Article updated: September 2023
If you’re a 4 Series owner, whether that’s a 430i or M440i, you’re probably here to find out which tires are best for your car. If that’s the case, or if you’re looking to buy a 4 Series and want the best tires you can get, we’ve got you covered.
In the sections below I’ll talk you through my top picks for 4 Series tires – whether it’s the tire with the best performance & handling or the best tire for winter driving, all the info you’ll need is below. We’ll compare the costs, the pros and cons, and why I think these are the best tires in each class.
Fortunately, when it comes to wheel sizes, BMW has kept things fairly simple, with a few 18-inch and 19-inch options. If you don’t see your tire specs listed just let me know, and I’ll work on updating this to help out – but for now, hope this helps you find your next set of 4 Series tires!
What tires are available on the BMW 4 Series?
Across the BMW 4 Series range, there are a number of different tire sizes for both the 430i and M440i models. The table below covers each different tire and the 4 Series models that include each tire spec.
| Model | Front Tire | Rear Tire |
| 430i / M440i | 225 / 45 / R18 | 225 / 45 / R18 |
| M440i | 225 / 45 / R18 | 255 / 40 / R18 |
| 430i / M440i | 225 / 40 / R19 | 225 / 40 / R19 |
| 430i | 225 / 40 / R19 | 255 / 35 / R19 |
| 430i / M440i | 245 / 40 / R19 | 255 / 40 / R19 |
How Do I Check My Tire Specs?
Along the edge of every tire, you will find the specs. They are usually shown like in the image below, with three numbers and a letter:
- Width (the larger number, usually between 200-400)
- Profile (often between 30-100)
- Tire Construction (a single letter)
- Rim Size (the size of your wheel, often between 15-25)
There may be extra details after the rim size, which can include:
- Load Rating (a number between 90-120)
- Speed Rating (a single letter)
What Do My Tire Specs Mean?
Tire specs provide information on your tire dimensions and performance:
- Width: measured in millimeters, this is the width of the tire from side to side
- Profile: this is the height of the tire’s sidewall, as a ratio against the width. In simple terms, the larger this value, the ‘thicker’ the tire
- Construction: The structure of the tire. Most modern tires are radial (shown with an R), but some run-flat tires will have a different designation.
- Rim Size: the diameter of your wheel, measured in inches
- Load Rating: How much weight the tire can support. This number is from a load index chart, and the higher the number, the more weight a tire can cope with
- Speed Rating: A letter designating the maximum safe speed a tire can handle. Common speed ratings are H (130mph), V (149 mph), W (168 mph), and Y (186 mph)
What tires are best for your BMW 4 Series?
In the following sections, we’ll cover our favorite tires for each wheel size across the 4 Series range. Whether it’s the entry-level 430i or the high-spec M440i, they are all included here. We’ve split our list into a few different categories, too, so if you want to find the best winter tire, for example, that’s highlighted in each section below:
18 Inch Tires
The BMW 4 Series range comes with two options for 18-inch tires. These are the ‘entry-level’ tires and the smallest wheels you can get for current 4 Series models. The two options are:
430i models only
- Front: 225 / 45 / R18
- Rear: 225 / 45 / R18
430i / M440i models
- Front: 225 / 45 / R18
- Rear: 255 / 40 / R18
Performance Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
For 18-inch wheels, our favorite performance tire has to be the Pilot Sport 4S. This is almost unbeatable when it comes to handling and grip in the wet, and it’s our go-to performance option on most of the BMW range.
Available in both 18-inch specs, you’ll have to pay more than some other tires on this list, but if you want to push your 4 Series and want the best tire for the task, you’ll struggle to find a better choice than the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S.
All Season Tires: Michelin CrossClimate 2 / Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 4
Next up, if you’d prefer a tire you can use all year round without worrying about the weather, an all-season tire is the one for you. Michelin produces a few of our favorite options here, with the CrossClimate 2 and the Pilot Sport AS 4.
Both tires have impressive tread life and great fuel efficiency. The Pilot Sport AS has slightly better performance if you feel like putting your foot down, but both tires are going to handle well all year round. The only shortcoming is extreme snow or ice, but our next section has you covered there.
Winter Tires: Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 / Pirelli Winter SottoZero 3
Winter tires will either be vital or pointless, depending on where you live. In warmer climates, you’ll never get the benefits of this style of tire, but if you’re in a colder part of the world, these can be a fantastic investment.
With more grip and deeper treads to handle snow and ice, winter tires are unparalleled in those colder conditions. Okay, fuel economy is underwhelming, and the ride quality isn’t great, but these tires aren’t designed to be used all year. If you’re expecting anything more than a few weeks of snow, you need a set of these on your 4 Series.
Budget Tires: Pirelli P7 Plus 3 / Vredestein Hypertrac
Finally, if you’re looking for 4 Series tires on a budget, these are our top two choices. The Pirelli P7 AS is surprisingly cheap right now, and it’s rare to see a Pirelli tire at these price levels. We’ve also got the Vredestein Hypertrac, which is an all-season tire from one of our favorite ‘budget’ brands.
