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[Ryebread]

To the fellas who have experience with staggered/winters/rwd, thanks in advance for your insight!

335D (rwd sport)
OEM Staggered 18" 193s (which I love)
Philly area. Plenty of snow at times.

When they predict snow, I drive a Jeep to work. When a light coating or wintry mix is suddenly predicted, I race home to switch vehicles.

My brain tells me to keep the car in the garage for most of the winter (as I've had in the past). My heart (knows I love driving this car a LOT) wants me to buy a nice set of OEM wheels from a forum member, and put some extreme winter rubber on them.

1 or 2 Gents?

1. Spare the 3'er the salt, pothole damage, and from dealing with winters/summers. I spent money on a jeep for the winter, use it.

2. Get a proper winter setup! See below.



2A. Wheels: stay staggered? I drive fast and corner hard. I want the ability to get home safely in 1-2" of snow max, and also survive a wintery mix. So I don't need to cut through deep snow. Should I look for staggered or square?

2B. Rubber: maximum traction, I'm not worried about trekking to Killington in the 335. I want the ability to drive fast and corner hard... in cold conditions, so I'd want a tire with a nice shoulder. Pirelli Winter Sottozero Series II Run Flat?

Thanks for any insight.
Cheers,
Ryebread

edit to add: Gary's post helps a lot: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=751200

[abhishriv]

i run my 335i in winter, and i have a square set up for winter. but if you have a dedicated car for winter only.. why not use that? driving the 335i in light snow is fun though lol. if you get tires get a square set up. 225 width all around is what i have

[Ryebread]

Originally Posted by abhishriv

i run my 335i in winter, and i have a square set up for winter. but if you have a dedicated car for winter only.. why not use that? driving the 335i in light snow is fun though lol. if you get tires get a square set up. 225 width all around is what i have

thanks for the reply, mate.

I was just looking for a staggered set, b/c I have a set of used 193s lined up, staggered. however, I don't see ANY winter tire setups on tirerack for staggered , only NO-Seasons.

Then I came back here and I see your reply. Guess SQUARE is the answer, if I decide to scratch the itch!

Cheers

[abhishriv]

Originally Posted by Ryebread

thanks for the reply, mate.

I was just looking for a staggered set, b/c I have a set of used 193s lined up, staggered. however, I don't see ANY winter tire setups on tirerack for staggered , only NO-Seasons.

Then I came back here and I see your reply. Guess SQUARE is the answer, if I decide to scratch the itch!

Cheers

np, im guessing the staggered set you have lying around is 8" front 9" back.. in which case you can still fit square set up on them.. ive seen ppl run 235s all around, on staggered wheels. only thing is that the rear will be a bit stretched. what size are the 193s again? 18"?

edit: actually found these;

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Z2N0&tab=Sizes

they come 235/40/18 and 245/40/18 if you really want a little bit staggered setup. the rears you will have to go up a profile though to 40 series as opposed to 35 series like you would for summers.

[Bronze]

I just put 225 Pirelli Sottozero IIs all around on my staggered OEM 162 wheels for winter. I'm really pleased so far with the tire noise (very low, especially for a winter tires), and cornering ability on dry pavement. They aren't Summer tires by any means, but I think I made the right choice for a dedicated winter set up (I'll be buying another set of wheels/tires for summer in spring 2013) for my 335i.

Hope this helps in your choice. I'm in the Detroit area, also. Where in Philly suburbs are you? I used to visit Lansdale with work regularly in the early/mid 2000s. We had a plant there (closed in 2010).

I went non-RFT with the Pirellis.

[Ryebread]

abhishriv
Bronze
you guys have been quite helpful thanks.
especially abhishriv, researching and providing a link, thx!

I def don't want a 35 for winter. 40 is a bit better, wonder if I could go even bigger, to protect the wheel from crap roads?
why do they always repave the roads in aug/sept? they should repave in spring!

Bronze, I'm 30 mins from Lansdale, I can get there in 10. lol.
I'm a small town called lafayette hill. It's in between conshy/chestnut hill.

can't help but talk hockey with TO and DET guys. You guys must be pissed off.

[asus389]

Originally Posted by Bronze

I just put 225 Pirelli Sottozero IIs all around on my staggered OEM 162 wheels for winter. I'm really pleased so far with the tire noise (very low, especially for a winter tires), and cornering ability on dry pavement. They aren't Summer tires by any means, but I think I made the right choice for a dedicated winter set up (I'll be buying another set of wheels/tires for summer in spring 2013) for my 335i.

Hope this helps in your choice. I'm in the Detroit area, also. Where in Philly suburbs are you? I used to visit Lansdale with work regularly in the early/mid 2000s. We had a plant there (closed in 2010).

I went non-RFT with the Pirellis.

Did you get the v or h rated sottozero? I'm also looking at those.

[Ryebread]

I'm looking at oem 193s
18x9 rears
18x8 fronts

245 45 18 9.4"wide rears 100V
225 45 18 7.7"wide fronts 95V

I am not certain this is ideal. Just throwing it out there.

I have the option to use
235 45 18 9.0" wide rear 94V, as abhishriv suggested.

then I remember, my front right tire (oem) is wearing a lot more than the left, and I can't rotate (staggered), maybe I should go this route for winters.

[Bronze]

Originally Posted by asus389

Did you get the v or h rated sottozero? I'm also looking at those.

I got the V rated tires. It's what popped up when I put in my saved vehicle (335i with sport package). I like the XL load rating that way if it's a wamr winter day and I'm highway cruising, the temps won't be an issue. H-rating is probably just fine, too, but I tend to look for the XL rating more often.

[Bronze]

Originally Posted by Ryebread

abhishriv
Bronze
you guys have been quite helpful thanks.
especially abhishriv, researching and providing a link, thx!

I def don't want a 35 for winter. 40 is a bit better, wonder if I could go even bigger, to protect the wheel from crap roads?
why do they always repave the roads in aug/sept? they should repave in spring!

Bronze, I'm 30 mins from Lansdale, I can get there in 10. lol.
I'm a small town called lafayette hill. It's in between conshy/chestnut hill.

can't help but talk hockey with TO and DET guys. You guys must be pissed off.

F**king Bettman. I can't believe that guy and this league. I looked up Lafayette Hill, not far from the NE extension where I used to drive up to Kulpsville/Lansdale. I spent many business trips at the Kulpsville Holiday Inn.

[Ryebread]

Originally Posted by Bronze

I got the V rated tires. It's what popped up when I put in my saved vehicle (335i with sport package). I like the XL load rating that way if it's a wamr winter day and I'm highway cruising, the temps won't be an issue. H-rating is probably just fine, too, but I tend to look for the XL rating more often.

Damn you just schooled me again. I'll need XL too. In winters here, these days, it could be 70 one day and 20 the next. And I fly on the highway. Thx.