Buying F10 M5 winter tyres - Speed & Load index questions

[AW10]

A 99 load rating means 775kg per corner, 100 is 800kg and 101 is 825kg so not a lot in it really. Even tyres with a 99 load rating mean 1550kg per axle which is well above what the car is rated to.

[mondie]

jon- said:

I'm a little confused, from the above, it looks like the winter load rating is higher than summer?

This probably has got confusing so I will summarise:

Factory summer specification is:
265/40 ZR19 102Y
295/35 ZR19 104Y

Closest winter tyres I can find are Michelin Alpins:
265/40 R19 102 W
285/35 R19 103 V

The tyre placard states for winter tyres:
255/40 R19 100 V

So the recommended winter tyre has a much lower speed/load rating than that for summer. I dont understand why as both indexs are independent of tyre width to my knowledge

I called the insurance company today (Tescos) and explained the tyres I was looking to buy and how the load/speed indexes were one grade less than for summer tyres but were higher than that specified for winter and was told after the person checked with the 'technical department', that is was perfectly acceptable. A note was placed on my file of the conversation. I am still not feeling 100% confident so may call again next week and see if I get the same response.

[jon-]

AW10 said:

jon- said:

M+S marking is entirely pointless.

What do you mean by this?

To be able to show the M+S marking you just need a land/void ratio of something like 30%, nothing else. It doesn't make a winter tyre.

Even the upgraded "mountain and snowflake" symbol is something like 10% more traction than a reference summer, which would be very poor for a winter tyre.

mondie said:

jon- said:

I'm a little confused, from the above, it looks like the winter load rating is higher than summer?

This probably has got confusing so I will summarise:

Factory summer specification is:
265/40 ZR19 102Y
295/35 ZR19 104Y

Closest winter tyres I can find are Michelin Alpins:
265/40 R19 102 W
285/35 R19 103 V

The tyre placard states for winter tyres:
255/40 R19 100 V

So the recommended winter tyre has a much lower speed/load rating than that for summer. I dont understand why as both indexs are independent of tyre width to my knowledge

I called the insurance company today (Tescos) and explained the tyres I was looking to buy and how the load/speed indexes were one grade less than for summer tyres but were higher than that specified for winter and was told after the person checked with the 'technical department', that is was perfectly acceptable. A note was placed on my file of the conversation. I am still not feeling 100% confident so may call again next week and see if I get the same response.

From what you've said and done, I'd be happy to run the Michelins.

[AW10]

mondie said:

So the recommended winter tyre has a much lower speed/load rating than that for summer. I dont understand why as both indexs are independent of tyre width to my knowledge

Winter tyres generally won't be up to the same speed rating as summer tyres due to the softer tread compound and larger voids in the tread blocks - this will allow more movement which will generate heat. And load rating is more a function of construction that width.

[mondie]

Thanks Aw10, I think I will just go with a winter tyre that meets or exceeds what is listed on the tyre placard and ignore the summer rating.

jon- said:

From what you've said and done, I'd be happy to run the Michelins.

I think thats the point I have reached too.

Appreciate all the advice!

[mondie]

Thanks for all the advice in this thread. The job is now done, I went with the Michelin Alpins:

265/40 R19 102 W
285/35 R19 103 V

From Openeo for 754 quid delivered. Not a bad price at all.

[ChrisBuer]

After getting stranded last year when we had some snow, I'm definitely going to invest in a set of winter tyres. After some research, the Michlin Pilot Alpin PA4 tyres look the best. However has anyone tried these in ice / snow / heavy rain and would vouch for them?

[JMBMWM5]

ChrisBuer said:

After getting stranded last year when we had some snow, I'm definitely going to invest in a set of winter tyres. After some research, the Michlin Pilot Alpin PA4 tyres look the best. However has anyone tried these in ice / snow / heavy rain and would vouch for them?

