GROUP BUY ON TIRES: VREDESTEIN ULTRAC SUV SESSANTA 19" & 20"
 

I'm working on putting together a group buy for some incredible Vredestein tires for the E53 X5, however they will fit any BMW that runs those sizes (i.e. E70 X5, E71 X6, E70 X5 M, etc), so please don't think they are restricted to just the E53 X5. Here are the details:

Vredestein Ultrac SUV Sessanta tires. Note that these are the SUV variant of the Ultrac Sessanta tires which are specific for SUV's, and not the standard Ultrac Sessanta tires. You can read about them on the company website:

Vredestein

GENERAL INFORMATION
The Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta is the newest ace in the Ultra High Performance (UHP) segment. The Sessanta is based on the strong points of the Ultrac series and has been optimised even further to give very good steering and handling characteristics. Giugiaro Design has given the Ultrac Sessanta an innovative design, with a line pattern that clearly shows that performance comes first. The name Sessanta refers to the sixty years of Vredestein's existence in Enschede. In tribute to Vredestein's unique collaborative partnership with Giugiaro Design, "sixty" will be written in Italian: sessanta.

Parametric design - from the drawing board to the shelf
The Ultrac Sessanta is designed parametrically. This means that the tread construction, shape and contours are optimised for every size using mathematical formulae based on design parameters. Each size of the Ultrac Sessanta therefore offers maximum design quality.

FEATURES
- Innovative design and sophisticated line pattern
- Parametric design
- Handling Tuned Tread Compound (HTTC)
- HTS+ (Handling Tuned Sidewall) principle with robust outer shoulders and sturdy sidewalls
- Two rayon carcass layers make the tyre stable and sturdy during handling
- Asymmetric
- Non-directional

BENEFITS
- Good performance and unique appearance
- Optimal design quality: profile, construction, design and contours selected according to mathematical formulae for each size
- Extremely high tracking power, allowing faster cornering Measured correction of the car is possible on bends
- Very direct steering feel Optimal contact with the road surface
- Maximum resistance to lateral forces The car stays more controllable in the most crititcal situations

Your purchase would be in staggered sets of 4 tires in either of the 19" or 20" size. So you have two choices (information from Vredestein website):

Choice A: 255/50ZR19 107W XL & 285/45ZR19 107W
Choice B: 275/40ZR20 106Y XL & 315/35ZR20 110Y XL

They are UTQG rated as Threadwear 280. Traction AA. Temperature A. The 19" tires are "W" speed rated which means they are good for 168 mph. The 20" tires are "Y" speed rated which means they are good for 186 mph. They have a 3 year warranty against defects. No mileage warranty (just like all ultra high performance tires), however according to Vredestein you should be able to get 20,000 - 40,000 miles out of them no problem. As with all ultra high performance summer tires you should consider switching to winter tires when temperatures drop below 7 degree C (44.6 degrees F). However their wet weather traction is reported to be amazing.

Here is specific technical information for each tire:

255/50ZR19 107W XL Measuring Rim= 8.0. Section width=10.4. Overall diameter=29.1. Overall Max Diameter as mounted=29.5. Overall width=10.9. Static loaded radius= 13.4. Rolling circumference= 89.0. Revolutions / mile= 712.
285/45ZR19 107W Measuring Rim= 9.5. Section width=11.2. Overall diameter=29.1. Overall Max Diameter as mounted=29.5. Overall width=11.7. Static loaded radius= 13.4. Rolling circumference= 88.8. Revolutions / mile= 714.

275/40ZR20 106Y XL Measuring Rim= 9.5. Section width=10.9. Overall diameter=28.7. Overall Max Diameter as mounted=29.0. Overall width=11.4. Static loaded radius= 13.4. Rolling circumference= 87.4. Revolutions / mile= 725.
315/35ZR20 110Y XL Measuring Rim= 11.0. Section width=12.6. Overall diameter=28.7. Overall Max Diameter as mounted=29.0. Overall width=13.1. Static loaded radius= 13.4. Rolling circumference= 87.4. Revolutions / mile= 725.

They will be shipped from a Vredestein dealer located in California. Shipping costs are not included in the prices below, however they should run no more than $20 per tire to go cross country (for example, California to New York). So $80.00 max for a set of 4 tires.

On to the costs! They will be as follows:

1 - 5 buyers = $815 for a set (approximately $203.75 per tire)
6 - 14 buyers = $780 for a set (approximately $195.00 per tire)
15+ buyers = $765 for a set (approximately $191.25 per tire)

So if you are interested, put your name down on the list. I am thinking about setting a deadline as June 1, 2010, however depending on interest it could be earlier or later. Once we have a good list going I'll provide all the details, purchasing info, etc. directly to each person signed up via private e-mail. If the response is huge, their might be a possibility of an additional discount, though no guarantee.