With budget tires, you often lose some performance in comparison to the AAA manufacturers, but for most drivers, you’ll hardly notice. Lifetime on these two options is impressive too, and there’s great value for money in either tire here.
19 Inch Tires
The BMW 4 Series range comes with three options for 19-inch tires. For 430i models there are three different grades, whereas the range-topping M440i only comes with two options here. As always, check which specs below match your own tires to find the best choice for you.
430i models only
- Front: 225 / 40 / R19
- Rear: 255 / 35 / R19
430i / M440i models
- Front: 225 / 40 / R19
- Rear: 225 / 40 / R19
430i / M440i models
- Front: 245 / 40 / R19
- Rear: 255 / 40 / R19
Performance Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
Like our 18-inch tire choices, our stand-out performance tire is the Pilot Sport 4S. These are some of the best tires I’ve ever used on my BMW, and my current 440i has a set of Pilot Sport 4S tires on right now.
There are some of the most expensive tires you can buy, sure, and for a lot of drivers, you might not get the benefits. That being said, if you want the best performance from your 4 Series, it’s hard to look past the Pilot Sport 4S, and I won’t be changing any time soon.
All Season Tires: Continental ExtremeContact DWS / Michelin Pilot Sport AS
If you’re looking for a tire that can handle almost any weather, and you need all the grip and handling that a Pilot Sport gives you, an All-Season tire might be right for you. For 4 Series models with 19-inch tires, there are a few solid options out there, including some of our favorites.
The Continental ExtremeContact is one of our go-to All-Season tires. It’s great value for money and handles well, even in the wettest conditions. Okay, it’s not the best on fuel economy if we are looking at weaknesses, but from our experience, that’s the only shortcoming.
If you have 245/255 profile tires on your BMW, the bad news is that ExtremeContact tires aren’t currently available at these specs. The good news is that one of our other top choices, the Michelin Pilot Sport AS 4, is available. As the name suggests this is part of the Pilot family, and while it can’t hold you in those quick corners like the 4S, this is one of the best all-season ‘premium’ tires.
Winter Tires: Pirelli Winter SottoZero
Next up, we’ve got the winter tire options. Designed for one role, a lot of drivers overlook winter tires, and that can be a mistake. They aren’t suitable for all year round, and the ride quality isn’t great, but in snow and ice, these tires can be the difference between staying on the road and drifting off it.
As winter tires are pretty specific, there aren’t many options out there, and there’s only one option we recommend here. Only available for the 225/225 profile tires, if you have these wheels on your 4 Series and you need a winter tire, the Pirelli Sottozero is a must-have. Pirelli needs no introduction, and the Sottozero range has been around for long enough to get an excellent reputation. Fuel economy isn’t anything special, but in the snow, your BMW will thank you for that extra grip.
On other 4 Series models, there are winter tires available, but none that we can recommend. This article is here to focus on tires that we’ve used on our cars previously / had feedback from friends & colleagues, so we can’t offer any suggestions on other tires.
Budget Tires: General G-Max RS / Vredestein Hypertrac AS
Finally, if you’re on a budget and need new tires for your 4 Series, there are some excellent choices out there. A few of our favorite ‘budget’ brands are General and Vredestein, and you can pick up some of their best offerings here.
The G-Max RS is one of General’s best-selling models, and it’s available for two 4 Series specs. This is an all-season tire, so you won’t get the very best performance, but the tire lifetime and the saving on fuel make this a strong choice. The saving against premium tires doesn’t hurt either!
If you want a tire with a bit more performance (from our experience) but won’t break the bank, the Vredestein Hypertrac is available. This is also an all-season tire, so you won’t need to worry about changing once summer is over.
The Best Tire Accessories
If you’re looking for a new set of tires for your 4 Series, you’ll want to make sure you look after them too. Keeping your tires clean, inflated, and stored safely is vital, so I wanted to share a few of the items I keep to make sure my tires are in the best condition.
These accessories include places to store and protect your tires when they are not in use, which is ideal if you have a set of winter and summer tires. You’ll also need a tire inflator kit, and it’s important to keep tire sealant in case you end up with a puncture.
Finally, keeping your tires clean is overlooked by so many drivers. I’ll see people spend hundreds on keeping their car paint and interior surfaces in top condition, but you need to make sure your wheels and tires are in the best shape too!
- Holds up to 35kg per bag
- Machine Washable
- Holds up to 400 lbs
- Adjustable for different tire widths
- Includes different nozzles for various tires
- Available in four colors
- Includes a 20V battery for portable use
- Automatic shutoff valve
- 24 fl.oz spray
- Suitable for up to 100 miles on damaged tires
- Eco-friendly
Want to find out more about the BMW 4 Series, or check out the best tires for other BMW models?
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