Getting New Tires - 550i Sport Package

I'm shopping now for new tires for my 550i with Sport Package. The OEM tires are the ContiSport Contact 2. Through America's Tire, they are $310/$379 front/rear. The Michelin Pilot Super Sports are quite a bit less expensive, at $258/$324. Has anybody put the PSS on their E60, and if so, any feedback vs the Conti's? I've had Pilot Sport A/S tires on my Nissan Maxima and have been extremely happy with them.

Also, I noticed another type of Conti on the website, with a very similar tread pattern, called Extreme Contact DW. Those are $243/$265. Anybody with experience with those tires? They seem to have a much higher customer satisfaction rating, but I notice that none of the raters are driving a BMW.

Thanks in advance.....

Keith

A lot of us (self included) have been using the Continental Extreme Contact DWS, which is the all-season version of the Conti DW. It's an excellent and highly regarded tire around here, and I think it runs even a little less than the DW.

It's a call for each owner to make individually, but I thought about the way I drive my car (not very aggressively, really), thought about the added utility of all-season, and decided to go that route. I do still have snow tires, but I'm hoping I can leave the all-seasons on a month or two longer than I could with the Dunlop RFTs.

I've also run some Pilot A/S tires on our Audi, and liked them very much.

Both good tires, but my vote goes to the michelins if they are cheaper. Assume you are doing regular performance tires and not run flats?

i am a big fan of Yokohama Advan S4 and Envigor. The latter will last longer, but S4 slightly grippier and softer. I think they are an excellent value and have used them for 10 years on several BMWs.

Originally Posted by Oceans10

Both good tires, but my vote goes to the michelins if they are cheaper. Assume you are doing regular performance tires and not run flats?

i am a big fan of Yokohama Advan S4 and Envigor. The latter will last longer, but S4 slightly grippier and softer. I think they are an excellent value and have used them for 10 years on several BMWs.

No run flats, my car actually has a spare. Hadn't considered Yoko's, I'll take a look at those tonight on-line when I get home.

Originally Posted by WJGreer

A lot of us (self included) have been using the Continental Extreme Contact DWS, which is the all-season version of the Conti DW. It's an excellent and highly regarded tire around here, and I think it runs even a little less than the DW.

It's a call for each owner to make individually, but I thought about the way I drive my car (not very aggressively, really), thought about the added utility of all-season, and decided to go that route. I do still have snow tires, but I'm hoping I can leave the all-seasons on a month or two longer than I could with the Dunlop RFTs.

I've also run some Pilot A/S tires on our Audi, and liked them very much.

I don't need all-season tires, since I live in SoCal, where the worst we get is a bit or rain. I looked at the DW, and didn't really care for the way they looked, not quite aggressive enough for the Sport Package. Maybe they look different in real life?

The new Michelin Super Sports are I think regarded as one of the best Summer Performance tires out there - they would be my choice.

I would go with the michelins. I have the pilot sport A/S plus and love them. They handle well, quite, do well in the rain. Can't complain a bit.

+1 on the Michelin Super Sports. One of my buddies has them on his M5 and he gives them a big thumbs up for traction and comfort.
Also check out Yokohama Advan, either Sport, Envigor or Neova AD08 which are the most aggressive of all mentioned. You can go to the track with those, but they don't last as long. Cost the same as Michelin PSS on Tirerack.
I am testing the Envigors now and very pleased with how they hold up to wear. Also an excellent rain tire, but I guess you are in fair weather territory.
My 535 is RWD and modded to post 400hp and 450 torque so the rear tires take a beating. With a wear rating of 540 I should be able to keep them for a few years. Very smooth and quiet, but not as sticky as the Sport or especially Neovas.

Originally Posted by MachtSchnell

I would go with the michelins. I have the pilot sport A/S plus and love them. They handle well, quite, do well in the rain. Can't complain a bit.

I put these same tires on my car about 500 miles ago. Huge improvement over the stock tires and so far I have no regrets.

I have the Michelin SP2's and the rears only last about 6k miles, fronts are at 12k and will be replaced next season as the snow tires are going on next week, just food for thought. It was all highway driving too, only saw 1 curvy pass that I didn't push that hard. And at about ~$450 a tire it makes me furious to think about. They handle well, and are pretty quiet, but not justifiable to me anymore.

Originally Posted by 08_535xi

I have the Michelin SP2's and the rears only last about 6k miles, fronts are at 12k and will be replaced next season as the snow tires are going on next week, just food for thought. It was all highway driving too, only saw 1 curvy pass that I didn't push that hard. And at about ~$450 a tire it makes me furious to think about. They handle well, and are pretty quiet, but not justifiable to me anymore.

Let me say this back to you, to make sure I've got it right. You only got 6,000 miles out of a pair of rear tires with all highway driving?

Originally Posted by WJGreer

Let me say this back to you, to make sure I've got it right. You only got 6,000 miles out of a pair of rear tires with all highway driving?

That is exactly right. Dumbfounding, isn't it? It wouldn't be so painful had I of had fun with the car / tires. But with the AWD, Colorado elevation, and lack of mountain carving, the rear tires sure weren't be pushed / abused. As I look at the rears again, they too will probably be done after this season, but there's about 10k on them now. I have no idea why, but these tires are just not lasting on this car.

And as I look, you're from Denver, so you know all about the elevation, ha. But the car mostly just see's I-25 and I-70 to Winter Park. I put about ~750miles on the car a week, so basically those tires lasted me just shy of 3 months this summer.

I have an 08 550 sport package and i replaced the continentals with Bridgestone RE960's AS. Best all around tires IMO. I have 23k miles on them and the rears have over 50 % tread left and fronts have 70%+. I had these tires on my last car an Acura TL and I got 65k out of them. I do mostly highway driving. Price is reasonable as well considering they last 2 to 3 times as long as summer tires.

To back up 08-535, the PS2's are a 240 tread wear and of you are driving the car like you stole it, the ps2's go quickly. If you don't have keep the tires properly inflated, you can get uneven wear on the PS2's much more so because they are so soft. The PSS are supposed to be 300tw now. Bimmer mag had a article about the PSS on M3's and they received very good ratings.

Originally Posted by 08_535xi

That is exactly right. Dumbfounding, isn't it? It wouldn't be so painful had I of had fun with the car / tires. But with the AWD, Colorado elevation, and lack of mountain carving, the rear tires sure weren't be pushed / abused. As I look at the rears again, they too will probably be done after this season, but there's about 10k on them now. I have no idea why, but these tires are just not lasting on this car.

And as I look, you're from Denver, so you know all about the elevation, ha. But the car mostly just see's I-25 and I-70 to Winter Park. I put about ~750miles on the car a week, so basically those tires lasted me just shy of 3 months this summer.

That is just not normal, unless you are lighting them up more than you think you are. Have you had your alignment checked?

Originally Posted by WJGreer

That is just not normal, unless you are lighting them up more than you think you are. Have you had your alignment checked?

Yup, have had the alignment checked 3 times. It's getting expensive @$150 per alignment.

Hard to light them up with the AWD. I'd be lying if I said I drove it like a grandma, but I sure don't drive it like I stole it. They're just soft and didn't like life I suppose. They were deemed "defective" but even this new rear set is showing signs of wear, and the fronts will be done before their 20k mile rating. But oh well, lesson learned. Won't keep me from buying Michelin, just won't get these tires next go around. Might just be me and my bad luck, or just not a good combo for the car, who knows. Just odd that my snow tires last longer.

Originally Posted by 08_535xi

Yup, have had the alignment checked 3 times. It's getting expensive @$150 per alignment.

Hard to light them up with the AWD. I'd be lying if I said I drove it like a grandma, but I sure don't drive it like I stole it. They're just soft and didn't like life I suppose. They were deemed "defective" but even this new rear set is showing signs of wear, and the fronts will be done before their 20k mile rating. But oh well, lesson learned. Won't keep me from buying Michelin, just won't get these tires next go around. Might just be me and my bad luck, or just not a good combo for the car, who knows. Just odd that my snow tires last longer.

Well, in fairness...we had a set of Pilot Sport all-seasons on our allroad at one point, and they lasted about 8,000 miles too. Maybe it's a Michelin thing.

On the other hand, I'm about to go into my fourth season on the same set of Michelin Alpin snow tires, and they've got plenty of tread left. My 545 is RWD and I tend not to drive it in any significant snow despite the snow tires, so they have an easier life to live...plus they're only on from November to April.

Originally Posted by WJGreer

Well, in fairness...we had a set of Pilot Sport all-seasons on our allroad at one point, and they lasted about 8,000 miles too. Maybe it's a Michelin thing.

On the other hand, I'm about to go into my fourth season on the same set of Michelin Alpin snow tires, and they've got plenty of tread left. My 545 is RWD and I tend not to drive it in any significant snow despite the snow tires, so they have an easier life to live...plus they're only on from November to April.