1. X5 Meister - A
2. bsprtsgrp - B
3. tmv - A
4. ekimv65 - B
5. BlackX54.4i - A
6. scorpio768 - B
7. brisbmw - B
8. FSETH - A
9. Valx5 - B
10. divoter - B
11. d3athr0w - B
12. CarbonX5 - B
13. wcbarkley - A
14. mywidebody02 - B
15. themoth - B
16. Paulus - B
17. TwinsPoppa - B
18. _XS3C_ - A
19. cheakster - B
20. aznlily - A
21. taosx5 - B
22. Aqua Bliss - B
23. ripp222 - A
24. MidwestE53 - B
25. juppalgae - B
26. andaya - B
27. noworyz - B
28. rrental - B
29. 054.8isSC - B
30. TRADEmark - B
31. 335i - A
32. R8DX5 - B
33. shamrock99 - B
34. fepat55 -B
--- GROUP BUY CLOSED ---
Update 7/20/10 - Thank you everyone for participating in the group buy. I think overall it went great. $765 for a set of staggered 19" or 20" tires was a steal. Below are the other tire options and current prices on Tirerack for your comparison. For the 9 people that bought 19" tires you saved $443 - $457 compared to an OEM tire choice, and $21 - $411 compared to a non-OEM tire choice. For the 24 people that bought 20" tires you saved $895 compared to the OEM choice, and $167 - $629 compared to a non-OEM tire choice.

19"
Michelin Latitude Diamaris (OEM replacement) $1,208
Bridgestone Turanza ER30 (OEM) $1,222

Kumho Ecsta STX KL12 $786
Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport $830
Pirelli Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico $834
Hankook Ventus AS RH07 $846
Yokohama ADVAN S.T. $916
Pirelli PZero Rosso $992
Continental CrossContact UHP $1,012
Michelin Latitude Tour HP $1,176

20"
Michelin Latitude Diamaris (OEM replacement) $1,660

Continental ExtremeContact DWS $932
Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport $936
Yokohama ADVAN S.T. $1,276
Michelin Latitude Tour HP $1,394

(Note: the reason I am referring to the Michelin Latitude Diamaris as "OEM replacement" is that the original OEM such tire for the BMW was the Michelin 4x4 Diamaris. That tire interestingly is no longer being made in staggered sets so you cannot buy four of the same tire (in staggered of course) for your X5 as only the front sizes are available. More specifically, for 19" tires, you can only buy a Michelin 4x4 Diamaris 255/50R19 for the front and no longer a 285/45R19 for the rear. For 20" tires, you can only buy a 275/40R20 and no longer a 315/35R20. Reference: http://www.michelinman.com/tire-sele...diamaris-tires
Michelin has developed the "Latitude Diamaris" which is apparently the next generation tire, and they are available in staggered 19" sets and 20" sets. I referenced pricing using those tires. One curious point is that while the full (front and rear) 20" staggered set is "OE Coded" for BMW, only the rear 19" tire is "OE Coded" for BMW and the front is not; I have no idea why. Reference: http://www.michelinman.com/tire-sele...diamaris-tires )

Back to the Vredestein tires:

Quite a few people on the board already have them and they get very good reviews. Here's just one thread: http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-related-...santa-20s.html

Another informative post: http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ns-anyone.html

Here is one owner who has them on his E70 X5. See post #459: http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e70-forum/70184-2011-facelift-x5-official-thread-pics-press-release-m-sport-pics-46.html

I'll update this post with additional information in due time and answer any questions to the best of my ability.

Here's also a great video of the tires:
<object width="640" height="385">


<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KyWMTiXPbLQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></object>

Damn, Meister...I love the look and, the price.
I wish I had not re-tired last October with the
pos set of Michey Diamaris.

Day late and a few bucks more spent.
Great deal; posters that need a set should
jump on it, imo.
GL, mD

Thanks for the note. Couldn't agree more, price is incredible. You should seriously consider getting a set for the next go-round. No reason why you can't store them in the garage properly. It would also help us get the best price!

Meister, if I could rationalize it, I would toss/sell cheaply my current
set of MichDiamaris in a heartbeat and grab that V set...I don't need
no stinkin "all weather", and the MichD's suck compared to the previous
B-Stone Turanzas, imo.

But, hard to justify tossing current set; as for buying now, that new
set will sit in my basement for ~3+ years at my mileage rate on the
X...makes no sense. But, good luck on the Buy.
mD

I'm in

I have a set of the Vredestein's for my winter setup and you could climb a tree with them. They came highly recommended to me by a colleague in Europe.

I've done extensive research on replacements for my 20" Diamaris and there are few tires out there on the market at this performance price point. This is great deal to be taken advantage of.

I am in for the 19"

Put me in for a set of 20's. THX

what would be the shipping cost to toronto canada ???we might want a set eh!

I have no idea, guess I'd have to inquire. However, if you would order from tirerack shipping to canada is about $120 more than the US from my estimate.

Update: Looked into it. Yes shipping is quite a bit more and for a set of 4 via UPS they are approaching $200 for shipping. No idea about VAT stuff though. I don't know how favorable the exchange rate is for you. Maybe you could ship them to someone in the states and pick them up yourself? We'd love to have you help us to hit 15!

I'm definitely in if we can make it to 15 members...

That's pretty much what we are all going for! I'll put your name down.

:thumbup:

19" or 20" ?

are these all season or high performance summer? by thread rating looks like summer
i'm in NY do i pay $20 per tire charge?

Thanks

Summer, but excellent wet handling. They are not winter tires.
What is a $20 per tire charge?

cross country delivery, where are they shipping from?

without it its worth it but with it, it comes close to All Season Conti's DWS, they are $973 from tire rack and they have 540 thread rating with good reviews on the forum

Did you read the original post? Also sounds like you are looking for all season tires that will last you a decade. These are not for you. And even at the highest price they are worth it btw.

I don't think you can find Conti's DWS in X5's tires size. They're not made for SUV.

I looked into these before I got the Toyos... they come in summers only.

Yep. High performance summer only.

