have the same system on my Škoda and it doesn’t care about tyres.  The 2-series Active Tourer models, X1 and upcoming X2 use it too.  Could be the lighter vehicle weight also helps?

[kkx5]

335xd transfer box is same design as on any X cars. Very sensitive for wrong tyres. Did many of them including latest f30's .

[Baker]

Hi Guys
Just had a price for tyres for the 40d Bridgestone star rated £774
255 x 50 x 19
285 x 45x 19

Any other recommendations on where to buy and are they the best to get? Have to go up some rough lanes to get to the horses about twice a day

Regards
Craig

[Baker]

Ordered Bridgestone tyres today £774 *rated runflats

I have never ever spent that kind of money on tyres  :'(

[X5Sport]

[quote="kkx5"]
335xd transfer box is same design as on any X cars. Very sensitive for wrong tyres. Did many of them including latest f30's .
[/quote]

X1 and X2 don’t use the ATC type boxes as they use a different engine/gearbox layout (transverse).  Of course you could say they aren’t real X cars of course