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      11-29-2019, 07:35 AM   #1
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200+ km/h on Scorpion Winters RESOLVED

I opted for for Pirelli Winter Scorpions in factory size on the factory rims for my cold weather solution. I actually had them mounted before delivery as one of the Michelens was damaged in transport, so I've never experienced that tire on this car. Despite the Scorpions being V rated tires, I just don't feel confident above 200km/h with them. They feel "sloppy" (like the wind is blowing you left and right) and unprecise on smooth highway asphalt (with no cross wind) requiring constant slight corrections on the steering wheel despite being in full sport plus mode (except steering in comfort). Pressure was dealer set at 35 psi in the front and 40 in the rear. The feeling I got was very similar to how the 19" Winter rims and tires (Blizzaks) felt on my M40i at that speed. Granted, I attributed that difference mostly to the much taller sidewall on the 19 inch tires compared to the optional 21s I ran in the summer. With my X3MC, however, the sidewalls are the same on both my setups. I just haven't tried the summers yet. Can anyone else speak to their experience with the scorpion winters at that speed and share their impressions/thoughts? I'm really hoping the X3MC is stable at those higher speeds on the factory summer Michelens. Under 200km/h the Scorpion Winters and setup seems awesome for a winter solution.

Last edited by MrItaly; 12-03-2019 at 03:29 PM..
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      11-29-2019, 08:44 AM   #2
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Should be 38/44psi f/r
As per the manual. Your under inflated for the speed.
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      11-29-2019, 08:56 AM   #3
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Originally Posted by 2kaccordocoupe View Post
Should be 38/44psi f/r
As per the manual. Your under inflated for the speed.
Thanks for the tip. I'll bump them up to that pressure and report back as soon as I can hit the highway again.
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      11-29-2019, 09:18 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrItaly View Post
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Originally Posted by 2kaccordocoupe View Post
Should be 38/44psi f/r
As per the manual. Your under inflated for the speed.
Thanks for the tip. I'll bump them up to that pressure and report back as soon as I can hit the highway again.
Cool. The scorpion is also a more chunkier winter tire so it won't perform as well as a summer tire. Not even close so keep that in mind as well
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      11-29-2019, 09:33 AM   #5
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Do you really need winter tires in Italy?
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      11-29-2019, 09:38 AM   #6
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Do you really need winter tires in Italy?
I live 500 meters above sea level in the hills above my town with an underground garage and steep ramp. It doesn't snow often in the winter here, but when it does life sucks with summer or all season tires (I've tried)
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      11-29-2019, 09:49 AM   #7
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inflation specs per speed, if anyone is interested...

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      11-29-2019, 09:55 AM   #8
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On Monday I had Scorpions installed on my factory 20s since I have non comp. I feel like they are softer and have less grip but didn't notice any of the other observations you are experiencing but my driving speeds weren't higher than 80 mph. My tires were inflated to 35 psi front and 37 psi rear at the dealer. I did a 550 mile road trip with them one way for thanksgiving through rain and mid thirty degree weather and they were great. With about 1,500 total miles got the fuel economy to 17.9 mpg.
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      11-29-2019, 10:16 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrItaly View Post
I live 500 meters above sea level in the hills above my town with an underground garage and steep ramp. It doesn't snow often in the winter here, but when it does life sucks with summer or all season tires (I've tried)
I see. I used to go every summer to Italy. Really miss the food there. And they also don’t enforce the speed limit...
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      11-29-2019, 10:28 AM   #10
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My X4MC came with Continentals but I already have the 20” winter wheels/tires. I recently took it to the Nürburgring with the winters and it felt a little squirrelly. I have taken it up to 135mph on the autobahn and the only time I was able to look down during the Nürburgring was at 120mph on a straightaway.
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      11-29-2019, 05:02 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrItaly View Post
I opted for for Pirelli Winter Scorpions in factory size on the factory rims for my cold weather solution. - I just don't feel confident above 200km/h with them. They feel "sloppy" (like the wind is blowing you left and right) and unprecise on smooth highway asphalt (with no cross wind) requiring constant slight corrections on the steering wheel despite being in full sport plus mode (except steering in comfort).
I opted for exactly the same solution and I have exactly the same feeling but starting with 150 Km/h. At the beginning I thought that the wind is bowing hard but then I realised that the car had a strange behavior.

I went to the BMW service and they were very helpful: ”We don't know what to say! You should have bought the BMW recommended winter wheels!”