19s...

cool

that's actually good prices. how long do these tires last for an SUV? When I had them on my E92 with 20" setup. they lasted 20k+

They are great prices, not just good. A set of OE Michelin Diamaris or Bridgestone Turanza ER30's will set you back about $1200 in 19" size and they don't last as long. 20" Diamaris run over $1600. I've heard 25,000+ miles shouldn't be a problem with these.

man I wish I had some bigger wheels...

Not too late to get some, and get in on this great deal.

Hello,
wondering how long it takes to receive the tires? I need it ASAP!

Well at the moment we are at 5 people so you could get them, but your price would be $815 + shipping.

Not bad, cheapest I found was here:

275/40/20 315/35/20 Vredestein Tires fit BMW X5 CAYENNE : eBay Motors (item 140405356987 end time May-10-10 13:28:21 PDT)

Is there tax for us Cal residents?

Those are not the SUV variant of the tires. They are the regular Sessanta. I'd have to check on tax, but I'm sure you could figure a way around it.

Put me down for set "B" - the 20"s. Are you up to 6 buyers now?

Cool. Will do. Yes, but we want 15.

I wish, i only have 5k miles on my toyos :(

same here. i have plenty of life left on my toyos

Totally understand guys, just realize that the prices will only go up. You can store them and get in on an incredible deal!

Looked into it. Yes, tires shipped to California will have to pay California sales tax plus a $1.75 per tire fee. Unfortunate, but if you think about it shipping will be much less than the $20 per tire cost to ship cross-country so you'll end up paying basically the same total as someone buying a set on the East Coast.

Okay count me in for a set for choice B.

1. X5 Meister - A
2. bsprtsgrp - B
3. tmv - A
4. ekimv65 - B
5. BlackX54.4i - A
6. scorpio768 - B
7. brisbmw
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

For which ones, 19 or 20?

choice B, 20's.

Done. Almost half way there.

Sign me up for 19's Meister!

My old Toyo's are roaring and seeing as they don't make the standard e53 sport package rear size of 285/45/19 I started reasearching the Vred's. I searched Bimmerforums, here, etc. and read pretty much nothing but positive reviews. Even the guy at my local tire shop (one of the best in the Atlanta area) says he gets positive reviews from pretty much everyone he orders them for. So what the hell, I am going to give the summer rubber a chance over the typical all seasons and see how they go. The group price is pretty damn low. The fact that my second choice Pirelli all-seasons were more expensive at my local dealers and the Tire Rack didn't hurt either.

Signed up! We are gettin' there...

sign me up for for
Choice A: 255/50ZR19 107W XL & 285/45ZR19 107W
please

thanks :)

Excellent! Done.

what is the normal non group buy price on option B?

Ordering my x5 tomorrow and want to know if i should get the 214s (afraid of the high tire cost)

I've been quoted $900 - $1275. You won't get a deal like this again. 20"'s are a fortune.

group buy
 

sign me up for choice b 20's thanks ans let me know

divoter

Great! Done.

Tire life? Would it make sense for me to order two sets? I have winter tires and rim, if they will last me only 1 summer a set, Ill take two

Entirely up to you. It's a great deal. Let me know.

Would these fit the 2011 X5 as well? I'm assuming yes but thought I'd ask first. Just ordered a 35i (premium) and considering using the RFTs that come with it as the winters and these for the summers. Would that make sense or should I get a dedicated set of winters also?

Not 100% sure what tires the 2011 35i comes with to be honest, but I'm pretty sure the 20" are the 275/315 size assuming you are getting the 20's. If you are getting 19" rims then you better make sure because I don't think those come as a staggered set. Please verify for yourself though and let me know and I'll add you to the list.

I need them ASAP. Can I order them now? Otherwise I have to get something else like the All-season Bridgestone Turanza.

Couple more days left, can the people on the fence along make a decision and let me know ASAP?

I am in! :thumbup:

Count me in for the 20's (choice B)! I'm glad i read this thread, was going to pull trigger on ebay. How many people you got so far and when is the dealer willing to ship? Please keep me in the loop.

By the way, i have the e70 3.0 without the sport package. Going from 18's to 20's wheels - will it affect my drive dramatically? It's my wifey's daily driver and i don't want her to b*tch at me for ruining the comfort :). I love the looks so it's a must have! Thinking of getting the M-style, 214 or 215. Still undecided, but will be pulling the trigger soon.

1. X5 Meister - A
2. bsprtsgrp - B
3. tmv - A
4. ekimv65 - B
5. BlackX54.4i - A
6. scorpio768 - B
7. brisbmw
8. d3athr0w - B
9.
10.
11.
12.

Did you decide on 2 sets or 1?

It comes with the Bridgestone 255/50 19R all season RFTs (19"). Would the style 214 wheels that I am getting fit these tires? Thanks. Also, what is the last day to say yes or no?

If you are getting staggered 19's then yes, otherwise they'd have to be 20's. I don't know about the 214 wheels personally, you'll have to ask some E70 owners. How much time do you need to decide, let me know?

Are we ready to proceed, please let me know how and and when.

Thanks.

Last chance to get it on this guys! Let me know ASAP!

I'm in.

Choice B: 20"

Thanks.

please change my selection from A (19") to B choice (20") - hope it's not too late.
Just got new rims few days ago - thanks!

No problem. Done. Will be ending it shortly. Still trying to hit 15.

