Which "4" for four new Michelins?

[DJMC]

Primacy 4 or PS4S?

It's my wife's 2016 X1 F48. Non run-flat 18s. On horrible Pirellis since new (BMW * marked) but now it's on extended BMW warranty we can put anything we like on it and I favour Michelins.

Although PS4S is the sportier tyre it's not a sporty car and so, looking at reviews and tests, Primacy 4 may be the way to go?
No difference in price really. £50 cash back on 4 18" Michelins to end November.

Does anyone have any reasons to go with one or the other on a small SUV?

Thanks for any insight.

[Mammasaid]

On a 'SUV' wouldn't Cross Climates be the best option?

[sly fox]

https://www.michelin.co.uk/auto/home-auto

Can't say that you'd need the ultimate summer/dry weather performance tyre on an SUV - so the Primacy 4 sounds a good compromise , or cross climates if you are in a dodgy weather part of the uk

Be mindful of the weight rating too.

[d_a_n1979]

DJMC said:

Primacy 4 or PS4S?

It's my wife's 2016 X1 F48. Non run-flat 18s. On horrible Pirellis since new (BMW * marked) but now it's on extended BMW warranty we can put anything we like on it and I favour Michelins.

Although PS4S is the sportier tyre it's not a sporty car and so, looking at reviews and tests, Primacy 4 may be the way to go?
No difference in price really. £50 cash back on 4 18" Michelins to end November.

Does anyone have any reasons to go with one or the other on a small SUV?

Thanks for any insight.

Are you only considering the Michelins due to their cash back?

What about other tyre brands (Goodyear, Bridgestone, Vredestein, Uniroyal etc)?

[Sheepshanks]

I know it's not a BMW but it is a small SUV - I just went through this on daughter's SEAT Ateca and fitted CrossClimates. The car does live in a semi-rural area and her road has a tightish uphill turn to get onto the more major road. However her job recently changed to a much longer commute and I might have thought more about Primacy's if doing it now.

That said the CC's have done 10K miles are I measured them before recent service at 5.5mm front and 6.5mm rear (car is front wheel drive), so had them rotated at service. OEM Bridgestone's only lasted 20K.

[gts.981]

Michelin Cross Climates are the best riding tyres I’ve ever had on a camper van.

[DJMC]

d_a_n1979 said:

Are you only considering the Michelins due to their cash back?

What about other tyre brands (Goodyear, Bridgestone, Vredestein, Uniroyal etc)?

No, from past experiences:
Faulty GY F1 A2s on my Cayman - split all the way around the inside both fronts - GY tested and found faulty - refunded.
Pirellis - faulty - cracked in tread and sidewall - inspected - refunded. BUT... they're also rubbish tyres on both BMW and Cayman.
Bridgstones on a 2nd hand 330ci sent it careering all over the road until I switched them out for Contis. Perfect after that.
Contis no longer last, soft compounds.
Haven't tried Vredesteins or Uniroyals but consider them 2nd tier.
My tyre supplier of 25 years said to me a while ago if you want the best performance and wear, fit Michelins.

I do vaguely recall he mentioned a new cheaper tyre made by one of the premium brands and was saying how good they were. Can't remember which - I'll give him a call...

[DJMC]

Mammasaid said:

On a 'SUV' wouldn't Cross Climates be the best option?

In Leicestershire. Maybe a couple of days snow, but even on the crappy Pirellis the X1 has kept its footing where other cars have been stranded. This has really impressed me for what is a "part time" 4x4.

I don't know that much about CCs but imagined there would be some trade off of performance or wear for a tyre that I guess performs better in cold temps?

[mmm-five]

Are you sure you've seen 18" in PS4S and not just the more normal PS4, as I don't think there are many 18" options for PS4S?

I'd just go for the Primacy 4 if you're not after ultimate dry grip, the Primacy will perform as well in most other conditions, and last longer than the PS4/PS4S.

https://www.michelin.co.uk/auto/tips-and-advice/ho...

[d_a_n1979]

DJMC said:

d_a_n1979 said:

Are you only considering the Michelins due to their cash back?

What about other tyre brands (Goodyear, Bridgestone, Vredestein, Uniroyal etc)?

No, from past experiences:
Faulty GY F1 A2s on my Cayman - split all the way around the inside both fronts - GY tested and found faulty - refunded.
Pirellis - faulty - cracked in tread and sidewall - inspected - refunded. BUT... they're also rubbish tyres on both BMW and Cayman.
Bridgstones on a 2nd hand 330ci sent it careering all over the road until I switched them out for Contis. Perfect after that.
Contis no longer last, soft compounds.
Haven't tried Vredesteins or Uniroyals but consider them 2nd tier.
My tyre supplier of 25 years said to me a while ago if you want the best performance and wear, fit Michelins.

I do vaguely recall he mentioned a new cheaper tyre made by one of the premium brands and was saying how good they were. Can't remember which - I'll give him a call...

