Originally Posted by JCL
(Post 926728)
Some more context may help.
When the X5 came out, Michelin worked with BMW to come up with a specific version of the 17 and 18 inch standard tires. I don't have all the details, but I expect that they played with tread compound, sidewall stiffness, and tread pattern (in varying degrees) to tune the tire to the X5 standard suspension, reducing harshness and matching turn-in to the suspension settings.
Whether that matters to a purchaser of replacement tires partly depends on whether that purchaser values that original tuning, ie how close did it come to what each person wants out of their vehicle. There was an optimization process, but if an individual's first action is to lower the suspension, put on aftermarket shocks, add spacers, etc, then the original tuning is pretty much all for naught. It just doesn't matter. But for me, I liked the original ride and handling, and the tire was a good fit for my intended use. I also got very good life out of them. I don't blindly buy OE parts; brake pads are a good example of me going my own way. But when it works, I will carry on with it.
Another thought that should enter into this is wheel size. Some will protest strongly at this, but the E53 was designed for 17 inch wheels. The 4.6 had 18 inch wheels to accomodate larger brakes, but aside from that low volume model, the vehicle 'works best' on 17 inch tires. Obviously, to many people, it looks under tired and they want 18, 19, 20, 22, etc. Fair enough. I am not making a value judgement here. But the vehicle has the same suspension whichever tire size it has. All the issues related to inner tread wear on the rear tires, camber kits, worn suspension bushings, etc, are made much worse by running larger tires. I don't think people appreciate how much more loaded the suspension is with larger tires, and thus how much sooner it will require repair or overhaul. And that extends to tire wear rates, which impacts our judgement on how good or bad a tire is.
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