Okay guys, getting ready to end this group buy and unfortunately we haven't hit 15 for the $765 price. The vendor however is very understanding and is willing to give us a price of $775 for 12 units if we can't get 15. So here are 2 questions, for everyone who is in on the group buy:
1. Do we end it now and take the $775 price? or
2. Do we keep it going for 1 - 2 weeks and try to get a few more people in for the $765 price?

Send me a PM with your vote / opinions. I'll make a final decision in the next 24 - 48 hours. Thanks.

Okay based on the response I got we are going to end the group buy now and take the $775 price. I understand that in the very short term the price of shipping AND the tires themselves will go up so now is the time to lock in this price and run with it. I will send a PM to everyone on the list for the contact details so check you inbox.

If anyone else still wants in, we are going to keep it open until the price increase hits, so decide soon.

Is it too late to add me to the list? i wouldlike a set of choice A.

Nope not too late. Added you to the list and sent you a PM.

is it to late. if not put me down for B the 20's

same here b 20's

Not too late. Added you and sent you a PM. Thanks for joining!

Added. Also sent you a PM. Thanks for joining!

Keep 'em coming guys! You can still get in on the deal.

Got those on my M, great tires!

Why not get another set at this price, because you'll never see this price again!

Probably not the right place for the question
 

I have ordered mine and am expecting to receive them this week. My question is, while I change the tires on my ride, is there a really good product to put on the wheels to keep them clean? I have 6 different products on my shelves, nothing much better than any other.

I have Eagle One, Mothers, McGuire's, Purple Power, and, Black Magik. I have a hard time saying 1 is better than the other, they all last a week or two. I am curious if there is truly a good long term polish or other that would work better.

The other option is different pads, but, I am happy with the performance with the Galfers I have on her.

Thanks for any advice you're willing to share. :thumbup:

Mike

vresdestein tires
 

I'm interested in a set of 20's. Please count me in

Shoot Phil at Detailer's Domain the question. I'm sure he'll have some great advice.

Added and sent you a PM. Thanks.

In case anyone wasn't sure, we've hit 15 buyers so the $765 + shipping price is ours. If you placed your order and got the $775 price you will be refunded $10. A deal is a deal! Thanks again guys. Keep them coming!

I just ordered mine. Thanks again Mike for putting this deal together. Great job!

In Response to "Probably not the right place for the question "
 

I have the Style 87's and I use just Zaino Z7 and a popsicle stick brush from a separate bucket everytime I wash the X. Clean the wheel interiors with car wash soap and water or any good wheel cleaner (P21S, etc) and then coat the wheel with either Wheel Wax or use Klasse AIO. I've used both with good results.

Great advice.:thumbup:

Fantastic. Make sure you got the $765 price.:thumbup:

You can also try cleaning them with Sonax.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-related-forums/detailing-forum/71375-sonax-vs-100k-miles-dusty-brembo-pads-56k.html

Then wax as others have suggested.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the assistance!

Mike

Check your private messages when you have a minute.

got my tires today. quick service.

I received 3 of my 4 tires today (weird). Is anyone having new alignments done after mounting these new tires?

BTW, Vredestein has new winter tires that they just released. I have the Wintrac's and they are fantastic.

3 out of 4, that's weird? Was there tracking for all 4 individually or something?

Yes you should get them properly mounted, road force balanced with the Hunter system, and then have alignment done. Glad you brought it up!

I received the rears today, still do not know where the fronts are..... Ill let you know.

Mike

I got all 4 tires yesterday, but one of them is used, not sure how can that be?? they'll be shipping new one out today hopefully...

All 4 of mine showed up together as promised within a week of ordering. All tires were new with manufacturer stickers and everything. It did take a few days to get a tracking # though.

Mikey ... is it too late to get in on this deal?

Not too late. For you or someone else b/c I thought you had some ultra custom size tires?

For me. I'm seriously considering buying new wheels (87s or the X6 double spokes) and so ... new tires.

Great. Added you to the list for a set of 20's. Also sent you a PM.

Well I just blew out a rear Toyo last night so I'm in need of a set! Is it still possible to get in on this group purchase? I would need the 20" sizes, 275/315. Also, is the shipping set or would I need to contact your source to quote shipping to 46055, Indiana?

Thanks!
Dan

Sent you a PM.

I got two fronts yesterday from cali and one rear from jersey today....weird. I called them and they said they would get back to me tomorrow. Hmmmph. Btw is alignments necessary? I would have thought balancing would be good enough? Because when I switch back to old rims/tires in winter I wouldn't think I would have to re-align?

They have more than one warehouse from which they can ship is my understanding depending on stock. I would highly recommend full balancing with the Hunter Road Force system followed by an immediate full alignment.

Got my 4th tire today, lol :). Thanks for putting this together!

Sorry for the unnecessary worry, but glad it worked out. Happy to help put it together!:thumbup:

#18 on the GB list :) - Thanks Mike :thumbup:
btw does anyone know if this Vreds tires are Directional or not ? :popcorn:

Directional tire question for dumbies
 

This group Vredestein deal is awesome, my tires are being shipped tomorrow. I have a question that has annoyed me for some time. I always thought a directional tire meant there was a left and right. But since I have been changing winter and snow tires on my 4.6 I noticed that the Diamaris have the same deal. If you scroll down on the original post and get to the third picture showing the direction the way the Vredesteins are supposed to be mounted, the way the water is directed to the groove is different from the left side to the right. On the right it goes from front to back and on the left it goes from back to front. I know this is how they are mounted and all but can anyone explain how this works, to me they are then not directional.

