**135i in the winter!?**

[boostm3]

Originally Posted by Tjai135i

yeah the setups include the wheels and tires right? Is it a good idea to just get winter tires on the stock 18in wheels?

I say not.. first, its inconvenient and you run the risk of rim damage with so many changes using 1 set of rims for both summer and winter tires.. Second, 18" snows will cost you alot more than 17" snows. Third, folks dont usually like subjecting their precious summer wheels to winter conditions.

Think of how much easier it will be to buy a second set of inexpensive 17" rims with mounted snows and sensors from someone like Tirerack.. Then, each changeover season , u just have to unbolt the old, store them, and bolt on the new.

[UdubBadger]

^+1

[Sylon]

Originally Posted by boostm3

I say not.. first, its inconvenient and you run the risk of rim damage with so many changes using 1 set of rims for both summer and winter tires.. Second, 18" snows will cost you alot more than 17" snows. Third, folks dont usually like subjecting their precious summer wheels to winter conditions.

Think of how much easier it will be to buy a second set of inexpensive 17" rims with mounted snows and sensors from someone like Tirerack.. Then, each changeover season , u just have to unbolt the old, store them, and bolt on the new.

True on some accounts. But what if that "second set of inexpensive 17" rims with snow tires" (which by my math would actually cost more total than just a set of 18" winter tires because of the extra set of $200 TPMS sensors needed) is actually your THIRD set of wheels? What about us folks who already have a set of aftermarket summer wheels? The 18" inch tire option, although still expensive, isnt all that crazy.


Still, for those who only rock stock wheels, its something to think about. According to TireRack.com, a set of 18" Pirelli Winter 240 Sottozero Serie II tires (the only set available for stock M-Sport wheels) cost about $968 excluding shipping. A set of cheap 17" wheels AND snow tires will cost roughly $1000, depending on your tastes. But dont forget those $200 TPMS sensors you will need for those new wheels.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by Tom K.

Mounted the DWS tires on my 128i this Spring. How much snow before they become a problem - 3", 5"?

So far, after about 6k miles, it's a very comfortable tire with only a slight degradation in handling from the OEM NCT5s. And at $600 out the door, a real bargain!

Tom

I drove in about 4" avg. and it's was fine, be careful.

Interestingly, deeper and dry snow tend to give a pretty good traction, or deeper snow that has been compacted and has a nice dry top layer. That gives pretty good traction to all tires, and all seasons love it too.
It's the wet, nearly freezing stuff that gives everybody fits, as even a thin layer is like driving on ice.

So, it's hard to say at what depth there would be a problem, because it really does depend on some other factors like wetness of snow, temps, etc...
As cars drive over even 1" of snow covered road, and if the temps are below freezing, all the tires going over the snow create tracks of something approaching ice with snow covering it. When that happens, I shoot for the edge of the road where the fresh snow is as there is more traction there due to it not being compacted and frozen.
Even snow tires have a tough time with icy conditions.

I'm trying to remember last winter, but there isn't much to remember as I didn't have problems. There was one snow fall where we had over 5 or 6", but, if anything it was the blowing and drifting snow that made it hard to see that was more of a concern than any traction problems I was having.
In that stuff you just have to drive careful, and if there is a hill try to maintain momentum in case you lose traction.

Honestly, I don't know how deep before problems. To guess, I'd say after 6" you're wishing for AWD. My A4 with all seasons LOVED to play.
My 135i with all seasons needs to be driven more seriously in a more controlled manner.

Also, snow doesn't sit on the roads very long around here. Trucks plow while it's snowing, cars drive over it. Within a day or two the roads are back to clear again, even after a 5" or more snow fall.
In the event of an all day or two big snow fall, most people stay at home anyway.

I'll have to see how these tires are this winter as they have about 7k miles of wear this time around, so a bit less tread depth.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by Tjai135i

yeah the setups include the wheels and tires right? Is it a good idea to just get winter tires on the stock 18in wheels?

I took a look on Tirerack for curiosity.
Here is the break down:
Dunlop SP winter sport in 17"- 4 set- $560
Moda MD10 17" wheels, 19.7lbs each- 4 set- $432, .

