The 8 Best Tires for the BMW 8 Series

#1. Michelin Pilot Sport 5

The Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is one of the best summer performance tires money can buy.

Mainly because it offers class-leading grip and traction on dry roads. You can push your car to its limits without giving away control. Even on corners, it stays glued to the road, letting you attack the bends while retaining complete hold over your vehicle.

Another quality of this tire is that it’s almost track-ready. Need proof? Go on your favorite track and start pushing it to its limits. There won’t be a hint of understeer to kill the joy. Also, unlike other summer tires, no handling issues needing your correction will arise.

Precision is another area where this tire shines. Just like its predecessor, the Pilot Sport 5 allows for accurate and controlled steering. You can thus easily maneuver the vehicle during high-speed driving.

Also, while I won’t go so far as to say that its ride is whisper-quiet. What I would also say is that I have driven performance tires much louder than the Pilot Sport 5. As such, a well-insulated cabin (with the radio on) won’t let much tread growl inside.

#2. Bridgestone Potenza S007A

The Potenza S007 is the tire to choose if extreme performance is your sole focus.

Independent tests confirm the above. On the track, this tire’s dry braking distance (34.14 meters) was far shorter than the flagship UHP tires of Michelin, Pirelli, and Goodyear. Only the Continental SportContact 6, the leader, stopped shorter than the Potenza 007.

Its dry slalom time was equally impressive. Automotive journalists use slalom tests to evaluate a tire’s handling characteristics. So, the fact that this tire finished 4^th in the test shows that it exhibited excellent handling, agility, and responsiveness in dry conditions.

My personal experience with the S007A confirms everything said above. In addition, I am impressed by the use of Kevlar in this tire’s sidewall. That is because Kevlar has made the sidewall incredibly stiff, resulting in enhanced steering response and road feel.

Yet there is one area where this model could do better. As with most summer tires, the S007A struggles on slippery roads. Tests reveal that its wet braking distances are longer than the competition, giving you all the reason you need to slow down in the rain.

#3. Pirelli P Zero PZ4

The Pirelli P Zero PZ4 is one of the most popular tires among speed enthusiasts.

Primarily because Porsche trusts it. The PZ4 is the OE (original equipment) tire on several Porsche cars, including the 911 Carrera GTS, Cayman, and Boxster. This proves that this tire has what it takes to offer the kind of performance motorheads adore.

Another is that it doesn’t slip on wet roads. Four circumferential grooves inside the tread area make water evacuation their priority, thereby minimizing the risk of aquaplaning. You could thus push it to the max on slippery roads, a utility most UHP tires fail to offer.

Still another is that it offers a refined ride (at least for a tire in this category). A sound-absorbing wall attached to its sidewall absorbs the impact of road vibrations. This, in turn, softens out bumps, helping you enjoy the ride.

Some may point to the lack of treadwear warranty as proof that this tire isn’t faultless. Which is true, though its eye-watering asking price will put more people off.

#4. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3

The Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 offers everything you expect from tires in this lineup.

A summer max tread compound gives you the freedom to push this tire to the edge without risking your vehicle’s stability. The grip and traction on offer will convince even the conservative drivers to test this tire’s limits. That’s how great both of them are.

Cornering grip is also high enough to let you attack bends at maximum speed without even thinking about slowing down (at least on dry roads). Also, while a few years have passed since its release, the Asymmetric 3’s braking distances are still among the shortest of the type.

Furthermore, this tire comes in standard as well as run-flat (RFT) versions. The RFT Asymmetric 3 has seen its sidewalls reinforced with a tougher tread compound than the one on its standard colleague. You could thus drive it for up to 50 miles with zero air pressure.

Unfortunately, there is at least one area where this tire disappoints. Compared with the above ultra-high-performance tires, its wet traction is sub-par. You’d thus do well to slow down on oily surfaces.

#5. Michelin Primacy 3 ZP

The Primacy 3 Zero Pressure tire doesn’t just allow you to continue driving after a puncture.

It also offers short braking distances as long as there’s no water on the roads. How is that so? Michelin has equipped this model with auto-blocking sipes that come together as you apply brakes. The result is shorter braking distances and much-improved handling.

To further up the ante, Michelin has outfitted this tire with three features you normally see in touring tires. The first of which is Comfort Control Technology, which ensures that the noise and vibration levels stay low for you to enjoy the ride.

Then come the circumferential grooves and open shoulder blocks. While the former channel water to lower the risk of aquaplaning, the latter improves this tire’s deep standing water response.

Furthermore, thanks to its optimized contact patch, this tire distributes heat and pressure more evenly. The result? More mileage, extended tread life, and a replacement date that won’t be due anytime soon.

Need proof? Then check out its tread life warranty. Michelin backs this model to last 30,000 to 35,000 miles (depending on speed rating).

#6. Hankook Ventus S1 EVO3

Although not as popular among BMW owners as the above tires, the Ventus S1 EVO3 is equally good. That too at a much lower price

The Ventus S1 Evo 3 is designed with a tread compound that contains lots of silica (hence why it’s called Highly Enriched Synthetic Silica or HSSC). This enables this tire to offer an extended tread life and better responsiveness than many of its rivals.

A dual-zone tread pattern is something I often see on Michelin tires. As a result, I was surprised to note that the Ventus S1 EVO3 also comes with one.

The inside of the tread zone (one that has lots of grooves and blocks) helps with wet traction. As a result, we should see some very good aquaplaning resistance.

The outer side, meanwhile, has aggressive shoulder blocks and is reinforced by Aramid fiber. Both these design elements help improve the tire’s handling characteristics. Additionally, they reduce flex. So, the chances of things going haywire at higher speeds are slim.

#7. Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus A/S

Many aspects of this tire explain why all-season HP tires have become very well-liked.

The ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus A/S works well in most types of weather. A trio of features – all-season tread compound, macro edges for grip, and grooves for water evacuation – help it deliver a stable driving experience on dry as well as wet roads.

Comfort and noise levels are pretty good, especially when you take into account its high-speed stability (which is among the best in class). Unless you are driving on broken roads, its ride won’t get harsh.

Its dry traction levels almost rival those of dedicated summer tires.

You can accelerate this tire from a stop, and there won’t be any slippage. Similarly, on throwing it into a bend, the complete absence of understeer as well as oversteer may catch you by surprise.

To back its claim that this tire has a long-lasting tread life, Continental ships it with a 50,000-mile tread life warranty. This number is hugely impressive, given that it’s slapped on an A/S UHP tire.

#8. Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 4

The Pilot Sport All-Season 4 is a hit with BMW 8 Series drivers due to various impressive features.

The first of which is that it performs reliably 365 days a year. As long as there is no snow on the roads, its flexible tread compound and biting edges would ensure a controlled driving experience.

Its hydroplaning resistance and wet braking distances are also impressive. The credit for this goes to the wide grooves and dedicated rain channels on the sides of the tire. Both play a hugely important role in keeping the contact patch dry, making the Pilot Sport All Season 4 a reliable rain tire.

I’m also impressed with this tire’s dry handling. The steering feedback is high enough to keep you fully aware of what is going down on the road. Similarly, its steering response is quick enough to let you execute quick slaloms without giving away any control.

Yet there’s one area where this tire lets down potential customers – the 45,000-mile treadwear warranty. This warranty doesn’t just put it below our top pick. It also invites needless questions about this tire’s tread life. So, clearly, Michelin missed a trick here.