Mitchelin Alpin PA4 tyres

BananaIguana · 01-21-2016, 05:36 PM

Recently I experienced driving in snow in an M4. I was stuck and had to park up while all over motorists didn't seem to have a problem and were passing me by. I needed my car to be more dependable so I bought some winter tyres and I'm REALLY confused as to how they should be fitted. I'm panicking that they should have been ordered as a full set (which they were not due to stock issues) and potentially have incorrect pairs of tyres fitted.

First off, each tyre wall doesn't state the rotation but instead has 'outside' printed. I've checked all the fitted tyres and they ALL say 'outside'. Initially I thought everything was ok but it was only when I was showing a friend the winter tyres that he noticed that the groves don't seem to mirror between left & right tyres. This set my mind racing and I jumped to the conclusion they should have been ordered in pairs so the 'outside' bit would be correct providing there were two tyres mirroring the tread. I thought a bit more about it and soon realised, no that's not right because without rotation markers then the tyres could easily be mixed up and potentially each would be showing 'outside' even though they were hypothetically reversed and both treads could be facing the wrong way.

It turns out after a bit of Googling, that I have asymmetric tyres (hence 'outside' instead of '<-- rotation') but what is concerning me is that the direction of the inner tyre tread grove is pushing to the centre on one side and pushing to the inside on the other.

Is this a typical trait of winter tyres? It just doesn't sit right with me, can someone ease my mind...

BananaIguana · 01-21-2016, 05:46 PM

Oh & it might be worth pointing out that BMW would not fit the tyres due to them not being a star-fit (whatever that means). Their option was to buy a completely new 18" wheel set & tyres which they approve for winter driving.

... so I went elsewhere, hence all the mess.

JoeFromPA · 01-21-2016, 08:55 PM

Everything is ok

Your tires are fine

remmib · 01-22-2016, 11:17 AM

You're overthinking this, as long as the outside of the tire is facing out, you're good.
The tire can be mounted on both side of the car, this is just like the Michelin PSS summer tires.

Ian1973 · 01-23-2016, 11:47 AM

I'm very confused what you are asking. I have the same tires and have no troubles.

Are you saying you only fit 2 snows on your car? Are you mix and matched two sets of different snows? Either way that is bad!!

As for mounting, as long as they are mounted with the outside facing out you are good.

Reach · 01-24-2016, 10:26 AM

He did all 4 (correctly) and he's concerned about asymmetric tires not being symmetric (incorrectly).

BananaIguana You're fine.

BananaIguana · 01-24-2016, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reach

He did all 4 (correctly) and he's concerned about asymmetric tires not being symmetric (incorrectly).

BananaIguana You're fine.

They're asymmetric yes but ALSO look directional to me. I just find it weird that the direction of the tread changes depending on which side of the car you choose.

Anyway it seems by all the responses that I'm ok!

Appreciated the replies everyone

BananaIguana · 01-24-2016, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by remmib

You're overthinking this, ...

Yeh I guessed I was. I did ask the garage first but they couldn't answer and it got them all confused too.

Outside is definitely stated on all tyres

I have to confess that my paranoia got worse when I was travelling on the motorway and the car felt like it was veering a little to the right when accelerating.

It seems all is good, thanks

Lee551247 · 01-26-2016, 10:26 AM

I fitted these in 275/35/19 and the car was undriveable, was like driving on jelly, they were only on there for 200 miles then took them off!

Ian1973 · 01-27-2016, 12:37 AM

Why in the world would you buy such wide tires?

Lee551247 · 01-27-2016, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian1973

Why in the world would you buy such wide tires?

Same size tire as standard fit on 19's from factory

JMon · 01-27-2016, 12:17 PM

I use them on the M3 255/35/19s all around and they are perfectly good tires. For street driving they handle very well in dry,wet and snow conditions.

As mentioned they are Asymmetric by design, so just keep the outsides "out" and you will be fine. Asymmetric vs directional http://www.giti.com/eN/PC/FAQdetail....100&leftmenu=2

Info and reviews about the PA4
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=181
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Mi...ot-Alpin-4.htm

The PA4 is more widely used in the Porsche community for those that actually drive their cars.

FYI. The PA4 is actually hard to get in the states, but you can usually special order them.

BananaIguana · 01-27-2016, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee551247

I fitted these in 275/35/19 and the car was undriveable, was like driving on jelly, they were only on there for 200 miles then took them off!

I have to agree with this. I absolutely hate driving my car in these tyres. The car feels like it's continuously squirming on the road.

If it saves me from an accident in the snow & ice then I'm ok with it though. Can't wait to get the Pilot Super Sports back on in April

BananaIguana · 01-27-2016, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMon

I use them on the M3 255/35/19s all around and they are perfectly good tires. For street driving they handle very well in dry,wet and snow conditions.

As mentioned they are Asymmetric by design, so just keep the outsides "out" and you will be fine. Asymmetric vs directional http://www.giti.com/eN/PC/FAQdetail....100&leftmenu=2

Info and reviews about the PA4
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=181
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Mi...ot-Alpin-4.htm

The PA4 is more widely used in the Porsche community for those that actually drive their cars.

FYI. The PA4 is actually hard to get in the states, but you can usually special order them.

Great links! Thanks

Ian1973 · 01-30-2016, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee551247

Same size tire as standard fit on 19's from factory

I understand, but the wider the tire the more it will act like a ski and not bite into the snow.

JMon · 01-30-2016, 05:00 PM

FYI 255. All around is the BMW recommended winter fitment for the m3.

I think 245 would work very well too... Maybe even better.

Just make sure rim width is adjusted appropriately.

But 275 would be counter productive.

Ian1973 · 01-31-2016, 12:37 PM

That's why I went with the 245's all around myself.

