Winter Tyre Information - info / threads / posts / vids

Hi,

I'm just trying to get some Winter Tyres sorted out for the E92. Is it OK to use the same size tyres front and rear? Looking at getting some 17" rims just for the job of Winter so was looking at getting non staggered.

Cheers for any info as I'm loosing sleep having not sorted out yet.

T1b
 
Pretty sure that'll be a recommendation in the owner's manual. It WILL change the balance/handling of the car, but then you won't exactly be pushing on as much with winter tyres fitted!
 
a11y said:
Good effort Matt :thumbsup:

I'm a total convert to winter tyres after using them on 2 vehicles (Z4 and campervan) through last winter. Yes it's extra expense, but it's not significant and it's certainly worth it.

And I can confirm you can still get the arse end out on icy/snowy carparks even with winter tyres :driving: (all in the name of skill development of course...)

Yep, massive convert here too... skill development is important too :)


T1berious , I have a 17" non-staggered setup on my Z4 for the winter - keeps the tyre cost down too. There will be models in your range that have no staggered setups anyway.


ADD to main topic:
Was talking with someone about winter tyres yesterday, which others might find useful...
OneCarefulOwner: "my normal tyres are Z rated, but winters seem to be only H or T?"
PS: "yes, I think it's due to the compound they use. You won't be doing 130+ (?!). May be worth confirming with your insurer."
OCO: "that's the insurers checked with; so long as the tyres are driven within their rating & the law, I'm covered."
PS: "Good to know. I think if you were driving at 135mph you might not be covered anyway!"
OCO: "pretty much what they said too ;)"
 
T1berious said:
PawnSacrifice:

Cheers for the info fella! :thumbsup: better hit fleabay and get some rims :)

Okay, I am now both educated and convinced by the need for winter rims... Especially as my new baby came with spotless re-furbed 108s - so thanks for that PawnSacrifice :thumbsup:

The only things I can't figure out (and it could be me being blind) are :

1. Which 17" BMW rims will fit a 3.0 Si Sport, 'cos there are squillions on fleabay and I am VERY confused
2. If they are all the same width will they need spacers on the rear ? I have no experience of doing this at all, ever...
3. What do I have to do to make sure the tyre pressure monitor doesn't show an error if the rims weren't originally designed for RFTs ?

Help most gratefully received... :)
 
Great job putting that lot together PawnSacrifice !most helpful and a great reference...
 
Bing...
1. if you stick with 17" Z4 rims you'll be fine. E46 3 series will be okay too.
2. Not an issue if you stick with the above.
3. You reset it when the wheels go on (it's in the manual) and then you're fine - RFT / non-RFT doesn't matter.

T1berious, thanks and good move :thumbsup:

jaxZ4, thanks, glad it's proving useful.
 
Thanks PawnSacrifice - time to break out the Christmas credit card early... :P
 
mark my words, they will fit but you may have some rubbing, although on the 2.5 setup you should be fine. I would always stick with the standard tyre sizes though.

UPDATE:
New video, SMMT, added to the first post (SMMT Cold Weather Tyres - Media Test Day), quite detailed review, if you're not convinced it's worth a look.
 
Nice thread, some good information. :thumbsup:

This is the first winter i'll be driving on winter tyres went for 225/40/18 front and 245/40/18 rear.
 
I bought a 51 plate suzuki vitara instead of winter tyres for probably the same price as winter tyres and wheels. Pick it up tomorrow :)
Will also do for the two hounds for the shooting on a Saturday.
Will only need it a couple of days over four winter months for wife's commute.
 
mark my words said:
Gilberto said:
Nice thread, some good information. :thumbsup:

This is the first winter i'll be driving on winter tyres went for 225/40/18 front and 245/40/18 rear.

wont the 40 profile rub on the front?
Don't think so, it's the recommended profile for winter tyres.
 
