20" Tire Choice Revisited

[bmwarg]

I was looking through old threads regarding non-RFT tires for the X5 20" wheels. Non-RFT tires seem to still be better for going over bumps/potholes. However, when comparing all season non-RFT with summer RFT the cornering is softer. I'm curious whether anyone can compare the summer non-RFT vs. the summer RFT. On another note, does the increase flex in the sidewalls lend the itself to more bent rims?

These are the tire options for 20" wheels on M-sport:

Non-RFT:
Continental ExtremeContact DW (summer)
Continental ExtremeContact DWS (all season)
Vredestein Ultrac Vorti (summer)
Nitto Motivo (all season)
Toyo Proxes ST II (all season)
Falken Azenis FK453CC (summer)

RFT:
Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport RFT (summer)
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SSR SUV (summer)
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT DSST (summer)
Pirelli P Zero

I might take the car skiing, so would the Continental ExtremeContact DWS be the only option?

[mitch808]

Buy tires based on road conditions and driving habits and not some minutia of a skidpad spec that was +/- 0.01 different.

What will happen is that you pick a tire, and in 1-2 days it'll be the new "norm." You wont be able to compare what is "better," or "worse.". Which is all subjective anyways.

Ergo... Go with the dws's. ;-)

[troymi]

You are missing Nitto, Toyo, Pirelli, and mabye a few others. Yokohama sells them in Europe; not sure they are coming here.

[Flying Ace]

There's also Toyo Prices ST II. Much cheaper and similar performance

[bmwarg]

Looks like tirerack doesn't have several in stock for 20" wheels. What other reputable websites do you recommend for tires?

[troymi]

discounttiredirect.com (ebay seller also, free shipping)
treaddepot.com

Just a couple.

[bmwarg]

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

There's also Toyo Prices ST II. Much cheaper and similar performance

Do you know if the X5 with 3rd row has room for a spare tire?

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by bmwarg

Do you know if the X5 with 3rd row has room for a spare tire?

Looking at my X5 with 3rd row, it doesn't look remotely possible. So I would say no.

The 3rd row is a compromise all around. It's not designed to allow you to have your cake and eat it too. If you want the 3rd row, passengers 6-7 are going to be cramped, you'll have trunk the size of a Prius trunk, it adds probably 100 lbs to the car, and you won't get a spare.

[SnowsM3]

I just picked up a set of Falken Azenis FK453CC for my X5M at Discount Tire. 275/40/20 front and 315/35/20 rear. They price matched an internet price and I got all 4 for $793 installed. I've had Michelin PS2 and Continental Sportcontact 3's, etc on my E46 and E92 M3. While an E92 M3 and an X5M are not an apple to apple comparison I can tell you that these are a very good tire. Worth a look in my opinion. I've put about 1000 miles on them and I would definitely buy again. Check em out.

P.S. Make sure you're looking at the "CC" version as they are specifically designed for high performance SUV.

[bmwarg]

Originally Posted by SnowsM3

I just picked up a set of Falken Azenis FK453CC for my X5M at Discount Tire. 275/40/20 front and 315/35/20 rear. They price matched an internet price and I got all 4 for $793 installed. I've had Michelin PS2 and Continental Sportcontact 3's, etc on my E46 and E92 M3. While an E92 M3 and an X5M are not an apple to apple comparison I can tell you that these are a very good tire. Worth a look in my opinion. I've put about 1000 miles on them and I would definitely buy again. Check em out.

P.S. Make sure you're looking at the "CC" version as they are specifically designed for high performance SUV.

Thanks for the recommendation. I will definitely take a look.

I just purchased my X5 50i yesterday and it came with brand new Bridgestone Dueler RFTs. Ride is still great but I know that on some bumpier rodes the ride could be smoother with non-RFTs.

[bmwarg]

Does anyone know if there are any all season non-RFT tires on 20" rims that work well enough in the snow? I live in California, so it doesn't make sense to have dedicated winter tires to swap out. But I'd like to occasionally drive up (a few days a year) to Lake Tahoe where I'm bound to find some snow.

[troymi]

Originally Posted by bmwarg

Does anyone know if there are any all season non-RFT tires on 20" rims that work well enough in the snow? I live in California, so it doesn't make sense to have dedicated winter tires to swap out. But I'd like to occasionally drive up (a few days a year) to Lake Tahoe where I'm bound to find some snow.

I've personally used Nitto Motivo in snow/ice and they weren't bad at all in the short time I used them. People also suggest Conti DWS are the best all season option.

Either way, make sure your all seasons are not too worn if you go into the mountain areas.

[135ivert]

Originally Posted by bmwarg

Does anyone know if there are any all season non-RFT tires on 20" rims that work well enough in the snow? I live in California, so it doesn't make sense to have dedicated winter tires to swap out. But I'd like to occasionally drive up (a few days a year) to Lake Tahoe where I'm bound to find some snow.

I looked at some used Conti DWS from someone here in Denver. They said that they were great tires. Great around town, and really good in the mountains too.

[buckeyewalt]

Originally Posted by bmwarg

I was looking through old threads regarding non-RFT tires for the X5 20" wheels. Non-RFT tires seem to still be better for going over bumps/potholes. However, when comparing all season non-RFT with summer RFT the cornering is softer. I'm curious whether anyone can compare the summer non-RFT vs. the summer RFT. On another note, does the increase flex in the sidewalls lend the itself to more bent rims?

