One of the most affordable ways to get into the BMW lineup, the X1 offers modern practicality with the driving enjoyment you’d expect.
We’ve put together a list of the best BMW X1 tires based on numerous factors including performance, ride quality, warranty and price.
BMW X1 Tire Size
With only one real trim level for the X1, the 28i, two different tire sizes are available.
- 225/50/18 or 225/45/19
What Tire is Best for the BMW X1?
Best BMW X1 Tire
Cooper CS5 Grand Touring
A luxury-focused all-season tire the Cooper CS5 Grand Touring delivers the ride quality you want in a premium crossover while also offering an incredible value. Making use of a conventional all-season tread design with plenty of siping for grip in wet and mild winter conditions it also features robust connected shoulder tread blocks for agile handling.
With a surprisingly affordable price, it’s even more so when you consider this tire’s 80,000 mile tread life warranty.
Best BMW X1 Tire (alternative)
General Altimax RT43
Affordable enough that it almost dips into what we might call a budget tire option, the General Altimax RT43 delivers excellent all-season traction with price and warranty that really make it stand out. Wet and dry grip are reduced slightly compared to the Yokohama’s above and that’s understandable as this is a touring tire focused more on ride quality and long life. That said, the tire’s warranty really is a stand-out feature with a 75,000 mile tread life warranty.
And for the price, this represents an amazing value.
Cheapest Tire for BMW X1
Westlake SA07 Sport
The cheapest tire award is really a bit of a toss up between the Westlake SA07 Sport and Ohtsu, but we’re going to side with the Wastlakes. And for a few reasons.
Both quality a performance all-season tires, although the SA07 Sport is slightly less sporty with a less aggressive tread design. While that sounds like a negative, it also means it’s more versatile and has better technology to handle wet wether and even some mild winter weather thanks to tread siping that’s designed to give the tire more biting edges.
It also comes with a slightly longer 45,000 mile warranty and pricing really is negligible.
Best Budget Tire for BMW X1
Falken Pro Touring AS
One of the better tires on the lower end of the cost spectrum, the Falken Pro Touring AS delivers where it should at an extremely reasonable price point. It’s not as engaging to drive as some rival tires, but as a touring tire it’s not designed to be. The ride quality is first rate and due to the tread design and compound, while all-season grip is really quite impressive with tread blocks that are divided up to deliver as many biting edges as possible Plus, the shoulder treads are also siped to provide some light winter grip. A 60,000 mile warranty is decent. Considering these aren’t performance tires we’d actually expect more, until you look at the price and see just how affordable it is.
Best Run Flat Tire for BMW X1
Bridgestone DriveGuard
Two fo the factory equipped tires for the BMW X1 are runflat offerings, so you might be surprised to see us suggesting a different tire. Both the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season and Continental Pro Contact TX are great tires and deliver an ideal mix of performance with all-weather grip. What they don’t offer that the Brigestone Driveguard tire does is a 50,000 mile tread life warranty.
If you’re already running the Pirellis or Continentals, enjoy their performance and have gotten over 50,000 miles on them, then by all means, it’s not a bad choice to pick up another set. But if you’re looking for that guarantee, the Bridgestone’s make a compelling offer.
All three of these tires are more expensive than an average set by about 25% but that’s the cost you’ll pay for runflats.
Best Summer Tire for BMW X1
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
If you’re a true driving enthusiast and want to maximize the handling capability of your BMW then there’s no better way to do that than with the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. Far more than just a grippy tread compound with a massive contact patch to deliver the ultimate grip, the PS4S offers a long list of additional features that help it stand out.
The internal structure of the tire has been designed to be as light weight as possible to reduce weight where it matters most and keep your BMW feeling like a BMW. The sidewalls have also been designed in a way that flexes out beyond the rim, to protect it from scratches.
Other tire tech elements also come into play, such as the way the tire tread has been designed to better distribute your vehicle’s weight under hard braking, so as to prolong tire life even when driven hard.
Combine all that with a 30,000 mile tread life warranty and a non-unreasonable price, and you’ve got the ultimate tire for your ultimate driving machine.
Longest Lasting Tire for BMW X1
Continental True Contact Tour
Combining a touring tire and a performance all-season in one package with extremely long life, the Continental True Contact Tour checks many boxes. Rather than a conventional five-rib tread pattern it makes use of four rows. This minimizes turn-in responsiveness a bit but overall highway ride quality is still fantastic.
The two larger center tread sections are designed to deliver grip in wet or light winter conditions, while the exterior tread blocks are joined in sections to offer solid grip in the corners. Overall driving dynamics are slightly superior to the Cooper’s listed below.
Impressively, this tire has an 80,000 mile tread life warranty.
Tire Buying FAQ
Where can I find the best price on tires?
There is no one answer to this question unfortunately. Sites like Tire Rack and Discount tire offer deals all the time on specific brands. You can also find deals on Amazon though they are much harder to find and often only apply to a specific size or group of sizes. Visit our Tire Deals page for more info.
When is the best time to buy tires?
It’s common that many shoppers buy tires once its already too late. At that point you don’t have a lot of choice and can often over-pay. If you’re planning ahead, generally, retailers offer significant tire deals around major holiday weekends (especially in the summer), as well as Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
How much is Shipping?
Shipping is often included when you purchase tires online. Many retailers offer free shipping if you get your tires shipped to an installer that they recommend. Even if you ship to your home, Tire Rack offers free shipping on purchases over $50. And if you’re buying new tires, that won’t be hard.
How long does shipping take?
Shipping can take just a few days, or over a week in the worst cases. Often it depends on where you live. anyone in a larger urban center or living closer to a tire distribution center can get them quite quickly.
Does anyone offer mobile tire installation?
Depending on where you live, there may be numerous local mobile tire installers available. If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of tracking one down, TireRack offers its own service. You don’t even have to purchase tires from TireRack to use it.
While it’s more expensive than bringing your tires to the shop, it’s also a lot more convenient. Prices start at $25 per tire.
How much does it cost to install a tire?
Generally you’ll pay between $25 and $50 per tire for installation services. This includes mounting and balancing, while using the latest tools so your rims don’t get scuffed or scraped.
Do I need to replace the tire pressure monitoring system when I change tires?
It’s not necessary to replace TMPS sensors when you change tires, but you may want to consider it. The units can fail over time due to damage or corrosion. Also, most units contain a battery and as a sealed unit, they must be replaced when the battery wears down. While most tire installers will handle sourcing these parts for you, you can also buy your own here.
Do online tire retailers offer rebates?
Absolutely! In fact, rebates are offered by most brands (even premium ones). Often these incentives are offered with other deals including up-front discounts and credit card offers.