Best Tires For BMW X4 - Complete Guide

‍12 Best Tires For BMW X4

Nokian WR G4 SUV - Best All-Season

{{tire-info-with-links="/tire/nokian-tire-wr-g4-suv"}}

The Nokian WR G4 is a reliable standard all-wheel tire, perfect for taking a family or personal commuter vehicle down back roads or to the ski lodge. This tire provides a high-functioning balance between practical street performance and inclement weather durability. It has a load capacity of 2149 pounds, a section width of 235 millimeters, a rim size of eighteen inches, and features SmartTraffic technology.

It is important to make the distinction that these are All-Weather, not All-Season tires. All-Weather tires, such as the Nokian WR G4, provide the same high-performance All-Season tires, with the addition of being functional in 2-3 inches of snow.

One of the major upsides to All-Weather tires, especially the Nokian WRG4, is their versatility. Unless you are taking your car into extreme snow conditions, these tires perform admirably in any variety of climates.

The asymmetric tread pattern combined with the broad footprint increased the tire’s ability to grip the surface of the road and provide a more in-control driver experience.

Pros:

• Good handling in icy/snowy conditions
• Strong brake and short braking distance on snowy terrain
• Strong traction and handling in both dry and wet conditions

Cons:

• Louder exterior sound
• Rolling resistance
• Less customer satisfaction with braking under wet conditions

Kumho Ecsta LX-Platinum - Best Touring

{{tire-info-with-links="/tire/kumho-ecsta-lx-platinum"}}

Kumho is known for providing tires for a wide variety of needs and vehicles. Their designs are often similar to the leading brands in the market, keeping pace with the advancement of technology in the tire industry.

The advanced tread compound makes it possible to feel complete comfort on the road while maintaining all-season traction. The pattern is asymmetric to ensure better interlocking features when braking and cornering to make for a more safe and secure ride despite the weather conditions.

Kumho also uses a 3-sipe design to add more biting edges while increasing the lateral grip and braking ability. These sipes make it possible to brake at shorter distances on difficult terrains like snow and ice while maintaining low road noise.

To handle heavy water flows, there are circumferential grooves to add another layer of protection for hydroplaning resistance. It also helps to add extra miles to the tread life because of better driving and more even road contact.  

Pros:

• Maximum contact patch for increased control.
• Unique design for a comfortable, luxury experience.
• Rubber compound designed for strong traction in cold conditions.
• Generally 30%-40% cheaper than competing brands.

Cons:

• Less suited for snow and icy conditions.
• True tread wear is likely 10%-20% less than rated mileage.

Michelin Latitude Sport - Best Summer

{{tire-info-with-links="/tire/michelin-latitude-sport"}}

For almost one hundred and fifty years, Michelin has been known for making top-of-line tires. The Michelin Latitude Sport is the perfect tire for high performance in the summer heat.

The Latitude Sport claims a load capacity of 1554 pounds, a tread depth of 8.5/32nds, a section width of 235 millimeters, and a rim diameter of 17 inches. It features FAZ technology, which precisely sets reinforcement filaments under a tread, creating a more confident driving experience when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds.

The Latitude Sport is similar to the Pilot Sport 2, which is Michelin’s flagship sport tire. Both the Latitude Sport and the Pilot Sport 2 are designed with the same track-inspired tread pattern. The difference between them is that the Latitude Sport is built slightly larger to accommodate SUVs like the BMW X4.

Because the Latitude Sport is a summer tire, they do not perform as well as winter or all-weather tires in wet or loose terrain conditions. That being said, the combination of the X4’s intelligent all-wheel drive and the track-grade quality of the Michelin Latitude Sport tires will likely prove sufficient for most surface street and freeway needs.

Pros:

• Excellent dry handling.
• Higher load capacity.
• Holds the road at racing speeds.

Cons:

• Sidewalls have been noted by consumers as vulnerable to pothole damage.
• Slippery on gravel and similar loose surface terrain.

Pirelli Scorpion Winter - Best Winter

{{tire-info-with-links="/tire/pirelli-scorpion-winter"}}

Pirelli is known for making high-performance racing tires for Italian car companies such as Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, and Ferrari.

