[Pankrivoklat]

Hi guys, I bought Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 winter tires for my first winter season here in central Europe. I put them on standard 20" BMW 706M rims. What surprised me was complete different tread design between 275 and 285 sizes although it is exactly the same model and type of tires. Front narrower tires has assymetrical tread but rear ones (only 10 mm) wider tires has directional tread design. You can see on image.

• left 275/35 R 20 102W Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 FR, GreenX, XL Winter - (E;C;2;71dB)
• right 285/35 R 20 104W Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 FR, GreenX, XL Winter- (C;C;2;74dB)

Is it common that type of tread design changes across one type of tire with different width?

Weird is you cannot recognize type of tread design simply from e-shop specification or manufacturer brochure. There is usually lot of information (plenty of them almost useless) but type of tread design is almost every time missing. Actually I saw this for first time after the tires was delivered.

Besides of my worries related to tread design the car goes perfectly on them. I am quite satisfied.

[northtorque]

I’m in Canada and have the exact same spec Michelin Pilot alpin PA4 tires on mine. Grip and directional stability overall is quite amazing for a winter tire. Asymmetric and directional best of both worlds given only downside would be limiting rotation options but not that concerned given that not a square setup. Enjoy your F90!

[///M4Y16]

I refused these tyres because some people at BMW told me not to put on different profile's 🤷*♂️

[mbbm5c]

Looking for identical summer/winter optics and best tire option - bought a complete set of black 706M rims with same michelins pilot alpin PA 4 (looking for PA 5, but they aren´t available in these sizes) you did at my M-Dealer. No concern´s at all. Besides: They are performing very well and looking "sportier", than the summer Mich´s PSS at the rear axle:-)

[F90M5C]

same as mine , great despite the different thread patterns , installed by BMW on my car. had them Dec to Mar 18/19 and since dec 19 until now . very satisfied and tbh was concerned at the beginning when i first saw it but BMW assured me that it will be fine.

[nickem]

So has anyone gotten to the bottom of this?
I've called Michelin here in Europe and they told me over the phone that it's fine to mix them, a sit's the same model. However, their egnt didn't sounds as confident, as I'd like. And they didn't respond to my written inquiry.

The options for 285/35/20 winters are extremely limited and I'd really like to run the PA4s, but I'm still cocnerned of the different thread pattern.

[pbonsalb]

Several options here.

Try therapy for OCD since you have already learned from Michelin that it is OK.

Run square wheels with identical looking tires.

Or staggered wheels with square sized tires so all the tread patterns are the same.

Search for another brand of tire that has the staggered sizes you want with identical tread patterns.

[nickem]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

Several options here.

Try therapy for OCD since you have already learned from Michelin that it is OK.

Run square wheels with identical looking tires.

Or staggered wheels with square sized tires so all the tread patterns are the same.

Search for another brand of tire that has the staggered sizes you want with identical tread patterns.

I run the 706M and I want the correctly sized tyres for them, so no I won't go square.

Only tyres available with this size are Pirelly SZ and Hankook Evo3, both of which are lacking in performance compared to Michelin.

[pbonsalb]

Some here have gone square on staggered wheels for winter. I don’t have OCD but that bothers me more than 2 different tread patterns. The 2 tread patterns would not bother me.

I agree Michelin are good snows. We have Pirelli on the winter wheels for the Cayenne and I don’t like them as much as my M5 Michelin snows but car vs SUV spec is not a direct comparison. I thought I saw Pirelli staggered at Tire Rack but they were pricey. Did not look at Hancock or other brands.

This winter, I will first be trying Michelin PS AS4 all seasons, staggered on stock wheels. If they are not sufficient, I will put the snows on.

[redcarrera]

I'm having the MPS AS4's installed as we speak. The car won't be driven much over the winter with a couple of SUV's running Nokians getting snow duty.
On another note, OE MPS4S's are shot after not quite 11k miles. I'm hoping the AS4's last better.

[pbonsalb]

My BMW spec PS4 have about 15k miles and I think I can break 20k with them. If they are worn out in the centers then you have probably been over-inflating them.

[redcarrera]

Short tire life is a fun tax. I get 15k out of PS4S rears on my 911 so this is what I expected.