Replacement tires on 4.8is
 

I looked and I dont really see much about replacing the tires. I need replacements and the only two tires I have seen on here are the stor michs and toyo proxies s/t. does anyone have anything else? also does anyone have pics of their ride with the proxies on it.
I am more then likely going to go with the proxies, they cost less and the specs are better. any comments?

On a 70,000+ vehicle, I would stick with OEM.

why would you stick with oem? oem tires are half the milage rating as the toyos? 220 cr 420 I think. also the specs of the tires are similar other wise, oem tires are usually not the better end of tires on any car, so please let me know why staying with oem tire would benifit, thansk.

Another option is the Yokohama ADVAN S.T.'s... they seem like the hot max performance tire right now.

I like the Advan's, There was a A+ review for Advan's on 4.8is in Bimmer mag an year ago. And I read somewhere that Proxes are are good in short term but some issues in long term, forgot where I read.

Good info on the tires.

Making that comment about a BMW is really going out on a limb. I could see that being true for a Pontiac Sunfire, but not a BMW sporting Michelin's. Looks like some one needs to contact Porsche, BMW, MB, Audi, Bentley and tell them to stop sporting low rent tires. Bottom line, it's your ride and if you feel that going with another tire is a good choice and that the BMW engineers were wrong that is your choice. I can't prove to you one way or another that the stock setup is better or worse, simply stated I would stick with what the car left the factory with.

I could not agree more with Wagner. The Dimaris are excellent performers and have tens of thousands of hours of BMW testing behind them. I got 32k on the rears and the fronts are still going at 40k (these are the 20's). What all do you think you will improve by going with something else?

I dont think I said the tires were not good, but usually they(most) manuf. dont put the best tires on the vehicles.
if the tires specs are almost the same except that one tire has a 420 vs. a 220, then I would have to say that the tire that will last the longest would be better.
I dont know if or which tire is better, that is what I am doing asking the question here. I want to know what people have tried.
I appreciate your answer, but just stating that I should go with whatever BMW put on there, doesn't jsutify your recommendation.
I would like to know Why? Not jsut cause BMW picked them.
Does this make any sense? but agian thanks for any comments, I wasn"t trying to be a D**k!

BMW invested millions in engineering its cars, far more then checking tirerack.com or other sites for a tire rating. As I only use the OEM Michelin's on my X, I can't say that other tires prove any better or worse, but judging by the very LOW response to this in favor of other tires....I would hazard the guess that most people stick with OEM.

I have the original Michelins on my 4.6 at the moment as, it has only covered 14k, so have not had the chance to look at changing. But my dad is running the toyos on his 4.6 and from time to time we would swap X's and I cant feel any difference in the tyres? The toyos seem like a good option, they are also a bit cheaper.

Just becuase the treadwear rating is higher doesn't equate in any way w/"better". Maybe better for you cause they last longer, but not better grip and feel etc. The Diamaris is a summer sport tire designed for max grip, even breakaway and good ride etc, not neccessarily longest life, just not a priority. With that said, I rarely go with OEM cause in most cases there are better choices, but the Diamaris is an exception as it is a very very good tire by any standards. If you don't need the maximim grip perhaps the Latitude by Michelin is a good compromise, 420 treadwear (twice that of the Diamaris) rating and all season etc. Just don't expect the same super high grip in the dry. Just my 2 cents.

If the Traction and temperature ratings are the same, and the treadwear is higher, then doesn't that equate to a better tire??

Sorry, not that simple, otherwise the latitude would be better than the Diamaris so why offer both from the same company, especially in the same price range. That traction rating is relative, very broad range can be a A. Using the example above, every all season tire is a compromise. The Diamaris is less so due to it's summer only rating, and I would assume that it's a better dry grip, turn in, handling etc tire. To what degree is up for debate. But it is aimed for the performance SUV market for max performnance. The latitude is compromised by it's all season performance (rubber must remain softer at low temps, must be able to handle at least light snow, has to do well in rain, max grip is down on the list. Trust me through, we never come close to a tires potential on the street. Ask anyone who has participated in a track day. What these tires do for untimate grip is amazing. The higher treadwear tire may be the right choice for most folks. Again, just my opinion.

WE are way off topic here, but appreciated non the less, however copmaring a all season is not the same. the proxies is a high performance tire like the diamar, and still has a higer tread wear, that is quite different then comparing to the latitude.
but in any case I jsut wanted to know if anyone had any comments on the tire difference if they used it or something else equivelent.

I believe the Toyo is an all season tire as well...same compromises being made. Regardless they all work fine on an X5 though some have reported excessive noise w/the Toyo's as they wear.

He never stated the Diamaris were bad. He was asking whether there were better options than the OEM tires.

What he indeed stated, was the fact that OEM tires are usually not as good as they could be. Which, in his own special case, could be very true.

We all know that the engineers go a great deal to test tires for these cars, but the choice is not only based on performance alone, but also on economics. Tire manufacturers work in conjunction with the car manufacturer to produce a tire for that specific vehicle. These tires, for the most part, are a great compromise, because they have to suit all types of buyers (in contrast to an owner who is looking for a tire that would suit his/her specific needs). The original tire manufacturers sell these tires to the car manufacturer for a hefty discount (pretty much at cost). Later, the tire manufacturer makes up its investment on people like you, who believe the OEM tire is the best way to go.

This fact, doesn't mean that other tire manufacturers cannot produce as good or better tire than the original one.

I have 3 M cars and none of them use the OEM tires. For my driving style and needs, the Michelin Pilot Sports 2 are a better tire than the ones that originally came with the cars. Which doesn't necessarily mean the "BMW engineers were wrong".