WINTERS COMING!

[thehush]

hi, (bit a newbie to the z4 world) I have a 2012 Msport with 19" wheels. Im looking to get winter tyres and noticed a few people have 17's with winter tyres for sale. Anyone know if these will fit? if not could anyone advise me what I should be looking for? many thanks

 

[philbo909]

Plenty of people selling wheels on here, 17"alloys fit all e89 I think, but 18" will look better 8)

 

[djstan]

Provided they’re the right 17s, they’ll fit fine Mine do... And they’re the OEM size for winters too AFAIK.

 

[thehush]

Thanks so much, right time to hunt down some winter wheels

 

[Mr Tidy]

18s may look better, but if you need new tyres 17s will be cheaper! :lol:

When you are looking this might help:- https://www.willtheyfit.com/

Just put in your existing sizes and compare to any you are looking at.

 

[philiph]

I thought a higher profile was supposed to be better for winter grip.
If that is so, a 17" wheel will be better from the point of view of grip.

 

[ronk]

Narrow width / biggest dia ( ie Low wedge angle) Proper rubber compound.

 

[Andyturbo2000]

Save your money. This winter tire fad is a bit of a epidemic nowadays. We coped for years without shelling out for new rims and tyres at the first sign of temps dropping below 10 deg c.

 

[buzyg]

Thanks so much, right time to hunt down some winter wheels

Welcome to the forum. Happy hunting.

 

[Captain Vimes]

I run 18s summer and winter. Does an inch in your sidewalls really make a difference? Winter tyres are required in Scandinavia, not the UK....

 

[ronk]

I run 18s summer and winter. Does an inch in your sidewalls really make a difference? Winter tyres are required in Scandinavia, not the UK....

Rubber compound and tread pattern (sipes) I can't see what effect sidewall would have.
Re Scandanavia - Have a bump or get stuck in Germany in winter conditions without winter rubber fitted and see what happens!

 

[road warrior]

winter tyres have a differant compound, below 5c summer tyres harden and as a result become less grippy - its that simple
Winter tyres work best at temperatures below 7 deg C. Indeed, they outperform conventional ‘summer’ tyres for traction, cornering grip and braking in such conditions – regardless of whether there is snow or ice.

Temperature/condition Summer tyres Winter tyres
20 degrees C 65.3m 67m
5 degrees C 70.5m 65.7m
On snow, the gap widens considerably, as the sipes on winter tyres offer grip even when the tread is packed with soft snow. In such conditions, a two-wheel-drive car with winter tyres is invariably safer than 4x4 on summer tyres.

copied off the rac website