You will have to go to the first and original post to see the pics I am talking about. Anyone???

[QUOTE=X5 Meister;738582]I'm working on putting together a group buy for some incredible Vredestein tires for the E53 X5, however they will fit any BMW that runs those sizes (i.e. E70 X5, E71 X6, E70 X5 M, etc), so please don't think they are restricted to just the E53 X5. Here are the details:

The best way I can explain it is its both directional and non-directional (mostly non-directional).

The tires are directional in that the groove that goes the whole circumference of the tire is always installed on the inner side. So, they are treated directionally for installation.

However, the tread design/pattern was designed to be effective in either direction.

So, in their own words:

"Thanks to this ingenious design, the Ultrac Sessanta is asymmetrical but its performance is not directional. This makes the tyre exceptionally quiet"

I think most people would agree that they are not really directional - since they can rotate effectively in either direction.

Yeah, they are hard to define. Basically, there is an inside and an outside to each tire and they have to go on that way.

Is the group buy over? :(
Did I miss it? I'm new to the forum and I'm in need of some great tires as well as rims.

Thank you all

i'm in for 20 inch. but gotta get the new wheels first.

how are these tires in snow and rain?

Didn't miss it. PM sent.

Added you to the list and sent you a PM.

Amazing in the rain, but not for the snow at all.

Picking up the new ride this Saturday :driver::2thumbs::bmw: Don't really remember how the stock 19' are but seen some 20' that are really amazing and this deal is to good to pass on.

I guess shipping to Canada or at least the border should not be a problem.

FYI Vredestein tires is a very reputable well known outlet. And remember, If it ain't Dutch it ain't much!!

Not sure about your note, do you want me to add you to the group buy? Shipping to Canada is a fortune so unless you can get them to somewhere in the states I'd honestly say forget it.

Thanks Poppa, this makes better sense to me now. Does anyone know if you can rotate these Vredesteins? My understanding is that you could rotate from back to front but not side to side. I know on Diamaris, once you run then a certain direction (like on the left or right) then they have to run on that same side. Switching them to the other sided will compromise the integrity of the tire. Since I run a staggard set up on my 4.6 I am assuming that I will not be able to rotate the Vredesteins from side to side. Anyone??

I don't understand. What benefit are you looking for in switching sides on your staggered setup?

Fronts will have the outside worn more from turning. If you try to swap sides then the outer edge will still be on the outer edge - only rotating the opposite direction.

Rears would be the same situation. No benefit that I can see.

Obviously you don't want to swap front to back. So, again, maybe you can clarify exactly what you're trying to achieve.

I am a little confused by your questions as well and although I think Twinspoppa explained it quite well (and I agree with him) let me try to explain it a little further in a bit more detail...

1. BMW does not recommend rotating tires. Just an FYI, and one with which I completely agree.

2. For staggered 19" or 20" tires, you can forget swapping tires on the same side front to back. This should be obvious.

3. Because the inner side of each Vredestein tire must have the longitudinal groove, meaning each tire has a dedicated inner side and dedicated outer side (in other words the tires are asymmetric) (see drawing A; LI = Left Inside, LO = Left Outside, RI = Right Inside, RO = Right Outside) you cannot dismount a left front tire from it's rim and install it on the front right rim with its outer side now on the inside and its inner side now on the outside. (see drawing B). If the tires were symmetric then you could do this, but they are not.

4. Again, because the inner side of each tire must have the longitudinal groove, swapping tires left to right and right to left would result in the proper orientation relative to outer and inner edges, however the direction of rotation would be the opposite. Tires that were traveling in the forward direction are now traveling in the backward direction. (see drawing C) This is considered okay by Vredestein since the tires are non-directional.

However, you need to understand a few things. Rotating tires in this manner will NOT extend their life from wear due to camber, toe-in, toe-out, issues, etc. Again, because they are asymmetric tires, inner edge wear will always be inner edge wear just like outer edge wear will always be outer edge wear. However, wear caused by braking and acceleration forces can be compensated for by this type of rotation and can extend the life of the tires. Officially Vredestein recommends if you are going to rotate them, to do so every 7,500 - 10,000 miles.

(FYI: If you watch the youtube video that is linked in the first post of this thread, at 6:24 into the film the narrator specifically states the tires are asymmetrical but non-directional)

Now, for many the question comes down to economics and time. Is the extra mileage that you might get out of rotating the tires as caused by acceleration and braking more than the cost to take the car to the tire shop and pay to have each tire rotated and rebalanced? If your tire shop does it for free then maybe so if you have the time. If not free then I'd say the decision to do it is a little harder to make. It also depends on how you drive, quite obviously. If you accelerate and brake like a maniac, the wear due to those forces will be a lot different as compared to the person driving their kids to school and back at a leisurely pace. Ultimately the decision is yours to make.

My personal suggestion is to:

#1. Buy the tires. It's the deal of the century, especially on a set of 20"'s.

#2. Go to a dealer or indy and have your suspension looked over to make sure nothing needs to be repaired or replaced. If you discover this later, you'll likely need to get the alignment done again.

#3. Locate a tire installation shop that uses the same Hunter tire mounting equipment that BMW uses, I believe the Hunter TC3500 or better. If you have super expensive rims and don't want them scratched up then I suggest you seek out a place that also has the Hunter Auto34 system which is specially designed not to scratch or mar rims.

