XSeries-forum

What are the official recommended tyres?

2005 3.0d Sport

Had the car a week and it came with Bridgestones on the front and Michelins on the rear.

What brand does BMW recommend, or rather the question should be, what brand (and model) of tyre did the cars leave the factory with?

Originally it was Michelin Diamaris (that is what mine had in 2004). However at the end (2006) I think that changed to Bridgestones. Presumably they got a better deal.

Ive got a set of Michelin Diamris on mine. Good runners.

Well its my fronts that will need replacing first.

I guess the obvious thing is to replace the Bridgestones with Michelins so its same all round but I really would have liked to have put what BMW intended as I know much tyres can make a difference on how a car behaves. Would it be in the owners manual?

I find this quite strange.

I called BMW Hexagon and asked them what is the correct brand of tyre for the 2005 X5 and the answer was...

"Anything Sir! ... Michelins, Pirellis, Bridgestones, Contentals, Goodyears etc."

I said surely there is an actual Make and Model of tyre that is recomended. She says No. So I try a different angle and I ask what would you fit if I sent the car there for a tyre change. Her answer was a shocking "Whatever we have in stock Sir"

So then I ask what would my car have left the factory with, again she said theres no way to tell, it could have been any of the above 5 makes.

This just doesnt sit right with me. Every other BMW i have owned from 316i up to M3 and 750i have always had a single make a model of tyre that was for the car. eg Michelin Pilot Sports or Pirreli P7's etc. This lady even said they would even fit different tyres on front and back as long as its the same on each axle.

Surely this cant be right?

ad gobiman said above, Michelin Diamaris.

+1 michelin diamaris thw most expensive of course

For the E53 it is indeed the Michelin Diamaris (now Latitude Diamaris). What you are looking for is the star stamped on the sidewall indicating it is the BMW approved tyre.

From the BMW site,
'BMW recommended tyres

Certain makes of tyre are recommended by BMW for each tyre size. They are marked with a clearly visible BMW designation star '*' on the sidewall of the tyre.'


HTH