Yep ICE and Heavy rain but no snow, look them up on U tube , there is a test on them @ 20" and they are great in Snow.
Found it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlN9KMb5iFw

[jon-]

ChrisBuer said:

After getting stranded last year when we had some snow, I'm definitely going to invest in a set of winter tyres. After some research, the Michlin Pilot Alpin PA4 tyres look the best. However has anyone tried these in ice / snow / heavy rain and would vouch for them?

Snow:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOv2g5qTpvA

Ice:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STaximkaQxo

[ChrisBuer]

Fantastic! They look exactly what I'm after, so I'll order a set when it starts to turn cold.

I'm assuming they are fine to use in colder conditions (both wet and dry) rather than just for ice and snow? I'm thinking more of the potential wear rates if they are meant to be for more extreme conditions or if they are suitable for a cold dry winter morning?

[jon-]

ChrisBuer said:

Fantastic! They look exactly what I'm after, so I'll order a set when it starts to turn cold.

I'm assuming they are fine to use in colder conditions (both wet and dry) rather than just for ice and snow? I'm thinking more of the potential wear rates if they are meant to be for more extreme conditions or if they are suitable for a cold dry winter morning?

They're cold weather tyres, designed to be run under "7c".

Anything below that is no problem for them, and they should offer comparable performance until near freezing point where they should be better than a summer in the dry and wet.

[ChrisBuer]

jon- said:

They're cold weather tyres, designed to be run under "7c".

Anything below that is no problem for them, and they should offer comparable performance until near freezing point where they should be better than a summer in the dry and wet.

Thanks, they sound perfect. Whilst it seems crazy talking about winter tyres in early August, I'm not going to get stuck this winter like I did last year.

I'm currently running Pilot Super Sports and whilst they're superb in the current season, they are really not good when it gets very cold!

[mondie]

Chris,

You will not regret winter tyres. We fitted them to our last M5 (e60) and it was a blast in the snow. I could not believe the grip and neither could most other road users

[ChrisBuer]

mondie said:

Chris,

You will not regret winter tyres. We fitted them to our last M5 (e60) and it was a blast in the snow. I could not believe the grip and neither could most other road users

Anything is better than what I currently have. I had to leave my car stranded at my in-laws last winter for nearly a week because I couldn't even move it off the spot it was parked on. I also live half way down a hill that does not get gritted during the winter, so trying to get onto the main road when it snows is pointless.

I'm now actually hoping for some snow so that I can properly test the tyres out!!

[AW10]

ChrisBuer said:

I'm currently running Pilot Super Sports and whilst they're superb in the current season, they are really not good when it gets very cold!

On my commute there's a roundabout where I can safely get the back to slide around a bit. I was astonished at the difference in grip between successive wet and cold mornings (3-4 degrees) when I had the summer tyres (PS2s) the first day and winter tyres (Nokian) the second day. They do their thing in more than just snow!

[ChrisBuer]

AW10 said:

On my commute there's a roundabout where I can safely get the back to slide around a bit. I was astonished at the difference in grip between successive wet and cold mornings (3-4 degrees) when I had the summer tyres (PS2s) the first day and winter tyres (Nokian) the second day. They do their thing in more than just snow!

That's exactly why I want them and it saves wasting my summer tyres during the winter when I can't enjoy them fully. I always assumed winter tyres were more focussed for conditions like snow and never realised that they were suitable for cold dry conditions as well.

I also do more evening driving during the winter than any other season due to the sport I play. Most matches finish late at night (11pm onwards) and are in remote locations (village halls, etc). Therefore driving home in cold, wet and sometimes icy conditions in a powerful RWD car down country lanes isn't that much fun on summer tyres.

I'll definitely invest this year in something more suitable!! Michelin Pilot Alpins come in my tyre size as well, so will be perfect.

Edited by ChrisBuer on Wednesday 6th August 22:46

[ACE997]

Can you re-use the old TPM valves when you put winter tyres on your M5 or do you need to buy a new set of TPM valves every autumn and spring when you switch tyres?

[RichardM5]

You can swap them over if you want, they are very easy to swap between wheels when the tyres are off.