Rubbish roads lead to rethink on wheels/tyres

I have been running 18" summer wheels on the F11 and 17" winters. The 18"s are none run flats and the winters are run flat. Both sets of tyres have more than the legal tread remaining but are coming towards the end of their legal lives.

The roads here in East Cheshire are some of the worst in the country and have deteriorated over the last 10 years, so much so I have decided to put new all season tyres on the 17"s (none runflat Michellin Climate +) and sell the 18"s. I know the aesthetics of looking at the car will not be so good but ultimately it is more about comfort for me now I am over the age of 50 and it is an SE rather a M Sport so doesn't look too bad!

Another reason for this is that we are in the process of getting planning consent for a new house within our garden which means the demolition of a large annex which currently stores the spare wheels. Won't have anywhere to store them in a couple of years and the E36 lives in the garage. Also I won't have to change them over every autumn/spring....those wheels and tyres are flamin heavy!!

 

Nothing wrong with 17" on the F11. I think we all know 'fashion over form' is not really about driving UK roads.

Peter

 

I have been thinking along these lines for the X1.
I have for many years been swapping wheels over twice a year, but after dropping to 2 cars last year I find I have a set of winters from the e84 X1 and a set from Nissan QQ sitting in the garage. Tried selling but no takers.
I am a long way over your age and they have definitly got too heavy for me, even if i get the tyre depot to change them I still have to load / unloading into car ect.
Car at present has 3mm on front 5mm on rears,so due for changing.
My trouble is for my f48 X1 I need 225/50R18 99W and just can not find any with BMW . * . marking on unless I change to Runflats. At present I am on non runflats and would prefer to keep it that way,( my wife first comment in the car was the nice soft ride compared with e84) in case I have to go over to Runflats I checked with the local BMW dealer if my wheels were OK for them ---- and was surprised to be informed they could not tell me without taking a tyre off as the same part number could be used for two different wheel profiles.
Wheels are . BMW . LA wheel Y-Spoke 556 . (S28CA)
Life is a lot easier with the Z3 ---- she just does not do winter weather.

Has one one any experiance of these All Season tyres in use.

Another alternative would be to just leave the winters on all year , has anyone any experience of trying this. I know a few large fleets do this , I was told recently by a British Gas engineer its what they now do. I know wear might be higher but needs must.

 

There is a school of thought that if you have the option of running just set of tyres a year (between winter and summer tyres) then you should chose winters as the difference between their winter and summer performance is marginal whereas using summer tyres in the winter (proper winter with snow) shows a massive drop in tyre grip and performance.

We have all season tyres on Mrs Mad's Fiesta - Vredestein Contrac 5's - great tyre with no noticeable difference in the summer yet way more grip in the winter especially coming out of a junction on a wet road. Having said that we had no snow to check them with last winter.

 

I have two sets of rubber for the E60. Winters are Vredestein Wintrac Exreme. I had a little health hiccup winter 2017 which resulted in the winters staying on for summer 18. I never had occasion to think that I was running out of grip. They did feel a tad squishy. Having said that the summer set are on now and pot holing does test ones dentures. Winters are 17s, summers 19s both normal rubber ie non runflat. If I had to choose one set it would be the winters.

 

I’m running 21” wheels on the Macan and the ride is better than any M Sport BMW I’ve owned, partly because of air suspension and partly because the Macan just has great suspension per se. I am considering Michelin all season when my tyres wear out, the car has currently done 13k on the original P Zero tyres, so it won’t be too long.
Autocar published one of my letters a couple of weeks ago about the highs of Macan air suspension. The only thing is that it makes you feel invincible