Pirelli, in their Scorpion Winter tire line, brings the same attention to performance and handling which has made them popular among supercar enthusiasts and race drivers The Scorpion Winter is a favorite among racers and commuters alike for winter performance tires.

The Pirelli Scorpion Winter offers a load capacity of 1110 pounds, a section width of 315 millimeters, and a rim width of 20 inches. Because of the larger rim size, the Scorpion Winter is only available for models with larger wheels, in the 21’-25’ range.

Pirelli uses a softer tread rubber to maintain flexibility in cold temperatures. This is done by using a polymer blend compound with high silica and directional pattern. The combination not only makes road traction better but also helps contribute to longer overall tread life.

Pros:

• Directionally molded tread compound for a stable shoulder to enhance on-road handling.
• Environmentally conscious.
• Low road noise.
• New polymer-blend rubber treads to increase grip and handling in snow/slushy terrain.

Cons:

• Better treadwear is needed.
• Below average warranty policy.

Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 - Best Snow and Ice

{{tire-info-with-links="/tire/bridgestone-blizzak-ws90"}}

The Blizzak WS90 is a studless winter tire from Bridgestone. The Blizzak line of snow tires was developed with SUVs and coupes in mind. Because the X4 is a crossover of coupe and SUV, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is the perfect tire for hard winter driving.

The Blizzak WS90 has a section width of 255 millimeters, a load capacity of 1323 pounds, a tread depth of 12/32nds, and a rim width of 9 inches. The significantly smaller rims are because more space is taken up by the stiff block treads and thick sidewalls.

Designed with rigidly symmetrical tread patterns, the Blizzak WS90 tires provide increased block stiffness to give drivers tight, responsive steering in the most slippery, slushy conditions.

The WS90’s tread pattern gives it an advantage over its predecessors, with 15% more block edges ensuring shorter brake distances and increased traction on ice.

Pros:

• Specifically designed for crossovers and SUVs.
• The newest generation of polymer and compounds with bite particles for maximum grip and control in ice and snow.
• Symmetric treads for stiff block and increased steering control.

Cons:

• Exterior noise.
• Treadwear is only expected to last about 5 seasons.

Atturo AW730 Ice - Best Studdable Winter

The Atturo AW730 Ice tires are a consumer favorite when it comes to studdable tires. Comparable with Nokian tires in performance and durability, AW730 tires are designed to fit most passenger vehicles, from high-performance sports cars to minivans.

The Atturo AW730 boasts a load capacity of 1925, tread depth of 12/32nds, a section width of 265 millimeters, and weighs a total of 52 pounds per tire. They are large, heavy, stiff, and with heavy block treads, which makes them capable of bearing heavier loads and higher pressure without rupturing the tire.

One feature of the Atturo that makes it an attractive option for snow tires is that it is studdable. A studded tire means there are steel studs embedded in the tire to assist with traction and grip in slippery conditions. The addition of the tires being studdable gives the AW730 an additional advantage over other snow and inclement weather tire lines.

Pros:

• Strong traction and road grip.
• High quality for a lower price.
• Quiet external noise for snow tires.

Cons:

• Stiff block treads may have trouble cornering on dry pavement.
• Poor warranty available.  

Accelera PHI 2 - Best Performance Street

Accelera’s PHI 2 is categorized as a summer tire and replaced the previous PHI generation. The PHI 2 performs better, naturally, under dry conditions, where a wide footprint and asymmetric tread pattern make it a high-performing, highly controllable tire for the street or track.

The PHI 2 has a load capacity of 1235 pounds, a section width of 225 millimeters, and a rim size of 19 inches. It features low rolling resistance technology and is of radial construction.

The PHI 2 tires’ design was customized to make the wheel optimal for passenger vehicles. It’s handling, road feedback and quiet exterior noise make it a comfortable, high functioning tire.

The downside of a high-performance summer tire, however, is that they are not designed for wet weather. The Accelera PHI 2’s wet grip is its lowest scoring element among rating consumers.

