Potential issues with US X3 35i M Sport Tires

Not sure if you all have noticed that the F10 owners with the M Sport package on the 35ix are having issues with the Goodyear LS2 tire size 245/40R19 All Season RFT.

Currently, US ordered X3 35i with the M Sport have Goodyear LS2 245/45R19 All Season RFT. Hopefully, the additional sidewall height from 40 to 45 will be a blessing.

Link from F10 forum: http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=547640

Those tires are also being used on the 35i non-M sports as well (19" 309's). I have them on mine and after reading everything about them wish I didn't

Wanna trade rims?

Sent from my LS670 using Bimmer App

Since all the X3's are built in the US now I wonder what kind of tires go on the export versions and why they are different (if they are)? I can't believe BMW is shipping tires from europe to the US when there are all kinds of tires including "european" brands built right here. And they remove a dipstick to save money.

Originally Posted by UncleJ

Since all the X3's are built in the US now I wonder what kind of tires go on the export versions and why they are different (if they are)? I can't believe BMW is shipping tires from europe to the US when there are all kinds of tires including "european" brands built right here. And they remove a dipstick to save money.

Exports with the M sportpaket get a variety of summer tires including the Dunlop SportMaxx GT and Pirelli PZero, and the Continental ContiSportContact 3 (19").

Americans are just too frickin' dumb and sue-happy to trust them with summer tires on an SUV.

Ok, what do the rest of the export versions get? The ones without the sport package.

Originally Posted by UncleJ

Ok, what do the rest of the export versions get? The ones without the sport package.

The base 17" sizes (P225/60R17), either the Dunlop SportMaxx TT or the Pirelli Cinturato P7. These have both non-RFT and RFT variants, depending on model. Non-RFT applies to the the base 20d only. Both are summer tires.

The other standard 17" size: P245/55R17 also has the same models of summer tires, RFT only. Also an OEM selection is the Goodyear Excellence RFT, summer tire.

Sometimes the Germans get annoyed that they cannot choose winter tires from the factory. When taking delivery of the vehicle during winter, they have to have already purchased the winter set and swap them on ASAP.

Thanks!

High Guys,
Check out my post from another thread below. Can't get new tires from dealer on the car without paying for them. Not the way to feel when paying 50K plus for the X3 M sport, waiting for the bubbles to start coming, and then waiting for a replacement or paying for different tires.

I just road tested the new X3 2011 M Sport when it got to the dealer (10 miles on odometer.) The car was great except it felt like the Goodyear OEM all weather tires were rollerskating!!! No feel to the ride. The ability to stop seemed slow with a little delay (similar to some heavier suv's I've driven). I had read unimpressive reviews about Goodyear OEM all weather 19" tire before car was ordered and asked the dealer if he could order the car with different rubber which he said couldn't be done.

Most of my driving is in NYC metro area. Dealer now willing to give small credit toward new tires of my choice but said no other RFT all seasons around now. So here are my Qs:

1. Was the first drive a fair test since these were brand new tires? Will the road grip and stopping ability improve when they get "experience" or are many unhappy Goodyear drivers suffering?

2. Should I change out of the all seasons and into summers now and winters later or tough it out with the Goodyears until the winter comes? This can get expensive especially since I'd get a second set of wheels for the winters. (Formerly had two X5's which could get by on all seasons and a Cayenne which definitely could not.)

3. Tire recommendations will be appreciated.

I feel since the car is loaded with advanced technology to sweeten the drive and change suspension, the tires should be solid as well.

Thanks.

I'm changing out the tires/rims to the 20 inch M 310 and installing the Continental Extreme Contact DWS later this month after I'm past the break-in period of 1200 (currently at 600+).

Was at the Performance Center recently for a Two-day M School and even the instructors admitted the sub-par handling of the RFT's that BMW is installing.

In this price range, guess will have to spend an additional $1000 to get 'real' tires for our performance vehicle, but if your ordered a European speck car it was cost significantly more, so I consider it a wash.

I was able to get some $$$ in a credit from BMW NA towards the purchase of accessories, as I also asked my corporate contract if I could order the M Sport with the 2NE option, but the brand advocate in NJ said no change was possible.

The ride should improve when the RFT's are switched out. Just switched to the Michelin Super Sports on my 335is convertible and noticed a big difference, but the Super Sports are not available in a 20 inch size for the X3. Not sure about the 19 inch. Go to the tire section and ask Gary from Tire Rack.

Ibiza,
Good thinking. But won't you end up with 4 Contis on the 20 inch wheels at a cost of several thousands more? And if you lease the Bimmer will they take it back with the new tire package? Did you check out if there is a warranty issue with the switch?

BTW, I also have a (2008) 335i with coral red seats and sports package-- talk about horrible ride-- the Blizzacks were the worst.

The rims are costing me $1900 and the Conti's around $1000 (Tirerack) less $80 rebate from the Conti Club that was handed out to to M school participants. Also have the $500 BMW CCA rebate coming my way.

I'll save the OEM rims and tires and put back on at the end of the lease. Did it with my 2007 335i with the the 19 inch M225 (still have the rims in my garage).

The 15-20% BMW CCA discount helps with the BMW rims.

Nice color with the coral red, have that on my current convertible with black sapphire metallic.

My personal opinion with the X3 M sport is Carbon Black with black leather interior and aluminum trim. Say a X3 M Sport at the PC recently that have black interior with the fine line wood trim and it was too dark inside. The aluminum breaks up the black leather seats with anthracite headliner.

Just waiting for the fellow X3'ers to start having issues with these Goodyear tires!

Originally Posted by Want the Thrill

Those tires are also being used on the 35i non-M sports as well (19" 309's). I have them on mine and after reading everything about them wish I didn't

Have you been satisfied with the tires so far? My dealer is going to swap my 308's for 309's at no charge but now I'm afraid they might come with the Goodyears and am wondering if I should just keep what I have. Although I prefer the looks of the 309's, if I have to buy other tires, is it really such a good deal?

OK, help me out here. This is a company that touts itself as the "ultimate driving machine" yet puts sub-standard (or at least that's what it appears to be from the posts) OEM tires on the vehicles assembled for sale here -- yet puts "premium" rubber on the export units. What is going on? Have these Goodyears suffered massive failures (a la the Firestone 500's from years ago), are they so bad they negate the superior handling of the new X3? I have a hard time believing that the bean counters would have such a huge impact on a part of the BMW psyche dealing with performance handling. Dipstick removal, yes -- cheap sloppy handling tires, no.

Uncle J, I think this started more from those that have F10's with these tires on their car. They are complaining about them and all the problems they have (especially with bubbles). Also, when you read the reviews on the web at places like tirerack, they are poor at best.

Want, I guess that kind of begs the question if they are so bad -- why is BMW still putting them on the US cars when they put different rubber on the export stuff? Surely someone must know about this at S'burg and BMWNA. I guess they must have gotten a killer deal on a trainload of Goodyears and are using them up. If they compromise on tires -- what else is not up to their reputed high quality standards? Makes me wonder.

Originally Posted by Ibiza

Not sure if you all have noticed that the F10 owners with the M Sport package on the 35ix are having issues with the Goodyear LS2 tire size 245/40R19 All Season RFT.

Currently, US ordered X3 35i with the M Sport have Goodyear LS2 245/45R19 All Season RFT. Hopefully, the additional sidewall height from 40 to 45 will be a blessing.

Link from F10 forum: http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=547640

is the new Goodyear LS2 245/45R19 for the front only?

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Select...1&autoModClar=