However, more importantly, find a shop that uses the same Hunter tire balancing equipment that BMW uses (GSP97BMW Road Force Measurement System with StraightTrak LFM, which is the OEM version of the GSP9700 Wheel Vibration Control System).
GSP97BMW Road Force Measurement® System
You can locate a shop with this tool:
Hunter GSP9700 Wheel Vibration Control System
Call them up and make sure they have the equipment, just to be safe. Schedule an installation and get it done. Also start making arrangements for alignment. As a rule, full alignment should be done whenever you are installing a full set of brand new tires.

#4. Immediately go to your BMW dealer and have a 4 wheel alignment done. You can of course have this done at a tire shop. If so, I would suggest again that you make sure they use the same Hunter equipment BMW uses (I believe it's the Hunter KDS II Wheel Alignment System) and that you are comfortable with their policies should the alignment not turn out okay. Personally I've had too many bad experiences with tire shop alignment to waste time with anyone other than the BMW dealer for this work. To me the extra money the dealer charges over a tire shop is well worth it.

#5. IMHO don't bother with rotation, per BMW's advice, and just replace the tires when sufficiently worn.

Will see if I can arrange pu from the border. Give me a few days and I will let you know.

No problem.

Quick question for you guys with Active Steering:- Can dealers only perform alignment on vehicles with active steering or can Indy's do too? I was quoted $250 ($100 bucks more than regular alignment) at the dealership. My indy shop has Hunter system for balancing and is Tirerack recommended. I haven't asked them about "Active Steering" alignment because i fear they may say "Yes" just to earn business. Whats so special about active steering that a good local shop may not be able to perform? Thoughts?

Not sure about active steering to be honest, however does your shop use the KDS II system?

Nope, they said they have RA 11 system. Not sure what that is. However, they said they could do active steering. Thoughts?

My understanding is that it isn't the same system that BMW uses. Find a place with the BMW system.

I am in. Can ship to a warehouse in Orville next to usa/canadian border. Let me know how to proceed.

Cool. 19" or 20"? Also, PM sent.

Is the deal still available? I'd like in for option B (20").
Thanks.

Still on. Added you to the list and sent you a PM. Thanks for joining in!

if I could get some more info on when I would be able to get a set of the 20" flavor. wifey's 4.8i.s. is in bad need of a set soon. I saw where this group buy was running up this weekend I believe, so hopefully I can get in on it. Definitely interested and if I can get them soon, count me in for sure.

If the list is still open you can put me down for a set of 20''. Thanks!

I'd like to be counted in as well, info would be great. Is it possible to get 4 255/50/19's? (instead of staggered) - I'm on the fence on another set of rims, but I've got a 2011 X5d that has those all the way around :)

Yes it's over as of this weekend. Let me see what I can do for all 3 of you guys.

Update: Yes I was able to get all 3 of you in for the $765 price. Please order them immediately though.

Is it too late??? I'm interested in Group B.

It started on May 4th, what took you so long? I'll see what I can do.

thanks again! Ordered mine yesterday! :thumbup:

Excellent!

Hi I would like to get a set of the 20" staggered, the mich's are wearing quick and it's pretty close to time for a new set, can you pm me the info, thanks

PM sent.

Update 7/27/10 - Thank you everyone for participating in the group buy. I think overall it went great. $765 for a set of staggered 19" or 20" tires was a steal.

In comparing prices for tires on Tirerack: For the 9 people that bought 19" tires you saved $443 - $457 compared to an OEM tire choice, and $21 - $411 compared to a non-OEM tire choice. For the 25 people that bought 20" tires you saved $895 compared to the OEM choice, and $167 - $629 compared to a non-OEM tire choice. Using the OEM tires as a guide I estimate that overall we saved about $26,425 in this group buy.

:iagree::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumb up::thumbup::thumbup:

Thank you X5 meister for making this possible. Looking forward to the next one!!

Happy to help.:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Same here. Thanks for putting this together for everyone.

X5 Meister . I see that this is closed. Do you have information where I can buy the 20 " option . Being from Canada our options are limited. Can you pm me.
Thanks

PM sent.

Has anyone heard back from these guys? Called in my order and payment last week, but haven't heard a word about pickup.

Why don't you call them up and ask them? To my knowledge everyone else has already received theirs.

Anybody order a set of 19's and not NEED them? LOL.

I wish I saw this sooner :(

PM sent...

Ya I've tried calling, but I haven't been able to get through. Guess I'll keep trying?

I think boss was out for a few days. You should be able to get through today.

PM sent

Can I still squeeze in an order for the 20's or is it closed?

PM sent

OK...I am way late to the game here, but anyway to get in on the 19's still?

Yes it's long over. PM sent.

So, now that everyone has their Vredestein tires mounted what are your impressions? I am very curious to hear!!

I am extremely happy with mine, they grip better than my Duelers, IMO they are better than my Pirellis. The only thing I didn't like was in heavy rain they made a loud sound above 74 MPH, and even though they are the same size as my Duelers they don't look as wide on the X.

As a follow up, when I had my tire guy put them on, he asked what did these cost you, I told him, he said that is lower than I for pay them! Thank you to X5!

I bought a set of 19's through the group buy, but I had also bought a set of Pirelli Scorpion Asimmetrico's. I was torn between the Summer Vred's and all-season Pirelli's. In the end I went with the Pirelli's thinking they would last longer and the fact they were wider. I was going to keep the Vred's and install them when the Pirelli's wore out because this group buy was such a good deal, but I decided to sell my set to another member here when a few mechanical issue came up on the X.