The PHI 2 uses a dynamic lateral groove and firm shoulder block to handle wet conditions well and reduce rolling conditions. The shoulder does a great job in adding more stabiulity on the road and  

Pros:

• Excellent traction and dry grip.
• Reacts well in handling situations.
• Comfortable and quiet.
• Corners with precision.  

Cons:

• Worse than average tread wear.

Nitto NT555RII - Best Performance Track

{{tire-info-with-links="/tire/nitto-nt555rii"}}

The Nitto NT555RII is one of the first tires ever designed specifically for a crossover vehicle (or CUV) like the BMW X4. With attention paid to style, purpose, versatility, and reliability, Nitto tires are built to get you where you need to go on an everyday basis.

The NT555RII has a rim width of 20 inches, a tread depth of 6.3/32nds, and a load capacity of a whopping 2149. In essence, these tires are wide and shallow, which is perfect for hugging the road closure. Because the tire has such a wide footprint, weight is distributed across a greater space, accounting for the NT555RII’s herculean load capacity (for its type).

The Nitto NT555RII series handles strongly in both wet and dry conditions, making it an appealing option for everyday commuting. The unique, asymmetric tread design and the rubber compounds used to make the tires reliable performers, with practical use always the top priority.

Another feature that makes the Nitto NT555RII an attractive option for the X4 is the longevity of its treadwear. It’s not unusual for Nitto tires to surpass even brand names such as Goodyear and Hankook in terms of maintaining durable treads.

Pros:

• Handling across moderate weather conditions (not including extreme ice/snow).
• Reasonable traction on loose gravel-type terrain.
• Versatile, a good fit for a variety of vehicles, terrains, and lifestyles.
• Affordable pricing for the category.
• High-speed stability is fantastic.

Cons:

• Exterior road noise can be quite loud.
• Prone to tire vibration unless the owner keeps to a regular maintenance schedule, rebalancing roughly every 500 miles.
• Not suitable for snow or icy terrain without chains.

Goodyear Eagle Sport All-Season - Best All-Purpose

{{tire-info-with-links="/tire/goodyear-eagle-sport-all-season"}}

Goodyear is a well-known and well trusted tire manufacturer, the fourth-largest producer of consumer tires in the world. The Eagle Sport All-Season is a powerful performance tire, built for tight handling and strong traction in a variety of weather conditions.

The Eagle RS-A has a heavier than average load capacity, 1819 pounds, and a section width of 255 millimeters. It has a rim size of 20 inches. As with the Pirelli Scorpion Winter tires, which also had a larger than average rim size, this particular tire may not be available for some models of the X4. The RS-A line is run-flat tires.

Recent innovations in the type of tread compound used in the Eagle Sport provide the driver with confident control over their vehicle and their handle on the road.

Extra deep sipes allow for the tires to maintain their powerful road grip even as the rubber wears down, and rim protectors guard against curb damage and other such tire hazards.

Pros:

• Comfortable driving experience.
• Quiet road-noise, especially on highways.
• Excellent handling in dry and wet conditions.
• Higher load capacity than average for added stability.

Cons:

• Treadwear could use more improvements to compete with similar tires.
• Performs below average in snow, ice, and other inclement weather.

Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate  - Best Highway

{{tire-info-with-links="/tire/goodyear-eagle-exhilarate"}}

The Eagle series is one of Goodyear’s most popular tire lines. The Exhilarate is one of the more recent additions to the Goodyear Eagle family line, taking the place of the Goodyear Eagle F-1.

The Exhilarate is an all-season tire with tread patterns and compounds designed for grip and comfort year-round. The treads feature an asymmetric five-rib pattern which creates traction equally on wet and dry surfaces.

The Eagle Exhilarate has a tire width of 245, tread depth of 10/32nds, and weighs only 24 pounds per tire. Lightweight and agile, while still sturdy and dependable, the Eagle Exhilarate is a true hybrid, all-season tire.

The Exhilarate also features recently introduced ActiveGrip technology. ActiveGrip distributes the pressure around the contact area, which increases the tire’s footprint and improves the vehicle's braking distance and handling.

