BMW XDrive uneven tyres and potential damage

[Dragnet 5]

Hello - I have a BMW 430D XDrive and have new tyres on the nearside and more worn tyres on the offside. I have heard that uneven tyres can damage the XDrive system - is this correct?

I currently use Bridgestone Potenza S001 run flat tyres and the handling and braking is really good so I am tempted to not change the offside ones yet but any advice or experience will be much appreciated.

Many thanks

[Deefor62]

We had to replace the near side tyres on our 335d last year due to pothole damage to the sidewalls.

The advice from the BMW dealers who replaced the tyres said that it was ok if the difference in tread across each axle was less than 5mm.

Hope that helps.

[the02shed]

BMW repair standards for tyre tread depth state all tyres should have no more than 2mm (yes, that's two millimetres) difference in tread on each axle.
For X Drive it can't be more than 2mm on ALL tyres. ( They should also all be the same make & tread pattern, whether 2 wheel drive or 4 )

New tyres have about 8mm of tread, so if your existing tyres are 6mm or more, it's all gravy. Otherwise, you'll need to change them too.

[Dragnet 5]

Thanks for the replies. I plan to change them in a week or so because of the tyre depth difference. Is there any truth in potential damage to the XDrive?

[the02shed]

Dragnet 5 said:

. Is there any truth in potential damage to the XDrive?

Yes. Often this is limited to drive train warning lights and gear change issues, but in the extreme ( if the tyres are very unevenly matched) mechanical damage to the transfer box can result.

[rassi]

@ OP: why are the tyres worn unevenly between left and right? Front and rear, yes, but between sides is odd?

[Thfccambs]

Please keep them within 2mm, I was away on buisness 2 years ago. The wife hit a pot hole and took my 420D X-Drive to a local tyre place. They changed the front tyre as requersted.

After driving away she could feel an issue, straight away as the tred was diffrent the transfer box went.

£3900 bill from BMW to replace it, caused by the tyre being incorrect tread to the other 3.

[The Gauge]

Im researching buying a 2019 BMW 7 Series G11, some are offered with Xdrive.

I've read that with Xdrive tyre wear should be maintained the same all round, so if you get a puncture and need a new tyre, does that mean you have to replace both threes on the same axel?

[Wills2]

The Gauge said:

Im researching buying a 2019 BMW 7 Series G11, some are offered with Xdrive.

I've read that with Xdrive tyre wear should be maintained the same all round, so if you get a puncture and need a new tyre, does that mean you have to replace both threes on the same axel?

No there is a tolerance not sure it's as wide as one poster said (5mm) I had a G11 740d xdrive suffered a damaged tyre on the rear and they just changed that tyre as it was within tolerance IIRC it was around 2-3mm.

[Pica-Pica]

Wills2 said:

The Gauge said:

Im researching buying a 2019 BMW 7 Series G11, some are offered with Xdrive.

I've read that with Xdrive tyre wear should be maintained the same all round, so if you get a puncture and need a new tyre, does that mean you have to replace both threes on the same axel?

No there is a tolerance not sure it's as wide as one poster said (5mm) I had a G11 740d xdrive suffered a damaged tyre on the rear and they just changed that tyre as it was within tolerance IIRC it was around 2-3mm.

I have changed tyres on my 335d xdrive (‘66 plate). I just change the tyre that needs changing. I personally have not worried about a 5mm tread depth difference between, or across axles. I do stick to * marked and runflats though.

[Ranger 6]

I've had a number of E83 and F25 X3s. My son has an E84 X1.

All of them required tyres of even wear on staggered rims. I won't get into the argument for non-OEM if they're all square. Two of the cars exhibited transfer box graunching with miss matched and non OEM (star marked) tyres.

I don't have experience of the other cars mentioned, but I would stick to the 2mm difference.