Best Tires For BMW 8 Series - Complete Guide

‍What Kind of Tires Does the BMW 8 Series Need?

Different cars require different kinds of tires. So what type of tire works best on the BMW 8 Series? Generally, the factory equips BMW 8 Series vehicles with high-end performance tires, which are either summer tires or all-season (A/S) tires.

All-season tires tend to be the most popular option, as they’re reliable, inexpensive, and versatile. Unlike summer tires, which harden in cold weather and become dangerous on snow, all-season tires stay supple in most weather conditions.

Additionally, all-season tires have better tread for shedding rainwater on wet roads. All of these features work in favor of all-season tires and contribute to their popularity.

However, all-season tires aren’t the only kind of tire you can use on your BMW 8 Series. Many owners choose high-performance tires, as they make the most of the 8 Series’s power and handling capabilities. On dry roads, you can’t beat a performance summer tire for acceleration, braking, and cornering.

What Size Tires Does the BMW 8 Series Use?

BMW 8 Series tires vary between year, model, and trim level. Generally speaking, 8 Series vehicles come with larger tires in the rear than in the front. This is common practice today, as it improves handling and efficiency.

For this example, we’ll examine the common tire sizes found on a late model BMW 840i Sport coupe. The 840i comes with 18-inch, 19-inch, or 20-inch wheels. The 18-inch model uses 245/45R18 on the front and 275/40R18 on the rear. The 19-inch model uses 245/40R19 on the front and 275/35R19 on the rear. The 20-inch model uses 245/35R20 on the front and 275/30R20 on the rear.

Decoding BMW Tire Sizes

Finding your factory tire size is easy. Simply open the driver’s side door and look for the tire information decal, which will have your factory tire information and pressure ratings available to view. But if you’re looking to upgrade your tires or choose between multiple options, it’s useful to know how to determine tire size from the code.

Tire size codes use a mixture of standard and metric units. For example, let’s decode a 245/45R18 tire from an 840i Sport. The first number, 245, is the width of the tire in millimeters. And the aspect ratio is 45%—or the sidewall height as a percentage of the tire width in millimeters. The “R” stands for radial, as it’s a steel-belt tire, and 18 denotes the wheel size in inches.

Best Performance Tires for BMW 8 Series Cars

Now that we’ve gone over the specs of the 8 Series and its tire sizes, we’ll introduce our top five tire picks. We chose these tires based on customer satisfaction, longevity, reputation, and overall tire quality. Here are five of the best tires for the BMW 8 Series.

1. Continental EXTREMECONTACT DWS 06 Plus A/S Tires

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Continental tires, known as ‘Conties’ by owners, are a popular choice and a high-quality option for BMW 8 Series vehicles. Their EXTREMECONTACT DWS 06 Plus is the company’s performance all-season tire and one of the best on the market for luxury cars.

Continental put an enormous amount of research and development into their EXTREMECONTACT lineup, and the result is a superb tire with excellent stability and all-weather traction. This tire utilizes an asymmetrical tread, which improves stability and weather resistance.

Traction is key when it comes to all-s-Eason tires, and the DWS 06 has some of the best on the market. The tread is cut in many locations to help shed water and bite into snow, and deep circumferential grooves help expel water on wet roads—even when it’s cold out.

The DWS 06 is considered an ultra-high-performance tire, as it’s designed for fast luxury cars like the BMW 8 Series. The tire features a performance-tuned tread compound designed for all-weather traction and high-speed precision maneuverability.

Also, these tires come with Continental’s alignment verification system and tuned performance indicators. These systems help you keep your maintenance in check and properly judge the suitability of numerous road conditions.

You can buy a set of EXTREMECONTACT DWS 06 Plus tires from Tire Rack for between $211.99 and $236.99.

Best Uses:

Continental DWS 06 Plus tires are a great all-around option for most driving conditions and a good factory replacement tire.

2. Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 4 Tires

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Many newer BMWs come equipped with Michelin tires, as the company has a reputation for producing excellent performance tires. The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 4 tire is a popular option, and it works quite well with BMW vehicles.

In addition to its great dry and wet weather performance, the Pilot Sport All Season 4 is exceptionally comfortable and quiet. Like the Continental DWS 06, the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S features an asymmetrical tread pattern for stability and improved handling. Additionally, these tires last a long time and wear evenly—unlike less premium tires.