Pros:

• Good mileage and tread life.
• Highly versatile and handles well.
• Road comfort is best-in-class with minimal road noise.
• Excellent durability and stability at high speeds.

Cons:

• Braking on snow and ice could be improved.

Michelin Crossclimate 2 - Best All-Terrain

{{tire-info-with-links="/tire/michelin-crossclimate2"}}

Most All-Terrain vehicles are only suited for moderately inclement terrains, such as several inches of snow or gravel. For that reason, many consumers choose to purchase two sets of tires for the different seasons, depending on the extremity of the weather in their surroundings.

The Crossclimate 2 from Michelin, however, attempts to offer a truly all-terrain tire, as practical on summer pavement as it would in a snowed-in driveway. The Crossclimate 2 is the third generation of the Crossclimate line. This iteration utilizes V-ramp chamfers and a directionally patterned tread design to offer a tire that holds up and gives traction in almost any condition.

The Crossclimate 2 has a rim width of only 7.5 millimeters, a load capacity of 1356 pounds, a tread depth of 10/32nds, and a rim size of 16 inches. Of course, if one is driving often in extreme snow conditions, the best tires would be studded snow tires rather than all-terrain. Otherwise, the Crossclimate two is very likely the most widely versatile tire on the market. The Crossclimate 2 is designed to handle any situation, grade, or climate it is put to.

Pros:

• Handles well under extremely versatile conditions.
• Adaptive technology to keep tires suited to changing climate.
• Short-distance braking is phenomenal in harsh terrains.
• Highly responsive on pavement.

Cons:

• Treadwear is below average.
• 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, while decent, falls short of other competing brands.

Pirelli Spare Tyre - Best Temporary Spare

{{tire-info-with-links="/tire/pirelli-spare-tyre"}}

The BMW X4 comes equipped with a reliable set of run-flat tires, meaning most drivers do not even consider the need for a temporary spare tire. However, if you have upgraded your tires at any point to non-RFT model tires this changes. The best temporary spare for the X4 is the Pirelli Spare Tyre.

This temporary spare is extremely lightweight made from a strong construction to handle all of the road demands you will have. It was made for original equipment applications to be the go-to product for many of the top vehicle manufacturers in the world.

If you experience tire damage or a flat, this spare is easy to handle and install. Because of its lightweight, it stores in your trunk comfortably without adding extra weight to your vehicle. It comes available in multiple sizes so you can decide on which one fits your vehicle best.

It is important to remember that a temporary spare is not intended to provide the same benefits as an actual tire. It will struggle in snow and rain more than a traditional tire and it should be driven with extreme caution because of the damages it could cause to your vehicle when used incorrectly.  

Pirelli does not provide a warranty on the spare tires because they are easily mishandled and difficult to insure the same as a traditional tire built for more extreme conditions. Handle your spare with care because it has a much shorter lifespan on the road.

Pros:

• Easy installation process.
• Multiple sizes are available.
• Reliable construction.
• Lightweight for easy trunk storage.

Cons:

• A maximum speed of 50 MPH.
• A maximum distance of only 70 miles.

Bridgestone Alenza 001 RFT - Factory Tire

{{tire-info-with-links="/tire/bridgestone-alenza-001-rft"}}

Your new BMW X4 will be equipped with the Bridgestone Alenza 001 RFT tire. The run-flat technology means it has a thicker sidewall that is built to handle punctures and damages much better than other competing tires. You also get added support if something happens and do not need to change the tire immediately.

It is a summer tire and not intended for winter driving, but it provides excellent performance capabilities when on the road. Drivers can expect the most precise cornering and braking features to maximize the potential of their X4.

The handling is impressive and braking at short distances is extremely accurate. The tire also includes grooves that make it possible to avoid hydroplaning and perform on wet roads in the rain.

When the temperature drops to near-freezing temperatures, the performance will drop with it. The treads can crack when exposed to cold weather so it is best to change this tire before the weather does.

However, it does have a long tread life for a summer tire and you can expect to get plenty of usage out of it for multiple summer seasons.    

