With the advent of run flat tire technology, BMW has been working hard to integrate it with their standard, original equipment. It can cut down on weight by not necessitating a spare tire and can also offer better stability in the event of a blowout. While they are a convenient and interesting feature for a BMW, they also have downsides. They can have a reduced tread life, and they also don’t necessarily prevent complete blowouts. Because of this, you may be wondering what are the best non run flat tires for a BMW.
Figure 1: Run flat tires aren’t always the best choice for your BMW. Source: LesSchwab.com.
There are many high-performance tires on the market and it can be difficult to know which ones will give you the best experience and enhance your BMW’s handling. Luckily, we have put together a shortlist of the best non run flat tires for a BMW to help you make your decision. With this list, you can get a good idea of some of the options out there and move beyond the run flat OEM tires your vehicle came with.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH A VIDEO ON WHY NOT TO BUY RUN FLAT TIRES
If you don’t want to deal with the potential drawbacks of run flat tires, you can open yourself up to a wider range of options. Picking a set from a shortlist is a great start that can help you break away from the stock run flats and start tailoring your BMW to your specific needs.
Source: Edmunds.com.
What Makes a Great Non Run Flat Tire for a BMW?
We spoke to a sales representative at Hansel BMW who told us “honestly, run flat tires aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. People tend to neglect them because they know that they won’t go all the way flat, but that can be really dangerous. If you want a specific tire for a specific purpose, you don’t have to go with a run flat at all.”
CLICK HERE TO WATCH A COMPARISON VIDEO OF RUN FLATS AND NON RUN FLATS
If you are looking to move on from the run flat tires that came with your BMW, there are a lot of options for you. Odds are, you will want a tire that can accentuate the complex handling and steering features. For this, an all season performance or touring tire that is designed for winding roads and solid grip is a great option. Performance tires are specifically tuned to have a low rolling resistance while still providing solid traction for cornering. Low rolling resistance means that it requires less energy for the tire to move the car along the road. This allows for quicker acceleration as well as better gas mileage.
Figure 2: Non run flat tires are able to deliver a wider range of features to suit your individual needs. Source: Autoweek.com.
Performance and touring tires also use additives like Silica in the rubber compound. These additives react to the road and change their chemical makeup in order to deliver an ideal consistency. This is a fantastic feature for any driver looking to get the most out of the best non run flat tires for a BMW. No matter what kind of driving you are doing and in what kind of weather, these tires will be able to give you the best performance possible.
Depending on what type of weather you are driving in, an all season tire will be a great option. All season tires have specially designed tread blocks and grooves that lock onto the road in wet or snowy conditions. They are meant to be used year round in places that get all four seasons. Because of this, if you do not want to change out your tires every time the seasons change, an all season tire could be a good choice.
Sources: UTires.com; LiveAbout.com; Continental-Tires.com; Interview with sales representative at Hansel BMW conducted 12/17/2020.
How Did We Pick the Best Non Run Flat Tires for a BMW?
We scoured the market of all season touring tires in order to find the best non run flat tires for a BMW. In doing this, we found sets that are optimized for your BMW’s superior handling and high performance. Without the limitations that are put in place with the run flat technology, these tires are able to deliver the most traction on the road while also maintaining a low rolling resistance. This combination of safety and performance is what makes them the best non run flat tires for a BMW.
Figure 3: Silica additives and other technologies can help with performance as well as longevity. Source: BMWBlog.com.
The tires on our shortlist all use unique tread patterns to grip the road as well as silica additives to be adaptable to any conditions. They are all geared toward the best possible performance without giving up any of the durability or reliability that you may be looking for. With the use of silica in the compound, you will also get a longer tread life. This ensures that you won’t get any uneven tread wear, which can lead to a dip in performance as well as shorten the life of your tires.
Sources: Zohr.com; BestUsedTires.com.
1. Continental ExtremeContact DWS06
Figure 4: Continental’s ExtremeContact DWS06 uses a unique tread design to deliver the best grip as well as high performance. Source: TireRack.com.
Continental’s ExtremeContact DWS06 is a ultra high performance tire that is developed specifically for sports car drivers and other high end applications. It uses Continental’s SportPlus Technology, which is a combination of a unique tread design as well as a proprietary rubber compound. This allows the ExtremeContact to maintain a wide traction patch that will respond to the tight steering of your BMW and give you a better sense of control and connection with the road.
The ExtremeContact also uses silica and +Silane additives to increase the traction in wet conditions. These additives respond to the moisture on the road and become more malleable in order to move water out from under the contact patch. This technology helps to eliminate the danger of hydroplaning in rain and wheel spinning in the snow and slush.
The tread pattern of the ExtremeContact is asymmetrical and designed for a quiet ride. Asymmetrical tread patterns push air out of the grooves and keep the tires from developing whistles and whines at high speeds. If you are regularly driving your BMW on the highway, this could be a valuable feature. It also includes Continental’s QuickView indicators. These allow you to notice alignment issues and uneven tread wear before it becomes a serious issue.
Source: TireRack.com.
2. Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring
Figure 5: The CS5 Ultra Touring tire by Cooper has a unique internal construction that can emulate the durability of run flats. Source: TireRack.com.
The CS5 Ultra Touring tire by Cooper is a grand touring tire designed to match with your BMW’s superior steering and handling. It utilizes an asymmetrical tread design along with independent tread blocks. However, unlike most tires with these independent blocks, it uses Cooper’s Stabiledge Performance technology to minimize flex and keep the rolling resistance low. This allows the tires to deliver a huge amount of traction without sacrificing any of the acceleration of your BMW.
The CS5 uses coupled silica to help with responsiveness to wet conditions and mitigate some of the stiffness that can happen with less flex in the tread blocks. It also uses 3D siping throughout the tread design to give you more biting edges that will be useful in light to medium snow. With shoulder blocks around the edges, it also has less negative space so it can maintain a wider contact patch. This adds more lateral traction and adds more grip to the tire’s footprint.
What really makes the CS5 one of the best non run flat tires for a BMW, though, is its internal construction. It uses a polyester casing to give you more durability and reliability as well as more resistance to punctures. If you are looking to replace your OEM run flat tires with something that will be almost as sturdy, these could be a great option.
Source: TireRack.com.
3. Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+
Figure 6: Michelin’s Pilot Sport A/S 3+ has many sipes within the tread blocks to give you the best possible traction in wet and snowy weather. Source: TireRack.com.
The Pilot Sport A/S 3+ by Michelin is one of the most high end, Ultra Performance tires on the market. It uses Michelin’s Helio+ technology to deliver some of the best traction on wet and icy roads. It does this by using a blend of silica and sunflower oil in its rubber compound. These additives soften the tire at lower temperatures to give you better traction without getting rid of the incredibly low rolling resistance.
The Pilot Sport A/S 3+ is also heavily siped in its tread blocks. This gives more room for rigid blocks on the outside edge and is able to deliver consistently capable cornering, even in winter weather. Because of this, it is able to give your BMW the performance of a summer tire, without giving up any of its winter safety features.
It uses Michelin’s Variable Contact Patch 3.0 technology to give you the most evenly distributed contact patch available in an all season tire. Taking its inspiration from Michelin’s innovations in endurance racing, this even spreading of the tread allows for better wear and a longer life.
Source: TireRack.com.
