Winter/All Season Tyre Help Please

[RobX3]

I recently purchased a 66 plate X3 20d M Sport, it comes with Mechelin Primacy 3 tyres which arent the best in snow. They are actually better than i expected them to be and have got me through most of the snow we had recently. Problem is i live in the middle of nowhere and i have a long steep lane to ascend, it gets most of the way up but gets stuck on the steep bits which can be scary with a steep drop on one side.

So, i have been looking for all season or winter tyres but after searching the internet i cant seem to find any. I know the frond and rear tyres are different sizes, so i would assume any all season or winter tyres would also need to be the same size? are there any BMW approved ones?

Is it a good idea to buy used tyres complete with tyres? has anyone done or have any for sale?

thank you :-[

[24235052]

Have you considered approaching your BMW dealership for a complete set of winter tyres and alloys. They will also change them over when required plus storage when not in use.  I have always found this the easiest, if not the cheapest solution but would never use my summer  tyres in winter as stopping on a gradient and then starting again on icy/snow covered roads, is asking for trouble.  My X6 during the recent deluge of snow/ice had no issues when driving up or down various gradients  although I observed  other unprepared vehicles struggling !  Hope this helps?

[graemeX5]

Hi
As 2423 said best to use different wheels and tyres usually narrower ones in winter such as 17” or 18” .

Have you tried Pirelli Scorpions have been used by some members on here or just do a search on the website as the topic comes up at this time of the year.

Years ago they had Mud and Snow tyres not to sure if you can still get them though
Graeme

[X5Sport]

I use ‘*’ marked Scorpion Ice & Snow RFTs on my X6 and they are very good.  My winter set are 19” and summer 20”.

[simonfr]

I usually buy a secondhand of alloys smaller than my summer setup, often from gumtree, but also eBay and more recently BMAutosport. I then buy tyres from mytyres, camskill or wherever happens to have. Good deal and pair up with the alloys. Benefits
- cheaper than BMW
- keeps my big alloys in nice condition
- reduces wear on bigger and more expensive summer tyres
- I can sell the alloys on when I swap cars
- it changes the look of the car over the winter
I bought a trolley jack and just swap them myself each December and April (roughly).

Tyre preference : Dunlop Wintersport 3D/4D
Also good experience with Continentals TS850, but currently running Pirelli Sotozeros. They seem ok, but it's early yet (got a good deal through BMAutosport).

Good luck
Simon

[DiscusbT]

Have you tried changing to Traction mode, instead of Normal? In Normal, wheelspin reduces power to the wheels, and eventually you will grind to a halt. Many years ago I got caught out in a snowstorm in an e39. Had 3 or 4 attempts to get up a hill in 3" of fresh snow, then remembered to switch off the ASC, and it kept going up the hill and we got home. Although not had to do this with the x3, I have been stuck on a muddy grass bank, and drove straight off by using Traction mode.

[RobX3]

Thanks for all the comments all usefull information. Regarding the use of so called "traction mode" i have tried using this feature a few times and it only seems to make situations worse for me? tried turning it completely off and it scared the hell out of me. Downhill desent control does seem to work quite well and the ability to change the descent speed is great.

I have today spoken to BMW and the guy was really good, he quoted £2200.00 for a set of wheels and tyres!!!!!! no chance. But he did give me some advice on what to buy used. He said all the tyres and wheels can be the same size and he recommended 18 inch wheels with Pirelli SottoZero tyres with a size of 245/50/R18 speed rating H. Can anyone confirm this is the right size? or better still give me a link to someone selling this set or similar?

Many Thanks

[X5Sport]

Have a look on Realoem (copy of BMW Parts database current to 09/17) and see what options exist.  Use the last 7 characters of your VIN to pull up the right model.

18” sounds right, and winter setups are typically ‘square’ (all the same size) rather than ‘staggered’.

Just be careful to look for ‘*’ marked tyres in order to avoid transmission risks or warranty issues with BMW.  The approved tyre sizes/load index ratings are on the tyre pressure plate, usually on the driver’s side B-pillar. Don’t use anything else.

Also if you stick with BMW wheels (new or used) it doesn’t count as a mod for insurance purposes.

[RobX3]

This guy is selling what i guess is the exact same set BMW wanted £2200.00 for? only a lot cheaper, these look ok right?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-BMW-X3-whe ... Sw~RVaFBjP

[RobX3]

@simonfr what wheel and tyre size did you use when you had the dunlops?

[simonfr]

@RobX3 - 18", and that was on my F11! They were superb.
Had my first real test of the Sotozeros this morning and I don't rate them. Pavement outside my drive is on a very slight (and I mean slight) incline. I turned up the incline passing over the pavement and I had zero grip. Tried a few times, but didn't make it until I decided to just keep going straight until I got to the road. Sheet black ice, and even at exceptionally low speed I had no grip. I don't believe I've faced conditions like this in my 20+ years driving.
Having just written the above, wife has Dunlop Wintersport 4D and she had a marginally better experience (F30) this morning. She's on 17" rims.

[simonfr]

Here's a short clip from this morning. Horrendous.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/d2tgbaefw53mz ... 4.mp4?dl=0

[Pinewood]

[quote="RobX3"]
Thanks for all the comments all usefull information. Regarding the use of so called "traction mode" i have tried using this feature a few times and it only seems to make situations worse for me? tried turning it completely off and it scared the hell out of me. Downhill desent control does seem to work quite well and the ability to change the descent speed is great.

I have today spoken to BMW and the guy was really good, he quoted £2200.00 for a set of wheels and tyres!!!!!! no chance. But he did give me some advice on what to buy used. He said all the tyres and wheels can be the same size and he recommended 18 inch wheels with Pirelli SottoZero tyres with a size of 245/50/R18 speed rating H. Can anyone confirm this is the right size? or better still give me a link to someone selling this set or similar?

Many Thanks
[/quote]


I have an lci 3.0d X3 19" staggered setup for summer.
Bought 2nd hand set of standard 17" wheels with Pirelli Soto Zero winters for £300. Lots of tread and they are on the car now (2nd winter).
Problem was they came off a 2013 X3 that doesn’t use the TPMS sensors.
Took the wheels to main dealer and asked them to supply and fit the sensors. That cost £400 , so toral cost was £700.
Ask them to supply the sensors using your vehicles code, as the first set weren’t picked up by the car when initialised.

[RobX3]

What's the situation with sensors? Didn't even know about them...... Do I need them and what happens without them? Are there any wires to disconnect?

[X5Sport]

There are two main types of TPMS, one uses the ABS to count wheel rotation and the other has radio transmitter pressure valve units in each wheel.  I believe the latter have a solid valve stem rather than the more common rubber one.  Some may have a clamping ring to lock them into the rim visible on the outside.

If you need the latter then each wheel will need to have a transmitter unit installed in place of the standard rubber valve insert and then coded to the car - hence BMW needing the right info to get the correct transmitters.  There is no wiring as the units are self-contained in the wheels with receivers on the body.

If you opt not to use them then you will get tyre pressure system errors which will have to be coded out (turned off by either BMW or someone with the right software).  Note that cars registered after 1st January 2012 need TPMS and since 1st January 2015 it must work.

I suspect that given a faulty TPMS system warning light will fail your MOT (and breach type approval for the car if registered after the qualifying date), a main dealer may well not play as it leaves them in a tricky legal position.