What Winter Tyres for 2002 E39 M5?
Discussion
Having a bit of difficulty finding out what All Weather or Winter Tyres are best suited with a Sept 2002 E39 M5. Summer Tyres are 245/40/18 & 275/35/18 and the BMW manual states that Winter set up is 225/45/17 (IIRC) which I can only assume is suggesting to change the tyres and wheels which I don't wish to do.
Have checked with local dealer and they have so far said that they are unable to supply winter tyres for this vehicle. Great.
I have checked Mytyre and they only have Kumho KW27's to match the recommended 245/40/18 & 275/35/18. (summer) tyre sizes. These wouldnt be my preferred brand.
However, I have noticed several people running narrower (and potentially higher profile) winter tyres which could be acceptable to me, however I cant find someone who will advise if this is workable or not and if so, what sizes to run to fit existing standard rims. Dilemma is that my preferred brand, Vredestein, come in correct size for front (245/40/18) but not the rear. They do however, have a 265/35/18, but again, I'm not sure if it will be suitable.
Therefore I was wondering if anyone can shed any light on whether the 265/35/18 Vredestein may be suitable or whether any other brands may be suiatble - and if so, which sizes can I go far?
Any help appreciated - Many Thanks
Stuart
Have checked with local dealer and they have so far said that they are unable to supply winter tyres for this vehicle. Great.
I have checked Mytyre and they only have Kumho KW27's to match the recommended 245/40/18 & 275/35/18. (summer) tyre sizes. These wouldnt be my preferred brand.
However, I have noticed several people running narrower (and potentially higher profile) winter tyres which could be acceptable to me, however I cant find someone who will advise if this is workable or not and if so, what sizes to run to fit existing standard rims. Dilemma is that my preferred brand, Vredestein, come in correct size for front (245/40/18) but not the rear. They do however, have a 265/35/18, but again, I'm not sure if it will be suitable.
Therefore I was wondering if anyone can shed any light on whether the 265/35/18 Vredestein may be suitable or whether any other brands may be suiatble - and if so, which sizes can I go far?
Any help appreciated - Many Thanks
Stuart
rfsteel said:
There is an M5Board.com member running these;
4 x Kumho I'ZEN KW27's in 225/45 R17 94V XL
But you'd need the Style66 17" BMW wheels to fit over the M5 calipers.
That would be me.4 x Kumho I'ZEN KW27's in 225/45 R17 94V XL
But you'd need the Style66 17" BMW wheels to fit over the M5 calipers.
And I don't run Style 66's, but M5 replicas. And they fit over the calipers just fine. They just look so tiny
I have had fitted 205/55 x 16 tyres and steel rims to an E46 325 sport which has 245/35 x 18 rear tyres and 225/45 x 18 front.
Recommended and fitted by my local BMW dealer.
Tyres are Avon ice touring st
Tyres alone for the original rims were going to be virtually the same cost as new rims and tyres. Free storage at the dealer as well.
Recommended and fitted by my local BMW dealer.
Tyres are Avon ice touring st
Tyres alone for the original rims were going to be virtually the same cost as new rims and tyres. Free storage at the dealer as well.
I ran Vred Wintracs in 245 and 265 last winter on a second set of M5 wheels. They were perfect in blizzard conditions on the Autoroute down to Paris when Eurotunnel closed. Recommended. The 265 Vreds are almost as wide as normal 275s. Wintracs performed faultlessly and are superb in cold/wet/snowy conditions.
spareparts said:
I ran Vred Wintracs in 245 and 265 last winter on a second set of M5 wheels. They were perfect in blizzard conditions on the Autoroute down to Paris when Eurotunnel closed. Recommended. The 265 Vreds are almost as wide as normal 275s. Wintracs performed faultlessly and are superb in cold/wet/snowy conditions.
Spareparts - Did you run these Wintracs on standard 18" M5 wheel rims? If so, these sizes sound like the way to go for me.When did you switch them back over to summer tyres? March time?
I ran mine on 17" style 66 with 235/45/17. That is what I recommend. Otherwise you could either buy a second set of 18" wheels with 245/40 and 265 or 275/35 tyres as suggested above or 4 front wheels with 245/40 all round (ie non-staggered). If you don't want to spring to a second set of wheels I would suggest 245/40 on all 4, even if this may leave the rear rim somewhat exposed.
sburns said:
spareparts said:
I ran Vred Wintracs in 245 and 265 last winter on a second set of M5 wheels. They were perfect in blizzard conditions on the Autoroute down to Paris when Eurotunnel closed. Recommended. The 265 Vreds are almost as wide as normal 275s. Wintracs performed faultlessly and are superb in cold/wet/snowy conditions.
Spareparts - Did you run these Wintracs on standard 18" M5 wheel rims? If so, these sizes sound like the way to go for me.When did you switch them back over to summer tyres? March time?
I can't remember the exact time I switched back, but it was when the temps were consistently around 8-9 which is the recommended temp.
Now have my Wintracs fitted. I'm sure they will come into their own when conditions worsen but have noticed that directional stability and body roll is all over the place at normal recommended (summer tyre) pressures. took some air out today which has made a little better.
I wondered whether other users have noted that pressures of winter tyres must be suitably lower for them to work in normal wet cold conditions rather than outright snow conditions?