These are the tire options for 20" wheels on M-sport:

Non-RFT:
Continental ExtremeContact DW (summer)
Continental ExtremeContact DWS (all season)

RFT:
Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport RFT (summer)
Continental ContiSportContact 5 SSR SUV (summer)
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT DSST (summer)

I might take the car skiing, so would the Continental ExtremeContact DWS be the only option?

Also, Pirelli makes a RFT in their P-Zero line

[Flying Ace]

has anyone used Toyo Proxes 4 Plus? It is a very popular all season tire for passenger cars, and I didn't know they had SUV sizes until I did a search on Tread Depot.

[paddy335]

Originally Posted by 135ivert

I looked at some used Conti DWS from someone here in Denver. They said that they were great tires. Great around town, and really good in the mountains too.

Problem is if you use them for normal driving (i.e. non-snow) too much all those little tread blocks get overheated, chewed up and worn out by our big heavy SUV's very fast.

I imagine somewhere like Denver they'd be good, for the earlier poster who said for 'occasional ski trips', maybe not so good.

[bmwarg]

I read a few things about tires in old threads that maybe people can comment on:

- Continental DWS are the most popular, but some people had problems with alignment and balancing resulting in the car pulling to the right. A couple of people had the tire come of the wheel supposedly because the sidewall is too soft. Some have said ride is floaty (but this may have been for <20" wheels). Very quiet on asphalt not as quiet on concrete. W speed rated.
- Nitto Motivo are the second most popular. The sidewall is less soft. Cornering might be more responsive than DWS but less good in rain and in snow. Also, some claims of flat spotting when car is sitting too long but goes away after some driving. Y speed rated.
- Vredestein Ultra Vorti. Y speed rated.
- Toyo Proxes ST II tires are loud <50 mph.
- Falken Azenis FK453CC. Read that they wear out quickly. Y speed rated

[goodmaj]

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

has anyone used Toyo Proxes 4 Plus? It is a very popular all season tire for passenger cars, and I didn't know they had SUV sizes until I did a search on Tread Depot.

I did on my M5. Bought them from Tread Depot as a matter of fact. Absolutely despised them. One didn't balance and had to send it back. Ride was terrible. Tread Depot was very cool and took them back within the 500 mile(?) money back guarantee. I ended up with PS A/S Pluses on the M5 and never looked back.

Can't say enough good things about Tread Depot, but I can't say enough bad things about the Toyos.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by goodmaj

I did on my M5. Bought them from Tread Depot as a matter of fact. Absolutely despised them. One didn't balance and had to send it back. Ride was terrible. Tread Depot was very cool and took them back within the 500 mile(?) money back guarantee. I ended up with PS A/S Pluses on the M5 and never looked back.

Can't say enough good things about Tread Depot, but I can't say enough bad things about the Toyos.

thanks for the feedback! Have you tried the popular Proxes ST II's for the X5 or any other SUVs?

I also plan on buying from Tread Depot next time for the X5 tires...prices seem more reasonable and they give you breaks on shipping costs

[goodmaj]

I haven't tried the Proxes ST IIs. But, I will say my M5 had Proxes on it before I tried the 4 Plus, I seem to recall they were T1R A/S or something like that. They weren't available when I needed new tires so I tried the 4 Pluses. I say this because the tread pattern on the ST II is very similar to what I used to have.

After the 4 Plus experience, I've been very hesitant to take a flier on tires and instead stick with what I know, which in this case are the Michelin A/S Pluses or the DWS. Of course, you can't get the A/S Pluses in our size.

[bmwarg]

Would you guys say that the Nitto Motiva has better handling (similar to RFT) compared to the Continental DWS but less good for snow? I like everything said about the DWS minus the soft sidewalls affecting cornering.

[PAX5]

Originally Posted by bmwarg

Does anyone know if there are any all season non-RFT tires on 20" rims that work well enough in the snow? I live in California, so it doesn't make sense to have dedicated winter tires to swap out. But I'd like to occasionally drive up (a few days a year) to Lake Tahoe where I'm bound to find some snow.

bmwarg,

Here's what you should do:

- keep what you have (RFT on the staggered 20 inch wheels). Why? Because you cannot have a spare with the 3rd row. Your RFT are new and should serve you well for the first 10K miles or so, as long as you maintain a proper alignment. IMPORTANT! If the shop did an alignment just before you bought it, post the alignment results and I'll tell you if the tires will last 10K miles. If not, go back, or have it redone at another shop ... about $100! You also don't want to get involved in mounting and re-mounting of RFT tires. Very bad for the sidewall and tire bead and they can/will damage the TPMS. Plus it will cost you up to $200 each time you mount and balance tires!

- then buy a second set of 18 or 19 inch wheels (OE or aftermarket) for winter use, with a good set of snows or all season (Conti DWS, Pirelli, Michelin or Bridgestone Blizzak). Why? Much better selection of tires and OE wheels in 18" or 19" are readily available and affordable. You should be able to get a complete set for around $1,000 to $1,500. Takes just as much time to switch wheel sets, no mounting and balancing and you preserve your 20" set. Remember to get a set of TPMS for your winter wheels!

And don't let anyone tell you that the 18" or 19" wheels will look funny with your wheel flares. Safety is more important and it's only temporary ... If you must, you can always buy a set of $100 spacers (plus bolts!) for the rear if the look bothers you ... http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E70-X5_...ers/ES2550798/

See, problem solved!