BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
      03-24-2019, 02:07 PM   #1
Havy
Captain
Havy's Avatar
Germany
292
Rep
707
Posts

Drives: BMW X5 M50i
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Europe

iTrader: (0)

Air pressure

Hi guys,
I have a question concerning the tire pressure. How much air pressure are you using?
Summer tires OEM rims 20”:
265/35 Pirelli P Zero 3.1 bar (44.9psi)
295/30 Pirelli P Zero 2.7 bar (39.1psi)

Winter tires OEM rims:
265/35 Pirelli Sottozero II 2.6 bar (37.7psi)
295/30 Pirelli Sottozero II 2.7 bar (39.1psi)

Why is there such a big difference between sommer / winter fronts?
Appreciate 0
      03-24-2019, 05:13 PM   #2
Kkgy79
Private First Class
12
Rep
131
Posts

Drives: 2013 m5
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Usa

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Havy View Post
Hi guys,
I have a question concerning the tire pressure. How much air pressure are you using?
Summer tires OEM rims 20”:
265/35 Pirelli P Zero 3.1 bar (44.9psi)
295/30 Pirelli P Zero 2.7 bar (39.1psi)

Winter tires OEM rims:
265/35 Pirelli Sottozero II 2.6 bar (37.7psi)
295/30 Pirelli Sottozero II 2.7 bar (39.1psi)

Why is there such a big difference between sommer / winter fronts?
Side door showing all 35 psi at cold air.
Appreciate 0
      03-25-2019, 03:43 AM   #3
Havy
Captain
Havy's Avatar
Germany
292
Rep
707
Posts

Drives: BMW X5 M50i
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Europe

iTrader: (0)

That's the point. BMW says 35psi but Pirelli tells me different. So you guys stick to the BMW recommendations?
Appreciate 0
      03-25-2019, 03:47 AM   #4
mikerx5
Captain
mikerx5's Avatar
439
Rep
742
Posts

Drives: 2014 F06, 2022 G06
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Providence, RI

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Havy View Post
That's the point. BMW says 35psi but Pirelli tells me different. So you guys stick to the BMW recommendations?
I do. I always assumed the tpms was also calibrated to the number on the doors
Appreciate 0
      03-25-2019, 09:53 AM   #5
Qsilver7
Major General
Qsilver7's Avatar
United_States
4343
Rep
7,361
Posts

Drives: F06 650ix GC / F15 X5 50i
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Indiana, USA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Havy View Post
That's the point. BMW says 35psi but Pirelli tells me different. So you guys stick to the BMW recommendations?
When you say "Pirelli tells me different"...where are you getting this information...from the tire or from some documentation from Pirelli?

If it is from the tire...that's probably the MAXIMUM tire pressure that Pirelli has listed on the tire...which is a safety warning...not a recommendation. The tire manufacture makes a tire that can be mounted on a vast number of different automobiles...and the inflation number on the tire's sidewall is designed to indicate the maximum amount of pressure the tire was designed to handle. It's not the recommendation for what the pressure should be...that info is provided by the car manufacturer and a label should be adhered to the door/door jamb that gives the car manufacturer's recommendation.
__________________
2015 F06 650ix Gran Coupe`(Moonstone/Cohiba Brown)| 2014 F15 X5 50i MSport (Space Gray/Mocha)

Become a BMW CCA member! Click HERE to join and feel free to use my BMW CCA member #191509 as a referral.
Appreciate 0
      03-25-2019, 01:56 PM   #6
Havy
Captain
Havy's Avatar
Germany
292
Rep
707
Posts

Drives: BMW X5 M50i
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Europe

iTrader: (0)

Hi Qsilver,
I got the information direct from Pirelli. I wrote to the technical department in order to get information/approval concerning the winter tires. Pirelli do not have a winter tires in 295/30 with a BMW identification. So they advised my to take one with a Porsche identification.
As you said, the tire manufacturer have tires for a vast number of cars. Each car have another performance, ergo the tire is specific for this car. I.e the Porsche 911 have the engine in the back therefore the tire is build differently than the one for an Audi Quattro.