Valves- 4 set- $32
TPMS- 4 set- $164

Free mounting and balancing
Shipping will vary, but $60-$80 I'd guess.

$1188 for wheels/tires/TPMS mounted balanced.
$80 to ship.
$1268 total. But, they would last you at least 4 winters, and maybe more if you store them properly. And, your summer tires will last twice as long as well, and the summer wheels will look good due to not being driven in winter.

Over 4 years, that's only $317 per year to drive with greater traction and a feeling of greater security. Go another year and it's lower still.
If you live in an area where you can really use snow tires, the long term cost is relatively low. You just gotta pay the big coin up front.

BTW, that Moda wheels was surprisingly light given the 17" options, and for only $108 each! They were the lightest low cost wheel and they look pretty good on the car. Check out the website and you can see the different wheels on your 1.

[boostm3]

Originally Posted by RPM90

I took a look on Tirerack for curiosity.
Here is the break down:

BTW, that Moda wheels was surprisingly light given the 17" options, and for only $108 each! They were the lightest low cost wheel and they look pretty good on the car. Check out the website and you can see the different wheels on your 1.

Thanks for the tip on those Moda MD10s! I was going to spend $122 each for the star spoked Elbrus 102 wheels that weigh 23 lbs each for my winter setup.. Im a big fan of unsprung wt savings, so Ill likely be going with the Modas instead. Ill probably get a set of the Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero RFT Blackwall RunFlat in 225x45-17 to mount on the Modas.. At $169 for the runflats, I like them for winter convenience. NOBODY I know likes dealing with flats in rotten weather. Besides the price isnt as terrible, for runflats, as some.

[Feyd]

225 square setup for me.

Blizzak WS60... Awesome in cold/snowy/rainy weather. I've plowed with the front of my car with them on.

REALLY squirly on days of 50deg+ weather.




Actually looking forward to mounting to the car here in a few weeks. It's nice to sorta mix up the look from time to time.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by boostm3

Thanks for the tip on those Moda MD10s! I was going to spend $122 each for the star spoked Elbrus 102 wheels that weigh 23 lbs each for my winter setup.. Im a big fan of unsprung wt savings, so Ill likely be going with the Modas instead. Ill probably get a set of the Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero RFT Blackwall RunFlat in 225x45-17 to mount on the Modas.. At $169 for the runflats, I like them for winter convenience. NOBODY I know likes dealing with flats in rotten weather. Besides the price isnt as terrible, for runflats, as some.

Cool. I'm glad someone got something out of my curiosity.

As I was looking into it, I'm even considering possibly trying a set myself just to see how "sport" winter tires work out on the clear and dry days.
I like my all seasons and don't want to give up the ride and handling they give for the majority of the winter/early spring months. But, if sport winter tires still give good dry performance, it would be nice to have the added security of a dedicated snow tire.

I'd like to see TireRack do a comprehensive test between sport winter tires and hi-po all seasons, and test them on cold dry roads too, and not just on ice and snow. I've searched for tests like that and no ones done one. You have to take the separate tests and extrapolate a conclusion, so there is some guessing going on.

[boostm3]

Originally Posted by RPM90

Cool. I'm glad someone got something out of my curiosity.

As I was looking into it, I'm even considering possibly trying a set myself just to see how "sport" winter tires work out on the clear and dry days.
I like my all seasons and don't want to give up the ride and handling they give for the majority of the winter/early spring months. But, if sport winter tires still give good dry performance, it would be nice to have the added security of a dedicated snow tire.

I'd like to see TireRack do a comprehensive test between sport winter tires and hi-po all seasons, and test them on cold dry roads too, and not just on ice and snow. I've searched for tests like that and no ones done one. You have to take the separate tests and extrapolate a conclusion, so there is some guessing going on.

On my m3, I had been running Toyos Proxes 4 hi perf all seasons, and really liked their versatility.. Until I moved to connecticut, that is, when last year I got badly stuck on the hill coming into my development on just 2" of snow.. Thereafter, i ran my Pirelli winter 210 asymetricos winter sport tires, and found them to be just about ideal for me.. Just enough added grip over the all seasons to keep me out of trouble, while feeling really good in the dry at all temps we encounter during the season from december through early april.

[Tjai135i]

haha I live in CT too. wow I guess hi perf all seasons would not be good for a rwd car in this state.

I guess performance winter would be best here.

[vanbmw]

I have a set 225 blizzak high performance winters and the car i great in the snow. I have driven it up to Whistler mountian with no problems in some serious snowfalls. I had to get out of my neighbourhood up there two years ago and there was around 15-20" of fresh untracked snow. No problem even going up a few steep hills. The front air dam was plowing the snow but I still made it out fine. I remember following a Ford F150 4x4 and he was slidding all over the place...4 wheels spinning and I was matching his forward speed with no slipping or drama. The only problem has been a few times the road has gotten tracked and the snow/ice in the centre gets a little hard and the front spoiler has taken a few scrapes on the bottom edge or you hear the odd chunk of ice/snow hitting the undercarrage.
When I first got the car I figured I would use it in the snow as my daily driver, but would only use our Acura MDX to get up to our place a Whistler. I now use my BMW regularly to go up there as it handles the snow fine.

[BrokenVert]

I ran pirelli rfts for two years before they died. That's only because I had to mount them in september after I killed a summer and didn't want to replace it immediately. They wouldve lasted for 3 years had I not driven with them in the heat

Great tires!

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by Feyd

225 square setup for me.

Blizzak WS60... Awesome in cold/snowy/rainy weather. I've plowed with the front of my car with them on.

REALLY squirly on days of 50deg+ weather.




Actually looking forward to mounting to the car here in a few weeks. It's nice to sorta mix up the look from time to time.

are those BMW performance rims?

[Simsims]

the dunlop wintersport 3Ds generate a slight vibration to the car

balanced it twice, and then Roadforce balanced it twice and the engineers said there's nothing that can be done to them - they all read in the 20-30ish Lbs in terms of road force.

the 1 suspension is tuned for RFTs which have very very low tolerances for sidewall flex. That uneven stiffness in my wintertire sidewalls makes the car feel like it's running with unbalanced tires over 60mph.

Sigh

[Feyd]

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

are those BMW performance rims?

ASA GT2

Here are a few more pics. Horribly shitty quality, but it might give you a better (less dirty) look at them.

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showp...00&postcount=1

[UdubBadger]

I was gonna say... expensive winter setup

[KingOfJericho]

I live in CT as well and rock the ASA GT1 17" wheels with Dunlop 3D tires and I got around just fine last year (a pretty snowy one). They look nearly identical to the setup pictured above and I enjoy the look as well. Great setup!

[Tjai135i]

well if I get a Winter setup, whats the best way to store them? I mean would be it be bad to leave it in a room with average 70 degrees for the rest of the year except winter? and room is ACed to 70.

[KingOfJericho]

No. It's only bad for them if you drive them in hot weather (they wear faster).

Do you think we all refrigerate our winter setups?

[boostm3]

Originally Posted by Simsims

the dunlop wintersport 3Ds generate a slight vibration to the car

balanced it twice, and then Roadforce balanced it twice and the engineers said there's nothing that can be done to them - they all read in the 20-30ish Lbs in terms of road force.

the 1 suspension is tuned for RFTs which have very very low tolerances for sidewall flex. That uneven stiffness in my wintertire sidewalls makes the car feel like it's running with unbalanced tires over 60mph.

Sigh

What rims are they mounted on ?

[vanbmw]

Originally Posted by Simsims

the dunlop wintersport 3Ds generate a slight vibration to the car

balanced it twice, and then Roadforce balanced it twice and the engineers said there's nothing that can be done to them - they all read in the 20-30ish Lbs in terms of road force.

the 1 suspension is tuned for RFTs which have very very low tolerances for sidewall flex. That uneven stiffness in my wintertire sidewalls makes the car feel like it's running with unbalanced tires over 60mph.

Sigh

My 225/50/17 Blizzaks run as smooth as glass right up to highway speeds (and beyond). There is more road noise then my summers and the steering is lighter but they isn't any vibrations at all.

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

No. It's only bad for them if you drive them in hot weather (they wear faster).

Do you think we all refrigerate our winter setups?

wait you guys don't do that? I have 4 extra freezers in my garage for nothing?