Newbie question - tires and wheels - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

que2k · 06-28-2008, 04:38 PM

I havent taken delivery of my E90 yet but I am already shopping for winter tires and wheels.

I have ordered a 335xi with sport kit and on tirerack it tells me that I can use 17" wheels with 225/17/40

My question is what is all the talk about offsets and staggering?? and is tire-rack correct?

Thanks

R12ax7 · 06-28-2008, 04:51 PM

I'm sure someone will follow up with far more info than I can give you, but generally, I think the staggering issue is really only relevant for 18" or 19" wheel options. If you have the sport package with the 18" wheels they are a staggered set-up (the rear wheels and tires are wider than the fronts).

For 17"s the set-up is usually non-staggered, or the same width front and back. So with 17" wheels there is no issue, you just put them on, and can rotate them freely.

The offset issue is when people are playing with different widths front and back, particularly with 19" wheels. Depending on what kind of staggered set up you go with you may need to use a spacer (between the mounting point and the actual wheel) in order to maintain the proper track.

The other issue is rolling diameter, which I am fuzzy on myself. Apparantly different width tires (say 265 vs. 275) as well as different manufacturers have different sidewalls so you need to take this into account in order to maintain the overall size of the wheel, otherwise your spedo will be out of whack.

Not sure if that answers your questions but again, none of this is really an issue for selecting 17" winter tires for a non staggered set-up.

(and yes, tirerack is correct)

Nikolas · 06-28-2008, 07:31 PM

You can stagger 17's also. The setup would be 225/45/17 front and 255/40/17 in the back.

225/45/17's are what my 335xi came with stock. 225/40/17 is the wrong size.

Kev · 06-28-2008, 11:14 PM

Normally, you don't want to go for a staggered setup in the winter. You want to run as narrow tires as possible. In this case, 225/45R17 would be the way to go. As for offsets of the wheels, you also need to consider the width of the wheel that you are buying as well. Gary @ Tirerack would be able to help you choose the best setup for your car.

UdubBadger · 06-28-2008, 11:45 PM

im one of those idiots using a staggered winter set up.

you have awd... you'll be fine either way.

i would suggest the 225/45's size for winters sidewall is a good thing to have in the snow.

que2k · 06-29-2008, 01:52 AM

Thanks guys, also I copied down the tirerack information incorrectly. It was 225/45/17

Kev · 06-29-2008, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

im one of those idiots using a staggered winter set up.

you have awd... you'll be fine either way.

i would suggest the 225/45's size for winters sidewall is a good thing to have in the snow.

Hey, you are not alone. I'm looking forward to running M6 reps or Style 230 in the winter as well......

UdubBadger · 06-29-2008, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev

Hey, you are not alone. I'm looking forward to running M6 reps or Style 230 in the winter as well......

hahaha you're crazy dude

at least mine are only 17's

Kev · 06-29-2008, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

hahaha you're crazy dude

at least mine are only 17's

Need to clear BBK, so not much choice out there. 18s will be really tight.

jimmy330xi · 06-29-2008, 12:27 PM

Is it possible to find a good winter tire that will fit the style 162 wheel?

UdubBadger · 06-29-2008, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmy330xi

Is it possible to find a good winter tire that will fit the style 162 wheel?

check out Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25's for your 162's Jimmy... they are dedicated winters.

If you want good all seasons for winter (since you've got an xi) you can look at Goodyear Eagle F1 A/S which seem to do well in the snow.

I'm personally going to run staggered Conti Extreme Contacts on 17's. I don't know if they make them for 18's though.

Kev · 06-29-2008, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmy330xi

Is it possible to find a good winter tire that will fit the style 162 wheel?

Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25, Dunlop Wintersport M3 / 3D, Conti, Pirelli all make winter tires that would fit your 162s

jimmy330xi · 06-29-2008, 03:44 PM

^ Thank you guys. I found them, I was very unfamiliar with winter tires.

Kev · 06-29-2008, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmy330xi

^ Thank you guys. I found them, I was very unfamiliar with winter tires.

No problem. We all have to start some where, right? I started about 10 years ago when I moved my ass from Hong Kong to Wisconsin, quickly learned the essentials of winter tires.

Nikolas · 06-29-2008, 07:41 PM

The whole narrow tire concept for snow only applies to driving in fresh snow. If you live in snow country, most of the time you are driving on packed snow. For packed snow you do want as much traction as possible. A wider snow tire in that case will work better than a narrow one. The concept in fresh snow is a narrow tire will not plow and build-up snow in front of the tire. So don't worrow about running a staggered set in the winter. You will be fine.

UdubBadger · 06-29-2008, 08:25 PM

cool... i'm sure i'll be fine anyway, xi works like a dream

halB · 06-29-2008, 10:41 PM

Don't run a staggered set in an Xi unless you can make the F/R tire circumference within 1% of each other. Failing that you risk burning out your transfer case clutch pack becasue of the F/R axle speed difference.

UdubBadger · 06-29-2008, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by halB

Don't run a staggered set in an Xi unless you can make the F/R tire circumference within 1% of each other. Failing that you risk burning out your transfer case clutch pack becasue of the F/R axle speed difference.

winters are the 17" sport package wheels so if BMW uses them, i'm sure its fine.

however, the 19's im running for summer are staggered too so... that might be more than 1%

UdubBadger · 06-29-2008, 11:01 PM

just figured it out... 19's difference is .86% so im good with the 235/35/19/ 265/30/19 setup

Nikolas · 06-29-2008, 11:36 PM

That is why I went with 275/30 in the back. It is the identical diameter to the front at 235/35. Similar to the 17" set I quoted earlier - 225/45/17 front and 255/40/17 rear.

