XI winter tire help - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

UdubBadger · 08-31-2008, 04:45 PM

need some advice from you guys...

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=167630

Nikolas · 08-31-2008, 08:15 PM

Dedicated winter tires will give you the best traction. Since you are in Chicago you could easily go with performance winter tires. They are not as soft as dedicated snow tires, but still perform far better than AS. I would recommend Dunlop M3 wintersports 225/45/17. They make them in both regular and RFT versions. I am assuming you are getting winter wheels? If you want them for your 19" rims, sizes are probably pretty limiting.

UdubBadger · 08-31-2008, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikolas

Dedicated winter tires will give you the best traction. Since you are in Chicago you could easily go with performance winter tires. They are not as soft as dedicated snow tires, but still perform far better than AS. I would recommend Dunlop M3 wintersports 225/45/17. They make them in both regular and RFT versions. I am assuming you are getting winter wheels? If you want them for your 19" rims, sizes are probably pretty limiting.

<---- Madison....

but anyway, I need a staggered setup as I'm running the winters on a ZSP set of 17's which dunlop doesn't make 255/40/17.

jgalaxy · 09-01-2008, 09:18 AM

Get dedicated winters and rims. All Season are not good for the North. My OEM rims hold my Winters and I bought new rims for the summer.

I use Dunlop Winter Sport 3D and found them excellent, especially with the xDrive. Made the 100+ inches of snow bareable and fun last year.

dchen2 · 09-01-2008, 06:59 PM

Made it through last winter fine in my rwd v8 Lexus GS430 despite madison's record 100incher winter thanks to some dunlop wintersport m3s 225/45R17s on winter rims. This winter I already have a new set of dunlop wintersport d3s (the new version of the m3 models) 225/40R18s to throw on my non staggered 18" csl reps.

Looking forward to driving in the snow now with my new awd car and performance winter tires, esp on my thanksgiving/christmas crosscountry trips visiting my parents in Denver and going boarding up in Veil!

I can definitely testify to summer tires being a big no no for winter time use... learned it to my detriment during a snowy Utah winter when I tried putting some newly purchased F150 Lightning 18s with stock F1 supercar summers on my F150 and then later that night sliding backwards down a hill. Brand new all seasons are passable but the performance winter tires definitely are best for snow driving without the loss of driving fun/performance that normal full winter tires bring to the table.

UdubBadger · 09-01-2008, 08:56 PM

thanks dude... i think i'm gonna go for the 3D's too

Kev · 09-01-2008, 10:06 PM

Can't go wrong with the Dunlops

UdubBadger · 09-01-2008, 10:11 PM

well i can since i have to bump up to a 235 instead of 225 to fit my staggered setup....

but i don't think its gonna be that big of a deal.

Sparkplug · 09-02-2008, 12:30 AM

I went with a new set of 18" non-staggered rims and non-RF, Blizack LM25 tires, both from Tire Rack. I was very happy with this set-up. Come November, I'll be pretty excited about putting them back on and hoping for snow.

booyah · 09-02-2008, 02:23 AM

I was going to put on my snows onto my staggered stock rims and go with 225/40/18 all 4 corners! BMW store is telling me It will be fine to run all 4 corners same size?

jgalaxy · 09-02-2008, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by booyah

I was going to put on my snows onto my staggered stock rims and go with 225/40/18 all 4 corners! BMW store is telling me It will be fine to run all 4 corners same size?

I agree. The car will behave a little better with 225 all around.

UdubBadger · 09-02-2008, 10:10 PM

but then i cant get the dunlops cuz they wont fit.

im gonna go 235 all around.

dakine · 09-07-2008, 06:02 PM

I got an 335 XI coupe and just bought a set of 245/40R-18 Pirelli Winter 240 Sottozero RFT RunFlat. The sales guy at TireRack assurred me they would fit front and back with no clearance issues. Hope this helps someone save some stress and decision making time, it took me about a week of multiple calls and reading the forums to decide on what I wanted, and what would fit without rubbing.

UdubBadger · 09-07-2008, 06:08 PM

i know what fits... i just needed help deciding between 2 setups.

got it taken care of now, thanks

ska325xi · 09-07-2008, 10:57 PM

just find a used set of winter tires + rims...they run around $1000

UdubBadger · 09-07-2008, 11:34 PM

lol....

nobody reads anything anymore do they?

I have rims, I am buying tires from tirerack.

Thanks for everyones help...

no future comments needed now.