Tire identification in terms of car manufacturer:
* = BMW, MINI
AM4, AMB, AM9, AMP, AMS, AMV, AM = Aston Martin
AO, AOE, R01, R02 = Audi
AR, ARR = Alfa Romeo
B1, BC, BL = Bentley
F = Ford
HP = Pagani
J, J1, JRS = Jaguar
K1, K2 = Ferrari
L = Lamborghini
LR = Land Rover
LS = Lotus
MC, MC1 = McLaren
MGT = Maserati
MO = Mercedes
MO Extended / MOE = Mercedes recommended with run flat
N0, N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, N6, NX = Porsche
RO1 = Audi recommended Audi Quattro
S1 = Peugeot recommended
VW =Volkswagen recommended
(Yokohama) decibel E70 B = OEM Toyota Yaris
and so on.

I think I will try it out, first Pirelli recommendation and than BMW.
Appreciate 0
      03-25-2019, 04:36 PM   #7
Kkgy79
Private First Class
12
Rep
131
Posts

Drives: 2013 m5
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Usa

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Havy View Post
Hi Qsilver,
I got the information direct from Pirelli. I wrote to the technical department in order to get information/approval concerning the winter tires. Pirelli do not have a winter tires in 295/30 with a BMW identification. So they advised my to take one with a Porsche identification.
As you said, the tire manufacturer have tires for a vast number of cars. Each car have another performance, ergo the tire is specific for this car. I.e the Porsche 911 have the engine in the back therefore the tire is build differently than the one for an Audi Quattro.

Tire identification in terms of car manufacturer:
* = BMW, MINI
AM4, AMB, AM9, AMP, AMS, AMV, AM = Aston Martin
AO, AOE, R01, R02 = Audi
AR, ARR = Alfa Romeo
B1, BC, BL = Bentley
F = Ford
HP = Pagani
J, J1, JRS = Jaguar
K1, K2 = Ferrari
L = Lamborghini
LR = Land Rover
LS = Lotus
MC, MC1 = McLaren
MGT = Maserati
MO = Mercedes
MO Extended / MOE = Mercedes recommended with run flat
N0, N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, N6, NX = Porsche
RO1 = Audi recommended Audi Quattro
S1 = Peugeot recommended
VW =Volkswagen recommended
(Yokohama) decibel E70 B = OEM Toyota Yaris
and so on.

I think I will try it out, first Pirelli recommendation and than BMW.
Our car has 35 psi recommanded. I think thats ideal psi for our vehicle.
19 20 21, 295 305 325 different size doesnt matter. 35 psi is good for any tire brands. Thats what i know.
Appreciate 0
      03-25-2019, 04:49 PM   #8
BMWDriverX
Captain
United_States
366
Rep
804
Posts

Drives: G12 750i X-Drive
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: CA

iTrader: (1)

I'm running cold 38psi on the fronts and 30psi on the rears for traction.
Appreciate 0
      03-25-2019, 07:05 PM   #9
Qsilver7
Major General
Qsilver7's Avatar
United_States
4343
Rep
7,361
Posts

Drives: F06 650ix GC / F15 X5 50i
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Indiana, USA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Havy View Post
Hi Qsilver,
I got the information direct from Pirelli. I wrote to the technical department in order to get information/approval concerning the winter tires. Pirelli do not have a winter tires in 295/30 with a BMW identification. So they advised my to take one with a Porsche identification.
As you said, the tire manufacturer have tires for a vast number of cars. Each car have another performance, ergo the tire is specific for this car. I.e the Porsche 911 have the engine in the back therefore the tire is build differently than the one for an Audi Quattro.

Tire identification in terms of car manufacturer:
* = BMW, MINI
AM4, AMB, AM9, AMP, AMS, AMV, AM = Aston Martin
AO, AOE, R01, R02 = Audi
AR, ARR = Alfa Romeo
B1, BC, BL = Bentley
F = Ford
HP = Pagani
J, J1, JRS = Jaguar
K1, K2 = Ferrari
L = Lamborghini
LR = Land Rover
LS = Lotus
MC, MC1 = McLaren
MGT = Maserati
MO = Mercedes
MO Extended / MOE = Mercedes recommended with run flat
N0, N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, N6, NX = Porsche
RO1 = Audi recommended Audi Quattro
S1 = Peugeot recommended
VW =Volkswagen recommended
(Yokohama) decibel E70 B = OEM Toyota Yaris
and so on.

