[the_rangdo]

Car'll look even more sh1t if it ends up damaged

It's dark most of the time anyway over winter, just get the wheels and don't worry about it.

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by MEGA

God if I could get a cheap set of 17s I'd do this.. But dont want to pay £300 + for shitter wheels! And then £700 for the tyres :\

Tough call...

Do you think a 7.5J 225/45/17 setup is the best?

Only if the offsets are correct, otherwise you'll end up having clearance issues with your brake calipers. An 8J wheel is the best all round compromise, so use a 8J 225/45/17 setup

[MEGA]

Thanks Tone. I almost wrote "Tony, Do you think ..." but thought it rude to assume you'd offer your word on the issue

Another stupid question.

I lost my standard length wheel bolts. I have my Eibach wheel bots which are 10mm and 12mm extended bolts. Any issues with just using my spacers from the BBS wheels with this 8J wheel, so that I don't have to go buy new bolts?

And in this case, am I back to 7.5J being an option?

All the wheel offset numbers.. I've never worked out what they all mean to be honest !!!

(D'oh ... )

[fastloop]

Originally Posted by ed335d

Just had the first opportunity to have a wee spin (not literally) in the snow with the Vred Wintracs on.

What a difference they make, loads more grip than standard tyres and (IMO) well worth the outlay.

Ed, did you stick them on your 230's or have you got a spare set of alloys?
What sizes did you get and did you just buy them recently?

Quite tempted to go this route!

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by MEGA

Thanks Tone. I almost wrote "Tony, Do you think ..." but thought it rude to assume you'd offer your word on the issue

Another stupid question.

I lost my standard length wheel bolts. I have my Eibach wheel bots which are 10mm and 12mm extended bolts. Any issues with just using my spacers from the BBS wheels with this 8J wheel, so that I don't have to go buy new bolts?

And in this case, am I back to 7.5J being an option?

All the wheel offset numbers.. I've never worked out what they all mean to be honest !!!

(D'oh ... )

You can use your spacers with the 8J wheels - I'm assuming your spacers are 10mm hub-centric? There'll be enough clearance to the arches with standard offset 8J wheels

[ed335d]

Originally Posted by 335rocks

Ed, did you stick them on your 230's or have you got a spare set of alloys?
What sizes did you get and did you just buy them recently?

Quite tempted to go this route!

Hey Lars

I picked up a couple of sets of spare wheels over the last 6 months (189's & MV3's) and decided to put them on the 189's (8j front and 8.5j rear). Then put the Vred 225/40 and 245/40's on these. While this is probably not optimum (I think 225/40 on 8j all round is a little better), it is far better than 265/30 and 235/35 regular tyres.

Purchased the week before Christmas.

Makes me want to go out there and drive about!

230's are safely tucked away for the winter

[MEGA]

Thought so but sometimes I convince myself of things and it turns out to be errr.. Wrong

Cheers again Tony.

[fastloop]

Originally Posted by ed335d

Hey Lars

I picked up a couple of sets of spare wheels over the last 6 months (189's & MV3's) and decided to put them on the 189's (8j front and 8.5j rear). Then put the Vred 225/40 and 245/40's on these. While this is probably not optimum (I think 225/40 on 8j all round is a little better), it is far better than 265/30 and 235/35 regular tyres.

Purchased the week before Christmas.

Makes me want to go out there and drive about!

230's are safely tucked away for the winter

Hmmm, a spare set of 18" will probably put it the wrong side of a grand, but it does make it a lot easier to swap them when needed. No faffing around with swapping tyres and paying for fitting & balancing several times a year.

I think I'll dust off the ski's for now and leave the car parked up. An auto sock might work for the short term and I'll have a look around for some 18".

[rogerxp]

Great information everyone. Very interesting reading.

Seems an acceptable amount of money to spend to get you through winter without dreading a journey and getting frustrated with your pride and joy.

If you divide the cost over the number of years of anticipated ownership then surely it's easier to justify again.

If you start to shop around now and pick up the odd wheel and tyre here and there off ebay and the like then that should reduce the cost even more; as opposed to waiting until last minute then having to pay a premium to get everything in one go.

[ed335d]

Originally Posted by 335rocks

Hmmm, a spare set of 18" will probably put it the wrong side of a grand, but it does make it a lot easier to swap them when needed. No faffing around with swapping tyres and paying for fitting & balancing several times a year.

Yup, plus running non-RFT's, you have a complete spare set just in case!

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by rogerxp

Seems an acceptable amount of money to spend to get you through winter without dreading a journey and getting frustrated with your pride and joy.

