Car Guy Magazine Car Guy Magazine Issue 1114 | Page 48

46 CarGuyMagazine.com

Mixed tires for optimized handling.
Another central element in the driving characteristics of the new
X5 M and X6 M are the special tires, whose development closely followed that of the front and rear axle design. In the high-performance
segment, tire choice for the front axle focuses – alongside lateral stability and brake forces – primarily on steering precision and feel. By
contrast, the engineers’ attention in the development of the rear tires
centerd on traction, lateral stability and directional stability. In order to
meet these part-contradictory, part- complementary demands, the
BMW M GmbH engineers have developed two sets of mixed tires for
the new X5 M and new X6 M. The interconnected development of
tires, steering and axles endows the new vehicles with assured handling properties and good rolling comfort. Both models are fitted
standard with low-weight non-runflat 21-inch forged wheels (front:
10 J x 21, rear: 11.5 J x 21) shod with Michelin Pilot Super Sport UHP
tires (front: 285/35 R21 Y, rear: 325/30 R21 Y).
M Servotronic steering with individual adjustment.
One of the most important interfaces between driver and vehicle is the steering. Here, BMW M GmbH’s high-performance models
have set the benchmark from day one when it comes to providing
a direct steering feel, precise feedback on the driving conditions and
a finely-tuned balance when exploring the dynamic limits. Continuing this tradition, the M Servotronic steering in the new X5 M and X6
M comprises M-specific gear ratios and an intelligently composed
overall set-up. This rack-and-pinion system with electric power assistance uses no energy whe