I wondered whether other users have noted that pressures of winter tyres must be suitably lower for them to work in normal wet cold conditions rather than outright snow conditions?
Keep pressures at their recommended - even for winter tyres.
All brand new winter tyres will feel a bit 'squidgy' under foot, especially when coming straight from a summer performance tyre. The tall tyre blocks are designed to move about, and the sipes assist the general sense of movement. But those sipes are also working to grip and cut through the water/ice/snow. Car will feel like it is more softly sprung. Don't forget that the summer tyres you had previously would have also been getting to the point where the rubber was HARD and never generating enough heat to meld into the tarmac, further exacerbating the sensation of movement when transitioning to the winters. Give it a few weeks, and as it gets colder, the winter tyres get better.
All brand new winter tyres will feel a bit 'squidgy' under foot, especially when coming straight from a summer performance tyre. The tall tyre blocks are designed to move about, and the sipes assist the general sense of movement. But those sipes are also working to grip and cut through the water/ice/snow. Car will feel like it is more softly sprung. Don't forget that the summer tyres you had previously would have also been getting to the point where the rubber was HARD and never generating enough heat to meld into the tarmac, further exacerbating the sensation of movement when transitioning to the winters. Give it a few weeks, and as it gets colder, the winter tyres get better.
Already the grip has started to arrive which is heartening. To begin with it was like driving a gravel rally stage, oversteer at every bend! Great fun but worrying if you really needed to avoid something unexpected.
The motorway speed stability (and body roll) is still really appalling though so will have another play with pressures - I struggle to get my head round how the stability can be so badly affected by fitting the (almost) the same size tyre. I am sure there is something wrong with my pressure set up as i am convinced that other users would have found the stability worrying versus normal. dammit its worse than my wifes Tiguan - hardly a sports cars.
Would the car roll more with less or more pressure? I assume that a lower pressure will reduce roll which is why i tried that first.
Thanks for your help already. any more thoughts much appreciated
Stuart
The motorway speed stability (and body roll) is still really appalling though so will have another play with pressures - I struggle to get my head round how the stability can be so badly affected by fitting the (almost) the same size tyre. I am sure there is something wrong with my pressure set up as i am convinced that other users would have found the stability worrying versus normal. dammit its worse than my wifes Tiguan - hardly a sports cars.
Would the car roll more with less or more pressure? I assume that a lower pressure will reduce roll which is why i tried that first.
Thanks for your help already. any more thoughts much appreciated
Stuart
Resurrection.
How have you lot found winter tyres on the M5?
I'm no stranger to them, have run them for the past 3 years on a 330Ci and a 320Td so I know what to expect.
On the M5 though, their 'squirminess' is a lot more noticeable. Obviously the extra power will expose this, as will running 235 section tyres on the rear as opposed to 275. Even general handling though it feels a lot more wobbly. A result of the extra 300kg over the other 2 cars?
How have you lot found winter tyres on the M5?
I'm no stranger to them, have run them for the past 3 years on a 330Ci and a 320Td so I know what to expect.
On the M5 though, their 'squirminess' is a lot more noticeable. Obviously the extra power will expose this, as will running 235 section tyres on the rear as opposed to 275. Even general handling though it feels a lot more wobbly. A result of the extra 300kg over the other 2 cars?
To ad to that, one tyre is brand new, the rest have 6mm. I checked before buying the new one (~8mm tread) that a difference in tread of 2mm would be ok and couldn't find anything to say it wasn't.
The new tyre is on the back right. When accelerating moderately the car yaws to the right, it's enough to be noticeable. Is it worth letting the new tyre get a couple of hundred miles on it and seeing if this changes? Presuming that is indeed the cause.
The new tyre is on the back right. When accelerating moderately the car yaws to the right, it's enough to be noticeable. Is it worth letting the new tyre get a couple of hundred miles on it and seeing if this changes? Presuming that is indeed the cause.
Decided to take my beast off the road this winter and have a staggered set of W-rated Vredestein Wintrac Xtremes for sale. The sizing isn't the regular summer set up (Front - 245/40 18"; Rear - 275/35 18") but 245/40 18" & 265/35 18" front/rear.
The winter set-up felt great in most summer & winter conditions though there is a little more 'squirminess', as others have noted.
If anyone's interested they're for sale on the bay & have a lot of tread left (8-6mm) and not ancient either. Only problem is I'm in the Scottish Highlands....and it's collection only!
Re. tyre pressures. I have an E39 530d I use as a hack and it's shod with winter rubber. The tyre info label in the driver's door jamb advices running winter tyres at somewhat higher pressures than summer equivalent. Can't find much info on tyre pressure for winter rubber for the M5 though but I tended to run the Vredesteins at slightly higher values without degrading their performance much, if at all.
The winter set-up felt great in most summer & winter conditions though there is a little more 'squirminess', as others have noted.
If anyone's interested they're for sale on the bay & have a lot of tread left (8-6mm) and not ancient either. Only problem is I'm in the Scottish Highlands....and it's collection only!
Re. tyre pressures. I have an E39 530d I use as a hack and it's shod with winter rubber. The tyre info label in the driver's door jamb advices running winter tyres at somewhat higher pressures than summer equivalent. Can't find much info on tyre pressure for winter rubber for the M5 though but I tended to run the Vredesteins at slightly higher values without degrading their performance much, if at all.
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