Might as well chuck in my 2p-worth in case any Alpina owners (current or prospective) are after info. Up until this year, we always had a fwd workhorse which coped admirably in the rare white stuff seen here. However, we now only have 2 rwd cars, so just in case.....

Bought one set-up (fits both cars with some spacers required for the offset on the D3BT if required on her). Setup is as follows:-

17"x8J ET40 aftermarket MSW21 (by OZ) wheels £503 inc spacers (for D3BT), delivered from Wheel base
225/45x17 Contiwintercontact TS810's, p/w from Mylo tyres (ebay shop) with min 5mm tread for £160 delivered
Total cost inc fitting and balancing, £693

Setup is exactly as prescribed by Alpina with the exception of the offset which is a little less than optimium (ET44), but a trial run has revealed no issues.

We went new aftermarket as too much hassle getting decent ebay wheels with correct offsets ... and can't stand our cars looking trashy with crap wheels :driving: .
 
Hi all, first post here and a quick question...

I'm looking at 16's over winter, for cost purposes - I've no issues with running steelies during the snowy period, I'd rather protect my 18s but I'd like some clarification over the wheel sizes themselves.

As far as I'm aware, my standard 18's run -47mm offset (8") on the front and -50mm (8.5") on the rear...

The 16" steels I've found so far are 7" x16" ET20 - will I run into any issues here? Will the inset look ridiculous? Any clearance/cooling issues?

thanks in advance...
 
_bondy_ said:
Hi all, first post here and a quick question...

I'm looking at 16's over winter, for cost purposes - I've no issues with running steelies during the snowy period, I'd rather protect my 18s but I'd like some clarification over the wheel sizes themselves.

As far as I'm aware, my standard 18's run -47mm offset (8") on the front and -50mm (8.5") on the rear...

The 16" steels I've found so far are 7" x16" ET20 - will I run into any issues here? Will the inset look ridiculous? Any clearance/cooling issues?

thanks in advance...

Hi bondy, welcome to the forum.

What car are you running? if its the 3.0Si then you wont fit anything below a 17" on the car due to the calipers. If it's not an Si (pre-facelift) then you will be fine with 16".

Re the offsets. have a look on this website, should help you out a little.

http://www.1010tires.com/wheeloffsetcalculator.asp

PS - How about an introduction in the newbies section with some pics?
 
Just gone online to buy the Falkens and they have gone up in price by about 10% in the last week :headbang:

As if they aren't expensive enough!!!
 
sars said:
Just gone online to buy the Falkens and they have gone up in price by about 10% in the last week :headbang:

As if they aren't expensive enough!!!

Glad I bought mine last week then :D

I payed £119 each for the fronts and £156 each for the rears. What are they now out of interest?
 
JDM said:
_bondy_ said:
Hi all, first post here and a quick question...

I'm looking at 16's over winter, for cost purposes - I've no issues with running steelies during the snowy period, I'd rather protect my 18s but I'd like some clarification over the wheel sizes themselves.

As far as I'm aware, my standard 18's run -47mm offset (8") on the front and -50mm (8.5") on the rear...

The 16" steels I've found so far are 7" x16" ET20 - will I run into any issues here? Will the inset look ridiculous? Any clearance/cooling issues?

thanks in advance...

Hi bondy, welcome to the forum.

What car are you running? if its the 3.0Si then you wont fit anything below a 17" on the car due to the calipers. If it's not an Si (pre-facelift) then you will be fine with 16".

Re the offsets. have a look on this website, should help you out a little.

http://www.1010tires.com/wheeloffsetcalculator.asp

PS - How about an introduction in the newbies section with some pics?

Thanks JDM - Sorry I should have popped that bit in... it's an early (03) 2.5i so I was pretty sure the 16's would be fine - it was more a concern over the offset..

Assuming an ET of 20mm on the 16s, and -47/-50 of my current 18s, I'd be looking at an inner clearance of 54mm less (front) and 51mm (rear) though I've no idea if that'd cause any issues!

I'll pop something in the newbies section once I've given it a clean :-)
 
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