01-21-2016, 05:36 PM	#1
BananaIguana New Member 17 Rep 15 Posts Drives: BMW M4 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Merseyside, UK iTrader: (0)	Mitchelin Alpin PA4 tyres - CONFUSED!?! Recently I experienced driving in snow in an M4. I was stuck and had to park up while all over motorists didn't seem to have a problem and were passing me by. I needed my car to be more dependable so I bought some winter tyres and I'm REALLY confused as to how they should be fitted. I'm panicking that they should have been ordered as a full set (which they were not due to stock issues) and potentially have incorrect pairs of tyres fitted. First off, each tyre wall doesn't state the rotation but instead has 'outside' printed. I've checked all the fitted tyres and they ALL say 'outside'. Initially I thought everything was ok but it was only when I was showing a friend the winter tyres that he noticed that the groves don't seem to mirror between left & right tyres. This set my mind racing and I jumped to the conclusion they should have been ordered in pairs so the 'outside' bit would be correct providing there were two tyres mirroring the tread. I thought a bit more about it and soon realised, no that's not right because without rotation markers then the tyres could easily be mixed up and potentially each would be showing 'outside' even though they were hypothetically reversed and both treads could be facing the wrong way. It turns out after a bit of Googling, that I have asymmetric tyres (hence 'outside' instead of '<-- rotation') but what is concerning me is that the direction of the inner tyre tread grove is pushing to the centre on one side and pushing to the inside on the other. Is this a typical trait of winter tyres? It just doesn't sit right with me, can someone ease my mind... Attached Images
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01-21-2016, 05:46 PM	#2
BananaIguana New Member 17 Rep 15 Posts Drives: BMW M4 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Merseyside, UK iTrader: (0)	Oh & it might be worth pointing out that BMW would not fit the tyres due to them not being a star-fit (whatever that means). Their option was to buy a completely new 18" wheel set & tyres which they approve for winter driving. ... so I went elsewhere, hence all the mess.
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01-21-2016, 08:55 PM	#3
JoeFromPA Colonel 1796 Rep 2,997 Posts Drives: '15 AW M3 6MT Stripper Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: SE PA iTrader: (0)	Everything is ok Your tires are fine __________________ AW/Carbonstructure 6MT 2015 M3 picked up 8/22/2014. Stripper except for adaptive suspension. Weighed at 3,450 pounds with 1/4 fuel. 70,000 miles as of February 2020.
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01-22-2016, 11:17 AM	#4
remmib General 1569 Rep 29,202 Posts Drives: 2013 F10 520d M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Norway iTrader: (0)	You're overthinking this, as long as the outside of the tire is facing out, you're good. The tire can be mounted on both side of the car, this is just like the Michelin PSS summer tires. __________________ F10 520d M-Sport Alpine White \| HRE P43SC 20x9+20x11 \| Michelin PSS 255/35+295/30 \| KW V3 Coilover \| M5 Front Sway Bar + M550d Rear Sway Bar \| 3DDesign Front Lip \| BMW M Performance CF Spoiler \| BMW M Performance Diffuser \| BMW M Performance Black Grills \| BMW M Performance Pedals \|
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01-23-2016, 11:47 AM	#5
Ian1973 Colonel 736 Rep 2,134 Posts Drives: 15 M3 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Charlton, NY iTrader: (0)	I'm very confused what you are asking. I have the same tires and have no troubles. Are you saying you only fit 2 snows on your car? Are you mix and matched two sets of different snows? Either way that is bad!! As for mounting, as long as they are mounted with the outside facing out you are good.
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01-24-2016, 10:26 AM	#6
Reach gone baby gone 382 Rep 1,052 Posts Drives: 2016 F80 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Location, Location. iTrader: (0)	He did all 4 (correctly) and he's concerned about asymmetric tires not being symmetric (incorrectly). BananaIguana You're fine. __________________ ///M3: MW / SO
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01-26-2016, 10:26 AM	#9
Lee551247 New Member 24 Rep 9 Posts Drives: BMW M4 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Cheltenham iTrader: (0)	I fitted these in 275/35/19 and the car was undriveable, was like driving on jelly, they were only on there for 200 miles then took them off!
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01-27-2016, 12:37 AM	#10
Ian1973 Colonel 736 Rep 2,134 Posts Drives: 15 M3 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Charlton, NY iTrader: (0)	Why in the world would you buy such wide tires?
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01-27-2016, 12:17 PM	#12
JMon FAST 371 Rep 574 Posts Drives: Porsche GT3 Cup Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Charlottesville VA iTrader: (0)	I use them on the M3 255/35/19s all around and they are perfectly good tires. For street driving they handle very well in dry,wet and snow conditions. As mentioned they are Asymmetric by design, so just keep the outsides "out" and you will be fine. Asymmetric vs directional http://www.giti.com/eN/PC/FAQdetail....100&leftmenu=2 Info and reviews about the PA4 http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=181 http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Mi...ot-Alpin-4.htm The PA4 is more widely used in the Porsche community for those that actually drive their cars. FYI. The PA4 is actually hard to get in the states, but you can usually special order them.
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01-30-2016, 05:00 PM	#16
JMon FAST 371 Rep 574 Posts Drives: Porsche GT3 Cup Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Charlottesville VA iTrader: (0)	FYI 255. All around is the BMW recommended winter fitment for the m3. I think 245 would work very well too... Maybe even better. Just make sure rim width is adjusted appropriately. But 275 would be counter productive.
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01-31-2016, 12:37 PM	#17
Ian1973 Colonel 736 Rep 2,134 Posts Drives: 15 M3 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Charlton, NY iTrader: (0)	That's why I went with the 245's all around myself.
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