20" wheels, tyres, & tramlining

[RiDDO]

Hi,

Collected an 06 3.0 diesel sport with factory 20" wheels & tyres (Bridgestone) yesterday (approved used). Noticed today that the car can sometimes 'tramline' on white lines, or the crown of the road. Is this 'normal' for wheels this size? I don't recall my 2001 4.4 suffering the same on 19's, but several years have elapsed between the 4.4 & my new X5.

Oh, and any thoughts or ideas on winter tyres too.

Comments, or recommendations please..............

[535dboy]

Check tyre pressures.

Wouldn't assume BMW have!

[gobiman]

I bought my 4.8iS in 2009 having previously owned a 3.0d from new (2004) with staggered 19s.
Car was at a BMW dealer on the AUC programme and had done 28k - it had the original Michelin Diamaris on front with pretty new Bridgestone Dueller on back.
Delighted with car other than noticing it was far more prone to tramlining then my old diesel - my wife particularly complained!
I waited until both fronts and rears (separately) were worn down and replaced with Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta - my research suggested it was a "softer" tyre. Been delighted with them and no issues with tramlining. Now have 74k on the car and wearing well.
I have a winter set - Vredestein Wintrac Extremes (which was what got me looking at the Sessanta for sunner rubber) on 18s all round. Fantastic for the winter, I actually have the 99 style BMW approved alloys but they are difficult to find (took months and finally got them from Germany - www.ebay.de) These are similar and well priced -
http://www.tyremen.co.uk/product/11966/ ... 53%29.aspx

[gobiman]

On winters, although the sport pack gives you 20 inch wheels, I don't think you have the larger front discs of the 4.8iS so you can go for 17 inch wheel for the winter tyres.
Usually plenty of them available on ebay and reasonably cheap - people on here have picked up sets for £50 but £100 is more normal. Some of them are, arguably, not particularly attractive to look at !