Winter tyres
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2002
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From: Sunny Norf*ck
Winter tyres
Just wondered if any of the beemer brigade on here have any thoughts. The M3 forums are not my style 
I am thinking to transition to 18" wheels to soften the abrupt ride as well, having done better than expected moving the Subaru and having the Doris' approval to the M3 acting as dog wagon, this seems a good time. I can buy new style 216 at £435 a corner with winter Falkerns fitted. If they are good then the summer 18" wheels I want, 260s in 'dealer' dark grey
would be more like £600 a corner with tyres. The existing tyres (on 19s) are coming to end of life which, with over 20,000 miles on the clock, is not bad considering. So looking at £300 a corner if I don't make any change but just replace the current 19s.
I am thinking to transition to 18" wheels to soften the abrupt ride as well, having done better than expected moving the Subaru and having the Doris' approval to the M3 acting as dog wagon, this seems a good time. I can buy new style 216 at £435 a corner with winter Falkerns fitted. If they are good then the summer 18" wheels I want, 260s in 'dealer' dark grey
would be more like £600 a corner with tyres. The existing tyres (on 19s) are coming to end of life which, with over 20,000 miles on the clock, is not bad considering. So looking at £300 a corner if I don't make any change but just replace the current 19s.
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From: On the back wheel. . .
Based on my experiences with the 535d, winter tyres are an amazing improvement.
I've downsized to 17" for the winters, sticking with the 18" for normal.
17" tyres, much cheaper than 18" which then offsets the cost of buying spare wheels, also no need to get them down to a tyre place for swapping over.
Remember that winter tyres are for colder temps, not just snow (which is what people generally spout - "we don't have enough snow to justify it"), I think it's below 6 degrees where normal tyres become less effective - which is pretty regularly from November through to March.
So basically, stick to the 19" for "summer" and go down to 18" for "winter".
Job done.
I've downsized to 17" for the winters, sticking with the 18" for normal.
17" tyres, much cheaper than 18" which then offsets the cost of buying spare wheels, also no need to get them down to a tyre place for swapping over.
Remember that winter tyres are for colder temps, not just snow (which is what people generally spout - "we don't have enough snow to justify it"), I think it's below 6 degrees where normal tyres become less effective - which is pretty regularly from November through to March.
So basically, stick to the 19" for "summer" and go down to 18" for "winter".
Job done.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,181
Likes: 58
From: Hertford
Some of the MyTyres steelies/tyres deals are brilliant. It's Germany, after all.
We went for stealth on the 86 so it keeps OEM wheels and matching tyres, so you can still have a lot of fun on the Dunlop Winter Sports.
Well worth having for a DD.
Not sure I'mm bother for the RLegendo - it has a snow button.
We went for stealth on the 86 so it keeps OEM wheels and matching tyres, so you can still have a lot of fun on the Dunlop Winter Sports.
Well worth having for a DD.
Not sure I'mm bother for the RLegendo - it has a snow button.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2002
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From: Sunny Norf*ck
Thanks Dan, that is good sense. Below 6 degrees is a regular occurrence for quite a while in winter. The E92 M3 only has 18" and 19" wheels as stock; otherwise your logic matches mine. I am not aware I can get 17s for the M3 and I don't know enough to know if the 17s from other BMW models can be used on the E92 M3. I would assume not as default. In the past I SORN'd over winter, this year I am driving it
My side agenda is to re-visit the less harsh ride on 18s which I remember from my tin-top E93 M3.
My side agenda is to re-visit the less harsh ride on 18s which I remember from my tin-top E93 M3.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,181
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From: Hertford
Thanks Dan, that is good sense. Below 6 degrees is a regular occurrence for quite a while in winter. The E92 M3 only has 18" and 19" wheels as stock; otherwise your logic matches mine. I am not aware I can get 17s for the M3 and I don't know enough to know if the 17s from other BMW models can be used on the E92 M3. I would assume not as default. In the past I SORN'd over winter, this year I am driving it
My side agenda is to re-visit the less harsh ride on 18s which I remember from my tin-top E93 M3.
My side agenda is to re-visit the less harsh ride on 18s which I remember from my tin-top E93 M3.
Cannot find steels for it.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 11,504
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From: Sunny Norf*ck
Originally Posted by arsie' timestamp='1382224403' post='22836287
Thanks Dan, that is good sense. Below 6 degrees is a regular occurrence for quite a while in winter. The E92 M3 only has 18" and 19" wheels as stock; otherwise your logic matches mine. I am not aware I can get 17s for the M3 and I don't know enough to know if the 17s from other BMW models can be used on the E92 M3. I would assume not as default. In the past I SORN'd over winter, this year I am driving it
My side agenda is to re-visit the less harsh ride on 18s which I remember from my tin-top E93 M3.
My side agenda is to re-visit the less harsh ride on 18s which I remember from my tin-top E93 M3.
Cannot find steels for it.
Thanks for your tip though it prompted me to get off my arse - another Deutsch web site - Also sprach Graves
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,032
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From: At Home
I bought a set of BMW winter wheels / tyres for my 330d coupe ... can't remember the style but there were a number on offer - I went for a set that cost me £1700 I think a couple of years ago.
I went for a 17" set as that was recommended for my car as opposed to the 19" 313M's that were on the car.
They have been well worth it to prevent wear on the 19" RFT's on my 313M's ... and potholes are no issue compared to the 19" wheels !!
They have only been in snow twice and the difference is amazing - my wife was driving and we left a Q7 squirming on the A40 on slip at Paddington ... which is very steep ... in about 5 inches of sudden snow one night 2 years ago. They have worn well - in fact in 5K miles I can hardly notice any reduction in tread. The overall feel of the car in winter temperatures below 8c is far, far better than normal tyres but if it does warm up the handling is shabby compared to the 19" tyres - as one would expect.
The thing is that having them on the car when it is cold is great ... and the risks of using a BMW if there is actually snow is negated ! They can't work miracles though ... I got stuck on a sharp hill which had turned more to ice but was able to reverse down and go around it. Once stuff is compacted and goes to ice I found once before only snow chains got me out !
I now have a little Smart diesel where a set of Mercedes winter wheels and tyres is only £750 for the set ... very tempted
I went for a 17" set as that was recommended for my car as opposed to the 19" 313M's that were on the car.
They have been well worth it to prevent wear on the 19" RFT's on my 313M's ... and potholes are no issue compared to the 19" wheels !!
They have only been in snow twice and the difference is amazing - my wife was driving and we left a Q7 squirming on the A40 on slip at Paddington ... which is very steep ... in about 5 inches of sudden snow one night 2 years ago. They have worn well - in fact in 5K miles I can hardly notice any reduction in tread. The overall feel of the car in winter temperatures below 8c is far, far better than normal tyres but if it does warm up the handling is shabby compared to the 19" tyres - as one would expect.
The thing is that having them on the car when it is cold is great ... and the risks of using a BMW if there is actually snow is negated ! They can't work miracles though ... I got stuck on a sharp hill which had turned more to ice but was able to reverse down and go around it. Once stuff is compacted and goes to ice I found once before only snow chains got me out !
I now have a little Smart diesel where a set of Mercedes winter wheels and tyres is only £750 for the set ... very tempted