For comparison sake, here is a photo of the Pirelli and the Vred. Both are rear tires in the same exact size.

I am getting to the point where I will be replacing my Diamaris. The tires I am thinking about are the all-season Michelin Latitude HP or Pirelli Scorpion Asimmetrico's. I have the staggered 19 setup. If I was to stick with a summer only tire I would consider the Vreds. However, I like to snowboard in the winters and think it would be nice to have an all season setup. I am not sure it makes much sense for me to get a dedicated winter set because I don't live where it snows. I only go up to the mtns in CA and UT for snowboarding on trips. However, if I lived where it snows it would probably make sense to have two sets of wheels/tires.

Seth, remarkable diff in size, in that rear tire comparo pic...
I realize one mfg'er's "size" vs another, is slightly nominal,
but I would not have guessed those tires were the same "size".
BR, mD

According to Meisters info above, the rear 19 inch Vred's have a section width of 11.2 inches, which is exactly the same as the Pirelli's. Section width is measured once the wheel is mounted on a rim, so maybe it is that wide after the sidewalls are stretched out a bit. As you can see, unmounted the Pirelli's look more substantial and from widest point to widest point, the Pirelli's were a 1/2 inch wider. Not only that, but the tread pattern of the Vred's makes them appear more narrow as well. Having said that, I still like the look of the Vred's and if most people report back that the treadware is reasonable (30k+), I may give them a try next time. That is, unless Continental decides to make the Extreme Contact DWS in the staggered 19' size.

I am with you! I want the Conti's for my staggered wheels!!

Thanks for the explaination, FSETH...
I didn't realize that Pirelli was mounted.
Now I get it.
BR, mD

No, no neither of the tires in that photo were mounted. I was just saying that they are both advertised as having the same section width once mounted, which must mean that the Vred is stretched onto the rim. Both of those tires in the above photo were right off the UPS truck. No rims. It was an apples to apples comparison. The Pirelli is 1/2 inch wider as is. Sorry for the confusion.

Aha...now back to as weird looking as I originally thought.The V tire almost looks like a higher profile/diff sized tire compared to the Pirelli.

I do like the V's tread pattern, (even if it was ripped from the GY F1 tire), and I really debated on getting a set via Meister's exc deal group buy situ.
But, having just put on a set of Mich Diamaris, (after reading the over effusive praise for them, here), I didn't need a set sitting in my basement.

The tire mileage, or lack of, would not have bothered me much...maybe "next time".
GL, mD

GY F1 Tar:
http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires...gsd3_ci2_l.jpg

Tire PSI
 

Afternoon All,

What tire PSI's are you running? I am at 34 per corner, it seems as they flat spot after sitting all night long. Once on the road for the first couple hundred yards, they seem to be OK.

Thanks.

You are right about that. I was shitting my pants cuz it sounded like a wheel bearing or a spun Bearing. I do have a problem with vibration at between 70 and 80. Also noticed that the rears have a raised line in the middle all they way Around but the fronts don't.

vredesteins
 

So I bought some of these Vrediesteins for my 05 4.8is and they ride awesome, but I didn't take into consideration I live in new england, so I Just ordered some Toyo proxies stII's I need something that can take the snow a little better than the vreds, kinda sucks having to change them over on my wheels again so I was thinking about selling the vreds unless i can get another set of 20 staggered wheels at a decent price...

As promised I am following up to give you my feedback on these vrederstein tire.
I installed 275/40 R20 front
315/35 R20 rears
As recommended in the manual I ran them at 32 lbs on all 4 corners. I really don't carry anything. I check the tire pressures every 2-3 weeks so I am sure tha the pressures were pretty constant.
I installed them on August 9, and removed them on November 11.
I travelled a distance of 17,997 km ( 11,185 miles ) .
I looked at the wear on the tires .
The fronts look to have minimal wear and seem to be very even across the face
The rears however a another matter. There is excessive wear in the middle ( looks like they are over inflated) on both rears and the wear on the rears overall is considerably more than the fronts. ( Ill check the depth in the spring. ).
I travel on highways quite a bit so I would suggest that these miles represent about 70% hwy and 30 % city. I do not think that I will get more than another 20,000 km on the backs. I will reduce the air priessure in the rears to see if I can even out the wear.
Anyone else encounter this situation??

Ok so I got my vibration problem fixed. Both rear tires were either not balanced correctly or went out of balance. All set now.

Can we still get these tires on a group buy? I realize this happened some time ago, but spring here and I need a new set.

THX.

I would like to know this as well.

Me 2

Have not heard anything from the OP. So I assume this is dead. I ordered a set here in Canada and they were the last ones available in Canada. I talked with Vredestein USA in New Jersey and they told me that they do not have any in their warehouse and they are awaiting a container from overseas. Some of the Distributors may have stock, but YMMV. They (20") are becoming hard to find.

I'm looking for the 19's.
I found a set from Tiresbyweb.com

Try ebay
 

I bought a set of staggered 19" from the following ebay seller:

cleanin_out_the_garage

I used all of a $100 off paypal coupon for Ebay Motors. Tires arrived quickly, perfect.

CPR on an old thread

Any feedback from the dozen buyers of the Vred tires?

I'm buying tires this week. I am a tire dealer myself but don't have access to these tires, and can't find anything in my line even close to the prices i'm seeing here.

What do you think....were they a good buy and can you drive hard on em?