Correct, and even more important if you have family - reducing the risk of being stuck somewhere in the cold with small kids in the back of the car is worth the cost outlay in my opinion

[rogerxp]

Originally Posted by E92Fan

Correct, and even more important if you have family - reducing the risk of being stuck somewhere in the cold with small kids in the back of the car is worth the cost outlay in my opinion

That's been my concern more recently. I've had to plan, not necessarily the journey, but where I'm going to end up. What will the car park be like, will I get in but not out, seems bloody stupid. The wife drives the 330d Mon-Fri without me so if she gets stuck it'll be a bloody nightmare especially with our 2.5yr old.

I finally bought the wife an X3 yesterday after nearly 8 weeks of negotiation so at least one of us should be OK in this sort of weather. I must say I've not bought an X3 just because of the snow situation (though it's been recently highlighted 4x4 would be better) but we needed more space and she really preferred a little truck as opposed to my cast-off saloon. Massive spec, great price, low mileage, all good.

[JamboChris]

Originally Posted by rogerxp

I finally bought the wife an X3 yesterday after nearly 8 weeks of negotiation so at least one of us should be OK in this sort of weather.

Hope you negotiated some Winter wheels/tyres with it...

[rogerxp]

Originally Posted by JamboChris

Hope you negotiated some Winter wheels/tyres with it...

Funnily enough the traction has been in the back of my mind. It's an M Sport with the 19' wheels on. Looks the business but hope there isn't too much loss in grip with them. We'll see.

[MEGA]

I'd say it won't make that much difference having 2 more driving wheels when they are on summer tyres dude. If you hit snow, you'll just have 4 spinning wheels instead of two...

:S

I'd invest in some winters !

[Captain SlowCoach]

They do make a mahooosive difference - but remember not many other people have them - they get stuck and even though you have some lovely snow shoes - you can't go anywhere. They also lull following drivers in to a false sense of security - I had a rental car with them on shortened somewhat by a daft Dutch fella while driving in the alps a couple of years ago - I braked for a junction and the twerp behind, with out them on, just slid in to the back - watched it all in the mirror slowly happening... KERRRRRUNCH...

Captain SC

[MEGA]

Good first post and this is my main concern as well. I can stop but some other numpty can't.

Well my rear bumper is damaged anyway. Lets hope they hit that !

Just fronted out £480 for a set of winters ...

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by MEGA

I'd say it won't make that much difference having 2 more driving wheels when they are on summer tyres dude. If you hit snow, you'll just have 4 spinning wheels instead of two...

:S

I'd invest in some winters !

Exactly! Just because you have 4WD doesn't mean you'll get about any better. I have a couple of friends with X5 and X6s that have crashed them into trees because of a lack of traction. 4WD makes a difference if you have locking diffs etc but the BMW system is not like that, and if you start losing grip you start losing grip, end of story!

Just look at other countries in Europe - even if you have a 4WD car in Germany or Czech or Holland etc, it is mandatory to have winter tyres

[JamboChris]

Originally Posted by E92Fan

Just look at other countries in Europe - even if you have a 4WD car in Germany or Czech or Holland etc, it is mandatory to have winter tyres

It is not mandatory in Holland to have winter tyres, I'd say less than 50% of cars here in the south of Holland have them.

I don't think its compulsory in Germany either, plenty of my German colleagues don't bother. However, if you have an accident and its found that having summer tyres may have contributed then you'll probably get fined.

[rogerxp]

Valid points Sunny & Tony which is why I highlighted that the 4x4 feature was pretty low down my priority list. I agree fully with the type of tyre being the issue with lack of grip. The X3 is definately a keeper for the missus so if I find traction being an issue with our ever increasing wintery weather I'll get some winter tyres for next year.

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by JamboChris

It is not mandatory in Holland to have winter tyres, I'd say less than 50% of cars here in the south of Holland have them.

I don't think its compulsory in Germany either, plenty of my German colleagues don't bother. However, if you have an accident and its found that having summer tyres may have contributed then you'll probably get fined.

I thought it was in Holland - I stand corrected!

It is compulsory in Germany for all German-registered cars under their TUV regulations. If you're in a non-German registered car, then you get away with it, although as you say if it is found that your summer tyres have been a contributory factor to an accident whilst during the winter months then you might be liable for a big fine

[Captain SlowCoach]

MEGA - If you don't mind me asking - What did you get and where from?

Having picked my new critter a few days ago (its got a vast 400 miles on the clock now!) it would be sensible to get some... I feel a wallet opening issue about to occur!

Captain SC