[cruzer666]

i4 model: i4 M50 19”
1st set
Tires: Hankook Ventus S1 EVO3 (Front: 245/40 R19 Rear: 255/40 R19) Summer Tires BMW Star OEM
Tire miles: 16,300 (replaced)
Tire noise: low noise, soft ride
Tire performance: excellent, exceeding BMW specs, excellent grip
Tire wear: rears got replaced at <2/32”, fronts at 3-4/32”. Positive camber on the fronts (exterior edges wear first), negative camber on the rears (interior edges wear first).
Average Long trip Efficiency (80mph cruising): 3.7 miles/kWh
Additional thoughts: These are soft summer tires that are excellent for spirited driving and offer very good handling in wet conditions.


2nd set
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 (Front: 245/40 R19 Rear: 255/40 R19) Summer Tires BMW Star OEM
Tire miles: 16,800 (replaced)
Tire noise: low noise, similar if not less than Hankooks, soft comfortable ride
Tire performance: excellent grip, better at cornering than Hankooks
Tire wear: rears were down to the belt on the inside, 2/32" on the outside, fronts still had 3-4/32" but one was cut (road hazard)
Average Long trip Efficiency (80mph cruising): 3.7 miles/kWh (summer)
Additional thoughts: I chose these tires over the “improved” 4S version mainly because they are BMW Star certified and come with road hazard warranty if bought and installed at the dealer. Second reason was 12.5% better (less) rolling resistance on the 4 vs 4S which means “slightly” better range. I love spirited driving and taking corners fast so All Season tires are a non starter, regardless of much better thread life.

3rd set (half 4th set)
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 (Front: 245/40 R19 Rear: 255/40 R19) Summer Tires BMW Star OEM
Tire miles: 15,200 (current set)
Tire details: same as 2nd set. I replaced the rears at 3/32” at 15,200 miles, the fronts still have 6/32” of thread (new is 8/32”) so likely next replacement will be all 4. To be clear, I am still on my 3rd set of fronts and I’m on the 4th set of rears.

 

[cruzer666]

Thx @cruzer666 . That is interesting info on the PS4. I was contemplating them as a replacement for my rears soon which are reading ~3/32" on the inside edge after approximately 21K km /13K miles.

However in Canada, the prices for the rear are:

PS4 - $483 (320 TW rating)
Hankook s1 evo3 - $364 (220 TW rating)

You got the same mileage out of the rears with the Michelin/Hankooks, makes me think that the Hankook is the better value....

I did get the same mileage on the rears on both sets. PS4s are stickier tires though, so if you like cornering, they’ll outperform the Hankooks. The difference is noticeable. If you don’t like taking the M50 on twisty roads and driving spiritedly, I’d say get the Hankooks. I was happy with those tires too. The inner wear snuck up quickly on me though.

I spent a lot of $$$ on the M50, I want the best tires for it

 

[cruzer666]

Here are alignment specs for whoever is interested.

 

[cruzer666]

Moderator: Since we use this thread to let other users know our actual experience with tires, this thread has been significantly reduced (from 15 pages to 2-3). This will make it easier for people to read through real-world experience from other drivers without going through 15 different pages. This is just periodic clean-up of the thread to keep it useful. No special guidance for future posts.

Please continue to provide you experience using the details in the OP:
i4 model
Tire model
Tire miles
Tire noise
Tire performance
Tire wear
Additional thoughts

 

[cruzer666]

Glad to know I am not an outlier. Same mileage with 20" wheels is interesting. I would have expected a little worse.

Depends on contact patch. If they used the 20” wheels with the tires of the same width of the tires on the 19” wheels, efficiency wouldn’t change. 245/255 R19 or R20 have almost the same efficiency.

 

[cruzer666]

I would prefer it over the Pirelli's but only when you are looking for a tyre that feels convincing when driving spirited like I do. If it's pure comfort you are looking for, then the Pirelli's will do just fine.

You went from PZ4 to which tire? Small detail

 

[cruzer666]

i4 model: i4 M50 19”
1st set
Tires: Hankook Ventus S1 EVO3 (Front: 245/40 R19 Rear: 255/40 R19) Summer Tires BMW Star OEM
Tire miles: 16,300 (replaced)
Tire noise: low noise, soft ride
Tire performance: excellent, exceeding BMW specs, excellent grip
Tire wear: rears got replaced at <2/32”, fronts at 3-4/32”. Positive camber on the fronts (exterior edges wear first), negative camber on the rears (interior edges wear first).
Average Long trip Efficiency (80mph cruising): 3.7 miles/kWh
Additional thoughts: These are soft summer tires that are excellent for spirited driving and offer very good handling in wet conditions.


2nd set
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 (Front: 245/40 R19 Rear: 255/40 R19) Summer Tires BMW Star OEM
Tire miles: 16,800 (replaced)
Tire noise: low noise, similar if not less than Hankooks, soft comfortable ride
Tire performance: excellent grip, better at cornering than Hankooks
Tire wear: rears were down to the belt on the inside, 2/32" on the outside, fronts still had 3-4/32" but one was cut (road hazard)
Average Long trip Efficiency (80mph cruising): 3.7 miles/kWh (summer)
Additional thoughts: I chose these tires over the “improved” 4S version mainly because they are BMW Star certified and come with road hazard warranty if bought and installed at the dealer. Second reason was 12.5% better (less) rolling resistance on the 4 vs 4S which means “slightly” better range. I love spirited driving and taking corners fast so All Season tires are a non starter, regardless of much better thread life.

3rd set (half 4th set)
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 (Front: 245/40 R19 Rear: 255/40 R19) Summer Tires BMW Star OEM
Tire miles: 15,200 (current set)
Tire details: same as 2nd set. I replaced the rears at 3/32” at 15,200 miles, the fronts still have 6/32” of thread (new is 8/32”) so likely next replacement will be all 4. To be clear, I am still on my 3rd set of fronts and I’m on the 4th set of rears.

Well, thanks to a nail I now have a new set of rears, of the same Michelin PS4 tires. They lasted just over 15,000 miles. Likely my next set will be a full four tire replacement. At that point I will likely be switching to BMW * All Season tires. More details in the quoted post. Still love the summer Michelins.

 

[cruzer666]

I'm trying not to get another nail because soon they won't be able to fix it. (Thin Michelin PS4 summer tires, under 11k miles)

Huh? I get (almost) free tires when I get a nail. It’s celebration day , I paid $150 for two new rears. Pluses of getting BMW * star tires. They have this special 1 year insurance.

 

[cruzer666]

Wow cruzer, which tire shop is that?

BMW dealerships. If you buy BMW Star tires you get included tire insurance. It’s more than road hazard, there are no prorates or anything. As long as your tire still has thread 3/32”, you get free replacements. People think BMW * tires are expensive, they’re really not given you get free replacements if something happens, and something almost always does, at least where I am.

 

[cruzer666]

Call your BMW service and ask for the tire specialist. That’s the person you want to talk to.

 

[cruzer666]

The 3 dealers closest to me all have a Tire Specialist/Advisor. That’s the person that I usually speak to and I’ve had a great experience so far.

 

[cruzer666]

$800 per tire from BMW dealer was a bit out of my comfort level ($175 for the same star rated tires at tire rack). Car has 13K miles, rotated front to back around 10K, the rear definitely gets more wear. I prefer range, but not at gold plated Bring My Wallet prices.

View attachment 50043

Holy crap. Yeah. That’s highway robbery. They’re for sure price competitive in SoCal. Also. $200-$250 max for alignment. Also, what was their reason for recommending alignment ?