I have Pilot Sport A/S tires on my Maxima, the first set went over 50,000 miles, the current set is at 47,000 miles, and they still have a ton of tread left on them. My concern is whether I'll be satisfied with those tires on my 550, since they are A/S tires rather than Summer tires. Right now I'm leaning towards the Pilot Super Sports.

Keith

I think the Super Sports were designed in part to have lionger longevity than the PS2s.

Originally Posted by Campfamily

I have Pilot Sport A/S tires on my Maxima, the first set went over 50,000 miles, the current set is at 47,000 miles, and they still have a ton of tread left on them. My concern is whether I'll be satisfied with those tires on my 550, since they are A/S tires rather than Summer tires. Right now I'm leaning towards the Pilot Super Sports.

Keith

What if you wound up liking them better? A slightly softer sidewall plus a little harder tread compound (my wear experience must have been an aberration) could provide a really livable solution.

I don't track my car, and the truth is probably that the OEM Dunlops were too much tire for the way I drive. The Continental DWS I have now feel trivially more compliant and they handle at least as well as I need them to in order to tackle the odd on-ramp and the jaunt up the hill in Colorado when I'm lucky enough to be able to take that car. I feel like they are an improvement, not a compromise.

Installed Michelin pilot super sports on our e61. They replaced Hankook v12's. Big improvement over the Hankooks in ride, handling, vibration. Can't compare them to Contis.

Now add spacers and you will be amazed.
I added 15mm to rear and 12mm to front.
Huge improvement in cornering and overall road feel.
It has same effect as lowering the car, but of course it is just a slightly wider track stance.
The car can easily handle that as it is designed to accommodate snow chains. Hence the added clearance in the wheel well.

Getting ready to swap out my OEM continentals with Michelin Super Sport through America's Tire within next few days. Company was having trouble finding some to fit my 19" 550 with Sport Package, but they found them are having them shipped now. Tread wear has supposedly increased to 300 up from the PS2's. willing to give these a try and if I can get close to 15k - 20k miles out of them, I'll be ok with it. But if I get less, then definitely will switch to something next time with longer tread life. Will report back in comparing outgoing with this new model. And existing tires have about 4/32nd's left of tread, so comparing won't be exactly apples to apples as the new tires will obviously handle much better, but interesting to see just how much bettter.

I currently have an E39 540 with the Continental DW on it. I have had the tires for about 12,000 miles. I have not checked tire wear yet, so I'm not sure how long they will last. I normally get around 30,000 miles from any set of tires on my 540. So far it looks as though I may get more than that with the DWs. The DW tires replaced Michelin Pilot Sport A/S. I know these are different than the PSS, but my experience with various Michelin tires is they have a better ride than the tires that were replaced.

I have enjoyed the Continentals. They have very good traction in the dry and rain. I have not pushed them to their limits, but I have had a few spirited sessions with them. The tires seem to be a little soft in the sidewall compared to the Michelins. Mosty the Continentals have a little more vague steering feel, but I have found a couple more psi in the tire helps.

The Michelins were a smoother riding tire. The DW flat spot over night and it takes a few minutes of driving to get them to smooth out. It is worse now that the weather is cooling down, which means it takes longer for the tires to smooth out.

I have a 3 mile section of highway were the DOT milled the surface. The resulting grooves run parallel with the car. The DWs wander terribly on this section of the highway while the Michelins did not. It feels similar to having a 50 mph crosswind hitting the car. I just make sure I have a good grip on the steering wheel when I get to this section. All other roads seem to be fine.

My biggest complaint with the DW is the tires are not black. I do not like using tire dressings and normally wash the tires and wheels with my wheel cleaner. The Michelins would come out black. The Continentals are brown. It is like they are covered with a mold release compound that will not come off. I have tried several tire cleaners and nothing will get them to what I consider a normal clean black tire. I was talking with my tire shop and mentioned the brown tires to him. He said they have sold a lot of the Continental DW and DWS and noticed all of them had brown sidewalls when they come back to the shop. He thought it was caused by people not cleaning the tires. I think it something with the tire compound. I end up using some Meguiars rubber cleaner/conditioner to get a black color.

Would I purchase them again? Definately if they fix the brown color. If not, I'll just wait and see what is avaible in the future.

I have a 545i sport suspension and I drive my car like its stolen. Always go through tires fast but recently I put some toyo tires on that a friend was able to get for me pretty cheap. They have so far out lasted any other tire. And if you have a spare in the trunk, drop the run flats quick!