Winter tire change over

[kakale]

Hi. Is it really necessary to charge over to winter tires and rims.. I live in south Jersey and although the winters have been bad the last two years the 1200.00 outlay seems extreme... HELP !!!! John

[Lester]

The stock runflats are useless in any amount of snow. Don't even think about it. You have two choices, and one of them is parking your car for the winter.

[kakale]

What brand of tires would you suggest as the best for NJ weather??? The wheels are really a personal taste thing... Right ???

[ptack]

The cheapest thing for you to do is just buy 4 snows and switch them on and off. I'm running Dunlop Wintersport 3Ds and like them. Other people run Blizzaks.Call Gill from the Tire Rack.

[Tumo135]

I wouldnt even use the stock summer tires in under 40 degree weather. The compounds they are made of lose a significant amount of grip under 40 degrees.

[tommy]

I've got a set of Vredestein Wintracs that I got from Eurotire in Fairfield. Have been awesome for a couple of years now.

I don't think I'd want to put a set of rims I like through a full winter here. Just put a set of winter tires on your stock rims - that'll give you an excuse to get a new set of lighter rims in the spring with dedicated summer (non-rf) tires.

[tcd223]

I ran the stock RFTs all winter last year and it was a terrible. No grip, the ride was harsher, and the one time I got stuck in a light snow the car was unsafe to drive. I bought dedicated winter tires/rims because I can change over myself and don't need to go to a tire shop twice a year. I'll be running Wintersport M3s on a 17 inch rim, and leaving PS2s on my summer rims.

[thez99]

i bought a used set of wheels for $375 shipped and 4 straight conti extremewinter contact tires for around $550 shipped. $925 for an awesome setup keeping my summer wheels n tires in the garage. The Generals are also less expensive.

[jpd]

I went to Les Schwab, a regional tire dealer here in the Northwest, and ordered Hankook's and 17" wheels. Confirmed the order with them and went to have them installed a week ago. To everyone's surprise the 17" wheels wouldn't fit over the 135's calipers. I have the M Sport package. I waiting for 18"s. This added about $200 to the cost. When I ordered the 17"s the tire dealer looked at his book. So, beware.

[ND40oz]

Originally Posted by Tsioms

hmmm i just ordered a set of 17" Continental Extreme Winter Contact... should be in this week. I also have the M sport package... hope they fit!

You ordered new 17" wheels as well right?

[thez99]

Originally Posted by Tsioms

hmmm i just ordered a set of 17" Continental Extreme Winter Contact... should be in this week. I also have the M sport package... hope they fit!

Ditto, and i have used oem bmw wheels with fitting offsets and size. As far as I know 17" wheels most always clear the 135 brakes, unless its some crazy ass wheel like a honda wheels with a big inside or something

[Maconer98]

So...not all 17'' wheels will clear the brakes for the 135i? I'm in the market for a set of winter shoes and I'm going with a smaller tire so I will need to switch the wheels too.

Thanks for your input.

[thez99]

Originally Posted by Maconer98

So...not all 17'' wheels will clear the brakes for the 135i? I'm in the market for a set of winter shoes and I'm going with a smaller tire so I will need to switch the wheels too.

Thanks for your input.

Methinks that was a freak coincadence with some crazy 17 wheel. The ones I have fit. Theres not much clearance but its perfect. BMW manual states cant go lower than 17, never says do not use 17's

[kakale]

Thank you very much for all your posts. The stock wheels will do for the winter with Bliz tires from the tire rack.... Gils was great.... Thanks again.....

[Tumo135]

What PSI do you run your winters at?

[Maconer98]

Originally Posted by thez99

Methinks that was a freak coincadence with some crazy 17 wheel. The ones I have fit. Theres not much clearance but its perfect. BMW manual states cant go lower than 17, never says do not use 17's

So...17" it is. Can anyone recommend the best tire ratio for a 17" diameter for the 135i? I'm not going go to staggered, it will be a square set-up since this works better in the winter.

[tommy]

Tirerack says 205/50s, that's the easiest way to find out. Some decent cash back offers there now, too.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by jpd

I went to Les Schwab, a regional tire dealer here in the Northwest, and ordered Hankook's and 17" wheels. Confirmed the order with them and went to have them installed a week ago. To everyone's surprise the 17" wheels wouldn't fit over the 135's calipers. I have the M Sport package. I waiting for 18"s. This added about $200 to the cost. When I ordered the 17"s the tire dealer looked at his book. So, beware.

Most likely the 17' wheels they tried to mount had the wrong offsets.

17" wheels DO WORK on a 135i. I know, I have them on my car right now!

You need a wheel with the proper offset. ET47 I think. I went with BMW alloy wheel package. Here are the wheels I use in winter time...

7jx17" with 205/50HR17's.

[Maconer98]

Which tires are better IYO:
1) 205/50R17 Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D

or

2) 215/45R17 Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60

Does anyone have any experience with both? Both have great reviews. Pros/cons for both?

Thanks.

[tcd223]

Originally Posted by Maconer98

Which tires are better IYO:
1) 205/50R17 Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D

or

2) 215/45R17 Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60

Does anyone have any experience with both? Both have great reviews. Pros/cons for both?

Thanks.

I went with 215/45R17 Dunlop Winter Sport M3s. If your heart is set on the Winter Sport 3Ds, if given the choice between the two, I'd go with the Blizzaks because they are a little wider.

Put my wheels on this weekend.

[Maconer98]

Originally Posted by tcd223

I went with 215/45R17 Dunlop Winter Sport M3s. If your heart is set on the Winter Sport 3Ds, if given the choice between the two, I'd go with the Blizzaks because they are a little wider.

Put my wheels on this weekend.

I pulled the trigger on the Dunlops. Purchased through Tire Rack with the TPMS. I thought narrower tires are better in the winter?

Did you take yours to a shop to be mounted? Or did you just do it yourself?

Btw...I think I purchased the same wheels; they're looking real sharp.

[tcd223]

Originally Posted by Maconer98

I pulled the trigger on the Dunlops. Purchased through Tire Rack with the TPMS. I thought narrower tires are better in the winter?

Did you take yours to a shop to be mounted? Or did you just do it yourself?

Btw...I think I purchased the same wheels; they're looking real sharp.

Motegi MR118s? Yea I like the black against the shadowline, and since I have the perf grills and a shadowline diffuser, they fit the car well.

While a narrow tire is better in the snow, it doesn't snow enough in NYC for me to worry about it. I really wanted winter tires because of how hard the compound of my summer tires gets when the temp drops below 50 degrees.