The BMW I3 is anything but ordinary; this quirky-looking, electric city car brings along incredibly unique and futuristic elements and one of the more talked about features of the i3 is its tires.
For years the trend for tires has been to get wider and BMW was one of the trend setters, and while it is especially true and useful for performance cars, BMW may have set a new trend for similar city dwellers like the I3.
Besides the unique looks of the BMW I3, second eye-opening feature are it’s tires that catch most people’s attention when they first see the car live. People just aren’t used to such tall and thin tires on a car, let alone a BMW.
Efficiency & Performance
BMW engineers designed the BMW I3 wheels and tires to provide excellent grip while increasing the efficiency of the car with lower aerodynamic drag.
Bridgestone was asked to make special tires just for the i3. Even though they carry the Bridgestone “Ecopia” name, they are different from any other tire that Bridgestone produces. Franco Annunziato, CEO and President of Bridgestone Europe said: “The BMW i3 is very much a car for the future. Developing a unique tire for this unique vehicle was therefore an enormously challenging but also rewarding experience. Energy efficiency is an important development criteria for all our tires at Bridgestone. However, it becomes an even more critical factor in an electric car. This is why we have put all our know-how, skill and passion into developing this unique tire. One that we are confident delivers the premium performance, safety and economy towards consumers who have come to expect it from both brands.”
Since we’re still talking about a BMW, performance was also not negligible. While BMW wanted to use narrow tires to improve efficiency, they did not want to sacrifice on performance. In order to do so they decided to use a much taller tire than most would expect on a car of this size. The result of the increased height was that they were able to have a contact patch similar to the contact patch of a MINI Cooper, which is well known for it’s excellent handling.
Ulrich Krantz, BMW’s product manager for BMW i said: “It’s not rocket science. All that matters is the size of the contact patch. The 19-inch tires may be skinny, but their tall height generates the same contact patch as a low-section 16-inch MINI tire”.
Tire and Wheel Sizes
The standard wheel on the BMW i3 is the BWM Wheel Style 427 (Star Spoke) and it comes in a 19″ diameter x 5″ width on the front and rear. The OEM tire of the BMW i3, that is specifically designed for the i3, is the Bridgestone Ecopia EP600 all season tire and it comes in the 155/70 R19 size.
If you get a BMW i3 with the standard Mega trim, the wheels and tires will be the same size on the front & rear, that is 19″ x 5″ with 155/70 R19 size. However the Giga or Tera Worlds trims use a are slightly wider (19″ x 5.5″) on the rear wheels and the tires are wider and lower profile 175/60 R19 86Q.
There are the optional 20″ Double Spoke sport wheels, also staggered in size and use Bridgestone Ecopia EP500 summer tires, not all-seasons. The front wheels are 20″ diameter x 5″ width and 155/60 R20 tire size and in the rear wheels are 20″ x 5.5″ wheels and 175/55 R20 85Q tires.
The above setups are for all-season and summer tires but not if you want/need winter tires. There are two different winter tires available Blizzak LM500 & Blizzak NV. However they will only be available in 155/70 R19, meaning you’ll be using the same wheel and tire size front and rear tire.
None of the tires are runflats, and the i3 does not have a spare tire. What you do get is a can of “Fix-a-Flat” tire sealant and compressed air, which if used properly should get you at least as far as your nearest BMW dealer which will likely be the only place that stocks there rare tire sizes.
Alternatives to the Bridgestone Ecopia
Summer
When it comes to getting the best performance out of your BMW i3 in the summer, having the right set of tires is essential. A good set of summer tires will provide excellent handling, superior grip, and a comfortable ride. Here are the top 10 best summer tires for BMW i3:
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4S – The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is one of the best summer tires on the market. It provides excellent handling and grip, both in wet and dry conditions. The tire’s construction helps it to maintain stability at high speeds, making it a great choice for driving enthusiasts. The only downside is that it is quite expensive, with a price range of $200-$400 per tire depending on the size.
- Continental ExtremeContact Sport – The Continental ExtremeContact Sport is another great summer tire for the BMW i3. It offers excellent grip and handling, particularly in dry conditions. The tire’s construction helps it to maintain stability at high speeds, making it a great choice for spirited driving. The price range for this tire is around $150-$300 per tire depending on the size.
- Pirelli P Zero -The Pirelli P Zero is a high-performance summer tire that is perfect for the BMW i3. It offers excellent grip and handling in both wet and dry conditions, making it a great choice for drivers who want to push their cars to the limit. However, the price for this tire is on the higher side, with a range of $200-$400 per tire depending on the size.
- Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position – The Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position is a high-performance summer tire that provides excellent grip and handling in both wet and dry conditions. The tire’s construction helps it to maintain stability at high speeds, making it a great choice for driving enthusiasts. The price range for this tire is around $150-$300 per tire depending on the size.
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 – The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 is a great summer tire for the BMW i3. It offers excellent grip and handling in both wet and dry conditions, making it a great choice for drivers who want a versatile tire that can handle a variety of conditions. The price range for this tire is around $150-$300 per tire depending on the size.
- Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 – The Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 is another excellent summer tire for the BMW i3. It offers excellent grip and handling in both wet and dry conditions, and its construction helps it to maintain stability at high speeds. The price range for this tire is around $150-$300 per tire depending on the size.