09-01-2008, 09:18 AM	#4
jgalaxy Gearing Drives: 2008 335xi E92, 2002 M3 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montreal Posts: 3,115 iTrader: (1)	Get dedicated winters and rims. All Season are not good for the North. My OEM rims hold my Winters and I bought new rims for the summer. I use Dunlop Winter Sport 3D and found them excellent, especially with the xDrive. Made the 100+ inches of snow bareable and fun last year. __________________ Monaco Blue - Saddle Brown \| A light sprinkle of mods I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace. - George W

09-01-2008, 10:06 PM	#7
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]	Can't go wrong with the Dunlops __________________ kev { divinum est sedate dolorem } < working on a bug with a misplaced engine >

09-02-2008, 12:30 AM	#9
Sparkplug Badge Whore Drives: Dinan 335xi Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: GSA Posts: 847 iTrader: (1)	I went with a new set of 18" non-staggered rims and non-RF, Blizack LM25 tires, both from Tire Rack. I was very happy with this set-up. Come November, I'll be pretty excited about putting them back on and hoping for snow. __________________ "I agree. I think we're all just biting our time until real engineers write ECU flash software that will render these piggy-backs obsolete. In the mean time 2-3psi is a nice increase, and basically free." - Terry335, 05-24-2007

09-07-2008, 10:57 PM	#15
ska325xi Major General Drives: 325XI Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 6,289 iTrader: (25) Garage List 2006 333 [0.00] 2006 325xi [0.00]	just find a used set of winter tires + rims...they run around $1000 __________________ RPI Scoops, BMW Perf. Intake + Carbon Filter Removal, BMW Perf. Exhaust, PBX, CF Cowl Covers & Lower Snorkel, Matte Black Grills, Rep Hartge Lip, ///M Spoiler, BBS 219m + RE960pp, CF Wrapped Headlights, LUX 5.0 + Solaris Silvers, Vista DRL, Blacklines, Lic. Plate LED, 3M CF Di-Noc Trims, BMW Perf. Alcantara Steering Wheel + Alcantara Trim, ///M DCT Paddles, BMW Perf. Shift Knob + Boot, ///M Novillo Ebrake Handle + BMW Perf. Boot, ACS Pedals

08-31-2008, 08:15 PM	#2
Nikolas Colonel Drives: 996 TT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sierra Mountains Posts: 2,074 iTrader: (0)	Dedicated winter tires will give you the best traction. Since you are in Chicago you could easily go with performance winter tires. They are not as soft as dedicated snow tires, but still perform far better than AS. I would recommend Dunlop M3 wintersports 225/45/17. They make them in both regular and RFT versions. I am assuming you are getting winter wheels? If you want them for your 19" rims, sizes are probably pretty limiting.

09-01-2008, 06:59 PM	#5
dchen2 Second Lieutenant Drives: E90 Join Date: May 2008 Location: USA Posts: 263 iTrader: (5)	Made it through last winter fine in my rwd v8 Lexus GS430 despite madison's record 100incher winter thanks to some dunlop wintersport m3s 225/45R17s on winter rims. This winter I already have a new set of dunlop wintersport d3s (the new version of the m3 models) 225/40R18s to throw on my non staggered 18" csl reps. Looking forward to driving in the snow now with my new awd car and performance winter tires, esp on my thanksgiving/christmas crosscountry trips visiting my parents in Denver and going boarding up in Veil! I can definitely testify to summer tires being a big no no for winter time use... learned it to my detriment during a snowy Utah winter when I tried putting some newly purchased F150 Lightning 18s with stock F1 supercar summers on my F150 and then later that night sliding backwards down a hill. Brand new all seasons are passable but the performance winter tires definitely are best for snow driving without the loss of driving fun/performance that normal full winter tires bring to the table.

09-02-2008, 02:23 AM	#10
booyah Private First Class Drives: 2008 335XI Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The Largest state Posts: 128 iTrader: (0)	I was going to put on my snows onto my staggered stock rims and go with 225/40/18 all 4 corners! BMW store is telling me It will be fine to run all 4 corners same size?

09-07-2008, 06:02 PM	#13
dakine Private First Class Drives: M3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: on location Posts: 178 iTrader: (0)	I got an 335 XI coupe and just bought a set of 245/40R-18 Pirelli Winter 240 Sottozero RFT RunFlat. The sales guy at TireRack assurred me they would fit front and back with no clearance issues. Hope this helps someone save some stress and decision making time, it took me about a week of multiple calls and reading the forums to decide on what I wanted, and what would fit without rubbing.