Winter Drivers - what's on your 18s? - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

Save Bluth · 09-25-2008, 12:01 AM

For all you people that live thru 4 seasons and have only one set of 18" wheels, what tires (brand, size, stagger/non) are you running?

I have the stock 17's and about to install v3's. Really want the 189s but trying to decide whether to stagger or not. If not, I think I'd do 235/40/18 all around. But, curious to see what people are doing and why.

Thanks.

RBBMWE46M3 · 09-25-2008, 01:36 AM

I still have the stock 18 hp's looking to buy a set of 18's or 17 for winter

FastLane · 09-25-2008, 10:32 PM

Dont stagger and being in Chicago you are going to want plenty of rubber to help out with those potholes that lurk beneath the snow. You might want to consider making the 17" set for winter and 18" for summer (unless you are tracking).

Arguibly, the best winter tires are blizzacks but they are quite noisy at highway speeds when the conditions are nice. Also, Dunlop winter sports (M2, M3) are a well balanced combo between sport and snow.

BMdblU · 09-25-2008, 10:56 PM

Not xi, but I run my 189's on 225/40/18 LM25's.. drives great

jgalaxy · 09-26-2008, 01:07 AM

I love my Dunlop Winter Sport 3D. Just put any winters on and you'll be good to go.

Save Bluth · 09-26-2008, 09:28 AM

Thanks for the responses so far. To clarify, I'm most interested in hearing options that involve only 1 set of wheels and tires. I don't drive much (train/bus to work) so I'm not going with the snow tire option.

Anyone else here use a "compromise" setting with 18's and all-seasons? If so, what size and brand? Thanks.

sparkyg · 09-26-2008, 10:49 AM

I am getting some replica 17's and putting on the Michelin Alpin Pilot PA3.

Not till November now though, I ditched the shit RFTs and got some great A/S tires

Lexor1704 · 09-26-2008, 03:58 PM

Next week I ditch the RFT's and am putting a set of staggered Yokohama ADVAN S.4's on 161's. I'll let you know in a few weeks how they feel once they are worn in a bit.

Save Bluth · 09-26-2008, 04:43 PM

Lexor,
I'm leaning toward the Advan S4s too. Will your staggered setup be 235/40/18 + 255/35/18?

UdubBadger · 09-27-2008, 09:06 PM

try goodyear eagle f1 A/S's if you want 1 set for the whole year.

SGxi · 09-28-2008, 12:17 AM

S4s are adequate in all season for an xi.

I had a set of S4s before I decided to get winter tires. They are great until you hit a very bad storm. You will still be able to get around if they are mounted on xi

Of course, most people would say a set of winter tires would be even better.

booyah · 09-28-2008, 01:53 AM

Im looking into the F-1 A/S for my car--but you cannot even get 255/35/18's now, they are backordered every place and not in stock till 15 Oct at the earliest.

Save Bluth · 09-28-2008, 12:06 PM

For an all year set up with staggers, I think the good options are:

Goodyear Eagle F1 A/S
Pirelli PZero Nero M+S
Yokohama Advan S4

...assuming you can find the tires, as stated above.

Winston Wolf · 09-29-2008, 04:49 PM

The only winter tires that come in the staggared stock sizes that are runflat are the Pirelli Sottozero's.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Sizes....+240+Sottozero

So that is what I am running this year. Stock 189 18" rims. They aren't cheap, but I like the runflat security.

The Wolf

alejotrujillo · 09-29-2008, 06:08 PM

18" Hankook W300 Ice Bears (non-RFT). Same size as the original.

09-25-2008, 12:01 AM	#1
Save Bluth Enlisted Member Drives: '08 335xi Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 39 iTrader: (0)	Winter Drivers - what's on your 18s? For all you people that live thru 4 seasons and have only one set of 18" wheels, what tires (brand, size, stagger/non) are you running? I have the stock 17's and about to install v3's. Really want the 189s but trying to decide whether to stagger or not. If not, I think I'd do 235/40/18 all around. But, curious to see what people are doing and why. Thanks. __________________ '08 335 xi l Silver/Black/Gray Pop l Step-Sport-Prem-Cold-Ipod l Clear Refl l KW v3

09-25-2008, 01:36 AM	#2
RBBMWE46M3 blaupunkt Drives: 2008 335xi 6spman montego Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: THE REGION Posts: 504 iTrader: (0) View RBBMWE46M3's Garage	I still have the stock 18 hp's looking to buy a set of 18's or 17 for winter __________________ BMW ENGINEERS

09-25-2008, 10:32 PM	#3
FastLane Live life in this lane.... Drives: E92 335xi Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chi-Town, USA Posts: 327 iTrader: (0)	Dont stagger and being in Chicago you are going to want plenty of rubber to help out with those potholes that lurk beneath the snow. You might want to consider making the 17" set for winter and 18" for summer (unless you are tracking). Arguibly, the best winter tires are blizzacks but they are quite noisy at highway speeds when the conditions are nice. Also, Dunlop winter sports (M2, M3) are a well balanced combo between sport and snow. __________________ '08 E92 335xi: the girlfriend '04 Yamaha R6: the mistress '99 Mustang Cobra: the wife

