19" Non runflat tire users - please chime in

Originally Posted by Quacker

I'm very pleased with my choice in non-RFT. Bridgestone RE970AS 245/45/19. The Tire Rack had very high test marks for them and so do I. The ride and handling improvement are nothing less than spectacular, and the slight size difference corrects my speedo error to within 1 mph at all speeds.

What was your reason for going with the slightly increased size?

After years of driving an X5 with an annoying amount of speedo error (which caused me to constantly do speedo correction in my head), I was really pissed to find no less of an error with my new F10. So when I had further motivation to get rid of the RFT's, I did the math and found the a 45 side wall would make an excellent correction factor. I was not disappointed! Now when my speedo says 65 MPH, it actually is 65 MPH.

Originally Posted by Quacker

After years of driving an X5 with an annoying amount of speedo error (which caused me to constantly do speedo correction in my head), I was really pissed to find no less of an error with my new F10. So when I had further motivation to get rid of the RFT's, I did the math and found the a 45 side wall would make an excellent correction factor. I was not disappointed! Now when my speedo says 65 MPH, it actually is 65 MPH.

I'm looking over these tires and the related reviews on TireRack.com now. I don't see any information about these being usable in snow. Do you know if they are?

I had Conti DWS on my E60 and loved them but some here say they are not a good match for the F10. But I do want to find something soon so I can put the RFT's that came with the vehicle in storage until lease turn in.

They are "AS." IMO, snow performance is just OK but nothing as good as a dedicated snow tire would be.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....45WR8RE970PPXL

I have 550xi MSPORT with 19" wheels
I went with 245/45/19 Michelin AS Sport tires and they work very well. I drove them in the snowstorm after hurricane Sandy in Long Island and they held up very well. Not as good grip as summer tires during the summer however, but they are comfortable and I feel confident driving at 110mph in them. Comfortable ride year round.
BTW, I've hit several massive potholes driving around NYC at night and the tires held up fine - no bubbles. I had a nail in the rear driver side that was patched at MAVIS Discount Tire this summer, no problems since. I highly rec these AS Tires

'11 535i sport package. I've got 30,000 miles on the OE michelins and still have some tread left. I'm amazed. I guess I'm not driving it hard enough!

Originally Posted by Quacker

After years of driving an X5 with an annoying amount of speedo error (which caused me to constantly do speedo correction in my head), I was really pissed to find no less of an error with my new F10. So when I had further motivation to get rid of the RFT's, I did the math and found the a 45 side wall would make an excellent correction factor. I was not disappointed! Now when my speedo says 65 MPH, it actually is 65 MPH.

I had the same idea in mind as I selected 285/35/19 rear tires rather than the factory size of 275/35/19. It helped the correction error a bit, but the speedo still reads 1-2 mph fast at highway speeds.

Originally Posted by Stevej2001

'11 535i sport package. I've got 30,000 miles on the OE michelins and still have some tread left. I'm amazed. I guess I'm not driving it hard enough!

It's probably because there are fewer potholes in California than in New York.

Very interesting info. I will be replacing my RFT with non RFT and the Conti DWS is a candidate. I actually have these on my wife’s E60 528i now. Ditched the E60‘s Dunlop RFT about 12K miles ago and put on the Conti Extreme DWS (245 40X18) .

YES, I immediately noticed there was a (small) loss of steering sharpness and sharpness and a bit of vagueness at speed or extreme transitions. Nothing bad enough for me to hate the Contis but perhaps its the (relative) smooth roads we have complement the tires. Or maybe our E60 is a lighter car (plus it has active steering and sport package with ARS) than my F10 550i. What was most noticeable, however, was the quieter and comfortable ride at all speeds of the Contis. Even after 15K...performance (albeit lower than the OE Dunlops), ride, noise is consistent (like new) and wear is minimal (about 6/32 left).

But, I still read with much interest your experience with the Conti DWS. Maybe Conti’s quality control has waned lately. Or maybe out 500+ lb (E60 vs F10) heavier chassis is beyond the design intent of the Conti. The new Michelin’s A/S are starting to sound real good.

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Do NOT get the Conti DWS's. I have them and have found out the hard way that they add a lot of vaugeness and inaccuracy to the steering. Unfortunatley I steered another person toward them and he hated them, and I am embarrased about it.

My car wanders on center and does not feel planted. I had thought it was a symptom of the reprogramming efforts from my "pull to the right" issue, however two other members have told me that they had the same sensations while driving with the DWS's.
Oh, and I got a bubble on one too, but it was a MASSIVE pothole.

As for treadlife, my tires have a little over 10,000 miles on them, and the rears are at least half way done, if not more. Very surprising for a tire with a 540 treadwear rating. However, I blame it all on the staggered setup of the RWD sport package - my fronts are in great shape, even the one that's not brand new. On your car, with xDrive, you will not have this issue.

I had the Pilot Sport A/S pluses on my Volvo and they were a great tire. I would say go with those without a doubt. The DWS's are VERY good in the snow and they are good in the rain but.....

Originally Posted by djsilo

It's probably because there are fewer potholes in California than in New York.

You've got to be kidding.

If you look in the dictionary for 'deferred maintenance' you'll see a picture of a California freeway.

Originally Posted by Stevej2001

You've got to be kidding.

If you look in the dictionary for 'deferred maintenance' you'll see a picture of a California freeway.

The issue is back on the east coast the weather temperature is extreme with snow and freezing rain. Water gets in the cracks in the road, freezes and expands causing not only more pot holes , but more severe pot holes.

All states have pot holes, but the most severe are in places with very cold winters. The severity translates into significantly more tire damage especially with high performance tires. Run flats seem to make the issue worse but I would argue the issue is more about low profile tires.

Even if you are fortunate to not get tire damage your car will no doubt suffer from the rough terrain causing more rattles and premature component failures like struts, shocks, and alignment issues.

Yup

The roads in my area looks like the roads in Radiator Springs after Lighting McQueen ripped it to shreds in the Cars movie. Its insane like dodging asteroids.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Bimmer App

I'm reading all this with great interest, as I thought potholes and "deferred maintenance' roads have always been Polish speciality

Anyway, just because every spring we are witnessing what Chuck has descrcibed (and we do have heavy winters here), I picked my F10 on 18 rather than 19" wheels.

Suspect that there are potholes all over the placem but NY is infamous for NOT repairing them!

The 18" should not have the same issue - lucky you.

Originally Posted by mychung000

Suspect that there are potholes all over the placem but NY is infamous for NOT repairing them!

The 18" should not have the same issue - lucky you.

Yeah... For the winter set, I even considered going 17" - but handling at high speeds on snow-free roads (and looks) also counts ...

Originally Posted by snj1013

I had the same idea in mind as I selected 285/35/19 rear tires rather than the factory size of 275/35/19. It helped the correction error a bit, but the speedo still reads 1-2 mph fast at highway speeds.

I believe you would have to make your 35 into a 40 to see any appreciable correction.