[willhollin]

Originally Posted by andymc0001

Evening chaps, getting my 335d on Tuesday and with all this snow i was worried i wouldn't be able to use it. After speaking to BMW and my local tyre supplier im still non the wiser because they both said don't bother with winter tyres the snow will be gone by the end of next week.

Both stated driving in dry normal British weather conditions would not be good on snow tyres, driving quality and noise being factors.

Still not sure! Surely snow tyres can't be has bad as run flats for hardness, quality, etc?

They are WINTER tyres designed for use below 7 degrees celsius, not just in snow. They will provide better traction due to the softer tyre compound. Sounds like your tyre supplier and dealer are ignorant. Quite conceivable that winter tyres could be used on your car for 5 months of the year if not more.

[andymc0001]

Thats what i was thinking, i may order some 17's and get some old alloys to throw them on. Do you think 17's would be too small on the e92?

I won't be using the dealer for anything because hes not local to me and another tyre fitter may be more inclined to sell £600 worth of tyres.

[willhollin]

Originally Posted by andymc0001

Thats what i was thinking, i may order some 17's and get some old alloys to throw them on. Do you think 17's would be too small on the e92?

I won't be using the dealer for anything because hes not local to me and another tyre fitter may be more inclined to sell £600 worth of tyres.

17" are standard on the E92 SE so yes no problems with that. They won't look that great but will serve a purpose.

[matt@stratford]

Originally Posted by willhollin

17" are standard on the E92 SE so yes no problems with that. They won't look that great but will serve a purpose.

Haven't you got to careful with the size of the brakes on the 335's?

[Ham09]

Originally Posted by andymc0001

Evening chaps, getting my 335d on Tuesday and with all this snow i was worried i wouldn't be able to use it. After speaking to BMW and my local tyre supplier im still non the wiser because they both said don't bother with winter tyres the snow will be gone by the end of next week.

Both stated driving in dry normal British weather conditions would not be good on snow tyres, driving quality and noise being factors.

Still not sure! Surely snow tyres can't be has bad as run flats for hardness, quality, etc?

Under normal winter conditions in the UK, which this cleary isn't at the moment, you 'can' use summer compound tyres in the winter if you want drive like Miss Daisy. However... if you want to make the most of all that performance you have invested in, you are better off with a winter compound tyre to get better grip in the winter months AND in the summer, use a summer compound tyre. Furthermore, in extreme conditions like right now summer tyres are useless.

Since it is pain in the ar*e to keep swapping tyres on the same rims each year it's much less hassle to get another set of cheap rims as your winter rims, which saves you expensive summer rims getting gritted up with winter salt. You can get all weather tyres which are a jack of all trades but they don't really cut as well as summer or winter tyres in their respective areas.

[willhollin]

Originally Posted by matt@stratford

Haven't you got to careful with the size of the brakes on the 335's?

I think 17" is as small as you can go with the 335i / 335d.

[Ham09]

Originally Posted by matt@stratford

Haven't you got to careful with the size of the brakes on the 335's?

Yes, go for OEM 17" with the correct offset for the 335 to save the head ache (which is what I did), or get some 18" which will easily clear the calipers.

Btw I got mine on eBay for £300 including brand new rft's so there are deals out if you are lucky. I just need to swap the tyres for Vred's which I am struggling to source at the moment.

[andymc0001]

Thanks for all the advice. Also trying to source winter 17's non in stock anywhere. Getting the wheels maybe the easy part!

May check the price for 18's, will e46 wheels fit?

[Ham09]

Originally Posted by andymc0001

Thanks for all the advice. Also trying to source winter 17's non in stock anywhere. Getting the wheels maybe the easy part!

May check the price for 18's, will e46 wheels fit?

Check the offset. I believe ours are ET34 on the Front and ET37 on the rear. You can make up the difference with spacers and longer bolts (for lower ET numbers) otherwise your wheels stick out/rub if they are the other way.

I have seen this place that do M3 replica 18" with the right offset.

http://www.hotlinemotorsports.com/bm...ear-p-898.html

The guy I got my 17" winter wheels from got his replacements from there.

[matt@stratford]

18's are a nightmare too. Gave up in the end

[Steve748]

See if you can get the tyres before buying wheels, I had a bit of trouble finding 18" winter tyres

[dxb335d]

But you got some in the end ?

[MattOz]

I can get Vredestein Wintrac Extremes in the correct CSL sizes for my M3, so may well invest on Monday, especially as my current rears are almost done anyway. Now I know that ideally I'd use some narrower 17" tyres, but I can't be arsed to spend another few hundred quid on a 3rd set of alloys!

Wintrac Extremes are available in 18" sizes from http://www.mytyres.co.uk in the winter tyres section

Matt

[m@rk]

Originally Posted by Ham09

Yes, go for OEM 17" with the correct offset for the 335 to save the head ache (which is what I did), or get some 18" which will easily clear the calipers.

Btw I got mine on eBay for £300 including brand new rft's so there are deals out if you are lucky. I just need to swap the tyres for Vred's which I am struggling to source at the moment.

17" alloys clear the brakes fine on the 335

Remember that on the 335 SE, 17" are STANDARD fit (M gets 18"). There are no clearance issues and to be fair if you are buying the wheels to get you through the snow, the last thing you want is more big fat tyres.

[m@rk]

Originally Posted by MEGA

Well yep I figured its an investment as the rubber won't perish for 6-7 years most likely so if you justify it that way,

Which is fine if you intend to keep the car for 6-7 years.

If not then sods law says they won't fit the next car you buy

[MEGA]

well id be surprised if i found a car that you couldn't fit 225/45/17 tyres/alloys to.

Obviously I might need different alloys if the PCD is different, but the tyres should be fine regardless...

[MEGA]

Great review of why winter tyres are worth it:

[Estoril Sport]

Great find MEGA

[MEGA]

Just wrote a quick topic to show off how much of a difference the vredestein wintrac xtreme.. or probably to a large degree any winter tyre.. makes!!!


http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=339283

cheers