[Gottagofast]

Skip to the end if you know what BMW OE tires are and just want the model numbers.

Standard Competition tire specs from the factory are:
Front: 275/35ZR19 (100Y) XL
Rear: 285/30ZR20 (99Y) XL

Since I couldn't find a proper source to find out every single BMW OE * tire for the Standard G8X (Competition models) platform, I went ahead and spend far too much time scrounging dozens of websites for correct part numbers so no one else has to.

What is a BMW OE tire?

In essence, to extract the best performance out of a platform, car manufacturers spend a lot of time and money in conjunction with tire manufacturers to develop specific versions of a particular tire model for some of their vehicles. These tires often have different thread patterns, thread depth or belt design than the standard model offerings. The ones that BMW develop with their tire partners are labeled BMW Approved Tires and are marked with a star (*).

I'll let this guy explain the rest and show you some test results comparing an OE tire to a standard version of the same tire. Both are the same model, however, the part numbers are different:

Does this mean that your car will drive like crap or might explode or void your warranty if you put any other tire on?

No. In fact, there are plenty of great aftermarket options that are not "approved" by BMW that cost less and perform very well. They are just not specifically designed for that platform to optimize grip or steering feedback. Think of it like a shoe made specifically for a top level athlete with their exact specifications in mind rather than an off the shelf option that would most likely perform quite well.

Remember, these are for the standard Competition models. They are compatible with the limited edition CS and CSL models as well, but those cars have additional specific OE tires to offer even greater performance in line with their customized suspension/chassis designs. Those particular tires won't be listed here.

With all that out of the way, here are your candidates:

High performance summer tires with acceptable wet weather performance:

Pirelli P Zero (PZ4 Sport) - Front: 3257500 - Rear: 3258700
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S - Front: 21325 - Rear: 66946 / 28466
Michelin Pilot Super Sport - Front: 10300 - Rear: 80913

Extreme performance track tires with poor wet weather performance, shorter life span and inferior NVH (Noise, vibration, and harshness):

Pirelli P Zero Corsa (PZC4) - Front: 3664700 - Rear: 3664600
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 (240) - Front: N/A - Rear: 37028
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect - Front: 88406 - Rear: 53157
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R - Front: 48733 - Rear: 73323

Cup 2 R is essentially a qualifying tire. It offers the highest possible grip and only lasts a few laps, if that. This is what you want if you are going for the track record and have money to burn. It has no business being on your car if you daily drive it.

Here's a helpful chart from Tire Rack. As you could Imagine, Michelin is wiping the floor with Pirelli. No surprises there. (Click the image for a better view)

View post on imgur.com

What would I personally pick for a daily? Pilot Sport 4S.

Edit #1:

Added bonus, Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 for winter use! They are pretty much the best winter tires you can get for snow/ice and sub zero temperatures. Michelin already had BMW OEM tires for a square setup of 275/35ZR19 (100V) XL all around, but they recently added specific 285/30ZR20 (99V) XL for the rear wheels, achieving a proper staggered configuration. Here are the part numbers:

Front: 39838 - Rear: 90636

[Berzerker]

66946 is the only star-spec BMW rear PS4S

[Gottagofast]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

66946 is the only star-spec BMW rear PS4S

According to Michelin, both 66946 and 28466 are approved for G8X. I would personally grab the 66946, but I included 28466 since it was directly referenced by Michelin.

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by Gottagofast

According to Michelin, both 66946 and 28466 are approved for G8X. I would personally grab the 66946, but I included 28466 since it was directly referenced by Michelin.

It might be for different markets or perhaps a Porsche star-spec or some other brand. 66946 is what you get from BMW when you order directly and those are the part numbers from the tire racks and discount tires of the US here.

[Limegrntaln]

Great thread.

[Gottagofast]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

It might be for different markets or perhaps a Porsche star-spec or some other brand. 66946 is what you get from BMW when you order directly and those are the part numbers from the tire racks and discount tires of the US here.

Michelin disagrees with you

[kev7c7]

Thanks for the great post. I just switched from OE P zeros to OE PS4S. The ride is more comfortable over sharp bumps and less noisy. However there is a noticeable delay in initial turn in with the PS4S compared to the P Zeros. The P Zeros were so immediate in comparison. Perhaps it is because I am comparing worn P Zeros with less tread/deflection to new PS4S with tall tread. Anyone else make the switch have a similar or different experience?

