08-31-2014, 01:27 AM | #1 |
Major
183
Rep 1,259
Posts |
20" - TPMS and winter tires
Luckily even US vehicles with the beautiful 310 20" will get performance tires
That, however, creates - at least for areas with 4 seasons - a problem. You need to ask yourself: -will I be true to BMW and buy - very expensive - original winterwheels? -will I buy run flats? -will I transfer my TPMS sensors, buy new or not have TPMS during winter? For X4, BMW has abandoned the (not so good) ABS based Tire Pressure Monitoring System, which just gave an alarm when your pressure was low on one tire (faster rotation), and gone to transducers inside the wheels, monitoring the pressure and sending the result to a receiver inside the vehicle. Batterlife=transducerlife is about 5 years. Cost of OEM:s are probably $100+ - each! Cost of non-OEM:s (even if manufactured by OEM ) is probably less than $100. Non-OEM:s can be programmed by installer for your vehicle. BMW will very probably sell you the whole kit: run flats and transducers. It is up to you if you feel that you need run flats - they are about 30% up in Europe. Last questions: do you need TPMS during winter? - if so- you need to decide wether to move the transducers or buy additionl - OEM:s or non- OEM:s. That was the easy part Now to wintertires. Wintertires - bought at full price - should be less than 6 month old. Date of manufacture - year and week - is ingraved in the tire. Rubber will detoriate with age and there are improvements every year. These improvements are tested/verified during previous winter. BIC tires varies from year to year both for studded tires and non-studded. Tests are performed by Swedish, German and Finnish Car Magazines - I don`t know about the US. I will buy the studded tires that will receive highest rating in this years tests.Tests were performed last winter with this winters tires supplied by tire manufacturer - not yet publicized. I will also buy 18" AEZ Yacht 5-spoke rims. |
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|