XSeries-forum

I just want everyone to know, I don't like the how my x5 looks all big and tuff, yet it cant handle different tread patterns without getting all moody. My Renault 5 turbo got me home on 2cylinders and a blown clutch once, I can't expect that loyalty from the x5

That was the good old days before computers


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[quote="Spartanx5"]
I just want everyone to know, I don't like the how my x5 looks all big and tuff, yet it cant handle different tread patterns without getting all moody. My Renault 5 turbo got me home on 2cylinders and a blown clutch once, I can't expect that loyalty from the x5


?????

Trouble is, as I recall, you had 20 or 22" wheels with different tyres on different axles causing wind up and making the transmission go into limp mode?  These cars are fairly complex and although people like to make mods , sometimes they end up causing loads of trouble. If you use recommended tyre sizes and wheels with one make of tyre, it will likely not happen.  Using different treads or makes of tyre on a car is not the best thing to do anyway. 

[quote="CondorX5"]
Trouble is, as I recall, you had 20 or 22" wheels with different tyres on different axles causing wind up and making the transmission go into limp mode?  These cars are fairly complex and although people like to make mods , sometimes they end up causing loads of trouble. If you use recommended tyre sizes and wheels with one make of tyre, it will likely not happen.  Using different treads or makes of tyre on a car is not the best thing to do anyway.
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As condor states (in a round about polite sort of way) stick to OEM spec to avoid issues. 21's were the largest recommend, they are super sensitive to tread depth and tyre makes being different per same axle. Stupid but lots posted here, can't all be wrong...

Condor does have a point, but what I am trying to get across is that really on a 4x4 it shouldn't matter what tryes your running, did they design the x5 knowing it shouldn't be taken off road or ever have a set of muddy foxes put on it?  the engineering is off if the set up is so sensitive, In the market that is cars to design a product that will only run at peak with your own product on is in my eyes as an electrical engineer stupid. If i designed a BMS panel with no adaptive inputs or auxs I can't imagine anyone would want to buy one. That rant over!  it can be said  my wheels are ridiculous but they unfortunately came with the car. I am opting for the oem 177 style 20inch now which should be with me in a few days. Just got to find the right tyres after that.

I think BMW designed it as a luxury 'soft-roader'.  If it had been meant to be used as a proper off roader it would have been equipped with diff-locks, a low range ratio capability, manual gearbox for all and much softer suspension.  It's a drivers car not a mud plugger.

The transmission and running gear is not really fit for more than gravel drives and grass at a country show.  It's not that kind of vehicle and so is designed to work with what the manufacturer makes for it and nothing else.

It will work with bigger wheels as long as you stay within the tolerances set by BMW.

Richard

Actually, it manages very well off road if you use appropriate wheels and tyres - like people have said, it was never designed to use silly elastic band excuses for tyres, these would be profoundly useless off road anyway.  I have been through heavy snow and ice in mine, and passed a few stuck Range Rovers and Land Rovers as well, in dreadful driving conditions that their drivers didn't manage.  I agree that its a "soft roader" really, but provided you have it correctly shod within BMWs spec, it is surprisingly good off road.    Huge wheels really make the driving experience in this car dreadful, I have never understood the rationale behind them.  Its not just BMW whose cars are sensitive to wheels outside of the tolerances they were built for, I had a P38 Range Rover years ago which was very picky about wheels and tyres, a well known quirk of that model.

I am not sure what you class as off road condor but certainly I don't think anyone is buying one of these with the idea idea of trailing it. My whole point to start with is that in these cars could and should be more than capable of handling 22 inch wheels with different tread patterns, I agree they should be kept within the designers spec but where exactly do you find out the tolerances, I for one would be very interested to know, as getting new wheels and tyres has to be my next job, all the makes I like are staggered set ups so how do tread patterns fair then? If you can help with this then please do, if not then keep your comments about other people wheels to yourself please chap.

