Staggered or Not - Help!

[Best4x4xFAR]

Okay,

So we have a 2006 Sports Package 3.0i X5. It came with the 18" style 131 wheels. I just picked up a set of 19" style 63 wheels for it, complete with a set of staggered Michelin Dimaris Tires (285/45 r, 255/50 f). The tires are not long for this world (between 4/32's and 6/32's tread left), and I'm fine to finish out the summer season on them, but they will need to be replaced before winter.

For various reasons, I won't be keeping the 18's for winter, and using the 19's for summer, I want to run one wheel/tire combination year round. The tire of interest is the Nokian WRG2 SUV. Trouble is that they are only available in the 255/50-19 size, not the 285. The 255 tire size is also only recommended on rims up to 9", and If I remember correctly, the rear Style 63's are 10" wide, so I'm assuming just running 255's all around isn't an option either?

So now I feel a bit stuck. Unless some one wants to trade a set of 10" wide rears for 9" wide fronts. Any thoughts from the collective experience on the board?

[Temonio]

Best4x4xfar,
I can't speak for everyone, but I'm confused as to what your question is. Based on the info you gave, I don't know if you're asking about the tire size fitting on your 10" wheel or if you're asking about advice about a similar tire to be used for the staggered set-up.

[Best4x4xFAR]

Originally Posted by Temonio

Best4x4xfar,
I can't speak for everyone, but I'm confused as to what your question is. Based on the info you gave, I don't know if you're asking about the tire size fitting on your 10" wheel or if you're asking about advice about a similar tire to be used for the staggered set-up.

I'm looking for insight/ advice on my options at this point. To be more specific, the questions would be:

~> I would think that it wouldn't be a good idea, and may even look odd to mount the 255 on the 10" wide rear wheel, no? Anyone have any experience with doing this?

~> Does anyone run 10" wheels and 285 section tires at all four corners? I'm wondering if there would be any market for 'swapping' my rears with someone's fronts so I would have four 9" wide wheels and they would have four 10" wide wheels..

~> 19" tire options in this matched set (255/50 front, 285/45 rear) are pretty slim, and all look to be pretty much summer performance tires. We need a true all season tire (truck is driven in the snow, hence the interest in the Nokian WRG2 SUV), so am I missing obvious choices that meet these requirements?

~> Any other Options I might be overlooking?

Thanks..

[TriX5]

Found these two all-season tires.

Michelin Latitude Tour HP Tire(s) 285/45-19 45R19
Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico(Street/Sport Truck All-Season)

Why are you so keen on Nokians?

BTW, I run 255/55/18 on M3 wheels which are 8 in front and 9 in the rear. Works fine.

[Best4x4xFAR]

Originally Posted by TriX5

Found these two all-season tires.

Michelin Latitude Tour HP Tire(s) 285/45-19 45R19
Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico(Street/Sport Truck All-Season)

Thanks for the suggestions, but I wouldn't really expect these to perform any better than the stock Energy MXV's that came with the truck (though they would likely be better than the Diamaris summer tires), which were not particularly impressive in the snow..

Originally Posted by TriX5

Why are you so keen on Nokians?

Because the Nokian WRG2 is the only four season tire available (that I know of) that carries the SnowFlake on the Mountain Symbol indicating it has passed testing for snow performance. Because we use our X5 as family transport in all conditions (including snow) it is important to me to have a tire that can perform well here, something all seasons simply don't do (yes, I'm aware I could run a set of Winter tires and a set of summer tires).

The X5's X-Drive system is nice, and well thought out, but means nothing if there is no traction to work with, and when you are trying to change direction, or stop something that weighs this much, forget about the electronic aids, you better have tires that can get some traction..

Originally Posted by TriX5

BTW, I run 255/55/18 on M3 wheels which are 8 in front and 9 in the rear. Works fine.

I wouldn't expect that to be an issue, most manufacturers list 7-9" as an approved wheel width for use with 255 section tires, however i am concerned that 10" is too wide and will therefore adversely effect the tires performance and wear..

[TriX5]

Oh - sorry, didn't realize you were looking for a winter tire. The Nokians are qualified winter tires and any other winter tire will give you similar performance.

I run Michelin X-Ice on my p/u truck year round and they are holding up extremely well but they don't come in the size you are looking for.

Bridgestone makes Blizzaks in the sizes you are looking for. There is also a Pirelli Ice and Snow that would do better than the Blizzak for year round.

[Best4x4xFAR]

Originally Posted by TriX5

Oh - sorry, didn't realize you were looking for a winter tire. The Nokians are qualified winter tires and any other winter tire will give you similar performance.

I run Michelin X-Ice on my p/u truck year round and they are holding up extremely well but they don't come in the size you are looking for.

Bridgestone makes Blizzaks in the sizes you are looking for. There is also a Pirelli Ice and Snow that would do better than the Blizzak for year round.

Yeah, but I'm looking for a one tire solution. I don't want to run a dedicated winter tire year round, as I'm concerned the tread life will be horrible as the soft compounds 'melt' in the summer heat..

[TriX5]

From experience with a set of Dunlop M2s you would get about 25-30k miles out of a set of winter tires if you keep them on in the summer and provided you cover equal miles in summer and winter.

I doubt very much that the Nokian would do better than that but if you go ahead with it I'd love to hear how it works out. I am a big fan of winter tires as summer tires and all-seasons tires are madness in a climate where ice and snow occurs. I find it hard to imagine that Nokian found the silver bullet to that as W/T are always softer so that they can grip in cold temps. So, let us know.

(I frankly can't believe my X-Ice have held up as well as they have, over 30k on them by now and still a few thousand more in them).

[Best4x4xFAR]

Originally Posted by TriX5

From experience with a set of Dunlop M2s you would get about 25-30k miles out of a set of winter tires if you keep them on in the summer and provided you cover equal miles in summer and winter.

I doubt very much that the Nokian would do better than that but if you go ahead with it I'd love to hear how it works out. I am a big fan of winter tires as summer tires and all-seasons tires are madness in a climate where ice and snow occurs. I find it hard to imagine that Nokian found the silver bullet to that as W/T are always softer so that they can grip in cold temps. So, let us know.

(I frankly can't believe my X-Ice have held up as well as they have, over 30k on them by now and still a few thousand more in them).

Well, I don't know if I'd call it a silver bullet per say, but they have developed a 'four seasons' tire that carries the snowflake rating for snow/ice performance, and a tread wear rating of 400 (including a prorated tread wear warranty). I've read alot of positive experience with the Nokian WRG2 and WRG2 SUV from awd car owners, like Subaru Outbacks and Volvo Cross Counties.

It's still a compromise of sorts. Its not going to provide the traction of a dedicated winter tire when the snow flies, and its not going to corner like a summer tire in the warmer temps, but most equate its summer performance to a good all season and give it high marks for winter traction.

I may still consider going with two sets of wheels & Tires, but its my wife's primary driver, and she doesn't want to go back to the 18" wheels part of the year, so..

[TriX5]

Interesting stuff, one of the reviewers says the drawbacks are for the non-winter use which make sense given they are rated as W/Ts.

Good luck with it, if you go for the Nokians don't forget to write an update! :-)