Tyre Choice For Winter Tyres

[Bargain Bucket]

Hi folks.

Having bought a "summer" car (E46 330Ci Convertible) I plan to mostly use my E53 over winter. The existing tyres are Diamaris and the rears need replacing. So ideally I'd like to put some tyres on that are more suitable for winter (and do the same at the front when they wear out). Not ideal to mix tyre types but I'm not going to chuck perfectly good tyres away. So I'm after recommendations for winter tyres please, taking into account the issues people have had when not using star rated tyres. Are there any star rated winter tyres available (that can be used on damp spring/summer days)? All idea very much appreciated please.

[Raj]

What size tyres as I'm selling my winter setup (splitting the tyres and alloys).

They are 18's though but close to brand new with 8mm odd.

[Bargain Bucket]

Oh that's a shame Raj. I need 19's

[Raj]

[quote="Bargain Bucket"]
Oh that's a shame Raj. I need 19's
[/quote]

Oh well no worries.

[Raj]

There's quite a choice out there and many do recommend the Vredesteins. The ones I have are Continental and very impressed by them I was.

[CondorX5]

There is a sticky on winter tyres as there are always loads of questions about them - take a look.  You will find 19s are really expensive compared to 18 or 17s, also much harder to find.  BMW do not recommend 19 s for any winter tyre setup, only 18s or 17s.  As Raj said, Vredesteins are excellent. I use them on my X. Our Caravelle has Continental winters which are equally excellent.  You can use winter tyres in any conditions but being softer rubber they are said to wear quicker in temps over 7 degrees C.

[ChrisLux]

I use Contis on both the X5 and the B8 and they're tremendous tyres , never been caught out .

If you're going somewhere where it's really harsh weather , then I'd recommend Nokian Hakkapilletti
My friend in Oslo uses them on his X3 and X5 .

[Horizon]

I've put VReds, wintrac extreme on mine, same sizes as the standard staggered tyres on my original 19" wheels.
In fact I still have them on !
They drive very well in all weathers, and I've never even seen the traction control light flicker under normal driving in snow.
I got them off the Tyremen web site. The wife had a puncture in my X5 and drove on it flat for a few miles, so I'm a front summer tyre down at the moment, so haven't got around to getting a new  Michelin, or part worn to replace it with. So hence the winters are still on. I don't do many miles so wear hasn't been noticeable.

[dgm]

I ran our X5 on 20" Pirelli Scorpions this winter and even when the temperatures shot up early this spring they were really good, even on dry roads.  I run Vredestein Wintrac Xtremes on my Z4M and whilst they are a very good winter tyre, I've found them really poor when the temperatures climb.

I know they're totally different vehicles but the Scorpions over the Vreds would be my recommendation to meet your requirements.

On the issue of BMW not recommending above 18's for winters, my understanding is that this is related to the ability to fit snow chains which isn't a consideration for me.  I run 19" winters on the Z4 without issue.

[CondorX5]

Never had a problem with Vredestein Wintracs in the summer - excellent performance all round.  But then I don't tend to use my X as a racing car   Mine are still on - I am not using the X a lot at present, but wear has been pretty decent too. I expect if I used it a lot in this heatwave the tyres would show quicker wear than a standard tyre.  Tyremen are very good with supply of Vredesteins - they are a main agent - have always had good service from them.

BTW, I didn't say there IS an issue with running crazy big winter tyres - just that BMW do not recommend sizes other than 17" or 18" for the E53 X5s.  I guess you could run whatever size you want to, it rather defeats the object of winters though, namely to have as much sidewall as possible along with a narrower tyre, to improve performance in severe weather conditions.
Also, supplies of 19" or 20" winters are very restricted and very expensive - you could get a set of smaller rims off ebay and buy new 17"winter tyres and still have a fair amount of change over from what you would need to spend on 19" or 20" winters.

And some insurance companies have been known to get picky with using non-BMW recommended winter setups as that is viewed either as a mod (expensive) if declared, or if not declared, have refused to pay out on claims.  Its a grey area and one of the reasons that I prefer to stay with OEM recommended tyre and wheel sizes for winter setups.

