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Sedans Luxury Performance Sedans
9978 messages, Last post on Nov 02, 2009 at 1:30 PM
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Need some opionions from others about tires. Looking at the 2008 535xi. Am getting the sport pkg, so the car will have 18" tires. I do not want to have to buy winter and summer tires so am trying to find a very good all season tire that will work for both. Am in a snowy area so need something that handles well in the winter. The BMW salesman has suggested a Kumho all-season tire or a Michelin all-season tire. Of course, he got this info. from a tire guy that his dealership uses and he did not know which Michelin tire the guy was talking about. I have heard from other auto blogs that the Nokian WR is a superb all season tire and does very well in the snow. Any opinions?? One other thing--- I love the front end of the 550, but need the all-wheel drive. For $4500 the dealer will install that sport grille on the 535xi that is on the 550. Seems a bit pricey to me! I cannot wait to get rid of my 2005 Acura RL--- it is so boring and has had a lot of glitches that require us taking it back to the dealer on a regular basis. Very disappointing car. It is our 3rd Acura and the quality is not the same as our previous Acuras. |
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Replying to: lynnminny (Sep 12, 2007 10:24 am) Only the RWD models come with summer tires.. (I'm pretty sure.. but, you should check)
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Replying to: kyfdx (Sep 12, 2007 10:32 am) So-- guess I'm not sure at this point:) |
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Replying to: lynnminny (Sep 12, 2007 10:24 am) I highly recommend the Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position. Tire Rack rated them #2 behind Pilot Sport A\S in the dry, and #1 in the wet, and they are a lot more affordable than the Michelins. I've been using them on my LS lately, they are fantastic. Very quiet, and brilliant in the rain. |
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Replying to: lynnminny (Sep 12, 2007 2:41 pm) |
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Replying to: lynnminny (Sep 12, 2007 10:24 am) When I ordered my 535Xi this past May, the sport package by itself still comes with the standard 17" wheels and all season tires you get without the sport package. If you do order the sport package, then you can also order optional 18" wheels which come with run flat summer performance tires. If you go with the 18" wheels and tires, then based on my own experience, I do not recommend using the summer performance tires in winter driving conditions, notwithstanding AWD. Thanks Bruce |
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So continuing my decision process, I took another look at the S550 (another poster earlier suggested that this would be the perfect car for me). It's beautiful and has a great presence. The interior quality is first rate and the car feels very substantial. As for the drive, it was very smooth and quiet but it's a car that I'd rather be driven in than drive. It felt a bit heavy to me and wasn't fun to drive. It's one serious machine and I think they did a great job but it's not for me. I prefer the way the Jag XJ handled and drove. It felt a bit sportier and was much lighter. The MB was like driving a limo. I also took a long spin in the LS 460. They did a great job on the body and I think everything is a half notch up from my LS 430 but they are still quite similar. Interesting that the salesman kept stressing that the "entire car is different" and that "nothing's the same as the last model." I got the idea that this was drilled into him as part of the speech. Maybe too many people feel that they are similar to the last model and therefore balk at paying 30% more (at least that's what the lease deal works out as). I mean, the last model is the epitome of smooth and quiet. How much smoother and quieter can it be? They aren't going for road feel. I would say that the brakes felt more responsive, the car felt a bit quicker, the ML stereo was a bit more powerful and the seats were more comfortable. And I like the new body style. But it's still evolution not revolution. They really over sold it when the marketing dept said that this intro would be as important as the first introduction of the LS400. They would be better off under-promising and over-delivering. |
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Replying to: lynnminny (Sep 12, 2007 10:24 am) What it means is that if you use a tire that is not on the approved list, you will be charged for the replacement of the tires to comply with "the list." This strikes me as darn near absurd -- but there is some logic to this. Digression: my wife's 2005 X3 WITH the sport package came with H rated, 50 series, all season tires (Mich MXV's in some flavor.) The tires were OK but they were not at all what one would consider Ultra High Performance all seasons. When the OE tires crapped out at 30K miles, we replaced them with "jen u wine" UHP All Seasons in the same size. The handling was better, the look was better and the all season quality was fine for us here in SW Ohio. Woa, dealer says, "when you turn in the car, you will have to buy NEW tires of the size and BRAND and model on "the list." Tread life remaining on the tires YOU bought? Yep?!? Tough nuggies (or is that noogies, Todd?) -- Bridgestones are NOT on the list, bzzzzzz you lose. In the days (like now) of mass customization, specifying the tires you want from "the list" should NOT be an issue. God knows, we would have never chosen the Mich tires that came with this thing. Be careful. Here is what you must do if you lease: 1. Buy the car 2. Buy the tires at the time you buy the car 3. Save the OE tires 4. Put your tires on the car the day you get it 5. When the tires you put on die, put the OE tires on 6. Live with it until you turn the car in OR Pay for an extra set of tires at lease turn in time. 
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Sep 12, 2007 4:44 pm) Why is it that so many new luxury cars come with those crappy Michelins? Some kind of pact? I don't understand why they would purposely worsen the ride, handling and grip of their cars with such lousy rubber. |
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Replying to: lynnminny (Sep 12, 2007 10:24 am) |
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