XSeries-forum

Along the way with all of this, it raises the question again of using approved BMW * rated tyres.

Plenty of budget winter tyre options even in 275/315 set ups, but will they screw the transmission?

Same concerns will apply. BMW Dealer seems to suggest that with MO or MOE would be alternatives, but again it’s a case of finding them. My winter set has now not been used for this season as I can’t get ‘approved’ sizes - though companies like Pirelli do the right size, just not ‘*’ marked. My frustration is that no one on the BMW side will give me any kind of advice or commitment, with their only comment being that as I have a warranty I must ‘comply’ in terms of parts used.

X5Sport wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 9:46 am Same concerns will apply. BMW Dealer seems to suggest that with MO or MOE would be alternatives, but again it’s a case of finding them. My winter set has now not been used for this season as I can’t get ‘approved’ sizes - though companies like Pirelli do the right size, just not ‘*’ marked. My frustration is that no one on the BMW side will give me any kind of advice or commitment, with their only comment being that as I have a warranty I must ‘comply’ in terms of parts used.

A ridiculous stance by BMW If they make the rules they are surely obligated to offer a solution

X5 sport what tyre Size? Do you have 325?

For the 19” set they are 285/45 R19 and 255/50 R19 Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Show RFT (no spare on board) and now 10 years old so we’ll past needing replacing although still around 3-4mm. They’re in storage with BMW.

The wider size has gone out of production so I would have to buy new rims. The ‘standard’ is now square so all on the 255/50 tyres (which look silly on the X6).

I have noted here previously, all you can do is fit front tyres on the rear rims. Its within permitted boundaries.

I do have a pair of X6 rear 19 x 9" rims for sale, (silly cheap money) shallow 18 offsets so look OK. A different style to the fronts you have but BMW approved tyres will fit at least

Had a little experiment this week with the snow x5 on staggered 20's with winters on front only ( m&s marked 315 rears but they are really summer tyres and do not have a winter tread pattern ,I have 2 new rears to go on but existing rears have about 6mm tread so delayed swapping over.

X5 against our focus 1.8 petrol with winter tyres 6mm tread depth on our quite steep maybe 1 in 10 ? inclined drive with a speed bump halfway up on a tight curve and about 50 metres long out on 2 inches approx of fresh show so a very tricky drive out.

The focus got approx 2 cars lengths till it was completely stranded, back down the hill traction of this time and grab second gear as soon as I started moving , got a little further become grinding to a halt again , the traction control really is a pain on these in snow. also the very peaky nature of the 1.8 petrol really hinder progress and the lack of torque makes it bog down easy .Restarting from a stop was impossible no matter how easy you tried to move off.

x5 snow what snow could accelerate easily right to the top even with 315 rear 20's The back did go sideways on the curve up the drive when provoked but without any loss of momentum On 4 winters it will be brilliant and obviously on 4 summer performance tyres completely useless . It was the only car in the street able to get out ,any who tried failed miserably several 2x4's here but all on summers all stuck .

I was disappointed with the focus to be honest , on brand new tyres with 8mm tread I think it might just have made it , it has been reasonably good in the past , the depth of snow was maybe just too much to push .

Conclusion 315's will not limit your progress in snow if winters !

An interesting experiment, but winters on the front only must be teasing the transmission a bit.

Does the Focus have ‘snow mode’ like the xDrive cars?

sapphireblack wrote: ↑Mon Jan 25, 2021 3:58 pm An interesting experiment, but winters on the front only must be teasing the transmission a bit.

Tread depth much the same so should be fine , I really should have changed all 4 together which was the original plan but the rears were too good to be binning .

X5Sport wrote: ↑Mon Jan 25, 2021 4:03 pm Does the Focus have ‘snow mode’ like the xDrive cars?

It doesn't ( its 2011) so it traction on or off is your only choice , traction being on cuts power at a sniff of wheelspin when you need to keep the wheels turning so stops you getting anywhere
This was a fairly extreme example but it shows the limitations of 2wd with say a hill start ,without an lsd you are down to one wheel and as soon as it loses grip you are stuck but on gentle hills and on the flat etc it will perform grand. We run winters all year as the focus only does a small mileage and our steep drive is a pain if snow comes (not common over here this last few years ) and 2 sets of wheels doesn't make sense in this case.

I bought two * marked winter tyres from ebay for £90 with alot 4mm did the job plus had one winter at front. Trying to get hold of 275 tyre. As currently running on 3 winter tyres which is not ideal.

From what I've read a mixed summer and winter tyre on the same axle is a big 'no'. Also, fwiw, 4mm on winter tyres is regarded as minimum especially in snow, they may only be of limited value to you.

Personally i dont think your £90 was best spent tbh.

Should be able to pick one up easy soon now winter is mostly over for next year