Given
76%
while driving a
BMW X5 3.0d Sport
(325/30 R21) on
mostly country roads
for 20,000
spirited miles
Jonathan kindly replied to an Email enquiry. From his reply, I went ahead and placed 21 inch run-flat Continental WinterContacts on to my 2017 X5, that has different tire sizes, from front to back. The wife loved the difference to her feeling of safety they made, between the Scottish Highlands Cold Winter and the wet/cold Autumn/Spring of Herefordshire England, 'so much so', she disliked the stock tires being replaced back on the wheels for the summer and instantly felt less safe. This was due to a perception feeling of no longer being stuck to the tarmac with the stock summer tires, as compared to the Continentals. They have served us for 2 Autumns, Winters and Spring seasons very well and still in good condition.
From Jonathan's most recent youtube videos, Im inclining towards Michelin UHP all season 4 tires, as the twice yearly tire change with the reality of UK Weather, be it Scotland of England my wife and I find ourselves, Jonathan's informative video's lead all, or certainly myself, towards all season tires from now onwards, especially with the advances in tire technology we are seeing with the Michelin and Continental brands. Changing vehicles this Sept from X5 40d 2017 model to X3 M40i 2021 model with 21 inch run-flat wheels. My biggest issue with tire change, is BMW dealerships don't or will not put new winter tires on 21 inch wheels, so you have to go to an independent tire business, that more often than not, has to order in the tires required for 21 inch runflat type wheels. Another reasons for my decision with a new vehicle, a new tire solution to all season tires (Note: at 21 inch run-flats, there are not many tire manufactures to choose between, though improving slightly each year)
These Continental WinterContact tires have been amazing and made us watch motorist abandon, struggle, or slip off roads in snow conditions, as we quickly drove between destinations with full safety and trust in the tires. Even in wet and dry, as a normal driver (No Track) these tires kept us glued to the road in wet and dry conditions, until real warm weather made us change back to stock summer tires. But, the UK weather of recent, is so inter-changeble, both in Scotland and England, that the 7 degree point to change winter/summer is blurred often right through Autumn, Winter and Spring. Today 2021, early May in Scotland I'm driving with snow on the road. Thankfully we have kept the winter tires on even later this year!