Very happy to help.

I think I know which dealership you are referring to ... did you try the new one in the area ? I have and the difference is night and day ...

Which dealerships are you talking about?

Here are 3 more official recommendations for the E53 X5 from BMW.COM which include 17" and 18" options.

Here are 4 more official recommendations for the E70 X5 from BMW.COM which include 18" and 19" options.

Hi
Yes I ended up getting the Star Spoke 209 18" wheels with the Dunlop Grandtrek WT M3 ROF RSC per BMW CA recommendation and they are great!
Again Many Thanks for your Help mgruber!

For 2010 BMW Canada has made a few changes to their recommendations. Here is a summary:

X3 - Double Spoke Wheels 112 17" with Continental TS810S SSR run-flat winter tires. (Previous recommendation was Dunlop SP Winter Sport winter tires)

X5 3.0 & 4.4 (E53) - Star Spoke Wheels 74 18" with Continental 4x4 WinterContact run-flat winter tires. (Previous recommendation was Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow winter tires)

X5 4.6is & 4.8is (E53) - Spider Spoke Wheels 99 18" with Continental 4x4 WinterContact run-flat winter tires. (Previous recommendation was Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow winter tires)

X5 (E70) - Star Spoke Wheels 209 18" with Dunlop Grandtrek WTM3 run-flat winter tires. (No change in recommendation)

X5 M Sport Edition (E70) - V Spoke Wheels 223M 19" with Continental 4x4 WinterContact run-flat winter tires. (No change in recommendation)

X5M (E70) - Style 298M 19" wheels with Continental 4x4 WinterContact run-flat winter tires.

Some interesting and strange choices. Basically BMW Canada has changed their recommendations for the X3 and E53 X5 to run-flat winter tires. This is probably a good thing, however their recommended 18" Continental 4x4 WinterContact tires for the E53 X5's are not even available yet! Officially those are the "255/55R18 109H TL XL FR Continental 4x4 WinterContact SSR" and they are listed on the Continental Tires website as "in preparation," "for BMW models." In addition, the recommended tires for the X5 E70 M Sport Edition and the X5M also are not available yet (same notation: "in preparation," "for BMW models"). Those tires by the way are the "255/50R19 107V TL XL FR Continental 4x4 WinterContact SSR." See link:

Continental Tyres -Runflat tyres - dimensions

Of note Tire Rack does have the non run-flat version of the Continental 4x4 WinterContact in 18" size for the E53 X5 in stock for $401 each. WOW!!! I don't know why BMW Canada opted to not just recommend the Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow RFT winter tires (run-flat version) which are readily available and cost (just!) $197 each from Tire Rack.

Here are the relevant links on the BMW Canada website:

X3: BMW X3 Winter Tire Package - Double Spoke 112 | BMW Canada

X5 3.0 & 4.4 (E53): BMW X5 Winter Tire Package - Star Spoke 74 | BMW Canada

X5 4.6is & 4.8is (E53): BMW X5 Winter Tire Package - Spider Spoke 99 | BMW Canada

X5 (E70): BMW X5 Winter Tire Package - Star Spoke 209 | BMW Canada

X5 M Sport Edition (E70): BMW X5 M Sport Edition Winter Tire Package - V Spoke 223M | BMW Canada

X5M (E70): M Series Winter Tire Package - Style 298 X5 M | BMW Canada

In case anyone was curious, across the entire BMW model range BMW Canada recommended: 9 Dunlop, 8 Continental, 6 Michelin, 4 Pirelli, 1 Bridgestone, and 1 Goodyear winter tires.

BMW recommends tires... oh come on! it's just marketing... Why would a tire suite a car more than the other? When you read the reviews of tires, they don't tell: on an X5 it scores 4.3/5 and on an MB ML it scores 3.6/5... it's nonesense... just like the "BMW recommends Castrol" on the oil cap: Mobile or Dukhams or Motul will kill the engine now? or is it some $$$ between BMW and Castrol? please! just do your research about each item you want to but for your car, and buy the one that seems good enough for you... we're not driving space shuttles after all... my 2 cents..

I'm now into my 5th winter running Pirelli Scorpion Ice and Snow tires on 18" Star Spoke 74 wheels. Whether BMW continues to recommend this package or not...I highly recommend it. :thumbup:

If they ever wear out, I'll buy them again.

Then ignore it.