UdubBadger · 06-29-2008, 11:44 PM

ahhhh i see

jimmy330xi · 06-30-2008, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by halB

Don't run a staggered set in an Xi unless you can make the F/R tire circumference within 1% of each other. Failing that you risk burning out your transfer case clutch pack becasue of the F/R axle speed difference.

The snow tires that I want are for my OEM 162 wheels. I am getting the same sizes as the summer OEM RFT's. I don't think I will have any issues

06-28-2008, 04:38 PM	#1
que2k Second Lieutenant Drives: 335xi Sedan Join Date: May 2008 Location: Vancouver Posts: 246 iTrader: (0)	Newbie question - tires and wheels I havent taken delivery of my E90 yet but I am already shopping for winter tires and wheels. I have ordered a 335xi with sport kit and on tirerack it tells me that I can use 17" wheels with 225/17/40 My question is what is all the talk about offsets and staggering?? and is tire-rack correct? Thanks __________________ "Her name is Naomi, that's I moan backwards"
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06-28-2008, 11:14 PM	#4
Kev Resident Anesthesiologist Drives: VW bug with a misplaced engine Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 8,810 iTrader: (24) Garage List 2009 Porsche 911 Ca ... [4.75]	Normally, you don't want to go for a staggered setup in the winter. You want to run as narrow tires as possible. In this case, 225/45R17 would be the way to go. As for offsets of the wheels, you also need to consider the width of the wheel that you are buying as well. Gary @ Tirerack would be able to help you choose the best setup for your car. __________________ kev { divinum est sedate dolorem } < working on a bug with a misplaced engine >

06-29-2008, 01:52 AM	#6
que2k Second Lieutenant Drives: 335xi Sedan Join Date: May 2008 Location: Vancouver Posts: 246 iTrader: (0)	Thanks guys, also I copied down the tirerack information incorrectly. It was 225/45/17 __________________ "Her name is Naomi, that's I moan backwards"

06-29-2008, 12:27 PM	#10
jimmy330xi Captain Drives: '06 330xI, '04 YZF R1 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 627 iTrader: (1)	Is it possible to find a good winter tire that will fit the style 162 wheel? __________________ '06 330Xi, '04 CBR600RR, '04 YZF-R1, '06CBR600RR, '10 S1000RR M-tech, Injen, Hamann, Remus, KW, Breyton

06-29-2008, 03:44 PM	#13
jimmy330xi Captain Drives: '06 330xI, '04 YZF R1 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 627 iTrader: (1)	^ Thank you guys. I found them, I was very unfamiliar with winter tires. __________________ '06 330Xi, '04 CBR600RR, '04 YZF-R1, '06CBR600RR, '10 S1000RR M-tech, Injen, Hamann, Remus, KW, Breyton

06-28-2008, 04:51 PM	#2
R12ax7 Lieutenant Drives: 2011 328i M-sport 6MT Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Philly Posts: 499 iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 328i [0.00]	I'm sure someone will follow up with far more info than I can give you, but generally, I think the staggering issue is really only relevant for 18" or 19" wheel options. If you have the sport package with the 18" wheels they are a staggered set-up (the rear wheels and tires are wider than the fronts). For 17"s the set-up is usually non-staggered, or the same width front and back. So with 17" wheels there is no issue, you just put them on, and can rotate them freely. The offset issue is when people are playing with different widths front and back, particularly with 19" wheels. Depending on what kind of staggered set up you go with you may need to use a spacer (between the mounting point and the actual wheel) in order to maintain the proper track. The other issue is rolling diameter, which I am fuzzy on myself. Apparantly different width tires (say 265 vs. 275) as well as different manufacturers have different sidewalls so you need to take this into account in order to maintain the overall size of the wheel, otherwise your spedo will be out of whack. Not sure if that answers your questions but again, none of this is really an issue for selecting 17" winter tires for a non staggered set-up. (and yes, tirerack is correct)

06-28-2008, 07:31 PM	#3
Nikolas Colonel Drives: 996 TT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sierra Mountains Posts: 2,074 iTrader: (0)	You can stagger 17's also. The setup would be 225/45/17 front and 255/40/17 in the back. 225/45/17's are what my 335xi came with stock. 225/40/17 is the wrong size.

06-29-2008, 07:41 PM	#15
Nikolas Colonel Drives: 996 TT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sierra Mountains Posts: 2,074 iTrader: (0)	The whole narrow tire concept for snow only applies to driving in fresh snow. If you live in snow country, most of the time you are driving on packed snow. For packed snow you do want as much traction as possible. A wider snow tire in that case will work better than a narrow one. The concept in fresh snow is a narrow tire will not plow and build-up snow in front of the tire. So don't worrow about running a staggered set in the winter. You will be fine.

06-29-2008, 10:41 PM	#17
halB Colonel Drives: W211 E350 4M MkV GTI 987.2 S Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Just north of Toronto Posts: 2,390 iTrader: (0)	Don't run a staggered set in an Xi unless you can make the F/R tire circumference within 1% of each other. Failing that you risk burning out your transfer case clutch pack becasue of the F/R axle speed difference. __________________ 07 E93 335i - Returned at lease end 09 W211 E350 4Matic Avant Garde - Blk/Blk, AMG pkg w/18". Sport Susp. F1 Asym. Debadged. 09 MkV GTI w/Leather & 18" Huffs. F1 Asym 10 987.2 S w/Leather sport seat, Sport Chrono, 19" Carrera S II wheels

06-29-2008, 11:36 PM	#20
Nikolas Colonel Drives: 996 TT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sierra Mountains Posts: 2,074 iTrader: (0)	That is why I went with 275/30 in the back. It is the identical diameter to the front at 235/35. Similar to the 17" set I quoted earlier - 225/45/17 front and 255/40/17 rear.