BMW Tires

Initial Review, 1,200 Miles on Tires
April 13, 2012

These Non-Run Flats are excellent. The handling, quietness and comfort are signficantly better than the Bridgestone Run-Flats I originally had. This review section influenced my decision and I am very pleased.

Initial Review, 10,000 Miles on Tires
April 19, 2012

Sometimes others help me in deciding on which product is best for my needs by writing reviews; I figured I would return the favor.

I selected track in the drop down menu. I drive like an a hole. This isn't something worth boasting, but I like pushing equipment to the very limits. Cars and speed are things I'm very passionate about. My M3 occasionally sees the track.

As for these tires, I would say there's a reason they're best selling on this site. There certainly are better out there with more available grip and stability, but you won't find a better sport tire that combines everyday road comfort with overall grip and price. As with most sport tires, as they were they tend to become a little more skittish and noisy. This still holds true with the Conti DW tire.

If I could depict the Continental EC DW in as few as words possible, I'd simply call it an "enthusiast's tire"

Initial Review, 12,000 Miles on Tires
April 18, 2012

12,000 miles on these tires in CT. A great tire ! Has Michelin Pilot Sport A/S and they wore out at 40k miles. These look to be wearing better and they are cheaper. Light snow traction is much better with these. Every morning slight flat spot ....but it goes away in 2 minutes and the tire is great ! Great wet weather handling also. So for a good 'W' speed tire, the decision is yours.....spend about $75 extra per tire for the Michelin's if you live with no ice and snow, or get these for all around good tire !

Initial Review, 10,000 Miles on Tires
April 13, 2012

What else can be said about these tires that have not been said: They're too expensive, but better than anything else out there available for this car. Just bite the bullet, grin and bear it.
They last, they're quiet, they grip hard when braking, they let go predictably and consistently, they re-grip as smoothly as any tire I've ever had the pleasure of sliding.
Steering feel is excellent, straight tracking is arrow like, turn-in is only slightly above average, but the payoff in ride is more than worth it. All this and its still the quietest tire.
These are not green tires that will gain any mgp, but they're not meant to be. Will I still be willing to pay so much the next time as the car ages, we'll see, but for right now, at 3 years old and 32K miles, yes it is still definitely worth it.

Initial Review, 44,790 Miles on Tires
April 13, 2012

Had them on my new 2003 Honda Accord EX V6. They performed well for the most part, with the exception of deep snow. The car handling is fine but the tires do not like hard cornering, they start to loose grip way before the car suspension gives in. These tires are also very quiet, unlike my last set of Dunlop on my old '93 Maxima. Granted, this car is no BMW but its handling is the best among the Japanese contemporary comparable mid size cars. Even some unsuspected underpowered bimmers and audi's will smell my exhaust in a hurry in a straight line start or on highway. I was fairly unlucky with this set as I lost two before their due dates. I lost one tire due to the ----ed pot hole on VA street that take out the tire sidewall at 4K. I had to replace a pair ($300) in 2004 to get matching traction at the front end. I lost another at 44K because some idiot dropped a large 2.5" bolt on the road and it went into my side wall, puncturing a big hole. The guy replaces my tire found the bolt inside the tire as I did not know why the tire blew out at 45mph. I think I will probably get another 5K out of this set before I had to replace it for the next winter. For V rate tires, they are not bad in terms of wear but I will probably replace them with the newer Primacy H rate. Some other reviewers actually got better than 50K mileage with these tires, I assume they only got the H rate tires.

Initial Review, 5,000 Miles on Tires
April 08, 2012

Installed these on my new-to-me 330i sport package. I did not expect anything spectacular, but I have to say I am impressed. For the $$, they are a great buy. As good as Michelin Pilot Sports? Nope. But for 2/3rds the cost, they are a whole lot better than 2/3rds as good. They have a very good steering feel and feedback, excellent dry grip and I've never had the traction control so much as flicker in a downpour. This was a non-existent winter in NC, so I have no winter-weather report.

If I get 50k out of them, I think I'll be hard pressed to do better for the money with anything else. I already plan to get these for the wife's E320 next month.

Initial Review, 100 Miles on Tires
April 16, 2012

Extremely quiet and very responsive. The feel in cornering and overall driving is excellent.

Initial Review, 5,620 Miles on Tires
April 19, 2012

My biggest issue with this tire on a 20 inch rim is its sensitivity to poor roads. I have burned through three of these tires in a year and have not had a major pot hole hit... just poor Chicago roads. Always the same thing... large bubbles in the side wall from impact damage. Like most people, I understand that if you hit a good pot hole you will have tire issues no matter what tire you have... this is only compounded when you run 20 in. rims. My advice is to buy this tire as a run flat if you run low profiles. This is a great driving tire, but it does not hold up well to poor road quality.

Initial Review, 10,000 Miles on Tires
April 06, 2012

The Sumitomo HTR ZIII came highly recommend from a fellow BMW 8 series enthusiast who tracked his car every so often. For a 5,500lb 'sport' coupe, the HTR Z IIIs deliver loads of grip and medium/average ride comfort, noise, and longevity. There are highway off-ramps marked 25MPH that I can do do in excess of 55MPH (with tires broken-in, heated up, on dry pavement). Here in Maryland we have a lot of rainstorms and these tires have never let me down in the rain while on the highway. Making turn 90-degree turns, however, in the city, when the roads are wet is a different story...I'm lucking not to see the traction control light up.