[dgm]

I appreciate that I run the Vreds on a fairly powerful rear wheel drive car but I think the Pirelli's are a far better winter tyre for summer running.

There is a bit more expense in buying 19" and, even more so, 20" winter tyres but then there is a cost associated with buying a smaller set of wheels to fit winters on.

I think the perceived wisdom on winter tyre sizes has been somewhat superceded by the advances in design that have undoubtedly taken place in recent years.  My vehicles have been driven in the worst of recent winters with 19" and 20" tyres and have performed remarkably well.  As I say the BMW tyre and wheel size recommendations are also taking the fitting of snow chains into consideration.

[CondorX5]

Well vive la difference, dgm, as they say - I don't agree with you  -  my opinion is based on my own lengthy experience (over 30 years of 4x4 and large vehicle ownership and driving across terrain in conditions most people would not experience in a lifetime.)    We can only offer opinions and that's what forums are for.

The price difference between say, 17" winters and 19" is very substantial, not just a "bit more expense", although this is relative of course to how you view money and how much of it you have !!!  The cost associated with buying a set of OEM BMW 17" rims off ebay when I had a 3.0i was all of £50.  And its definitely a preferable option, to have two sets of wheels, not change tyres over every winter. Appreciate not everyone has storage space though.

By the way, I assume when you refer to Pirelli Scorpions you are talking about a winter derivative of them, as Pirelli Scorpions are not themselves winter tyres AFAIK- I used to run them on my Range Rover and they were definitely summer tyres although were superb in all weathers.

Snow chains notwithstanding, BMW have not issued alternative large wheel setup for winter for those not wanting to fit snow chains - the official line from BMW for E53 X5s are the 17" and 18"  nothing else.

Nothing to say you can't fit whatever you want though, its your car and you make your choice, but the insurance issues remain a grey area, regardless of whether one agrees or not - a claim made while a car has non-manufacturer approved wheel set ups, unless agreed as a mod by insurers at inception of the policy, may be refused. Companies try whatever they can, to refuse to pay out on any claim.

I still run Pirellis on my Audi S8 all year round (they are summer tyres) and they perform well in winter, but I would recommend Vredesteins over the overpriced Pirellis any time - my first set of Vredies wore really well and performance excellent. My partner uses Vredies and feels likewise - very comfortable ride and handling remains good all year round.  Neither of us feel the need to go at breakneck speeds though.

[Don Coffey]

[quote="ChrisLux"]

I use Contis on both the X5 and the B8 and they're tremendous tyres , never been caught out .

If you're going somewhere where it's really harsh weather , then I'd recommend Nokian Hakkapilletti
My friend in Oslo uses them on his X3 and X5 .
[/quote]

I have these tyres and yes in the snow and on ice they are excellent!  But they are a very hard tyre which is good for wear but not great on wet roads.  I very rarely push my car hard but found the grip limited with these tyres on.  That said, I have no intension of changing them and will just drive well with in their limits.

Don

[dgm]

[quote="CondorX5"]
By the way, I assume when you refer to Pirelli Scorpions you are talking about a winter derivative of them, as Pirelli Scorpions are not themselves winter tyres AFAIK- I used to run them on my Range Rover and they were definitely summer tyres although were superb in all weathers.
[/quote]

Naturally, the winter variety as that what the OP was asking about.  I have some years of driving experience myself funnily enough. 

[CondorX5]

Well Pirelli Scorpions themselves are not winter tyres, they are summer tyres which perform well under colder conditions and could equally be used in winter, despite being not as good as Vredesteins in my opinion, as they are obviously not dedicated winter tyres. . So if you meant the winter version, it would have been helpful to have distinguished clearly between the two, as the better known of the Pirelli Scorpion tyres in the UK is the normal summer tyre.

This has always been a friendly, helpful forum, its not about one-upmanship or agreeing sycophantically with others - tyres are very much a personal choice, whatever manufacturers recommendations may be.  The recommended size of wheels from BMW is definitely not all about snow chains, however, that is simply factually incorrect - smaller rims allow for wider sidewalls which are very desirable in severe winter conditions, hence the smaller rims, not just the ability to use snow chains on them, which is an additional factor.