Ordering All Season tires on 20''s

[zhusuper]

I've recently ordered my new F15 with 20 wheels. The dealer told me it comes with performance summer tires. I live in Pennsylvania and might experience some snow during the winter. Is there any possibility to order the car with All Season tires?

[JS919]

I'm in the same boat with the 20" wheels. I tried to get them with all seasons as well. My dealer said that they can't be ordered with them, but they would install all seasons for me when it arrives.

[kimi_fan]

Just my personal experience over the last 2 X5's with 20's...I asked each time if I could swap from performance to all-season when I ordered. The dealer said it wasn't an option that was available from the factory. Honestly, back in 2011 I couldn't find a tire manufacturer that had the staggered 20's (275/40 and 315/35) in all-season...now it looks like Continental and Michelin have an "all season" although the Conti's say for "light snow"which wouldn't have helped given the winter we had this past year.

I do have a set of winter Pirelli Scorpion's as a staggered winter set for the 20" wheels that worked on my E70's 20's and our new F15 20's (469M)...ran about $1800 from TireRack. After 3 seasons (about 15,000 miles) on the E70 they still have 50% life left and will go on the F15's 20's this coming winter. Yes, it is a pain to swap them each season, but they also made it so the performance Dunlop's on the old E70 made it through 3 years of driving (the other 15,000 miles). I heard rumors before getting the E70 that the OEM performance tires fell apart after 12-15k miles so I didn't mind making an investment in winters.

That being said, you're probably best off getting a set of 19" wheels and winters to swap each season...the 315 width in the rear tires isn't the greatest for winter driving, especially through snow.

[chrisny]

Originally Posted by kimi_fan

That being said, you're probably best off getting a set of 19" wheels and winters to swap each season...the 315 width in the rear tires isn't the greatest for winter driving, especially through snow.

^this. Not just the width but the lack of sidewall on the 20's too.

[Baunton]

Originally Posted by zhusuper

I've recently ordered my new F15 with 20 wheels. The dealer told me it comes with performance summer tires. I live in Pennsylvania and might experience some snow during the winter. Is there any possibility to order the car with All Season tires?

This sounds so familiar...check out this thread: http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=945705

[midwest 340xi 6sp]

Its not just snow you have to worry about with Summer tires - its the cold without snow too.

Those summer tires turn into hockey pucks when the temp dips down in the 20's, 30's...And you do get to those temps in Pennsylvania easily in the winter.

[Marc2000]

This whole tire issue is so frustrating. I live in MI and definitely need all season tires. I can't understand why BMW doesn't do an all season 20" wheel and tire. Mercedes Benz offers 20" all season tires on the ML, GL, and the GLK. A 20" wheel looks so much better than a 19". Maybe its a run flat issue and no tire manufacturer makes a 20: run flat all season tire. I could care less about run flats.

[PEY-PEY]

Anyone has Double Spoke 310M 21" on their x5 ?? If so can you plz post a pic

[zhusuper]

Originally Posted by JS919

I'm in the same boat with the 20" wheels. I tried to get them with all seasons as well. My dealer said that they can't be ordered with them, but they would install all seasons for me when it arrives.

what are you gonna do with the summer tires then?

[zhusuper]

Originally Posted by kimi_fan

Just my personal experience over the last 2 X5's with 20's...I asked each time if I could swap from performance to all-season when I ordered. The dealer said it wasn't an option that was available from the factory. Honestly, back in 2011 I couldn't find a tire manufacturer that had the staggered 20's (275/40 and 315/35) in all-season...now it looks like Continental and Michelin have an "all season" although the Conti's say for "light snow"which wouldn't have helped given the winter we had this past year.

I do have a set of winter Pirelli Scorpion's as a staggered winter set for the 20" wheels that worked on my E70's 20's and our new F15 20's (469M)...ran about $1800 from TireRack. After 3 seasons (about 15,000 miles) on the E70 they still have 50% life left and will go on the F15's 20's this coming winter. Yes, it is a pain to swap them each season, but they also made it so the performance Dunlop's on the old E70 made it through 3 years of driving (the other 15,000 miles). I heard rumors before getting the E70 that the OEM performance tires fell apart after 12-15k miles so I didn't mind making an investment in winters.

That being said, you're probably best off getting a set of 19" wheels and winters to swap each season...the 315 width in the rear tires isn't the greatest for winter driving, especially through snow.

does it looks weird to have 19''s with flared wheel arches? I know that bmw sell their own winter set that is the xline wheel.

