The X1 is BMW’s entry-level SUV with a crossover style and more practicality than a standard sedan. The current X1 range includes one model, the X1 28i. Even though only one model is available, BMW still offers the X1 with a number of different wheels, all with different tire sizes.
Because of the choice, it can be difficult to find the right tire for your X1. That’s particularly important when you need to find the best tire for use in winter, a great all-around option, or even just a budget tire.
We want to help you find the best tire for your X1, and we’ve put together this guide to do just that. Below we’ve covered the range of tires available for an X1 and how to check your tire size. We’ll also cover our favorite tires to suit every occasion.
Let’s get started!
What tires are available on the BMW X1?
The BMW X1 range includes models with 18,19 and 20-inch tire options. In 2023, BMW changed its 18-inch tire to a 225/55 profile, replacing the previous 225/50 from 2022.
| Model | Front Tire Specs | Rear Tire Specs |
| X1 28i | 225 / 50 / 18 inch | 225 / 50 / 18 inch |
| X1 28i | 225 / 55 / 18 inch | 225 / 55 / 18 inch |
| X1 28i | 225 / 45 / 19 inch | 225 / 45 / 19 inch |
| X1 28i | 245 / 40 / 20 inch | 245 / 40 / 20 inch |
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 an X1?
The following sections cover our favorite tires for each BMW X1. It’s important to check your X1 tire size and specs to make sure you choose the matching tires for your vehicle.
18 Inch Tires
With two different profiles on the BMW X1, we’ve broken down our choice of 18-inch tires into the following:
Performance Tire: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
Our choice for the best performance tire on your X1 is the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. This is a tire I’ve used for years on my high-powered BMW cars, and it’s won countless awards. The Pilot Sport 4S is probably too much performance for most X1 drivers, but if you want the best handling available, go for the 4S.
The Pilot Sport 4S is only available on 225/50 spec tires.
All-Season Tire: Michelin CrossClimate 2
Our favorite 18-inch all-season tires are the Michelin CrossClimate 2. All-season tires are designed to be suitable in all conditions; wet, dry and even snow. They won’t beat a winter tire for handling in snow, and they won’t offer you the performance of a Pilot Sport, but all-season tires are a great ‘all-around’ option.
One of the best all-season tires out there is the Michelin CrossClimate 2. With solid fuel efficiency (an issue on some other all-season tires), the CrossClimate 2 is ideal for a full year of driving. The wet grip rating is impressive, and it’s not as expensive as other all-season tires.
The CrossClimate 2 is available on both 225/50 & 225/55 spec tires.
Winter Tire: Vredestein Wintrac Pro
If you’re going to use your X1 in a colder climate, winter tires are a must-have! With unmatched grip in snowy conditions, winter tires will keep you safer than your standard all-season options. Our favorite winter tire for your X1 is the Vredestein Wintrac Pro. Look past the complex name; the latest winter tire from Vredestein is priced under the more ‘premium’ brands, which is ideal if you’re only using these tires for a few months each year.
We don’t recommend using winter tires in milder conditions – fuel efficiency is lower than ‘standard’ tires, and they will wear slightly quicker. If you’re expecting to use your X1 in the snow, you need to get a set of useful winter tires.
The Vredestein Wintrac Pro is available on both 225/50 & 225/55 spec tires.
Budget Tire: Vredestein Hypertrac All-season / Pirelli P7 AS Plus 3
If you’re on a budget, there are some solid options out there for your X1 tires. Our pick is between the Vredestein Hypertrac All-season and the Pirelli P7 AS Plus 3. The Vredestein option comes in slightly lower out of the two options and is our choice for the 225 / 50 tire specs.
If you have 225 / 55 tires on your BMW X1, the Pirelli P7 is a surprisingly affordable option from the Italian heavyweight. These tires offer some of the best fuel efficiency we’ve seen in the budget sector, so if you’re looking to save on running costs, these are a great choice.
19-inch Tires
here are our picks for the best tires on a 19-inch BMW X1 model.
Performance Tire: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
Like the 18-inch tires, our pick for performance tires at this spec is the Pilot Sport 4S. I didn’t expect such an improvement when I first used these on my previous BMW, and I had high expectations. They are excellent in wet conditions, and you can feel the extra grip when pushing your car.
The Pilot Sport isn’t the best tire for saving fuel, and other tires make less noise, but this is up there with the best-performing tires I have ever used.
All-Season Tire: Michelin CrossClimate 2
Just like our pick for all-season tires on an 18-inch BMW X1, the CrossClimate 2 is our choice here. If you have an X1 with 19-inch wheels, and you want a tire to work all year round, you can’t do much better than a CrossClimate.
If you live in a region with changing seasons and you need a tire for every situation, the Michelin CrossClimate 2 is one of the very best.
Winter Tire: Vredestein Wintrac Pro
Once more, we’ve picked the Vredestein Wintrac Pro. This tire impressed us with our reviews on the BMW X3 and X5, and we don’t see any reason not to choose this for one of the best BMW X1 tires.
Winter tires need to be capable in the snow and ice, and although they won’t solve every handling issue, winter tires are far better than summer or all-season options. With the extra grip, you won’t get amazing fuel economy here, but if you need to use your X1 in winter, a set of Wintrac Pros is a great choice.
Budget Tire: Vredestein Hypertrac All-season
If you don’t want to pay premium prices for your X1 tires, the Vredestein Hypertrac is a solid choice. We picked this for our 18-inch budget tire, and there’s no better choice for a 19-inch X1 tire. You can use the Hypertrac all year round, and although it hasn’t got incredible fuel efficiency, it’s still a capable tire.
20-inch Tires
For 20-inch BMW X1 models, these are our tire choices:
Performance Tire: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
As with our previous choices, the Pilot Sport 4S can’t be beaten for performance. On 20-inch wheels, these are expensive tires, but the handling and grip are worth the cost. Pilot Sport 4S tires aren’t suitable for winter conditions, but in the dry or wet, these are excellent tires.
All-Season Tire: Michelin CrossClimate 2
Once again, our all-season tire of choice for larger wheel X1 models is the CrossClimate 2. With solid performance all year round (apart from severe winters), this tire is ideal for constant use.
Winter Tire: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
At this tire profile, it’s rare to find winter tires, but Pirelli has recently introduced their latest Sottozero 3. This is a premium winter tire, and with a load rating of 99, it’s perfectly suited to SUV models. As with every winter tire, we don’t recommend using the Sottozero all year round, but you’ll need a set of these if you’re driving your X1 in the snow and ice.
Budget Tire: Vredestein Quantrac Pro
Our budget tire choice for 20-inch X1 models should be no surprise – it’s another Vredestein. This is the Quantrac Pro, and although it’s more expensive than the 18 or 19-inch options, for a 20-inch tire, these are fantastic value for money!
The Best Tire Accessories
If you’re looking for a new set of tires for your X1, 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
Summary
overall, if we had to pick the best tire for an X1, we’d probably go for a CrossClimate 2. As an all-season tire, you can use this from January to December, provided you’re in a warmer climate. The CrossClimate isn’t the best tire for performance, and it is more expensive than other options, but it’s a great balance.
For performance, we can’t look past the Pilot Sport 4S. These are incredible tires for wet braking and handling, and if you want a tire to let you push your X1, these should be near the top of your list.
If you’re on a budget, there are a few options, but most of the Vredestein tires available are a great compromise of value and performance. They won’t give you the performance of tires like the Pilot Sport 4S, but most X1 drivers won’t see a huge difference.
If you want to see our favorite tires for other models, check out the links below:
