X3 M40i

j1980mac · 05-19-2019, 02:50 PM

I just wanted to share my experience running 3 different sets of tires on my X3 M40i.

I live in Central Texas where the roads are mostly always hot and sticky and often wet from torrential rain. With that said, my tire goals are dry handling, wet handling, and overall ride quality (in that order).

Front: 245/45R20
Rear: 275/40R20

Coming from the OEM Pirelli PZ4 RF tires, I never knew the M40i could perform any better than it already did.

Pirelli PZ4 RF (13,500 miles)

Dry Traction: 6
Wet Traction: 5
Handling: 7
Breaking: 8
Comfort: 4

I recently switched to the Michelin A/S 3+ in hopes that these tires were somehow more performant than all other (non-Michelin) summer performance tires out there, but I wasn't totally in love with them in every category so I made the $300+ decision to upgrade to the Michelin PS4S. As the A/S 3+ tires continued to break in, they started to grow on me before I made the final switch to the PS4S.

Michelin A/S 3+ (500 miles)

Dry Traction: 8
Wet Traction: Untested, but suppose to be astounding
Handling: 6
Breaking: 6
Comfort: 8

In a strait line the A/S 3+ have way better dry traction that the PZ4 RF. In handling corners at higher speeds, they understeer/hop a bit more than I like. The A/S 3+ have a more intentional feel to them when providing steering input (effortlessly) at any speed. The A/S 3+ also don't stop as quickly as the PZ4 RF, however the ride comfort on the A/S 3+ is exceptional.

Michelin PS4S (500 miles)

Dry Traction: 7
Wet Traction: 7
Handling: 9
Breaking: 8
Comfort: 7

UPDATE: Now that I've had my PS4S installed for a while, I can tell you that they are pretty close to the perfect tire.

All-though in a strait line I think the A/S 3+ outgrip the PS4S, in addition to the comfort levels being almost identical, but I think the A/S 3+ barely edges the PS4S here.

As far as overall handling, turning in corners at lower/higher speeds, the PS4S completely dominate!

However, for half the price of the PS4S, I'm still wondering what the Firestone Indy 500 Firehawks would have been like for a mere $700. Maybe that will be my next tire.

yllwwgn · 05-19-2019, 05:39 PM

Thanks for sharing, looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the PS4S!

deladude · 05-20-2019, 10:30 AM

The tread wear numbers are probably relevant to other people comparing these tires:

- P Zeros: 320
- A/S 3+: 500
- PS4S: 300

I have a couple hundred miles on my PS4S tires and am very happy with them, more grip than I'll ever need and a very quiet comfortable ride. I think you'll find them a clear winner here.

pskdude · 05-20-2019, 11:31 AM

im 16k miles in and the dealer informed my tires are running low again, this is my 2nd set of tires. Really wish they lasted longer.

MechX3M40i · 05-20-2019, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pskdude

im 16k miles in and the dealer informed my tires are running low again, this is my 2nd set of tires. Really wish they lasted longer.

16k for both sets? If Yes, that seems low with less than 10k for each set... Guess you have the 21" RFT...

lo_cheng · 05-20-2019, 12:21 PM

My M40i come with 21" Bridgestone Alenza. I really wish they come with 20", so a bit more softer ride, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg to replace.

I hear people say Bridgestone Alenza wear really fast, I only have 1100KM on my M40i now, will see how long they last.

I may move to 20" Square setup when they are done.

pskdude · 05-21-2019, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MechX3M40i

16k for both sets? If Yes, that seems low with less than 10k for each set... Guess you have the 21" RFT...

yep 21 RFT's - Bridgestone Allenzas - dealers states this is "normal wear" ive been troubleshotting the steering wheel vibrations and they constantly state its because of the "tire wear" problem is they wear mostly on the inside so 4-5k miles in i have to buy new tires for them to keep finding the cause of the vibrations.

ParadigmDawg · 05-21-2019, 10:32 AM

We just got back from a long weekend trip to the Frio River and enjoyed the scenic country roads from Brady, Junction and Concan. The Texas Hill Country is so beautiful and very little traffic. The tight curves and elevation changes put my P zeros to the test and they were impressive. One could say that they had no problem ripping curves at 140.

Neo1130 · 05-21-2019, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ParadigmDawg

We just got back from a long weekend trip to the Frio River and enjoyed the scenic country roads from Brady, Junction and Concan. The Texas Hill Country is so beautiful and very little traffic. The tight curves and elevation changes put my P zeros to the test and they were impressive. One could say that they had no problem ripping curves at 140.

I take it that's 140kph? LOL! I dunno. I took my X4 on a LONG sweeping curve at 130MPH once and it was not fun. If you let of the throttle at all at that speed in a turn, you immediately go into oversteer mode. I about crapped myself. Would have been fine if I kept through it but shifting ANY weight to the front in a turn at that speed in these cars is scary.

nvestr · 05-21-2019, 11:47 AM

I absolutely loved the PS4S on my MB C43 AMG. I am actually looking at trying to get the closest size to fit on the 21 inch rims... Not sure if I can yet (started on another thread on that topic) but I can attest that those tires are phenomenal and wear well for summer ultra high performance tires.

The sidewalls look amazing - they have the laser-etched letters that have a velour look. Love them!

ParadigmDawg · 05-21-2019, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neo1130

I take it that's 140kph? LOL! I dunno. I took my X4 on a LONG sweeping curve at 130MPH once and it was not fun. If you let of the throttle at all at that speed in a turn, you immediately go into oversteer mode. I about crapped myself. Would have been fine if I kept through it but shifting ANY weight to the front in a turn at that speed in these cars is scary.

Nope, MPH. I drive an AMG GLC 63S, I am just weird and hang out on the BMW forum.

Neo1130 · 05-21-2019, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ParadigmDawg

Nope, MPH. I drive an AMG GLC 63S, I am just weird and hang out on the BMW forum.

Very nice! I was gonna call your bluff until you explained it. LOL

Wish my wife looked at one of those before deciding on the X4. We literally went to EVERY dealer in Washington state and couldn't find anything she liked. After the BMW dealer we were supposed to look at the MB's but she loved the BMW too much to want to let it go. Didn't even give MB a chance.

MechX3M40i · 05-21-2019, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neo1130

Quote:

Originally Posted by ParadigmDawg

Nope, MPH. I drive an AMG GLC 63S, I am just weird and hang out on the BMW forum.

Very nice! I was gonna call your bluff until you explained it. LOL

Wish my wife looked at one of those before deciding on the X4. We literally went to EVERY dealer in Washington state and couldn't find anything she liked. After the BMW dealer we were supposed to look at the MB's but she loved the BMW too much to want to let it go. Didn't even give MB a chance.

Hey, you should not be complaining... your wife saved you a bundle of coins already by going with the X4.

ParadigmDawg · 05-21-2019, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neo1130

Very nice! I was gonna call your bluff until you explained it. LOL

Wish my wife looked at one of those before deciding on the X4. We literally went to EVERY dealer in Washington state and couldn't find anything she liked. After the BMW dealer we were supposed to look at the MB's but she loved the BMW too much to want to let it go. Didn't even give MB a chance.

I actually went from a AMG GLE 63s to the M40i which was a fun little car after I turned it but I think the jump down from 120k car to a 60k car was too big for me so a 96k car seemed to be a good compromise.

As much money I lose on cars, I think I'm not so smart.....

j1980mac · 05-21-2019, 09:03 PM

Dude you are weird! DFW not as weird as ATX though. Good to see you back on!

j1980mac · 05-21-2019, 09:18 PM

So far I think the PS4S are very closely matched to the PZ4 RF in strait line performance.

They ride way better than the PZ4 RF, but are not nearly as comfortable as the A/S 3+.

I had a chance to test out the PS4S in wet traction in a strait line (low speeds/higher speeds with TC off) and they slipped initially but then recovered quickly.

I’ve not had a chance to test hard cornering yet, but I can say that the PS4S are way more eager to turn (steering wheel) than the PZ4 RF, but not as eager to turn as the A/S 3+. The A/S 3+ are a bit darty in this regard.

Since these are “Y” rated tires and I usually don’t drive over 100 mph (all the time), I’m running them 33-34 psi front, 36-37 psi back, (per iDrive tire settings).

My speedometer is still off (1-2 mph) more than with the PZ4 RF even though they have the same rolling radiuses. If it says I’m doing 60 mph, I’m really going 56-57 mph.

Hope it helps!