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by kev7c7

Thanks for the great post. I just switched from OE P zeros to OE PS4S. The ride is more comfortable over sharp bumps and less noisy. However there is a noticeable delay in initial turn in with the PS4S compared to the P Zeros. The P Zeros were so immediate in comparison. Perhaps it is because I am comparing worn P Zeros with less tread/deflection to new PS4S with tall tread. Anyone else make the switch have a similar or different experience?

PS4S have soft sidewalls compared to the P Zeros (I'm comparing BMW non-star rated tires...not sure if the * rated ones are any different).

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by Gottagofast

Michelin disagrees with you

Again...I'm aware the part exists but it may not be directly for BMW as an OEM tire provided to the actual OEM. Tire Rack, Discount Tire, and BMW directly will give you 66946.

Also...on your link, the first thing on the list is 66946.

[Gottagofast]

Added Michelin OEM winter tires as a bonus .

[E63M6_G42M240i]

Anyone try the new pilot sport S5’s? Can only find Mercedes spec.

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by E63M6_G42M240i

Anyone try the new pilot sport S5’s? Can only find Mercedes spec.

Don't believe it's available in our size yet.

[nick///M3]

Include the 295/25/21 also

[E63M6_G42M240i]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

Don't believe it's available in our size yet.

It is available in 295/30/20, tire rack but it’s Mercedes spec.

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by E63M6_G42M240i

It is available in 295/30/20, tire rack but it’s Mercedes spec.

295/30/20 will probably work fine but our back tires are technically 285/30/20, just throwing that out there.

[E63M6_G42M240i]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

295/30/20 will probably work fine but our back tires are technically 285/30/20, just throwing that out there.

Gotcha. Yeah I’m running 285/30/20 squared right now and the 827M’s. Thinking about the 295 squared when my MPS4S wear out.

[NYG]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

PS4S have soft sidewalls compared to the P Zeros (I'm comparing BMW non-star rated tires...not sure if the * rated ones are any different).

That's surprising considering PS4S have some of the stiffest sidewalls of any "performance-ish" tire I've ever used. You can barely get heat into them on the track.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by NYG

That's surprising considering PS4S have some of the stiffest sidewalls of any "performance-ish" tire I've ever used. You can barely get heat into them on the track.

What other tires have you used? PS4S are notorious for having soft sidewalls compared to their rival tires (Michelin in general as well). Just google "PS4S soft sidewall" and you will see many OEM applications and others who have purchased them mentioning it). Don't get me wrong, I love them...great traction and awesome in the wet. I would still choose them 9/10 times on a sport(y) car.

[NYG]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

What other tires have you used? PS4S are notorious for having soft sidewalls compared to their rival tires (Michelin in general as well). Just google "PS4S soft sidewall" and you will see many OEM applications and others who have purchased them mentioning it). Don't get me wrong, I love them...great traction and awesome in the wet. I would still choose them 9/10 times on a sport(y) car.

SS, Cup 2, Cup 2R, RE71, NT01, RR, A7, R7

Best comparison would be SS, Cup 2/R and RE71 since I ran all of those with lower profiles/factory wheel. The others were 18/35 so unfair to compare sidewalls there but people who track their PS4S always struggle to get temperature into the tire and they have a tendency to chunk on the outside edges.

From easiest to get temperature into to hardest:

RE71
Cup 2R
Cup 2
SS
PS4S

SS was kind of tough to get temperature into as well but it was more consistent and a little faster than PS4S (not by much). PS4S completely annihilated SS in wet/colder conditions on the street though, so overall it's the better tire. The mixed compounds act weird on the track.

[Gottagofast]

Originally Posted by nick///M3

Include the 295/25/21 also

Only PS4S is available for the 21"/20" setup. Since BMW didn't bother with Cup 2 or Cup 2 R for the 21" setup, it should tell you that the majority of handling optimizations were done for the 20"/19" setup.

Regardless, part # for rear: 207288
for front you can use either the 66946 or 28466 mentioned in the first post.

[nick///M3]

Originally Posted by Gottagofast

Only PS4S is available for the 21"/20" setup. Since BMW didn't bother with Cup 2 or Cup 2 R for the 21" setup, it should tell you that the majority of handling optimizations were done for the 20"/19" setup.

Regardless, part # for rear: 207288
for front you can use either the 66946 or 28466 mentioned in the first post.

I know...I just said included in case someone is searching

[PVC]

Any chance we'd get the star marked PS S5? Would it be anytime soon?