X5d -- smoothest suspension option?

[tgb1974]

My wife and I are about to order an X5d and we want to make sure that we option it so that we choose the suspension that be the smoothest and most forgiving over potholes, bumps and the like. This is the one thing we dislike about our 328xi -- hitting a pothole at even modest speeds results in a jarring crash. We want to avoid that to the maximum extent possible with our X5d. Choosing the sport activity package apparently (and somewhat paradoxically) deletes sport suspension. So, which is better from a pothole perspective, with or without the sport activity package? Thanks in advance!

[schaeffs]

Best option staying with RFT tyres will be 18" Rims and non- sport suspension. You will be sacrificing body control though. I'd recommend testing this option before buying

Even better ride will be gained by ditching the RFTs

[bassman1121]

Whatever you do, don't get the 20's if you go with the sport activity package. Unbelievably harsh. Can't wait til it's time to replace these tires with some non-RFTs. I'm gonna put 18's on for my winter set-up, so I'll be curious to find out the difference.

Also, Adaptive Drive is supposed to go a long way, but I've never driven one with it so I can't say from experience.

[1HOT BMR]

Originally Posted by tgb1974

My wife and I are about to order an X5d and we want to make sure that we option it so that we choose the suspension that be the smoothest and most forgiving over potholes, bumps and the like. This is the one thing we dislike about our 328xi -- hitting a pothole at even modest speeds results in a jarring crash. We want to avoid that to the maximum extent possible with our X5d. Choosing the sport activity package apparently (and somewhat paradoxically) deletes sport suspension. So, which is better from a pothole perspective, with or without the sport activity package? Thanks in advance!

The "jarring crash" you refer to is stritcly caused by the RFT tires. Replace the RFTs with normal tires and you may still have a stiff ride but the crashing over potholes will disappear. If you want the smoothest possible ride then replace the RFTs with normal tires AND order Adaptive Drive which IS available for the X5d.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by 1HOT BMR

The "jarring crash" you refer to is stritcly caused by the RFT tires. Replace the RFTs with normal tires and you may still have a stiff ride but the crashing over potholes will disappear. If you want the smoothest possible ride then replace the RFTs with normal tires AND order Adaptive Drive which IS available for the X5d.

No, it's not.

There is a HUGE difference in ride between the 19's and the 20's on the SA package. And they are both RFT's.

[335i_4D]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

There is a HUGE difference in ride between the 19's and the 20's on the SA package.

I didn't find it as obvious from 19" to 20", as it was from 18" to 19". This is without SA.

For all aspect, 18" was more comfortable, but a huge drawback in handling and performance.
19" were hard on the ride, but without any gain in handling.
20" are almost on-par on ride, but 10* better on handling.

I had the chance of experimenting all 3 in a matter of weeks, and I'm ready to sacrifice a little comfort for the gain in handling.

RFT are harsher on ride, caused by stiffer sidewalls obviously.

[sarends]

What is the "it" in your "No, it's not"? If you mean, "no" Adaptive Drive cannot be ordered with the 35D, then you are wrong - I know several forum members with X5 35D's with Adaptive Drive.

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

No, it's not.

[1HOT BMR]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

No, it's not.

There is a HUGE difference in ride between the 19's and the 20's on the SA package. And they are both RFT's.

The 20's just make it worse, but RFTs are the root of the "jarring" indeed!

BTW, 20's improve the looks (for most) and worsen the ride but they do not improve the handling - just my opinion, of course.

[335i_4D]

Originally Posted by 1HOT BMR

RFTs are the root of the "jarring" indeed! ... but they do not improve the handling

Those are indeed prone to "jump" on imperfections, and propose a harsher ride.

For the handling, depends if like me, your 19" were H rated tires, and now the 20" are V rated.
Unless my butt-o-meter's wrongly set, it did make a difference in handling.

It's now more connected to the ground, if I may say. And the looks !

[smyles]

Originally Posted by '10-X5-35d

For the handling, depends if like me, your 19" were H rated tires, and now the 20" are V rated.
Unless my butt-o-meter's wrongly set, it did make a difference in handling.

Tire speed rating has nothing to do with handling.

[Doubletree1304]

Originally Posted by '10-X5-35d

I didn't find it as obvious from 19" to 20", as it was from 18" to 19". This is without SA.

For all aspect, 18" was more comfortable, but a huge drawback in handling and performance.
19" were hard on the ride, but without any gain in handling.
20" are almost on-par on ride, but 10* better on handling.

I had the chance of experimenting all 3 in a matter of weeks, and I'm ready to sacrifice a little comfort for the gain in handling.

RFT are harsher on ride, caused by stiffer sidewalls obviously.

++ 1

[Doubletree1304]

Originally Posted by '10-X5-35d

Those are indeed prone to "jump" on imperfections, and propose a harsher ride.

For the handling, depends if like me, your 19" were H rated tires, and now the 20" are V rated.
Unless my butt-o-meter's wrongly set, it did make a difference in handling.

It's now more connected to the ground, if I may say. And the looks !

++1

[335i_4D]

Originally Posted by smyles

Tire speed rating has nothing to do with handling.

Not that my 20+ years in the car industry wants to challenge your affirmation, but it does affect handling.

Speed rating on the tire is related to tire structure, compound used, thread agessivity, etc...

It's like saying that a T rated summer tire handles exactly like a T rated winter one.
They're both T rated !

See this link/ (and several others on the WEB)

Just a short extract:

"One of the side effects of speed rating is that the construction necessary to meet a higher speed rating affects the overall performance of the tire. A tire that is built with more cap plies and stiffer side walls to handle high speeds will generally handle much better and offer better traction and stopping ability."

