BMW star rated tyres
Discussion
msej449 makes some comments about the * rated tyres here.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
mmm-five said:
Smuler said:
Agreed.
My X drive needs * marked.
My M3 very happy with the non * Michelin 4S
If you're happy with them and there's no performance/price difference they I don't see any issue in that.My X drive needs * marked.
My M3 very happy with the non * Michelin 4S
But, why does your X-drive 'need' star marked - is it mandated by BMW and their warranty terms, or does the car cry when you go near it with non-star tyres?
My manual says I must have star marked tyres, and for a while I did keep buying them (but moved from OE Continental SportContact M3 to Michelin PS2) for fear of invalidating the warranty - but they were almost always about £20/corner more expensive than the same, non star-marked tyres, and they tended to be softer (i.e. less miles).
It was never a scientific test, but on the same 25,000 miles annual commute, the star-marked SportContact M3/Michelin PS2 would provide less than 10,000 miles on the rear and about double on the front. 2 years later, the Pilot SuperSport (non star-marked) came out and it was suggested I try them, and despite providing better performance in all conditions, they delivered almost double the mileage (on the exact same commute).
[tin-foil-hat]
I wouldn't be surprised if BMW get a 'rebate' on each star-marked tyre that is sold, so by collaborating on a marque-specific model, they can get the tyre manufacturer to make it at a slightly cheaper price due to guaranteeing to fit them to all new cars, and then stipulate in the warranty that those tyres have to be fitted to maintain it.
[/tin-foil-hat]
Pirelli also advised the same. They make the * marked ones I use, P Zero. My indy tire guys said the same and they'd witnessed problems with numerous BMW X Drives and tires were changed back. I think it was causing problems with the transmission. I'm not sure how, I lack the knowledge.
Smuler said:
I wanted Michelin, my favorite brand for my X drive and they, in writing, urged me to stay with * marked which they did not make in the size. They were far more opinionated than BMW who only mention the warranty point.
Pirelli also advised the same. They make the * marked ones I use, P Zero. My indy tire guys said the same and they'd witnessed problems with numerous BMW X Drives and tires were changed back. I think it was causing problems with the transmission. I'm not sure how, I lack the knowledge.
“I’m not sure how, I lack the knowledge”Pirelli also advised the same. They make the * marked ones I use, P Zero. My indy tire guys said the same and they'd witnessed problems with numerous BMW X Drives and tires were changed back. I think it was causing problems with the transmission. I'm not sure how, I lack the knowledge.
Steady on, that is refreshingly honest, too much so for Pistonheads!
Edited by Pica-Pica on Saturday 29th August 13:23
mmm-five said:
You thought your new WINTER tyres would be as quiet & grippy as your SUMMER tyres - and you didn't keep the same tyre size front & rear (275/40r20 or did you go for the 315/35/20 rear? which is only 2mm larger in circumference) - and then you winder why 'something doesn't feel right'! That's got nothing to do with a star mark - that's purely down to tyre fitting screw-up.
Star marked has nothing to do with which wheels are driven! My Z4MC was fitted with Continental SportContact M3 tyres (as standard) with a star mark and they were about the worse major brand tyre I've ever used. Maybe they were designed specifically for the softer suspension of the e46 M3, but they just didn't work on the MUCH stiffer Z4Ms.
Wasn't expecting the tyres to be as quiet or as grippy, as a summer tyre, and that wasn't the issue.. Star marked has nothing to do with which wheels are driven! My Z4MC was fitted with Continental SportContact M3 tyres (as standard) with a star mark and they were about the worse major brand tyre I've ever used. Maybe they were designed specifically for the softer suspension of the e46 M3, but they just didn't work on the MUCH stiffer Z4Ms.
I understand the difference between the summer and winter tyres, and the winters were bought because of the impeding "Beast from the east" we were expecting; hence the purchase of the X5.
The size of the tyres were kept the same as the oem's, so 275/40R20 up front and 315/35R20 on the rear. From what i've been told the * mark is a guarantee that BMW can say the tyres have been tested at that size, on that model of BMW and are compatible.
It's advised that any Xdrive BMW uses the * marked tyres, so that rolling circumference is the same on all corners. This will prevent the transfer case from having to compensate for any differences, when all four wheels are being driven. However unplug the transfer case, so only the rears are driven and there is no longer an issue.
As i mentioned, it doesn't really matter if you're running * marked or not on a rear wheel drive BMW, as there is no transfer case that has to work with the front driven wheels.
And, slightly annoyingly, more expensive than decent run-flat tyres:
https://www.idealo.co.uk/compare/2538086/bridgesto...
https://www.idealo.co.uk/compare/2538086/bridgesto...
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