05-19-2019, 02:50 PM	#1
j1980mac Captain 263 Rep 964 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 M40i Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Austin TX iTrader: (0)	I just wanted to share my experience running 3 different sets of tires on my X3 M40i. I live in Central Texas where the roads are mostly always hot and sticky and often wet from torrential rain. With that said, my tire goals are dry handling, wet handling, and overall ride quality (in that order). Front: 245/45R20 Rear: 275/40R20 Coming from the OEM Pirelli PZ4 RF tires, I never knew the M40i could perform any better than it already did. Pirelli PZ4 RF (13,500 miles) Dry Traction: 6 Wet Traction: 5 Handling: 7 Breaking: 8 Comfort: 4 I recently switched to the Michelin A/S 3+ in hopes that these tires were somehow more performant than all other (non-Michelin) summer performance tires out there, but I wasn't totally in love with them in every category so I made the $300+ decision to upgrade to the Michelin PS4S. As the A/S 3+ tires continued to break in, they started to grow on me before I made the final switch to the PS4S. Michelin A/S 3+ (500 miles) Dry Traction: 8 Wet Traction: Untested, but suppose to be astounding Handling: 6 Breaking: 6 Comfort: 8 In a strait line the A/S 3+ have way better dry traction that the PZ4 RF. In handling corners at higher speeds, they understeer/hop a bit more than I like. The A/S 3+ have a more intentional feel to them when providing steering input (effortlessly) at any speed. The A/S 3+ also don't stop as quickly as the PZ4 RF, however the ride comfort on the A/S 3+ is exceptional. Michelin PS4S (500 miles) Dry Traction: 7 Wet Traction: 7 Handling: 9 Breaking: 8 Comfort: 7 UPDATE: Now that I've had my PS4S installed for a while, I can tell you that they are pretty close to the perfect tire. All-though in a strait line I think the A/S 3+ outgrip the PS4S, in addition to the comfort levels being almost identical, but I think the A/S 3+ barely edges the PS4S here. As far as overall handling, turning in corners at lower/higher speeds, the PS4S completely dominate! However, for half the price of the PS4S, I'm still wondering what the Firestone Indy 500 Firehawks would have been like for a mere $700. Maybe that will be my next tire. Last edited by j1980mac; 05-19-2019 at 03:00 PM..
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05-19-2019, 05:39 PM	#2
yllwwgn Lieutenant 170 Rep 445 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 M40i Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Milky Way, Earth, North America, Arizona more specifically. iTrader: (0)	Thanks for sharing, looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the PS4S!
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05-20-2019, 10:30 AM	#3
deladude Second Lieutenant 266 Rep 294 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Vermont iTrader: (0)	The tread wear numbers are probably relevant to other people comparing these tires: - P Zeros: 320 - A/S 3+: 500 - PS4S: 300 I have a couple hundred miles on my PS4S tires and am very happy with them, more grip than I'll ever need and a very quiet comfortable ride. I think you'll find them a clear winner here.
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05-20-2019, 11:31 AM	#4
pskdude Private First Class 50 Rep 135 Posts Drives: x3m40i Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: miami iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW_X3_M40i [0.00]	im 16k miles in and the dealer informed my tires are running low again, this is my 2nd set of tires. Really wish they lasted longer.
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05-20-2019, 12:21 PM	#6
lo_cheng First Lieutenant 101 Rep 361 Posts Drives: BMW X3 M40i Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	My M40i come with 21" Bridgestone Alenza. I really wish they come with 20", so a bit more softer ride, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg to replace. I hear people say Bridgestone Alenza wear really fast, I only have 1100KM on my M40i now, will see how long they last. I may move to 20" Square setup when they are done. __________________ 2019 X3 M40i - Phytonic Blue, Black Vernasca Leather, 21" 718M Wheels, Premium Essential
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05-21-2019, 10:32 AM	#8
ParadigmDawg Captain 610 Rep 893 Posts Drives: 2019 AMG GLC63s Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Fort Worth, Texas iTrader: (0)	We just got back from a long weekend trip to the Frio River and enjoyed the scenic country roads from Brady, Junction and Concan. The Texas Hill Country is so beautiful and very little traffic. The tight curves and elevation changes put my P zeros to the test and they were impressive. One could say that they had no problem ripping curves at 140.
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05-21-2019, 11:47 AM	#10
nvestr First Lieutenant 151 Rep 301 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X3 M40i - Sold Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 Volvo XC90 T6 ... [0.00]	I absolutely loved the PS4S on my MB C43 AMG. I am actually looking at trying to get the closest size to fit on the 21 inch rims... Not sure if I can yet (started on another thread on that topic) but I can attest that those tires are phenomenal and wear well for summer ultra high performance tires. The sidewalls look amazing - they have the laser-etched letters that have a velour look. Love them! __________________ 2023 BMW X7 40i // Mineral White // Silverstone Sensafin // MSport Pro + Performance Enhanced 2020 BMW X6 M50i // Alpine White // Mocha Vernasca // Performance Enhanced 2019 BMW X3 M40i // Alpine White // Cognac Vernasca - SOLD
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05-21-2019, 09:03 PM	#15
j1980mac Captain 263 Rep 964 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 M40i Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Austin TX iTrader: (0)	Dude you are weird! DFW not as weird as ATX though. Good to see you back on!
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05-21-2019, 09:18 PM	#16
j1980mac Captain 263 Rep 964 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 M40i Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Austin TX iTrader: (0)	So far I think the PS4S are very closely matched to the PZ4 RF in strait line performance. They ride way better than the PZ4 RF, but are not nearly as comfortable as the A/S 3+. I had a chance to test out the PS4S in wet traction in a strait line (low speeds/higher speeds with TC off) and they slipped initially but then recovered quickly. I’ve not had a chance to test hard cornering yet, but I can say that the PS4S are way more eager to turn (steering wheel) than the PZ4 RF, but not as eager to turn as the A/S 3+. The A/S 3+ are a bit darty in this regard. Since these are “Y” rated tires and I usually don’t drive over 100 mph (all the time), I’m running them 33-34 psi front, 36-37 psi back, (per iDrive tire settings). My speedometer is still off (1-2 mph) more than with the PZ4 RF even though they have the same rolling radiuses. If it says I’m doing 60 mph, I’m really going 56-57 mph. Hope it helps!
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