All-in-all, this is a spectacular tire priced right for me. I see no point in going with the more expensive tires when this one performs well. I've even gone through two winters with it without incident.

For my next tire, I might even go with the HTR ZII and see if the +60 UTQG and even lower price point can deliver comparable performance. You can't go wrong with Sumitomo.

Initial Review, 12,000 Miles on Tires
April 14, 2012

This tire has a lot of traction in dry and wet climes. The larger, wider tires will hydroplane when you hit a pool of water at a high speed. But then this is expected, so you can't dock too many points off on this front. The traction on ice and snow is good, it isn't as great as tire-chains/studs but enough to get you from A-B when the road is not plowed (and mebbe a little flutter of in your heart if you hit the gas pedal too hard while cornering).

It is a very good tire, in summer, rain and light snow/ice conditions. I would recommend this tire to others, and would be inclined to buy it again once this set wears out, if it ever does.

Initial Review, 26,000 Miles on Tires
April 09, 2012

Stuck with Run Flats becasue BMW now does not even put a spare in the trunk or even a Can of Flat Fix. Over all not bad, but I really do prefer standard Tires. These are a harsh ride. Did pick up a nail and the tires got me home and to a Tire shop the next day. Of important note, Michelin allows for repairs....most of the competition does not. An important difference.

Initial Review, 7,500 Miles on Tires
April 05, 2012

Ran these tires from the beggining of winter through our unseasonably warm dry spring. Was afraid I would wear them out on the warm dry roads and had them changed today. They don't even look like they were ever mounted by the extremely low tread wear. Would buy them again in a minute. Very smooth ride for a winter tire and reasonable noise level.

Initial Review, 28,000 Miles on Tires
April 14, 2012

The vast majority of our driving is on the open road (interstate or highways). Ultimate cornering grip is not a priority, but predictable, competent handling is. We have gone through several sets of tires over the years (the car has 145,000 miles on it); BMWs habitually suffer significant rear tire wear due to the nature of the alignment. These are hands-down, the best set of tires we have ever had on this car. The handling/traction, in all weather conditions, meets or exceeds our expectations. The noise level is great! At this age, previous rear tires have been getting noisy and the tread would be nearly gone. These tires still have 1/3 to 1/2 the tread life left in them. My highest recommendation.

Initial Review, 12,000 Miles on Tires
April 13, 2012

As an American living in Germany I have driven these tires in three scenarios over the last two winters:

High speed autobahn - These tires are offer outstanding grip and comfort with low noise in the rain and dry up to their rated speed (up to 149). Lots of hours spent at 120+ miles per hour on ski trips and they provoke confidence - lots of it.

Around Town on plowed streets - Even in patchy snow and ice these tires rarely loose grip - when combined with traction control the enable amazing grip in patchy ice/snow. Best I have experienced ever.

With chains in Austria/Switzerland/France - Unlike some tires I have had (continental) these tires don't seem to show much side wall wear when using chains. Not the best tire for unplowed streets but then they aren't studded either...

Overall, I'd buy these tires again and recommend them to you wholeheartedly.

Initial Review, 200 Miles on Tires
April 11, 2012

Replaced OEM Bridgestone RunFlats with a set of 4 Conti Extreme Contacts. These tires are a HUGE improvement over the RFT's. Night and day ride quality difference, great traction/handling and way less road noise. We just got these so it's too early to tell yet on tread wear and tread life, but I'm certain these will run longer than the Run Flats that lasted only 10-15K on average. Factor in the reduced cost and it is a no brainer. Very, very satisfied thus far. #runflatsareajoke

Initial Review, 1,000 Miles on Tires
April 12, 2012

If you have an X5 4.4 or 4.8is then these tires are for you. 50% quieter then the OEM Michelins, 50% cheaper for a set of 4, and looks like they will wear 50% longer according to their treadwear expectancy (wait and see). With my 20" stock wheels these tires even feel better with their (very) slight softer sidewalls too. Don't waste your time looking any further, if you want the best all around tire for your X5 then buy these and be done with.

Initial Review, 3,000 Miles on Tires
April 05, 2012

The tire is great up to 50 mph. Once you exceed that is seems the tire runs away from you a bit. It does stay connected to the road that well. Under 50 mph, the tire is awesome, highway driving is not great based on the tire moving around on the road.

Initial Review, 11,000 Miles on Tires
April 06, 2012

I bought these tires from another Bimmer, driving down here in Puerto Rico is VERY Tuff on tires as well for wheels. Since it has been raining for most of the year the tires have proven to be very good, I cant complain. On the dry side the are pretty good but with a set of 19" not to good in cornering. I would be inclined to buying them again but if there is something better for the price then I gather I would not buy them.

Initial Review, 18,000 Miles on Tires
April 11, 2012

Overall I'm a little disappointed. The tires hydroplane much more than what I expected from the reviews and ratings I read. My previous Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires were much better in all areas, for not much more money. These Continental's are comfortable, smooth, generally quiet but offer poor cornering. I would call these tires more luxury and less sport. Only other issue is these don't seem to balance well, whereas my Michelin's almost stayed balanced the entire life of the tires.