09-26-2008, 01:07 AM	#5
jgalaxy Lieutenant Colonel Drives: 2008 335xi E92 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,918 iTrader: (1)	I love my Dunlop Winter Sport 3D. Just put any winters on and you'll be good to go. __________________ Monaco Blue - Saddle Brown \| A light sprinkle of mods

09-26-2008, 09:28 AM	#6
Save Bluth Enlisted Member Drives: '08 335xi Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 39 iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the responses so far. To clarify, I'm most interested in hearing options that involve only 1 set of wheels and tires. I don't drive much (train/bus to work) so I'm not going with the snow tire option. Anyone else here use a "compromise" setting with 18's and all-seasons? If so, what size and brand? Thanks. __________________ '08 335 xi l Silver/Black/Gray Pop l Step-Sport-Prem-Cold-Ipod l Clear Refl l KW v3

09-25-2008, 10:56 PM	#4
BMdblU Brigadier General Drives: with no destination Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: 416 Posts: 3,615 iTrader: (1)	Not xi, but I run my 189's on 225/40/18 LM25's.. drives great

09-26-2008, 10:49 AM	#7
sparkyg Colonel Drives: SSII 2008 E90 M3 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oil Country Posts: 2,739 iTrader: (5) View sparkyg's Garage	I am getting some replica 17's and putting on the Michelin Alpin Pilot PA3. Not till November now though, I ditched the shit RFTs and got some great A/S tires __________________

09-26-2008, 03:58 PM	#8
Lexor1704 Bimmer Fanatic Drives: 2008 335xi, Spark Graph, Lemon Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Madison WI Posts: 35 iTrader: (0)	Next week I ditch the RFT's and am putting a set of staggered Yokohama ADVAN S.4's on 161's. I'll let you know in a few weeks how they feel once they are worn in a bit. __________________ 2008 335xi \| E90 \| Spark Graph \| Lemon \| Poplar \| ZPP \| ZSP \| Navi \| CWP \| 18" \| HD Radio \| CA \| 6FL

09-26-2008, 04:43 PM	#9
Save Bluth Enlisted Member Drives: '08 335xi Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 39 iTrader: (0)	Lexor, I'm leaning toward the Advan S4s too. Will your staggered setup be 235/40/18 + 255/35/18? __________________ '08 335 xi l Silver/Black/Gray Pop l Step-Sport-Prem-Cold-Ipod l Clear Refl l KW v3

09-27-2008, 09:06 PM	#10
UdubBadger Lieutenant General Drives: 08 328xi (E90) Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: From Chicago living in Madison, WI Posts: 11,400 iTrader: (12) View UdubBadger's Garage	try goodyear eagle f1 A/S's if you want 1 set for the whole year. __________________ My flickr \| Official Chicagoland and Madison Area Post Whore

09-28-2008, 12:17 AM	#11
SGxi ... Drives: E90 328xi Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 5,824 iTrader: (11) View SGxi's Garage	S4s are adequate in all season for an xi. I had a set of S4s before I decided to get winter tires. They are great until you hit a very bad storm. You will still be able to get around if they are mounted on xi Of course, most people would say a set of winter tires would be even better. __________________ A22 E90 N52Nxi

09-28-2008, 01:53 AM	#12
booyah Private First Class Drives: 2008 335XI Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The Largest state Posts: 128 iTrader: (0)	Im looking into the F-1 A/S for my car--but you cannot even get 255/35/18's now, they are backordered every place and not in stock till 15 Oct at the earliest.

09-28-2008, 12:06 PM	#13
Save Bluth Enlisted Member Drives: '08 335xi Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 39 iTrader: (0)	AS contenders For an all year set up with staggers, I think the good options are: Goodyear Eagle F1 A/S Pirelli PZero Nero M+S Yokohama Advan S4 ...assuming you can find the tires, as stated above. __________________ '08 335 xi l Silver/Black/Gray Pop l Step-Sport-Prem-Cold-Ipod l Clear Refl l KW v3

09-29-2008, 04:49 PM	#14
Winston Wolf Tax Paying, Gun Toting American Veteran Drives: 335xi Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 244 iTrader: (0)	The only winter tires that come in the staggared stock sizes that are runflat are the Pirelli Sottozero's. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Sizes....+240+Sottozero So that is what I am running this year. Stock 189 18" rims. They aren't cheap, but I like the runflat security. The Wolf __________________ I'm Winston Wolf, I solve problems...

09-29-2008, 06:08 PM	#15
alejotrujillo Lieutenant Drives: 2009 Mercedes-Benz W211 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 428 iTrader: (0)	18" Hankook W300 Ice Bears (non-RFT). Same size as the original.