Ask the Car People.SM


Luxury Performance Sedans

10338 messages,  Last post on May 01, 2013 at 3:12 PM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

What is this discussion about? Lexus GS 430, Acura RL, BMW 5 Series, Volvo S80, Audi A6, Infiniti M35, Infiniti M45, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Cadillac STS, Sedan

Messages Page 947 of 1034

#9461 of 10338 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [circlew] by jobie

Sep 14, 2007 (1:08 pm)

Replying to: circlew (Sep 14, 2007 7:56 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 10338 550 sport vs 535 sport package by topspin628

Sep 14, 2007 (7:13 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 10338 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [bruceomega] by richardga73

Sep 16, 2007 (9:37 am)

Replying to: bruceomega (Sep 12, 2007 4:22 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?

#9464 of 10338 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [richardga73] by shipo

Sep 16, 2007 (10:02 am)

Replying to: richardga73 (Sep 16, 2007 9:37 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 10338 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [richardga73] by james27

Sep 16, 2007 (1:17 pm)

Replying to: richardga73 (Sep 16, 2007 9:37 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.

#9466 of 10338 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [richardga73] by lexusguy

Sep 16, 2007 (4:30 pm)

Replying to: richardga73 (Sep 16, 2007 9:37 am)
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?
 
There will be a lot of generalizing here, because different brands and even individual models of the same type of tires can be quite difference in terms of noise, ride, and handling. Generally speaking however, dedicated snow tires are the noisiest and roughest. There are a few that can handle dry roads reasonably well, like Blizzaks, Arctic Alpins, and Dunlop Winter Sports.
 
If your car needs a W (168mph) or Y (186mph) rated tire, you have to get the highest performance summer only tires, like Goodyear Eagle F1s or Pilot Sport PS2s. There are now V rated Snow tires and Z rated A/S tires, but neither is capable of the W category. Summer tires are made for hot, dry days. They can really scream on certain highway textures, but other than that I don't think they are generally noisier or rougher riding than a typical A\S. Wet performance depends on the brand and model, but using them in cold wet, snow, or ice is not a good idea. Treadwear is short, as low as 140, and 280 is about as high as it goes.
 
A/S tires have come quite a long way in the last few years. Unfortunately most cars that come with A/S tires typically come with crap like Michelin MXVs, but there are some very good choices in the "ultra high-performance all-season" category, like the Potenza AS Pole Position and Pilot Sport A/S. I used to do the summer\winter tire swap game on my LS430, but I got tired of it. I'm using the Bridgestones now, and they are very quiet, have great performance in the dry and the wet, turn in response is *almost* as good as the best summer tires, and no UHP summer tire can touch their 400 treadwear rating. I won't use the LS if there's more than a minimal amount of snow and slush anyway, so the Potenza's snow abilities are good enough to get the job done, and it means I don't have to put up with the noise and the crappy handling for every day that it doesn't snow, which has been 99% of the days in the last few years in southern PA

#9467 of 10338 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [lexusguy] by markcincinnati

Sep 17, 2007 (5:16 am)

Replying to: lexusguy (Sep 16, 2007 4:30 pm)
There are few tires that actually are "all season" and even the one's that pull that off reasonably well, are not really great in all seasons.
 
Some have said, All Seasons means "no seasons."
 
Well, here is a thought about what might work well, year round on the 535xi: a V rated, Grand Touring (A/S) designated tire of the OEM size (or possibly "plus zero" size.)
 
Such tires are marketed and they will do pretty well year round -- if your area has "moderate" snow. They will still be able to be bested by dedicated rubber, but changing tires and/or wheels twice a year is jus' un'merican.
 
Check the TireRack and check the brand Continental as they probably have a size appropriate to the BMW in question.

#9468 of 10338 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [markcincinnati] by lexusguy

Sep 17, 2007 (6:04 am)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Sep 17, 2007 5:16 am)
There are few tires that actually are "all season" and even the one's that pull that off reasonably well, are not really great in all seasons.
  
Some have said, All Seasons means "no seasons."
 
I wouldn't put the Potenza AS Pole Positions on my Jag, but I wouldn't ever use the Jag with any snow on the ground anyway. On a car like the 535xi though, I would think that the best UHP A/S tires like the Potenza, Pilot Sport, PZero, or Eagle F1 A/S would provide a good balance between great overall wet\dry\noise performance and good enough snow abilities.

#9469 of 10338 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [richardga73] by bruceomega

Sep 17, 2007 (12:54 pm)

Replying to: richardga73 (Sep 16, 2007 9:37 am)
richardga73,
 
Others with more knowledge and experience than I have already responded!
 
FWIW, my 535Xi came with Goodyear RS-A, 225/50-17, all season tires with a W speed rating.
 
Thanks
Bruce

#9470 of 10338 Press Request by KarenS HOST

Sep 27, 2007 (12:32 pm)

A reporter from a national newspaper is hoping to talk to consumers who have been shopping for a European vehicle (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Audi or others) and have found them to be more expensive because of the Euro exchange rates. Please reply to ctalatiedmunds.com no later than Monday, October 1, 2007 with your daytime contact info.

Messages Page 947 of 1034

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement