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[bahstongal]

Hi Everyone,
I was wondering what everyone that drives their car year round use for winter wheels and tires on their 1er. Pictures Welcomed!!

Thank You!!

[darkrom]

Sport edition brand wheels. Dunlop wintersport 3d tires. I've gone back and forth between blizzaks and wintersport. Wintersport are better imo. The blizzaks might have a slight edge in deep deep snow, but the winter sports are better by far on just cold dry days and are equally good in light to medium snow. Did great this horrible winter in Massachusetts roads with the 135 as my only car. I drive a ton every day. Did great. Wintersport 3d ftw.

[ejm3]

Steel wheels, hubcaps and Blizzaks.
The basic package from Tire Tack.

Mine is not a daily driver but I want to make sure if I get caught in the snow I'll be able to make it home.

[bahstongal]

Thank you both for your assistance, good to know your car made it through snowmageddon lol I am going from AWD to RWD so its quite a change. Did you guys go with 17s or 18s for your tires?

[darkrom]

Originally Posted by bahstongal

Thank you both for your assistance, good to know your car mad it through snowmageddon lol I am going from AWD to RWD so its quite a change. Did you go with 17s or 18s for your tires?

My sport editions and winter setup are 17s. The smaller size helps in the snow, and it keeps your snow tires cheaper. No need for big meaty tires unless you are planning on doing some snow rallies in the 1er lol.

My last car before this was an evo X so I feel you on the RWD concerns, but it was a non issue on the 135 with the setup I described. I just don't go out if the roads are unplowed and the snow is as high as my front bumper. Short of that I can handle anything with that setup. Interestingly enough, my fathers jeep on all season tires actually handled WORSE in the snow than my 135 on snow tires... tires make more of a difference than anything. Get those wintersports. The blizzaks were good, but 90% of the time here its plowed roads and cold weather or light snow coating the roads. That is where the wintersports shine. The blizzaks were good in deep deep snow, but how often do you drive in deep unplowed snow? THe blizzaks were MUCH worse than the wintersports on plowed highway for example.

[MightyMouseTech]

A set of OE 17" wheels from Tischer with Hakka R2 in 205/50/17.

Not a fan of running aftermarket winter wheels. If you bend one, which happens quite often in the winter, you may need to get a replacement ASAP. Much easier with OE wheels. And aftermarket wheels may be discontinued.

[darkrom]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

A set of OE 17" wheels from Tischer with Hakka R2 in 205/50/17.

Not a fan of running aftermarket winter wheels. If you bend one, which happens quite often in the winter, you may need to get a replacement ASAP. Much easier with OE wheels. And aftermarket wheels may be discontinued.

True point, but do you realize how cheap things like "sport editions" are lol? I got the wheels used with tires all 4 for $400 and the tires and wheels were in great shape! Probably cheaper to buy 2 sets. Nothing wrong with OEM quality, just more expensive.

[five_timer]

I was one of the lucky ones who bought a 2011 128 vert without sport, and it came with 16" wheels. So I bought 17's for summer and use the stock wheels for my wintersports. I've been driving Bimmers year-round up here since 1994, and I've learned that winter tires transform the car from terrible to very good in the snow.

[Xyloft]

Originally Posted by darkrom

Sport edition brand wheels. Dunlop wintersport 3d tires. I've gone back and forth between blizzaks and wintersport. Wintersport are better imo. The blizzaks might have a slight edge in deep deep snow, but the winter sports are better by far on just cold dry days and are equally good in light to medium snow. Did great this horrible winter in Massachusetts roads with the 135 as my only car. I drive a ton every day. Did great. Wintersport 3d ftw.

yup. that's what i'm running. the Wintersports were WAY better than the blizzaks i started with. (both sets were runflats and a square 225/45R17 setup)

[m_thompson]

I have 17" sport editions with Michelin X-Ice Xi2 tires. Work great!

[TheCaptain]

People on this forum are selling their stuff all the time in the wheel and tire classifieds. I picked up a set of four BMW style 264 rims with barely used snow tires for $650 last August. If you go the tirerack route you will get brand new but it will cost you more than you need to spend and you won't get BMW rims. You'll want to go less wide in the rear for the winter tires for better snow traction. I have 225/40 all around instead of 245/35 in the rear and it works great.

[MightyMouseTech]

I am trying to sell my Hakka R2's (205/50/17) with one winter on them. These are quite possibly THE best non studded winter tire available.

Probably going to try a studded Hakka 8 this winter.

Outta my way bitches!

[Kev!n]

I have 205/50R-17 Bridgestone Blizzak WS80s on steel wheels from Tire Rack which I used a few times this winter including a drive through a blizzard. I was happy with the performance and will go so far as to say that my 135is gave me more confidence in the snow than our front wheel drive TSX with all seasons.

If you go with steelies be prepared for people to go out of their way to tell you how ugly they are.

[mr.fabulous]

I used to run Dunlop WinterSport M2s, Mille Miglia wheels, on my departed E36. Skinny wheels and tread patch (don't recall the size) to better cut through the snow (this makes a big difference). That was a great setup, I could get through just about anything.

[sparky1_2007]

I used Sport edition 17's (5 spoke silver) and Michelin X-ice3's and had absolutely no issues with snow when I drove my 135i year round.

I've since sold the car and am selling the set with TPMS sensors and everything

[ejm3]

I believe my steel wheels are 17".

I also bought cheap hubcaps and so far I've avoided comments on how ugly they are. I think people just aren't looking hard enough though ;-)

[pj.rodriguez]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

A set of OE 17" wheels from Tischer with Hakka R2 in 205/50/17.

Not a fan of running aftermarket winter wheels. If you bend one, which happens quite often in the winter, you may need to get a replacement ASAP. Much easier with OE wheels. And aftermarket wheels may be discontinued.

I had those style 141 but they didn't fit over my brake upgrade. I opted for sport edition a7 I think. They're the only 17" wheel that fits over 335i brakes. Also use 205/50/17 tires.

[angler]

I have Hakka R2 225-45-17. Don't buy the 205 you will be turning on your traction control all the time. 205 to narrow for the power of the car. I live in Vermont and go everywhere with this setup!!

[bahstongal]

Thanks everyone for the help I greatly appreciate it!!! (:

[swagon]

M207 in OEM staggered sizes, fits without any problems over 135i brakes. Dunlop SP Winter 4D.

Would go for an all around 225 setup next time.

[Noel911]

I use four front wheels off my old e46 M3. 225s all around and no spacers required. Sorry, don't have a photo.

[BMW135pls]

Originally Posted by ejm3

Steel wheels, hubcaps and Blizzaks.
The basic package from Tire Tack.

Mine is not a daily driver but I want to make sure if I get caught in the snow I'll be able to make it home.

I ran this last winter season. I really hated it, but I guess it was doing something? As it turns out, it didn't really snow all that much, and even in the snow I still had to work with the throttle to get moving from a sign/light. Haven't really decided if I'm going to run this again this winter (I still have the tires/rims from last year stored) you just give up so much on a daily basis if it's not snowing a lot. The dry performance is horrible on snow tires, absolutely cannot handle torque or lateral G forces at all. Self-control mode engaged. I really think that driving on snow with summer tires can't be too much different than with snow tires. I'm probably wrong about that, but even with brand new snow tires on, it still felt very much like driving on snow. I never really got the feeling of "oh, THIS is why I sacrifice dry performance/feel for 4 months of the year!"

I was on absolutely stock suspension last winter, save for the tires, and by the time this coming winter rolls around, I will be on M rear bushings and M F/R control arms, Koni Yellow shocks, and Swift R springs, and I will have a better alignment as well. Any idea if the snow tires will function better on the new suspension than the old? Driving last season was absolutely painful with the snow/steel combination. Looked terrible too.