- Hankook Ventus V12 Evo 2 – The Hankook Ventus V12 Evo 2 is a high-performance summer tire that offers excellent grip and handling in both wet and dry conditions. Its construction helps it to maintain stability at high speeds, making it a great choice for driving enthusiasts. The price range for this tire is around $100-$250 per tire depending on the size.
- Yokohama Advan Sport V105 – The Yokohama Advan Sport V105 is a great summer tire for the BMW i3. It offers excellent grip and handling in both wet and dry conditions, and its construction helps it to maintain stability at high speeds. The price range for this tire is around $150-$300 per tire depending on the size.
- Pirelli Cinturato P7 – The Pirelli Cinturato P7 is a high-performance tire that is designed to provide excellent handling and stability. It has a specially designed tread pattern that ensures maximum contact with the road, which translates to better handling and traction. The tire is also fuel-efficient, which makes it a good choice for those who want to save on fuel costs. The price range for this tire is around $150 to $200 per tire. The recommended size for the BMW i3 is 155/70R19.
- Michelin Energy Saver – The Michelin Energy Saver is a high-quality tire that is designed for maximum fuel efficiency. It has a low rolling resistance, which means that it requires less energy to move the vehicle forward. This tire also provides excellent handling and stability, thanks to its specially designed tread pattern. The price range for this tire is around $150 to $200 per tire. The recommended size for the BMW i3 is 155/70R19.
Winter
Winter driving can be a challenge, and having the right tires can make all the difference. When it comes to the BMW i3, finding the right winter tires can help ensure safety and optimal performance in cold, wet, and slippery conditions. Here are 10 of the best winter tires for the BMW i3, along with their pros, cons, and price ranges.
- Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 – The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is a popular winter tire for the BMW i3. It offers excellent traction on snowy and icy roads and has a strong braking performance on wet roads. However, it may not be as durable as some other winter tires. Price range: $100-$200 per tire.
- Michelin X-Ice Xi3 – The Michelin X-Ice Xi3 is another popular option for the BMW i3. It provides a comfortable ride, good handling, and improved fuel efficiency. However, it may not be as effective in deep snow and icy conditions as some other winter tires. Price range: $120-$220 per tire.
- Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 – The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 is a high-performance winter tire that offers excellent handling, traction, and braking on snow and ice. However, it may be more expensive than some other winter tires. Price range: $150-$250 per tire.
- Continental WinterContact SI – The Continental WinterContact SI is designed to provide excellent grip and handling on snowy and icy roads. It also offers good traction on wet and dry roads. However, it may not be as quiet as some other winter tires. Price range: $100-$200 per tire.
- Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 – The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 is a premium winter tire that offers excellent grip and handling on snow and ice. It also provides good traction on wet and dry roads. However, it may be more expensive than some other winter tires. Price range: $150-$250 per tire.
- Goodyear UltraGrip Ice WRT – The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice WRT is a winter tire that provides good grip and handling on snow and ice. It also has good wet and dry performance. However, it may not be as quiet as some other winter tires. Price range: $100-$200 per tire.
- Yokohama iceGUARD iG53 – The Yokohama iceGUARD iG53 is a winter tire that offers good grip and handling on snow and ice. It also has good wet and dry performance. However, it may be more expensive than some other winter tires. Price range: $100-$200 per tire.
- Dunlop Winter Maxx WM02 – The Dunlop Winter Maxx WM02 is a winter tire that provides good grip and handling on snow and ice. It also has good wet and dry performance. However, it may not be as durable as some other winter tires. Price range: $100-$200 per tire.
- Hankook Winter Icept evo2 – The Hankook Winter Icept evo2 is a winter tire that offers good grip and handling on snow and ice. It also has good wet and dry performance. However, it may be more expensive than some other winter tires. Price range: $100-$200 per tire.
- Toyo Observe G3-Ice – The Toyo Observe G3-Ice is a winter tire that provides good grip and handling on snow and ice. It also has good wet and dry performance. However, it may be more expensive than some other
All Season
Michelin CrossClimate 2 155/70 R19
Michelin CrossClimate 2 is a premium multi-season option, ideal for safety-conscious drivers of small and medium SUVs, compact and electric cars, as well as sedans and their sporty versions. Choosing Michelin CrossClimate 2: You save time and money on seasonal tyre changes. You benefit from lower fuel consumption and state-of-the-art technologies that are responsible for excellent performance all year round, in terms of grip or braking in a wide range of conditions.
The Michelin CrossClimate 2 include thermoadaptive compounds that adapt to the temperature of the road surface. The V-Ramp chamfer of the tread blocks improves braking on wet roads, while the P-edge on snow. The directional tread pattern ensures that water is effectively channeled away from under the wheels. Michelin CrossClimate 2, compared to CrossClimate+, offers 10% less rolling resistance.
Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 155/70 R19
The Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 provides an improved grip for better handling on snow. The large amount of sipes at the center of the tire’s tread provides for better snow biting, improving handling on snow by 5% in comparison to the previous Vector 4Seasons Gen-2. Goodyear’s Dry Handling technology provides strong crown and shoulder blocks that reduce the deformation of the tyre during heavy maneuvers improving dry braking by 5%.