I think I will try it out, first Pirelli recommendation and than BMW.
Ah...thanks for the clarification. If the tire is made specifically for the car...then hopefully Pirelli has performed some R&D (research & development) to come up with the tire pressure specs they gave you. If you go with their recommendation...post back what your experience was like...and if you liked the higher pressure using their tire.
__________________
2015 F06 650ix Gran Coupe`(Moonstone/Cohiba Brown)| 2014 F15 X5 50i MSport (Space Gray/Mocha)

Become a BMW CCA member! Click HERE to join and feel free to use my BMW CCA member #191509 as a referral.
Appreciate 0
      03-25-2019, 11:07 PM   #10
JC04
Private
21
Rep
56
Posts

Drives: MX
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: MN

iTrader: (0)

Too high PSIs will result in wearing down the middle of the tires faster than the edges, and too low PSIs will result in wearing down the edges faster than the middle of the tires. Both will result loss of traction and wear down tires unevenly.

Follow the recommendations in the manual of your car. Summer and winter tires have different PSIs and it depends on 19 or 20 wheels, too. In addition, it has recommendations for speed over 100 MPH, too. Don't follow that (my opinion) because I had bad results and below was my experience of it.

The recommendations for 19” winter tires for over 100 MPH is front 37 PSI front, rear 41 PSI. I set the back tires to between 39-40 PSI, and the front tires to 34-36 this winter. I just changed my tires back to summer tires and I noticed the back tires worn down in the middle significantly than the edges after about 3000 miles. I think I grinded the middle down about 4/32 but the edges barely had any wear. The front tires didn’t wear out much at all and evenly across. I just flushed $700+ down the drain with this experiment . Hopefully people learn from my mistakes . Just for info, I run Porsche performance winter tires on my car, MICHELIN PILOT ALPIN PA4 N-SPEC which is better than Pirelli Sottozero II in all categories.

The conclusion for my little experiment is to keep the tire pressure within 34-36 PSI. Again, follow the car manual for air pressure that recommended for under 100 MPH. You will ruin the tires so fast if you set it higher or lower than the recommended tire pressure in the car manual.

Last edited by JC04; 03-26-2019 at 12:43 AM..
Appreciate 1
Havy292.00
      03-26-2019, 07:37 AM   #11
Havy
Captain
Havy's Avatar
Germany
292
Rep
707
Posts

Drives: BMW X5 M50i
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Europe

iTrader: (0)

Thank you guys I will report the out come of the little experiment with the tire preassure. I guess the recommendsation from BMW are more precise than the one from Pirelli. We'ill see.
Appreciate 0
      05-19-2019, 06:36 AM   #12
Havy
Captain
Havy's Avatar
Germany
292
Rep
707
Posts

Drives: BMW X5 M50i
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Europe

iTrader: (0)

I almost forgot to report the result. After spending hours and hours with researching e-mailing and on the phone here is the result.
It doesn’t matter what kind of tire you use with BMW recognition(*) or without stick to the recommendation indicated on the sticker in the door. Check the pressure on cold tires. Too high and the ride quality goes in direction harsh and the center wear is quite high. To low and the quality is like wobbling and the outside tire wear is high.

It is important that you perform an alignment ones or twice a year as the M6 really eats the tires if the alignment is off.
Appreciate 0
      05-19-2019, 09:08 PM   #13
Flying Ace
Lieutenant General
Flying Ace's Avatar
4983
Rep
11,891
Posts

Drives: G05 45e, 997.1 & 991.1 GT3s
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SF, CA

iTrader: (5)

Just FYI, the manual states 2 different pressures depending on load and speed.
__________________
Appreciate 1
Havy292.00
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:09 AM.




6post.com
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST