Winter wheels and tyres.

Discussion in 'X3' started by DiscusbT, Sep 14, 2016.

  1. DiscusbT
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    DiscusbT

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    Thinking about getting a set for the f25. Never thought it would be so difficult, looking at the web sites that offer you don't seem able to tie them down exactly. Some don't let you select RF, some don't let you select Winter, and so on, one that says they do winter tyre sets, when you tick the box, they offer nothing..
    Tyres are 245 x 50 x 18 all round, runflats, on 8" rims
    Not fussy about the wheels, cheap and easy to clean, tyres again, don't want to spend a fortune as I don't do big mileage in bad weather.
    So, what do you recommend, keeping as far as possible under £1000?
     
  2. GunRunner
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    GunRunner WARLORD

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    I have just replaced my Run Flats (Summer tyres) on my X3 that has a 19" staggered setup with Pirelli NON Run Flats. I purchased from Black Circles. I also have Winter tyres that are Run Flats on 18" wheels using 245 x 50 again these were Pirelli's and they came from Alloy Wheels Direct. See their link. They do special offers on occasions.

    http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw_alloy_wheels/x3_f25_alloys.

    If you want good advice on tyre sizes and fitment to another set of wheels, I would suggest you talk to Black Circles. You can bounce suggestions off them and not purchase until you are ready. They are excellent to deal with and will deliver to any garage of your choice and their prices include fitting to your rims at the garage of your choice.

    I therefore suggest you source your wheels from one supplier and get them delivered to your house and then get your tyres delivered to the garage of your choice and take your wheels along to the garage for fitment.

    You could go down to 17" wheels because this could save you pennies on the rims and the tyres.

    In both cases, I made sure I sourced BMW * rated tyres that are specified for the X3 to ensure that I did not fall foul of any transmission idiosyncrasies. Surprise surprise, the BMW tyre specialist in Oxford BMW said there was no problem specifying NON Run Flats as long as they were BMW * rated.

    Black Circles site...

    http://www.blackcircles.com/order/tyres/search

    After the fitting of my new set of tyres in the early summer, I have since found that they (Black Circles) are owned by Michelin. The Michelin tyres are the dearest on their site.
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2016
  3. Abh29
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    Abh29

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    Trouble I had a couple of years back was ensuring I got the correct valves for tpms
     
  4. Singvogel
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    Singvogel Staff Member Moderator WARLORD Site Supporter

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    I got my new valves from Cotswold with a forum member's discount. ;)
     
  5. Spuffington
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    Spuffington Staff Member Admin Site Supporter

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    I found myself a set of 4 x 17" alloys on eBay (can't remember what style they are but genuine BMW rims) for £200. Have sourced a set of Star-marked non-RFT Dunlop Wintersport 4D for £400 from Oponeo and they'll be fitted to the rims tomorrow by Event Mobile Tyres for £80. Pretty please with that.

    Important for me was to get the star-marked tyres and genuine alloys.
     
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  6. K777
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    K777 WARLORD

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    one thing I came across with my car , not sure about BMW as I never bothered with winters on mine , but my car has tyres that are "N" rated, and if i fit any tyres not "N" rated my warranty is void.
    So make sure any tyre you choose would invalidate any warranty etc. (that said Porsche are ridiculously OTT on this sort of thing).
     
  7. DiscusbT
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    DiscusbT

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    I don't think the valves on mine have anything to do with TPM. There is nothing apparent, and the book says it monitors relative rotation speeds.
     
  8. Singvogel
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    Singvogel Staff Member Moderator WARLORD Site Supporter

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    If you have normal/traditional rubber valves with a metal cap then you have the earlier TPMS which detects a pressure loss, as you say due to the rotational difference with low pressure but doesn't tell you which wheel/tyre it is.

    The latest generation TPMS system uses grey metal bolt-in valve stems with a grey plastic valve-cap which have a transmitter so they display the actual tyre pressure at each individual wheel.

    These new valves ain't cheap - I needed to get a full set of 4 for my winter wheels/tyres when I changed from an E90 to an F30

    Anyone needing to upgrade to the new style valves should beware of lookee-likee onees on the bay of e - I got mine from Cotswold with the usual forum discount.

    @K777 - yes Porsche can be picky - my winter rubber is actually MO rated (i.e. for M-Benz) but I checked with BMW before fitting them and as long as tyres are the correct sizes as per the driver's door-post I was told it wouldn't affect the warranty.
     
  9. pinewood
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    pinewood

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    I can offer some advice/insight here .....
    I bought a second hand set of alloys (style 403 I think?) with Pirelli Sottozero tyres for the grand price of £300 on eBay. The alloys are in mint condition, but the chap had them on a 2012 X3 which measures the diameter of the wheels to detect a puncture.
    The LCi X3 (so anything on a 64 plate and beyond) uses Tyre Pressure Measuring System (TPMS) , which is a sensor fitted to the valve and sits inside the tyre.
    I had to have these installed , and rather than mess about with ebay and/or independent retailors, I bit the bullet and had BMW Maidenhead supply and fit them for me. Total cost was £350 which means the total project costs are £650.

    If the OP hasn't bought the wheels yet, then this is the route I would recommend.
     
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  10. pinewood
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    pinewood

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    Reset the tyre pressure system and went for a drive after mounting the winter wheels . Is there something I am missing to get the new sensors seen by the car? [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]


    Sent from my iPhone using The Force[​IMG]
     
  11. Singvogel
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    Singvogel Staff Member Moderator WARLORD Site Supporter

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    I can't think what you might have missed.

    Vehicle stationary.
    Engine running.
    Press reset and then immediately set off.

    It takes around a mile or so for the % scale to reach 100.
     
  12. pinewood
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    pinewood

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    Yes that is what I did, but the values just stay blank. BMW did say if I have an issue once the wheels go on, I should pop in and they will set it, so that's the plan tommorow.



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  13. Singvogel
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    Singvogel Staff Member Moderator WARLORD Site Supporter

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    Very interesting - i can't imagine what they are going to do that you haven't already done. :unsure:

    Keep us posted on this one.
     
  14. kleynie
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    kleynie WARLORD

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    When I changed my wheels it was very easy, as described above. No problem at all. I take it you are sure you actually have the sensors inside the tyres?
     
  15. pinewood
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    pinewood

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  16. pinewood
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    pinewood

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    Currently sitting at BMW. Apparently the sensors fitted don't work with my car, so the correct ones are being ordered and will be fitted on Wednesday.
    They are slightly more expensive but will not be charged due to the inconvenience. Good customer service in my books.

    Edit: noticed front summers were quite scrubbed on the outside shoulders, where as the rear tyres are wearing evenly, they are doing the alignment free of charge!!


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    Last edited: Nov 14, 2016
  17. Spuffington
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    Spuffington Staff Member Admin Site Supporter

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    Good result. Which dealer, out of interest?
     
  18. kleynie
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    kleynie WARLORD

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    So why did they not check against your VIN? Schoolboy error in my book.
     
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  19. pinewood
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    pinewood

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    Yes agreed a school boy error as should of checked against the VIN, but being in a customer facing role, I tend to evaluate companies on what they do when things don't go right.
    BMW Maidenhead is the dealership.


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  20. pinewood
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    pinewood

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    Alignment is also going to be checked FOC


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