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Luxury Performance Sedans

10002 messages,  Last post on Nov 22, 2009 at 6:55 AM

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#9456 of 10002 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [lynnminny] by markcincinnati Sep 12, 2007 (4:44 pm)
Replying to: lynnminny (Sep 12, 2007 10:24 am) If you are leasing a BMW, you should know that you must put ONLY BMW authorized rubber on the car. Now, of course, this does NOT mean you cannot use the tire you want.   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.     Replies to this message: lexusguy (Sep 12, 2007 7:26 pm)
#9457 of 10002 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [markcincinnati] by lexusguy Sep 12, 2007 (7:26 pm)
Replying to: markcincinnati (Sep 12, 2007 4:44 pm) 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.)   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.
#9458 of 10002 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [lynnminny] by james27 Sep 13, 2007 (6:39 pm)
Replying to: lynnminny (Sep 12, 2007 10:24 am) I had some Nokian snows on my Audi and felt that they road and handled very good. I would have no qualms installing their all-season tire as it has a snow rating for areas that require it as well.
#9459 of 10002 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [lynnminny] by jobie Sep 14, 2007 (6:08 am)
Replying to: lynnminny (Sep 12, 2007 2:41 pm) I have the 535xi SP with 18" wheel option...it does come with high-performance run-flats - 245's on the front and 275's on the rear...definitely not for winter. I'm planning to get a winter tire/wheel package from Tirerack. Replies to this message: circlew (Sep 14, 2007 6:56 am) jobie (Sep 14, 2007 12:08 pm)
#9460 of 10002 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [jobie] by circlew Sep 14, 2007 (6:56 am)
Replying to: jobie (Sep 14, 2007 6:08 am) jobie, how does your car handle considering the extra we weight of theAWD option. I have the 330xi '06 and I swear it handles better than the non-SP rwd 330/335.   Can you shed any light from experiences you might have had?   Regards, OW Replies to this message: jobie (Sep 14, 2007 12:08 pm)
#9461 of 10002 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [circlew] by jobie Sep 14, 2007 (12:08 pm)
Replying to: circlew (Sep 14, 2007 6:56 am) Coming from a 6000 lb SUV (LR3), of course I think the 535xi handles fantastic...same HP as the LR3 and weighs 2000 lb less! Seriously, before the LR3 I had two RWD BMW's, '99 323i and a '02 530i - I loved both of them. I really wasnt planning on an AWD, but my local dealers never had any RWD's on the lot to test drive, only AWD's. So I drove the xi a few times. The "client advisors" all said they felt the xi's are more "planted" than the RWD's and swore by the winter handling. I admit I didn't need AWD, but I bet it will be nice on a few snowy days this winter. The xi adds about 200 lbs - like driving with a passenger, no big deal - especially with 300 horses.
#9462 of 10002 550 sport vs 535 sport package by topspin628 Sep 14, 2007 (6:13 pm)
I tested a 550i with the SP. According the the brochure, the 550 has a different suspension than the 535 sport suspension. Has anyone experienced the difference or is it too close to tell or just marketing hype. I am considering the 535i or the xi. I like that I won't have to do the winter tire change for the xi but I really liked the way the sp 550i rode. To me it was not rough at all. I know that it had standard tires. Does the SP in the 535i come with standard or run-flats? Also, I know that active roll is only available on the 535, not the xi. Is that important? And last, has anyone tried the new auto sport transmission? Is there any difference besides the addition paddle shifters? The salesman said that it was a completely new transmission and said it was fantastic. Thanks
#9463 of 10002 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [bruceomega] by richardga73 Sep 16, 2007 (8:37 am)
Replying to: bruceomega (Sep 12, 2007 3:22 pm) bruceomega or anyone who knows, excuse the ignorance but what would be the diffence between all season and summer tires? There seems to be a lack of knowledge about this especially at the tire store. I am told something different by unknowledged salesmen in every tire dealer. Summer tires I am told being more performance oriented, have softer tread (for smoother ride) but stiffer walls for cornering, thus fewer miles and rougher ride before replacement. All season having harder rubber (rougher ride) for more miles thus more noise but softer sidewalls which I would think would help with the ride. I know that there are T,S,V, and Z catagories which throws a monkeywrench in to the equation. So I guess I am posing a question, what gives you the softest quietest ride and which gives the roughest noisiest ride and the ideal in between? Replies to this message: shipo (Sep 16, 2007 9:02 am) james27 (Sep 16, 2007 12:17 pm) lexusguy (Sep 16, 2007 3:30 pm) markcincinnati (Sep 17, 2007 4:16 am) lexusguy (Sep 17, 2007 5:04 am) bruceomega (Sep 17, 2007 11:54 am)
#9464 of 10002 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [richardga73] by shipo Sep 16, 2007 (9:02 am)
Replying to: richardga73 (Sep 16, 2007 8:37 am) The factoids that you've listed are all over the map, and as such I'm not sure I can unravel that furball, but I'll try.   Speed rating: Q 099 mph max R 106 mph max S 112 mph max T 118 mph max H 130 mph max V 149 mph max Z Generic for greater than 149 W (or ZW) at least 168 mph Y (or ZY) at least 186 mph Generally speaking, the higher the top speed of the tire, the rougher it will ride and the better it will corner.   Generally speaking, All-Season tires occupy the "H" speed rating and down, while the Summer performance tires occupy the "V" speed rating and above (usually above). Are there All-Season tires with speed ratings higher than "H"? Yes, even some winter tires. Are there Summer performance tires lower than "V"? Hmmm, can't say that I've seen one in recent memory but I suppose it's possible.   In answer to your question, it seems that you are looking for a tire that TireRack.com calls "High Performance All-Season". Basically those are "V" rated (and above) All-Season tires that have good grip, reasonable winter performance for areas with occasional snow, have a longer tread life than dedicated summer tires and are kind of the ultimate in compromise tires. Me personally, I'm much happier with two sets of wheels and tires, one set for mid spring through mid fall (dedicated Summer tires), and the second set for the rest of the year (dedicated Winter tires).   I hope this helped a little.   Best Regards, Shipo
#9465 of 10002 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [richardga73] by james27 Sep 16, 2007 (12:17 pm)
Replying to: richardga73 (Sep 16, 2007 8:37 am) Summer only tires have stickier rubber that gets hard in the cold. They typically also do not have a tread pattern that will have any grip on snow or ice. They are almost like driving on bald tires in the winter, regardless of the tread depth.   An all-season tire will have a tread compound that does not get super hard in the cold - it retains some of the flexibility and the tread design has more sipes so it can grip on snow or ice.   A snow tire has rubber that doesn't work very well as the temperature rises, so they should not be used in the summer. They tend to be, but aren't necessarily, noisier than summer tires.   An all-season tire is a compromise in all seasons...not a great snow tire, not a great handling tire.

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