Thanks

I love them, they were perfect in road control and low noise. They worked well on my 4.8is. If you run duelers, they will appear skinner on the vehicle, that would be my only complaint.

They wore extremely well on mine, I don't know if anyone else had the same, I have mine aligned 2 times per year just because I'm anal about that.

Hope that helps.

Hopefully, someone will run another group buy as I am in the market for another set, this time on my E70. A set of Toyo St2's are a good comparison, I would consider them as well. :cool:

I'm now on my 2nd set on the back. I have 20 inch tires on my 4.8 and I am a little miffed with the tire wear on the back. The front now have about 40,000 km on them and I expect that they will last another 10,000 km. The first set of rears only lasted about 20,000 km which seemed low to me.
Since I am from Canada I purchased my tires from Tire Warehouse ( in the US) and got them shipped. As a previous poster indicated these tires are hard to find and not very available in Canada. In fact when I put the 2nd set of rears on there were no 20 inchers available in Canada.

So mine are installed and have a couple thousand clicks on them LOVE THEM!!! Of course i get told all the time that I mounted them wrong LOL because of the opposing 'swoops" in the tread design.

I find them quiet, reasonably soft and great in the corners, and amazing in rain!

For the Canucks among us....Sorat wheel and Tire in British Columbia stocks them! $1290 delivered anywehre in canada, taxes in!

Anyone interested in doing this again for the Spring/Summer season??

I'm down for a group buy. I just joined so I could say I was in for one :thumbup:

I need a new set of tires and am willing to go in on a group buy.

I was in a pinch and had to order two tires. This place was the best price I could find and they shipped them out right away. I ordered and had them here in four days. Maybe a few of you could contact these guys and see if a group buy would work with them. They charged $25 per tire to ship but who knows maybe if enough people get on board they might cut their price. Here is the link. Good luck!
Group A Wheels - Catalog

That's 3 people...anyone else interested? Any idea how to do this?

Thanks for the info. After doing a little more research, the tread life isn't that great. I believe I read that people are having to replace their tires around 15K. I'm looking for a tire with a longer tread life. The Continental ExtremeContact DWS seemed to be the front runner.

I wonder if we can get a group buy for the Continental ExtremeContact DWS?

I'm down for whichever works best on these vehicles. I bought one that's used but it hasn't even arrived yet. Already know it needs new tires though :(

My vote is for the Vredesteins.. I have them now and have absolutely no complaints.

I would seriously like to set up a group buy for the Continental ExtremeContact DWS. I know there are a number of members that use and like these tires.

Any one know how would I get started?

Thanks,
Donald

The only thing that makes me leery of the Continentals is they are all an all weather vs a summer or performance tire or something. I don't need all weather since we don't get snow...ever, lol. Are they still recommended in that case?

Well, its like this. If you go the SUMMER tire route (which I did with Vreds), you will probably get 15K out of the rears and 30K out of the fronts. I go through 2 sets of rears for each set of fronts.

You can do this safely with the 2004+ models as it allows for some leeway - unlike the older models which have a locked front/rear ratio.

If you go with ALL-SEASON you might get 30K on a set of front AND rears.

If you have the pre-facelift models, then you will have to replace all four corners at the same time.

Its all in what you want. Do you want summer tire's better performance but faster tire wear? Or the adaptability of the all-seasons and longer wear?

Keep in mind that if you go the summer tire route, you will probably need another set of wheels/tires for winter time.

I won't need any winter wheels/tires. I do like the more mileage out of the DWS's though. I'll have to do some research on both and see which would be better. I have a 09 48i w/ sports package

Those mileage figures were more for 2006 and below. I have no idea on tire wear on the 2007 and later models. Might want to check in the E70 forum.

Apparently my brain stops thinking about X5s after 2006. LOL! Sorry about that.

Haha, it's all good. I doubt they would be that different. Either way, I'm ready for a group buy of some sort. Either will be better than the ones w/ <15% tread life :)

From Tire Rack....

The ExtremeContact DWS (DWS for Dry, Wet & Snow) is Continental's Ultra High Performance All-Season radial developed for drivers of sports cars, sports coupes, performance sedans and sport trucks. The ExtremeContact DWS is designed to satisfy their year-round driving needs by blending dry and wet road performance with light snow and slush traction.
ExtremeContact DWS features an advanced silica-based, high-grip, all-season tread compound molded into a unique asymmetrical tread design with stable shoulder blocks and a continuous, notched intermediate rib on the outboard side to enhance responsiveness and cornering stability. The center of the tread features independent blocks separated by high-angle, crisscross grooves to provide the biting edges necessary to deliver wet road and light snow traction while independent inboard shoulder blocks help disperse water to further enhance hydroplaning resistance and foul weather traction.
The ExtremeContact DWS features Tuned Performance Indicators — visible letters molded into the second rib from the outboard shoulder to alert drivers of the tire's performance levels. A visible "DWS" indicates the tire has sufficient tread depth for dry conditions, as well as wet roads and light snow. After the "S" has worn away, the remaining "DW" indicates the tire only has sufficient tread depth for dry and most wet road conditions. And after the "W" and "S" have both worn away, the remaining "D" indicates the tire has appropriate tread depth for dry conditions only.
The tire's internal structure includes twin steel belts reinforced with spirally wound jointless nylon cap plies to provide long-term integrity under high-speed conditions while reducing weight and helping to provide more uniform ride quality.

WTF. Spam.