[tgb1974]

Thank you, everyone, for your various comments. They are all very helpful.

Based on what you and others have told me, I am ordering an X5d WITH adaptive drive but WITHOUT the sports activity package so that the car comes with 18s (I don't really like the stock 18 rims, but oh well). I am also planning on swapping out the RFTs with non-RFT Pirelli Scorpion Verdes (consequently I am ordering the space-saver spare, too). Thoughts?

Related question: for those of you who swapped out the RFTs for non-RFTs at the beginning, how did you go about that? My CA has been trying to talk me out of that because of the sensors, etc., but I hate RFTs enough that I do not care. So, did you have the replacement tires sent to the dealership to be installed before you took delivery, or did you drive off the lot and visit a tire shop on your own? I am mostly curious if the dealership will cooperate with this and keep the unused RFTs or what. Thanks in advance!

[smyles]

Originally Posted by '10-X5-35d

Not that my 20+ years in the car industry wants to challenge your affirmation, but it does affect handling.

Speed rating on the tire is related to tire structure, compound used, thread agessivity, etc...

It's like saying that a T rated summer tire handles exactly like a T rated winter one.
They're both T rated !

See this link/ (and several others on the WEB)

Just a short extract:

"One of the side effects of speed rating is that the construction necessary to meet a higher speed rating affects the overall performance of the tire. A tire that is built with more cap plies and stiffer side walls to handle high speeds will generally handle much better and offer better traction and stopping ability."

Again, speed rating has nothing to do with handling. Yes, different "structure, compound used, thread agessivity, etc..." may or may not affect handling, but it is a random consequence, not definite & positive function, i.e. higher speed rating may improve handling, may worsen it, or may not have any effect whatsoever. It's like to say "red cars are faster" just because statistically their drivers get speeding tickets more often.

Besides, there's no such thing as objective handling rating; a tire may allow a car to pull slightly higher G in cornering, but be less predictable and lose traction 'all of the sudden', while another tire, while yielding lower G, is much easier to control and communicates exactly when it's about to lose it, making it easier to execute 'moose test'. Which tire offer better 'handling" in this scenario?

[1HOT BMR]

Originally Posted by tgb1974

Thank you, everyone, for your various comments. They are all very helpful.

Based on what you and others have told me, I am ordering an X5d WITH adaptive drive but WITHOUT the sports activity package so that the car comes with 18s (I don't really like the stock 18 rims, but oh well). I am also planning on swapping out the RFTs with non-RFT Pirelli Scorpion Verdes (consequently I am ordering the space-saver spare, too). Thoughts?

Related question: for those of you who swapped out the RFTs for non-RFTs at the beginning, how did you go about that? My CA has been trying to talk me out of that because of the sensors, etc., but I hate RFTs enough that I do not care. So, did you have the replacement tires sent to the dealership to be installed before you took delivery, or did you drive off the lot and visit a tire shop on your own? I am mostly curious if the dealership will cooperate with this and keep the unused RFTs or what. Thanks in advance!

IMO excellent choice all around. I got mine with the Sport Activity Package, Adaptive Drive and the 19s and it has an incredibly smooth ride. My choice as yours was Pirelli Scorpion Verde normal tires (non-RFT) and they have lived up to my expectations and some.

I took a Tire Rack printout to my local, well known and friendly tire shop and they matched the price. I swapped the tires with about 100 miles on the car with no sensor issues or any other issues whatsoever, with the exception of course of a much improved and smoother ride. The Scorpion Verdes will give you a sharper turn-in at speed with no difference at low speeds. Save the RFTs for when you return/sell the car later on.

[335i_4D]

Originally Posted by smyles

but it is a random consequence,

There's other factor, but it has nothing to do with a random consequence, sorry.

Of course, different other points affect riding quality, handling, etc.
But speed rating and handling capability interact.
Handling is part of the equation (with many, many other factors) for the speed rating evaluation.
To think that a tire of H rating would handle as well as a tire of V or Y isn't realistic. Could be very close on high end tires, I'll admit, but in stress test, won't surpass.

Your analysis has many facts right, I have to concede this to you.
You have some training, or you're very good at picking information from the WEB, i'll give you that.

Sorry for the


tgb1974, nice choice BTW.
Some had them installed by the dealer, other drove off the lot.
Nothing to do with the TPMS, it'll still function, as it monitors tire pressure, not tire types.

I've decided to keep the RFT for functionnality, but can see that they don't have a big pack of followers...

[tgb1974]

@'10-X5-35d: Thanks. Just out of curiosity, why was your 2012 X1 sold but not missed? Did it suck that badly?

[335i_4D]

Originally Posted by tgb1974

@'10-X5-35d: Thanks. Just out of curiosity, why was your 2012 X1 sold but not missed? Did it suck that badly?

- Engine is nice, but needs smoothing on the edges before being acceptable (I4 2.0T).
- Made a lot of noise when starting the X1 (from my SA, it was in the catalytic converter - and he knew me, so he warned me from the start that I wouldn't like it).
- Did use a lot, and I mean A LOT of gasoline. Keep in mind that I had a 335i before, so to have a little fun, I needed to hammer the accelerator, because until full throttle, it felt like a 4 cyl., limit for an SAV of that weight.
- Thought that the size was enough, but couldn't fit 2 diving kit + 4 bottles (me and my wife dive often).

Bad move, but I've switched and couldn't be happier, thus I do miss my 335i.
Should by me ... Sorry, my wife, a go-kart next summer (used 1M or 135i).