Pilot Sport A/S 4 tires feature reinforced shoulder blocks, which increase stability through enhanced lateral grip. It also improves handling and road contact through various driving conditions. Also, the narrow tread grooves shed water effectively without sacrificing the contact surface.

Overall, the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 4 is a fantastic choice for 8 Series drivers who want great dry road performance and safe wet road handling. They have a long life expectancy and a warranty of up to 6 years or 45,000 miles.

You can buy a set of Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season tires from Tire Rack for between $254.99 and $269.99 per tire, depending on the sizes you need.

Best Uses:

Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 4 tires are great in most climates and handle well on dry roads.

3. Pirelli P Zero PZ4 Summer Tires

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Summer tires offer the best dry road performance on cars like the BMW 8 Series, as they have the most road contact and high-speed precision. The Pirelli P Zero PZ4 is a high-quality tire with run-flat capabilities, making it ideal for the BMW 8 Series.

From the factory, new BMW coupes and sedans almost invariably come with run-flat tires. This is because, as of recent years, most sedans and coupes haven’t come with a spare tire or inflator kit. With run-flat tires like the Pirelli P Zero, you can safely drive on a flat to reach a service location for a proper repair.

Pirelli P Zero tires are also designed specifically for performance and luxury cars. Thanks to Pirelli’s high-silica rubber compound, these tires perform confidently on wet roads and grip tightly on dry roads. It also features longitudinal grooves, which Pirelli says help reduce hydroplaning and increase braking ability.

Pirelli P Zero PZ4 tires are reinforced with Kevlar and nylon for an ultra-durable ply. When combined with a steel radial band, these tires have exceptional durability and puncture resistance. The center of the tread has minimal void space, which increases road contact and reduces noise.

You can buy a set of Pirelli P Zero PZ4 run-flat tires on Tire Rack for between $295.22 and $355.43 per tire.

Best Uses:

The Pirelli P Zero PZ4 is the best tire if you want run-flat capabilities on a quiet and high-performing tire.

4. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 Tires

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Here’s another max-performance summer tire with run-flat capabilities. Goodyear’s premium Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 is a high-performance tire designed specifically for luxury cars like the BMW 8 Series. It’s long-lasting, quiet, and sports excellent stability for high-speed driving and tight cornering.

The Goodyear Eagle F1 is a run-flat tire, which is a major plus for late-model 8 Series vehicles that come without a spare or inflator kit. According to Goodyear, these tires will run up to 50 mph for 50 miles when flat. As the name suggests, these tires feature an asymmetrical tread pattern as well.

High-performance summer tires are the best option for BMW drivers in warm climates. Like the Pirelli P Zero, these Goodyear tires have excellent road contact, which improves acceleration, braking, and cornering ability. Goodyear Eagle F1 tires are a popular factory replacement for the BMW 8 Series, especially in southern and southwestern climates.

You can buy a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 tires from Tire Rack for between $326.99 to $379.99, depending on the size.

Best Uses:

Goodyear Eagle F1 tires are long-lasting and good performing tires on dry pavement, as they reduce road noise and improve acceleration and cornering.

5. Michelin Primacy 3 ZP Touring Tires

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What if you need a well-rounded, quiet, and solid daily driving tire? The Michelin Primacy 3 ZP is an excellent choice for an everyday tire and a highly-rated option for replacing worn-out factory tires. This Michelin Primacy is a grand touring summer tire with several helpful features and an eye-catching design.

At first glance, the Michelin Primacy 3 ZP looks like a high-performance all-terrain tire. In actuality, it’s a summer touring tire—which means it provides several handling and comfort benefits to luxury cars in warm, dry climates. This tire is also a run-flat, which means it can drive 50 miles at 50 mph when flat.

Michelin Primacy 3 ZP tires are a popular factory replacement for BMW 8 Series vehicles, as they meet the run-flat and performance standards of stock tires. Additionally, they come with a maximum warranty of 6 years or 30,000 miles.

You can buy a set of Michelin Primacy 3 ZP touring tires on Tire Rack for between $312.33 and $391.57.

Best Uses:

Michelin Primacy 3 ZP tires are a great choice for 8 Series drivers who value comfort and performance in warm weather.