It will be the rolling circumference that will be the most likely issue.  There will be a limit based on the available OEM equipment of say 17-21" with BMW 'approved' other star marked tyres.  If the circumference differences of your 22" system exceeds the limits then the computers will throw a tizzy fit.  I suspect it would do the same with a very worn 19" pair on one axle and brand new on the other.

People do run 22" with no issues but with complete matching sets of tyres in terms of wear.  It may just be that whatever the combination you have and the differences between them front to rear is out of the range that a new 'set' would run with.

Modern cars have so many computers now that monitor wheel rotation speed for the ABS/DSC/ESP/DSO/OBE (and whatever other medals these initials represent), that any anomaly could get misinterpreted by the software as a more serious issue.  The software being the weakest link as it depends upon how good the 16-year old who wrote it is at understanding all the implications that an odd signal might mean.  Make the wrong assumption and you get the wrong warning light.....

Well it's a plausible theory.. :blink:

Richard

Thanks chap, this problem so doing my head in, I have lost all faith in what wheels i can put on there now, this is my most recent quote
2x 8.5X20 5/120 ET40 DARE NK 1 (MATT BLACK)

2x 10X20 5/120 ET40 DARE NK 1 (MATT BLACK)

2x 275/40/20 WR Kumho KL17 (106W)

2x 315/35/20 WR Kumho KL17 (106W)

I can change the tyre to p zero which is the tyre I use on my 911. Do you see anything in that set up which should cause problems, the wheel supplier is wheel base so they say they have checked to rolling radius etc,  :'(

Sorry chap just noticed your reply in my other topic section, I will check out that website cheers

[quote="Spartanx5"]
I am not sure what you class as off road condor but certainly I don't think anyone is buying one of these with the idea idea of trailing it. My whole point to start with is that in these cars could and should be more than capable of handling 22 inch wheels with different tread patterns, I agree they should be kept within the designers spec but where exactly do you find out the tolerances, I for one would be very interested to know, as getting new wheels and tyres has to be my next job, all the makes I like are staggered set ups so how do tread patterns fair then? If you can help with this then please do, if not then keep your comments about other people wheels to yourself please chap.
[/quote]

Not a chap, chap, very much female.  Just owned and run an X5 a lot longer than you have and have put a lot of energy and effort into researching wheels and tyres, as some of the members here can verify.  I don't believe I ever suggested "trailing" it, but your sweeping generalisation about the vehicle was a bit much.  Oh, and I will comment where I believe appropriate - its not up to you to tell me where and how to do so.  If you don't like the comments, then either don't post on a public thread or don't read them, chap.

Well what do u know, I would of never guessed, I have no problem with comments, but as it was clear for everyone to read there was a certain air of arrogance to your post, being polite never hurt anyone, you were the only person to take offence to my "sweeping statement". Thanks for continuing to be no help what so ever.

For what it's worth the X5 isn't the only "sensitive" 4x4, Subaru are sensitive to uneven tyre wear. My wife loves her Outback but I have learned that any odd wear in the tyres causes all sorts of issues with the 4 wheel drive. Normally bushes wearing is the cause odd wear the symptom, so they need checking a couple of times a year.

Back to your problem, I would get the suspension and alignment checked and go for the 20's, 275x40 front 315x30 rear. My current X5 came with 20's running Scorpions, the front tyres are showing signs of wear ( inner edges ) so it's in on Wednesday for a suspension check and re-alignment. Also the front and rear tyres on mine have clearly been changed at different times but the different tread depth hasn't caused any issues (yet) following our Subaru experience I would guess poor alignment is the reason for changing front and rear at different times.

I brought the X5 to tow a horse box plus I work our dogs and shoot so it does go "off road" in my case that amounts to rutted muddy farm and forest tracks, snotty farm gateways and wet grassy fields, it copes really well certainly as well as any of our friends with RR, Disco's, Cayanne, and Touregs do.

I hope this helps