Max performance tire options?
 

Hey all,

After a few months with my winter tires, I'm really appreciating the feel of a non Run flat tire. I think that once spring rolls around, I'd like to stick to a non RFT. What tires are you all running that are max performance (like the OEM dunlops), but that don't carry the extra weight and noise of the RFT?

When I had the M3, it always rode on Michelin PS2s. Ideally, I'd be looking suggestions that are the X5 equivalent of that tire.

Cheers,

i had PS2s on my Z06. not sure there is a comparable tire for the X5.

i have been driving on 19" Toyo Proxes STIIs for about 32K miles so far and i really like them. get the XL version as they are better suited for the weight of the vehicle.

very good grip wet or dry.

Thanks for the tip. I'm running the 214 20''s, and the reviews I've seen for the Toyo's are quite mixed.

I see that some folks have switched to Michelins, but then switched back to the RFTs due to DSC kicking in.

Has anyone tried the Yokohama Advans?

I've been googling for some time now, and this is pretty frustrating. The PS2s were amazing in the dry and wet, had excellent feel, and were quiet. That's exactly what I'd like for the X5.

I was faced with the same dilemma after 2 sets of Dunlops. I am running Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta and love these tires. great grip, quiet, wear well and have a nice tread pattern. Ultra high performance summer only. They do make them the in the specific size for the X5.

Call Tire Rack, their sales guys are very knowledgeable and will give you some good suggestions for the right tires.

Tire rack lists 2 RFT and 5 other tires for the staggered 20s. My pics would be Bridgestone Dueler (RFT or non) Conti DWS, Dunlop SP Sport Maxx (RFT or non), or a Michelin Lattitude Dimeris (never heard of that one). The Contis are the least $$ and the Michelin the most (over $400 a tire!).

I too came from an M3 (E46), and I'm running non RFTs, Vredrestein UltracSessanta, and I like them. I think that a heavy SUV like the X5 would wear out Michellin PS2s pretty quickly.

There's the Continental 4x4SportContact, and the CrossContact UHP which I have on my X3. Can't speak for the former, but the latter is a good performance summer tire. Good feel, easy to feel and handle at the limit, short stopping distances.

How hard are you driving your X3 to experience handling at the limit?:wow:. I mean I have pushed my X5 in the corners, but nowhere near the limit of the tires.

Thanks all,

From what I've read, the bridgestones and michelins are high performance, but not "ultra" performance like the dunlops. Still, I'm less than impressed by 80lbs of rotational mass on each corner, of which half of that is the tire.

I'm surprised by the Vredestein recommendations. I put those once on the M3, and literally gave them away after 1 month. The understeer that they caused was just unacceptable. Perhaps they build a better SUV tire?...

Oddly enough, I still haven't been able to find an X5 review on the yokohomas.

Very pleased with the Bridgestone HP Dueller Sport Non-RFT.

No problems with understeer with mine.

That's the beauty of living in central VA at the foothills of the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains. :nanana:

I don't think twice about pushing the X3 to its max capabilities, usually 50km/h (30mph) on the tighter hairpins. Sharp turns posted at 20mph on mountain passes can easily be held at 60-70 (45mph) depending on the camber. One thing I like about the Continentals is that the understeer is well-tamed so I don't suddenly get into situations where I completely lose the steering......there's plenty of warning and feedback. When going downhill, I can balance and trail-brake the X3 so the rear-end comes around a bit (DSC has to be off for this though).

This would be a 70-80km/h corner (immediately after snapping this photo, I literally threw my phone onto the passenger floor)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...way/BRP022.jpg

In between corners, the gearbox holds gears to redline even when coasting and downshifts early in anticipation, like "race mode", with the 2.5 liter staying above 4000rpm all the time. Brakes are great, I usually don't have ABS cutting in. It's a hugely exciting car when pushed like on a racetrack.

I do try to stay on my side of the road at all times though, I don't cut corners in the off-chance of oncoming traffic. Virginia is pretty deserted. There's a small margin for error that I try to keep, but all the best roads are 2-lanes and many do not have shoulders. Overall, it's knowing the car and having the car talk back to the driver that really enables me to enjoy the full potential.

(I borrowed my mother's 325i sport for a week once. Max performance summer tires, rear-wheel drive, DSC off :whistle:. I am very glad I don't usually have it because I would get in so much trouble with that........I went "driving" with it one night and did a powerslide at 60mph around an off-camber corner. Great fun but one day I'd probably end up hitting a mailbox or landing in the ditch. I'm not a race car driver and don't have perfect technique.)

Lol, you'd probably kill yourself in my old car.
Ground control track/school coilover suspension, ground control sway bars, ground control hybrid bushings

http://www.wardphotography.com/Supersprint/IMG_1005.jpg

Thats it lifting the inside front wheel at an auto-x

http://static.flickr.com/118/294140862_7aeed2cfe5.jpg

^ Awesome e46.

Yes my old X3 ('06 non sport) handled great as does the new X5. I have pushed the X5 on the Tail of the Dragon (think BRP with much tighter turns) as hard as I would have an M3.

Sport tires do make a difference. Mainly in ultimate grip, but also in feel at the limit, and possibly braking distances.

I am driving with the Pirelli Scorpion winters now. On my favorite on-ramp, I've lost 2-3 mph prior to tire squeal. Surprising little difference (especially considering the huge gain in snow/ice traction) but I also lost a bit of feel at the edge and have more understeer as I'm approaching their limit.

I just put Vreds on my X5 and love them.. Srt8's and SS seem to run Vreds and there is nothing but good news about these tires.

Why would any particular brand of tires cause the DSC to kick in?

+1 for the Vreds

traction issues i would guess. if the tire is hard it will slip a bit and DSC would pick up on that.


i remember the day i brought home the wife's E53 from TN. i got tired of following the old woman on 321 and passed her on a downhill run. apparently she knew about the cambered 100 degree right hand rising turn at the bottom of the hill.

damn fun after i survived it. i really thought i was going to total the wife's new ride 45 minutes after i signed the papers. gotta appreciate that DE training. :D

Verds are good, you can look up a group buy to get a real steal on them