I will add that: 1. the new winter tiers make the car far more confortable than the summer tiers (Continental) and 2. at low speed, it brakes better!
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      11-29-2019, 06:28 PM   #12
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I see. I used to go every summer to Italy. Really miss the food there. And they also don’t enforce the speed limit...
While I love the food, I've learned to cook it and can take that knowledge with me to the States next month when I move back. The driving habits, on the other hand, will have to be left here as I would lose my license in a heartbeat if I drove like this in the US. I will truly miss Italy... Especially with this car.
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      11-29-2019, 06:28 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BOGX4M View Post
I opted for exactly the same solution and I have exactly the same feeling but starting with 150 Km/h. At the beginning I thought that the wind is bowing hard but then I realised that the car had a strange behavior.

I went to the BMW service and they were very helpful: ”We don't know what to say! You should have bought the BMW recommended winter wheels!”

I will add that: 1. the new winter tiers make the car far more confortable than the summer tiers (Continental) and 2. at low speed, it brakes better!
What an odd coincidence. What's your tire pressure?
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      11-29-2019, 06:30 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pluckydks View Post
My X4MC came with Continentals but I already have the 20” winter wheels/tires. I recently took it to the Nürburgring with the winters and it felt a little squirrelly. I have taken it up to 135mph on the autobahn and the only time I was able to look down during the Nürburgring was at 120mph on a straightaway.
I'm jealous you got to take yours in the nurnburg. I so wanted to do that before I left but won't be able to in my final month here. I will be in Germany for half of next week for work, but I'm flying (in an airplane, not on the autobahn). So no fun there.
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      11-29-2019, 06:41 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ando View Post
On Monday I had Scorpions installed on my factory 20s since I have non comp. I feel like they are softer and have less grip but didn't notice any of the other observations you are experiencing but my driving speeds weren't higher than 80 mph. My tires were inflated to 35 psi front and 37 psi rear at the dealer. I did a 550 mile road trip with them one way for thanksgiving through rain and mid thirty degree weather and they were great. With about 1,500 total miles got the fuel economy to 17.9 mpg.
I'm rock solid and confident up to about 110mph, after that it starts feeling squirley. Watching that autobahn video of the guy hitting 300km/h just makes me cringe given how my current tires feel at just 200 km/h. I need to raise that pressure and test again.
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      12-02-2019, 02:14 PM   #16
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Did you adjust your tire pressure? Any change?
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      12-02-2019, 02:34 PM   #17
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I did but haven't been back on the highway since. Tomorrow morning I take off before dawn to have the engine remapped 2 hours from here. I'll definitely be able to test them on that highway trip. Will post the results here!
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      12-02-2019, 02:44 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrItaly View Post
I'm jealous you got to take yours in the nurnburg. I so wanted to do that before I left but won't be able to in my final month here. I will be in Germany for half of next week for work, but I'm flying (in an airplane, not on the autobahn). So no fun there.
Where in Germany will you be? Graf? Hohenfels? Neither?
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      12-02-2019, 03:39 PM   #19
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Where in Germany will you be? Graf? Hohenfels? Neither?
Wiesbaden (near Frankfurt) Wednesday through Friday.
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      12-02-2019, 05:14 PM   #20
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I did but haven't been back on the highway since. Tomorrow morning I take off before dawn to have the engine remapped 2 hours from here. I'll definitely be able to test them on that highway trip. Will post the results here!
Great - looking forward to the review as this is an expensive set of tires for instability
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      12-03-2019, 01:52 AM   #21
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So I crossed northern Italy this morning and am awaiting my engine remap. Traffic was pretty heavy, but I did reach 200kmph briefly on one stretch and did not begin to feel the "crosswind sensation" I had previously at that same speed. I'm not sure if it would have appeared at a higher speed. Temp is a bit colder today. Am going to top off the tires after my remap before the return trip home and try to push her higher. Will report back here.

Last edited by MrItaly; 12-03-2019 at 08:45 AM..
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      12-03-2019, 07:59 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrItaly View Post
So I crossed northern Italy this morning and am awaiting my engine remap. Traffic was pretty heavy but I did reach 200kmph briefly on one stretch and did not begin to feel the "crosswind sensation" I had previously at that same speed. I'm not sure if it would have appeared at a higher speed. Temp is a bit colder today. Am going to top off the tires after my remap before the return trip home and try to push her higher. Will report back here.
Sounds promising!
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