BMW X Drive new tyres
A bit of info that surprised me, but may be of interest to other current or potential BMW X drive cars.
I have a 2019 X5 (22000 miles) with X drive (for those who don’t know, that’s the intelligent 4 wheel drive system that allocates power independently to each wheel, various other manufacturers have something similar). It has Pirelli run flat tyres, different size on front v rear.
At a recent service at a main dealer (vehicle still under warranty) I was advised a front tyre had a deep cut in it, sufficient to cause a MOT fail (due in August), and a rear tyre had a nail in it. Both showed no loss of pressure.
I then took it to a local tyre shop, which I trust, having used many times previously, run by what I’d describe as an old school expert. I was aware that run flats should invariably not be repaired, but what I didn’t know was that if there is anything beyond minimal wear on an otherwise perfectly good tyre, then all 4 tyres have to be changed simultaneously. This is due to the X drive function, as tyres with significantly different levels of wear cause the (so called) intelligent system to trigger the ‘limp’ safety mode on the vehicle.
Despite my trust of this guy, I did pause for a day or two to check the internet, and to ask other tyre shops. But it seems he was right. As we are shortly due to go over to Spain for 6 weeks, I couldn’t risk any tyre problems, or indeed technical malfunctions. So I coughed up almost £1200 for 4 new tyres, when only two were actually damaged.
Since done 200 miles towing, and all is well.
Nobody told me this when I bought the car, and I didn’t know to ask the right question. But I do now!
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Costco refused to sell me just 2 tyres for my R Class (it's ML running gear) Merc on the basis that it's permanent 4 wheel drive. I asked Mercedes themselves for their opinion who said that it was OK to replace just 2 as long as the other tyres had at least half their tread. I replaced tyres 2 at time a few times while I had it with no problems. 2 of them from Mercedes themselves.
I remember years ago an Audi TT owner having expensive gearbox problems when he replaced just 1 tyre ...
There must be some wiggle room in tyre size by virtue of the fact that you go round corners & the outside wheels go faster than the inside 🤷♂️
£1200 for 4 tyres! Ouch! And I thought the £900 for 4 tyres for my ML hurt.
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I've got the same car and done similar mileage. I had the same problem as you. The front tyres were almost worn out and at Costco they would only change the front tyres if the rears had at least 4mm of tread. I was given the same reason as you and this was confirmed by another tyre outlet and by BMW. Like you my wallet is now £1200 lighter.
On mine, the inside of both front tyres were worn more than the outside. I asked about this thinking the tracking needed adjustment but was told, again by all 3 suppliers, that that is how BMW set the suspension up and it's designed for doing 130mph on the autobahn!
Another issue i had the supply of the tyres. The fronts took just over 2 weeks to get and the rears took 4 weeks.
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