Most of that I can understand; especially re the Pirelli's; I've found them to be simply crap, every time I've had them. Never again!

But don't discount the likes of Vredestein & Uniroyal; they're superb tyres and certainly not 'budget' or 2nd tier IMO

Just because they're not Michelin et al and don't have a large price tag; doesn't mean they're poor relations

The Vredestein Ultrac Vorti tyres are superb and personally I'd run them before PS4s; but the last few times I've needed tyres, they didn't cater for the sizes I needed.

Have a look on Camskill for tyre prices too; they're generally hard to beat

[BigMoose1973]

DJMC said:

Primacy 4 or PS4S?

but now it's on extended BMW warranty we can put anything we like

I am looking at doing the same thing but was worried about the warranty. My car is on the BMW Insured warranty. Are you sure you can change from the runflats without impacting the warranty?

Thanks,

BigMoose

[Scrump]

mmm-five said:

Are you sure you've seen 18" in PS4S and not just the more normal PS4, as I don't think there are many 18" options for PS4S?

I'd just go for the Primacy 4 if you're not after ultimate dry grip, the Primacy will perform as well in most other conditions, and last longer than the PS4/PS4S.

That is my view as well.

[JakeT]

mmm-five said:

Are you sure you've seen 18" in PS4S and not just the more normal PS4, as I don't think there are many 18" options for PS4S?

I'd just go for the Primacy 4 if you're not after ultimate dry grip, the Primacy will perform as well in most other conditions, and last longer than the PS4/PS4S.

https://www.michelin.co.uk/auto/tips-and-advice/ho...

Likewise. I’d also go primacy. They should last longer and will still handle very well. Ive always been impressed by the primacy range, the primacy 3 was very good, the 4 should be even better.

[DJMC]

mmm-five said:

Are you sure you've seen 18" in PS4S and not just the more normal PS4, as I don't think there are many 18" options for PS4S?

I'd just go for the Primacy 4 if you're not after ultimate dry grip, the Primacy will perform as well in most other conditions, and last longer than the PS4/PS4S.

https://www.michelin.co.uk/auto/tips-and-advice/ho...

You're quite right. Just got carried away as I have PS4S on the other car. Thanks for spotting it.

[g3org3y]

2WD or 4WD model? If the latter (and staggered set up), I thought it needed Star Marked tyres to prevent transfer box issues?

[DJMC]

BigMoose1973 said:

I am looking at doing the same thing but was worried about the warranty. My car is on the BMW Insured warranty. Are you sure you can change from the runflats without impacting the warranty?

Thanks,

BigMoose

I'm not changing from runflats. We preferred the ride with the standard 18" non RF tyres. Car ordered with these from new.

As for warranty. Under the original BMW 3 year warranty you have to go with BMW * marked. Once on the BMW Allianz extended warranty you can fit what you like, within original spec (width, speed rating, load index). I have this in writing.

Edited by DJMC on Thursday 30th September 18:02

[DJMC]

g3org3y said:

2WD or 4WD model? If the latter (and staggered set up), I thought it needed Star Marked tyres to prevent transfer box issues?

It's XDrive so 4x4 part time, FWD most of the time. I've not heard that star marking helps with transfer box, only that differing tread depths and fitting different brands/types on the same axle may cause issues.

I'd always keep the same brand and model on all four wheels, preferably changing all four at once to keep the tread depth in line.

[mekondelta]

DJMC said:

g3org3y said:

2WD or 4WD model? If the latter (and staggered set up), I thought it needed Star Marked tyres to prevent transfer box issues?

It's XDrive so 4x4 part-time, FWD most of the time. I've not heard that star marking helps with transfer box, only that differing tread depths and fitting different brands/types on the same axle may cause issues.

I'd always keep the same brand and model on all four wheels, preferably changing all four at once to keep the tread depth in line.

If you're still in warranty then I would defo stick with star-marked tyres. Not worth the risk otherwise..

[DJMC]

For BMW extended warranty, the insurer, Allianz, emailed me:

"Within the policy we do not cover wheels and tyres. As discussed on the phone you are allowed to change the brand of tyres as long as they are to specification for the vehicle.

In the event of a final drive failure there is a procedure in place to check the wheels and tyres. The branding and star marking would not come into question."

I'd imagine the transfer box is part of the final drive?

[mekondelta]

DJMC said:

For BMW extended warranty, the insurer, Allianz, emailed me:

"Within the policy we do not cover wheels and tyres. As discussed on the phone you are allowed to change the brand of tyres as long as they are to specification for the vehicle.

In the event of a final drive failure there is a procedure in place to check the wheels and tyres. The branding and star marking would not come into question."

I'd imagine the transfer box is part of the final drive?

Interesting, thanks for that! The question would be whether the star marking is part of the specification? If it is then the last sentence doesn't make sense. If it isn't then why are BMW selling cars with star marked tyres for XDrive cars? Personally would love to try runflats with non-star marked tyres as there's lots more choice. I'm not risking the warranty for it though.