New Tires - Anyone Had Experience w/These ?!

[MauiKat]

Hi All, 'long time...
Looks like I'll need tires all around on my E53 pretty soon, and before I spend the $$$ to upgrade to staggered wheels and tires, wanted to see about still living with 255's all around a bit longer.
Wanted to ask:

1) GT RADIAL CHAMPIRO 528 255 55R18 - has anyone tried/use these?
'Like the tread pattern, just don't know anything about 'em, found any reliable reviews for X5 use...
2) Anyone still using Vreds ?!
3) Anyone ever used Pirelli P-Zero Rosso's on an X ?!

- X is in L.A. so I don't need to deal much with Winter driving conditions, BTW!

Thanks ALL !!

[motordavid]

Made in China, fwiw...

[TiAgX5]

Tire Rack tested a few "made in china" tires alongside big brand tires a few yrs ago, they didn't fair well (huge understatement!).

[e30cabrio]

I'd steer clear. Tires are really important.

[MauiKat]

Yup, ' bout tires being important, wouldn't cheap out on 'em... took a look on TireRack, Discount Tires, etc, before starting this thread, saw NO rerviews... but thanks fer info... I've been running Michelins to now... guess I'll pass on these...
Anyone still using/have any experience with the Vredstein Ultrac Sessantas, tho?

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by MauiKat

.......took a look on TireRack, Discount Tires, etc, before starting this thread, saw NO rerviews...

There are several online.


Here's a test from '09 where Car and Driver teamed up Tire Rack to test a few.........
Tire Test: Nine Affordable Summer Tires Take On the Michelin PS2 - Comparison Tests

This quote sums up the performance of several China tires.......

"This Ling Long proves that a complete tire design involves more than just a tread pattern, because the L688’s V-shaped layout is essentially a copy of Yokohama’s AVS Sport tire.
Consistently finishing last in all of the performance categories, the Ling Longs’ dry autocross performance was so far behind the other tires’ that we had to round its score up to zero to keep it from being negative."

Tires that need to be rounded up to keep from scoring negative have no place on a performance tuned vehicle.

A common isuue with the China tires in several tests I've read was undesireable breakaway and recovery traits during emergency manuveres in the wet. This takes away any logic behind the arguement "I don't track my vehicle and therefore don't need the better tires". Driving on wet public roads is EXACTLY where you need a predictable tire, the lives of everyone in your vehicle depends on exactly that.

I'm NOT saying ALL China tires are NG, just saying get input from those who use them and can steer you away from the crap.

[panchosouth]

I have run and am now running (first on my 4.6is then the new 4.8is) Nitto Motivos- I've used them all year round and am really happy with them- Great bang for the buck. my 0.02!!

[EKS PYB]

I've been running the Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta's 20" Staggered since Nov 2009. I've replaced the (2) rears once already and now, i'm actually about to buy all (4) new tires this week. So, the (2) fronts lasted this long with no problems, no leaks and actually still have some thread left. But of course, the back tires are a different story. Thread is almost gone on the passenger side.

Now maybe I don't have a heavy foot like some of you guys but I think I drive my X5 a little hard myself here in California freeways.

[srmmmm]

In 440,000 cumulative miles of BMW ownership, I've experienced the best all-around performance (wet road braking and tread life especially) with the Yokohama YK580 tires from Discount Tire. Even with the significant rear camber of my 2002 X5, they respond well to rotations (crossing the rears to the front and moving the fronts straight back) and look to deliver at least 45,000 miles of life. Additionally, they don't cost an arm and a leg - just a leg, and there are plenty of Discount Tires stores to provide service if needed.

2002 X5 3.0 236,000 miles
2004 325i 105,000 miles