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[Kanuc]

I have a 335i xdrive with f: 225/40/18, r: 255/35/18.

I live in Calgary Canada where we have 5-6 snowfalls a year >2 inches, and the roads are mostly hardpacked snow/ice on the sideroads and clear/ice/black ice on the thoroughfares. Car is for city driving only.

I was thinking of buying an identical set of rims and putting on the P Sotto 2 RFTs.

1. Can I put 225/40/18s on all corners, with those 8.5 rear rims? No difference at all?

2. Can I put on the larger tires in the back? What is the real effect of staggered in the winter? Why? Given winter conditions, wheels don't track each other perfectly anyways, do they?

3. Do 17 instead of 18 RFTs really make a difference?

Thanks

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

I had a M3 Year 2002 iy of course had staggered wheels. In the winter time I run a BMW winter set all four wheels and tires were the same size on this 18" OEM BMW set.

I lived in Edmonton at the time a bit more snow then you have as you know. The winter set was on sale (OEM M3 winter wheel/tire set). I made several trips Edmonton/Calgary and Edmonton/Vancouver in the winter time without any problems at all.

Sold the M3 and tire set this spring, wish I kept the winter set it would have fitted my Z4 with some spacers.

Have you checked with the local Dealers re sets on special or a used set that might be for sale?

Good luck in finding what you are looking for

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

I tun 17s as my winter setup (225 all around)

Mike

[double_r76]

I used 225/40r18 Pirelli W240 SottoZero RFT tires all around on my staggered factory rims. It worked excellent during the snow season in Germany last winter. Car handled very well in and out of the snow, and mine is not AWD.

Anyways, now I'm in TX and probably won't have to worry about that anymore! The tires will probably be up for sale before too long... just waiting for them and everything else I own to catch up to me from Germany. Slow boat, I guess!

[02themax]

I wouldn't run staggered unless you're going for the look. I run 225/40/18 all around on the stock 18 rims with no problems what so ever even on the rear 8.5's. I'm in Calgary as well!!

[WingZeroX5]

I'm in the same predicament, looking for winter tires. I'm running staggered 18's and I just went on tire rack to find what would match. They don't have matching 18's so I think i'm going to get the Pirelli SottoZero's / SottoZero II for front and back. They dont' match 100% but the tread pattern is almost the same.

[Gary@TireRack]

The tread patterns are indeed very close. For winter use, you may want to consider using 225/40R18 on both front and rear for more selection and better snow traction.

Winter
http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AH8&...nter/index.jsp

[VMRWheels]

Like Gary said, I would recommend looking into a 225/40 all around for a larger selection on Winter tire packages.

-Charles@VMRWheels

[Kanuc]

Originally Posted by WingZeroX5

I'm in the same predicament, looking for winter tires. I'm running staggered 18's and I just went on tire rack to find what would match. They don't have matching 18's so I think i'm going to get the Pirelli SottoZero's / SottoZero II for front and back. They dont' match 100% but the tread pattern is almost the same.

I believe the Sotto II's come in both sizes if you want staggered. Tirerack has them. Would the tread patterns not be identical save for the slightly greater width? Does that minor deviation due to width make a difference? Does it make a difference in summer tires where the treads are marginally different?

[Kanuc]

Originally Posted by 02themax

I wouldn't run staggered unless you're going for the look. I run 225/40/18 all around on the stock 18 rims with no problems what so ever even on the rear 8.5's. I'm in Calgary as well!!

Any particular reason you wouldn't run staggered? Thanks - your car looks great btw.

[turboawdfanatic]

Originally Posted by Kanuc

Any particular reason you wouldn't run staggered? Thanks - your car looks great btw.

The wider tire in the rear will offer less traction in snow. Offsetting the handling balance a bit. Wider tires will tend to float on top of the snow instead of cutting down to the rd surface and maximizing grip. The same reason why rally cars pretty much run bicycle tires during the snow sections of rallies.

I run staggered because I'm more likely to see dry rds than snow covered where i live.

[Kanuc]

Originally Posted by turboawdfanatic

The wider tire in the rear will offer less traction in snow. Offsetting the handling balance a bit. Wider tires will tend to float on top of the snow instead of cutting down to the rd surface and maximizing grip. The same reason why rally cars pretty much run bicycle tires during the snow sections of rallies.

I run staggered because I'm more likely to see dry rds than snow covered where i live.

Our roads are largely dry too. It is just a few times that we get "dumps". Most of the time it is bare (cold!) road or icy.

An interesting comment someone made in a PM to me was that he found lower profile rims get snow INSIDE the rim and throw off the balance. That would be a factor in humid/wet snow climates (in Michigan in his case), but here in Calgary, the snow is powder dry, so I don't see that happening.

[canderson]

I am also in Calgary with a 2008 335xi. In the winter I run 225/45-17 all around (same size as factory non-sports package cars) on 17x8" Rial Salerno alloys from Tire Rack. My winter tires are Continental ContiExtremeContract which are all seasons but with good snow/ice ratings from Consumer Reports and Tire Rack. I am really happy with this package. Works fine on a bad day during a Calgary winter and still maintains sporty handling when the roads are bare. Deals with ruts and bumps better than 18" would.

I use the factory sports package 18" staggered wheels and RE050 RFT tires (same size you mentioned) in the summer.

[Kanuc]

Originally Posted by canderson

I am also in Calgary with a 2008 335xi. In the winter I run 225/45-17 all around (same size as factory non-sports package cars) on 17x8" Rial Salerno alloys from Tire Rack. My winter tires are Continental ContiExtremeContract which are all seasons but with good snow/ice ratings from Consumer Reports and Tire Rack. I am really happy with this package. Works fine on a bad day during a Calgary winter and still maintains sporty handling when the roads are bare. Deals with ruts and bumps better than 18" would.

I use the factory sports package 18" staggered wheels and RE050 RFT tires (same size you mentioned) in the summer.

You make a good point about the 17s better than the 18s for ruts and bumps. With rutted hardened snow/ice, I can see the 17s having more give. OK question: RFTs or not? City driving.

[Gary@TireRack]

Originally Posted by Kanuc

You make a good point about the 17s better than the 18s for ruts and bumps. With rutted hardened snow/ice, I can see the 17s having more give. OK question: RFTs or not? City driving.

Softer ride with non runflats...

[Rustler]

Do 225s on the rear 8.5 inch wheel look stretched? Does anyone have a picture of this setup?

[remmib]

Originally Posted by Rustler

Do 225s on the rear 8.5 inch wheel look stretched? Does anyone have a picture of this setup?

I've got 17x8 in the front and 17x8.5 in the rear with 225/45/17 all around.

Left is 17x8.............................................. .................................................. ..........Right is 17x8.5

[Kanuc]

Originally Posted by Rustler

Do 225s on the rear 8.5 inch wheel look stretched? Does anyone have a picture of this setup?

Does it look or perform ANY different on the 8.5 vs the 8.0 rim, for 225s?