Pros:

• Excellent tread life and tread design.
• Precise handling and cornering for maximum performance driving.
• Optimal groove technologies for hydroplaning resistance.
• Run-flat technology to avoid flats.  

Cons:

• Not intended for winter driving.
• Comfort and road noise could use some improvements.

How to Read a BMW X4 Tire

An important part of finding the right tire involves reading the sidewall of a tire to determine whether the sizing is correct to fit your vehicle. Below we have created a chart to simplify the process and help you learn everything you need to know about a tire.

Why Is Tire Choice So Important?

Having tires with good treads that are properly suited to your vehicle isn’t just important if you’re going on an excursion through snow-laden mountains.

Any time you drive, your tires are grinding against the pavement, wearing down your treads. Treads are the grooves in your tires that allow for traction against the road, which propels your vehicles forward.

Bald tires or tires with treads that have been worn all the way down give little to no grip on the road. This in turn makes the vehicle difficult to control, even on dry pavement.

When a vehicle enters a slick terrain, such as ice, or drives at speed through a large puddle, tires without proper treads are far more likely to break free into a skid or hydroplane, depending on the scenario. Strong treads and well-balanced tires can be the deciding factor between a horrifying accident and confident control.

It’s also important to understand that the environment affects your tires. Extreme heat, as one would experience on a race track or truly sun-baked pavement, will have a different effect than extreme cold.

Therefore, it’s crucial to take into consideration the climates and other factors that may affect your tire safety and choose the right ones for your vehicle and circumstances. When purchasing tires, you ought to know where, when and in what conditions you intend to do the majority of your driving, as well as what kind of performance you’re looking for from your tires.

Tire styles refer to the intended climate and service of the vehicle. Examples of tire styles would be Summer Tires, Winter Tires, Touring Tires, Performance Tires, etc. Knowing the terminology associated with the industry is crucial to ensuring that you end up with the right tires for your vehicle.

Because tires and tread conditions are so important and can be fatally dangerous if ignored, it’s also advisable to consider the longevity of the tire. A cheaper option now may cost more in the long run if you have to replace the tires every two seasons.

How Often Should Tires Be Replaced?

The majority of tires on the market today recommend replacement every 20,000-80,000 miles depending on the tire. Outside of the manufacturer’s recommendation, there’s no hard rule about how often to replace tires.

Keep a careful eye on your treads, and err on the side of sooner if you regularly drive in harsh or dangerous conditions. As a rule of thumb, the faster you run the vehicle, the sooner you will have to replace the tires.

Tires are manufactured with a feature called wear bars, which show up as your tires wear down. If there are three wear bars visible on your tire, you must replace your tires immediately.

In terms of time, authorities on the subject of tires such as Goodyear, Michelin, and Bridgestone all recommend replacing your tires before they reach six years old. Beyond that, as the tires are constantly exposed to weather and elements, all tires start to break down strictly due to age.

Run-Flat Tires - Yes or No?        

The simple answer: it’s a matter of preference. Run-flat technology offers safety both to the driver and the vehicle, but at a price.

The standard tire that the BMW X4 comes equipped with off the lot is a 19”, 20”, or 21” run-flat factory tire. Since the release of the run-flat tire in the modern market, there has been disagreement between consumers about if their benefits outweigh their drawbacks.

Many modern tires utilize run-flat technology. The appeal is clear. The ability to continue moving the car forward when a tire’s gone flat is undeniably convenient, allowing the driver to change the tire at a more convenient time and place and reducing the traffic congestion that accumulates around a vehicle with a flat tire.

The run-flat tire comes with its own risk, however. The sidewall is designed to be stiffer than usual tires so that the wheel is held off the ground in case of a flat. Because of that, the sidewalls tend to flex when they’re rolled on. They will only do so a limited number of times before the wheel fails, which is a bigger problem than a flat tire. Higher speed in run-flat directly reduces their expected mileage.

The verdict in the car enthusiast community is still out on run-flat tires, though more car manufacturing companies seem eager to incorporate them into their new models. Fortunately for the consumer, the feature in question is replaced as easily as changing a tire.