[JS919]

Originally Posted by zhusuper

what are you gonna do with the summer tires then?

I'm not sure if I will even have them put the 20" AS tire on it. It will depend on what tires it comes with. If it comes with Michelin Pilots I'll most likely keep them. I really don't need all season tires tires where I live, it just would be my preference. The dealer said they'd put them on for me if wanted them. So it will also depend on what the terms are for getting them swapped out. If they are going to give me a better deal on the AS tires because they are going to keep my summer tires then I might do it. If I'm going to pay full price for the AS tires, I won't.

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by zhusuper

does it looks weird to have 19''s with flared wheel arches? I know that bmw sell their own winter set that is the xline wheel.

BMW does offer a 20" winter tire for the F15 X5

Pirelli Scorpion Ice&Snow Run on Flat
275/40/20 Front
315/35/20 Rear

All the other Winter tires are 18" and 19"

They also have 18" and 19" All weather tires listed for the F15 (not necessarily from the factory)

[w4termelon]

All seasons tires are just bad tires for summer and tires. It's definitely better to have summer tires for summer, and winter tires for.. Winter !

[Marc2000]

How do you order these 20" all season tires with the vehicle?
Also, how will the wider rear tires be in the snow?

[atomic80]

You actually would be better off with narrower tires in the snow. My summer tires are 285's in front and 325's in rear but my winter setup is only 235 all the way around.

[w4termelon]

Originally Posted by Marc2000

How do you order these 20" all season tires with the vehicle?
Also, how will the wider rear tires be in the snow?

You can't because there is no all seasons tires on the market for the X5 F15 20' rims !!

Originally Posted by atomic80

You actually would be better off with narrower tires in the snow. My summer tires are 285's in front and 325's in rear but my winter setup is only 235 all the way around.

+1. The narrower, the better is it in the snow.

[atomic80]

Originally Posted by w4termelon

You can't because there is no all seasons tires on the market for the X5 F15 20' rims !!

But ironically there are 21" winter tires! Go figure!

[w4termelon]

I guess pure winter tires can at least somehow "works" during winter, but AS would be even worse in >20' size, and might won't meet legal requirements in any condition (braking distance, motricity, etc.)

[zhusuper]

Originally Posted by w4termelon

I guess pure winter tires can at least somehow "works" during winter, but AS would be even worse in >20' size, and might won't meet legal requirements in any condition (braking distance, motricity, etc.)

So you are saying that if I don't get winter tires I'd rather use the summer tires?

[Marc2000]

BMW could solve this whole problem by just offering a 20" all season wheel and tire option just like Mercedes does on the ML, GL, and GLK models. Look at the compact GLK suv from Mercedes. It's a compact SUV and you can get 20" wheels on it. I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee that had 20" all season tires. Both the Grand Cherokee and the GLK are much less expensive than the x5 but they have a 20" wheel and tire option that is all season.

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by Marc2000

BMW could solve this whole problem by just offering a 20" all season wheel and tire option just like Mercedes does on the ML, GL, and GLK models. Look at the compact GLK suv from Mercedes. It's a compact SUV and you can get 20" wheels on it. I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee that had 20" all season tires. Both the Grand Cherokee and the GLK are much less expensive than the x5 but they have a 20" wheel and tire option that is all season.

Nothing except market demand stops the tire manufacturers from offering 20" Run flat all seasons.

They must believe there is not a big enough market if they are not offered.

Many people around the world dont like all season tires since they compromise too much.

[w4termelon]

Originally Posted by Marc2000

BMW could solve this whole problem by just offering a 20" all season wheel and tire option just like Mercedes does on the ML, GL, and GLK models. Look at the compact GLK suv from Mercedes. It's a compact SUV and you can get 20" wheels on it. I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee that had 20" all season tires. Both the Grand Cherokee and the GLK are much less expensive than the x5 but they have a 20" wheel and tire option that is all season.

BMW is not a tire manufacturer. If there is no AS tires available for 20' in 315/35/20, then it's the same problem for any car maker. Tires size is not only defined by the size of the rims, and I don't think any of the cars you mentionned are using same tire size as the F15 (expecially RF with the same width).
Also, I don't think you can compare X5 handling, especially in corners, with cars like Jeep Grand Cherokee. Concerning max speed or acceleration, we are not comparing the same class of vehicle here. BMW has totally different objectives with the X5 comparing to Mercedes and Jeep in terms of performance, and tires must meet theses requirements and still provide enough security (braking distance).