330xi

novase101 · 12-20-2005, 11:38 PM

Hi,

I will be purchasing a 2006 330xi within the next month and wanted to know whether the SP with 162 style (18" performance tires) will perform ok on the snow. Will the x with performance tires perform better than a regular front wheel drive sedan in the rain or snow? I live in the Northeast so we do get some snow, but I would prefer not to switch tires between seasons. The 162s looks much better than the stock wheels, but if it will do me no good in the snow, then I might have to suck it up

Also, is there a difference between purchasing the 162's from bmwwheels.com vs buying from BMW other than price and the inconvenience of installing it yourself?

Thanks a bunch for your help!

BeemMeUp · 12-20-2005, 11:50 PM

162 has summer tires, they do not have the all season tires like the 158s do. There for you would have to change your tires yearly putting on winter tires....

JonnyCrash · 12-20-2005, 11:57 PM

Well, you seem to be mixing a few things here... so let's get down to brass tacks:

The 330xi with SP or without SP can be used with 162s; the SP on an xi will not affect the suspension, so there will be no difference in driveability in the snow. The only thing that would change is that the SP gives you the wonderful sports seats, sports wheel and special 17" alloys. If these are not of value to you, do not order the SP.

That being said, neither suspension will be worth a damn in the snow with 162s running performance rubber. That's because performance tires do not work in the snow, period. It is irrelevant whether you have RWD, AWD, 4WD, or even 8WD. The rubber compound and tread pattern of performance tires is made for wet/dry warm pavement and above freezing conditions. Even all season tires suffer in below freezing temperatures. This is why so many SUVs end up in ditches come winter: most people don't understand the difference between AWD traction and tire traction.

This difference has been covered on this forum ad nauseum, so I will simply sum it up thusly: AWD allows better traction under slippery surfaces where one or more wheels does not have grip but one or more wheels does. Tire traction allows the wheel to get grip.

Therefore, if you have AWD and four tires that will not grip in snow, such as 18" performance tires, AWD will not help at all: you will have 0 wheels that get traction.

In your situation, I would recommend the following:
1. Order your car as you like it, with SP or without.
2. Upon delivery, replace the rubber on your stock rims with snow tires. Sell the OEM tires with 0 miles on this forum, or wherever you like. You may even want to keep them for when you resell the car.
3. Purchase your 162s with performance rubber from BMW wheels, a seller here or anywhere else you like to buy from. Maybe even get 19" aftermarkets if that's your thing: go nuts! Mount these wheels in the summer time, and keep the stock rims with winter tires on during the winter.

This is the optimal solution, and the best part is that you should be able to sell the stock all season runflats for the same amount that a good pair of snows will cost you. Add a fix-a-flat can, and away you go

Drive safe, and good luck with your car!

Tierfreund · 12-21-2005, 02:20 AM

Excellent post !

flipmde786 · 12-21-2005, 08:00 PM

Performance tires won't do anything for you in snow, even with an xi. If you get the 162 wheel option, you'll need a set of winter tires too.

One thing to ask yourself, though, as I have asked myself: do you really need AWD?

I live in Long Island and, coming from a FWD car, I thought I need AWD and RWD isn't gonna work out in snow. But I read many posts about people using snow tires with RWD models and faring just fine. I thought about it, and seeing that it snows a handful of times in a winter season here, and most of the time it's dry, I have started to think that I don't need AWD. So now instead of planning for a 330xi, I'm thinking more on the lines of a 330i ZSP or upcoming 335.

Unless someone can convince me otherwise...

flipmde786 · 12-21-2005, 11:06 PM

Actually, now I'm thinking that I don't want to have the hassle of changing tires/wheels...I won't have time, especially with med school ahead of me...

So then I'll get an xi like my original plans. But still, I stand by my view that AWD isn't necessary for the weather here in LI.

Casey 5 · 12-22-2005, 03:13 PM

If you want 18' 162s and good winter traction here is your best bet:

>Forget xi for an 18' set up like 162's

>get 330i with sports package--comes with 162's and summer tires

>get second set of 162's (or 196's like me) from BMW wheels and mount them with 18' Blizzaks from Tire rack

>From Nov-April run the winter set up

From May to Oct to run summer set up.

P.s. You can have your 162's from BMW Wheels and your Blizzaks from Tire Rack dropped shipped to your local BMW dealer for mounting and balancing.

12-20-2005, 11:38 PM	#1
novase101 New Member 2 Rep 10 Posts Drives: Black on Black Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	330xi - SP 162 or Not? Hi, I will be purchasing a 2006 330xi within the next month and wanted to know whether the SP with 162 style (18" performance tires) will perform ok on the snow. Will the x with performance tires perform better than a regular front wheel drive sedan in the rain or snow? I live in the Northeast so we do get some snow, but I would prefer not to switch tires between seasons. The 162s looks much better than the stock wheels, but if it will do me no good in the snow, then I might have to suck it up Also, is there a difference between purchasing the 162's from bmwwheels.com vs buying from BMW other than price and the inconvenience of installing it yourself? Thanks a bunch for your help!
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12-20-2005, 11:50 PM	#2
BeemMeUp Private First Class 1 Rep 178 Posts Drives: BMW 330i Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kansas iTrader: (0)	162 has summer tires, they do not have the all season tires like the 158s do. There for you would have to change your tires yearly putting on winter tires.... __________________ E90 330i / SG / Biege / Burl / ZPP / Heated Seats / Steptronic / CA / PDC / ACC / iDrive / Sirius-prep
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12-20-2005, 11:57 PM	#3
JonnyCrash Driver 163 Rep 447 Posts Drives: VW GTI, BMW X5 40i M-Sport Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (0)	Well, you seem to be mixing a few things here... so let's get down to brass tacks: The 330xi with SP or without SP can be used with 162s; the SP on an xi will not affect the suspension, so there will be no difference in driveability in the snow. The only thing that would change is that the SP gives you the wonderful sports seats, sports wheel and special 17" alloys. If these are not of value to you, do not order the SP. That being said, neither suspension will be worth a damn in the snow with 162s running performance rubber. That's because performance tires do not work in the snow, period. It is irrelevant whether you have RWD, AWD, 4WD, or even 8WD. The rubber compound and tread pattern of performance tires is made for wet/dry warm pavement and above freezing conditions. Even all season tires suffer in below freezing temperatures. This is why so many SUVs end up in ditches come winter: most people don't understand the difference between AWD traction and tire traction. This difference has been covered on this forum ad nauseum, so I will simply sum it up thusly: AWD allows better traction under slippery surfaces where one or more wheels does not have grip but one or more wheels does. Tire traction allows the wheel to get grip. Therefore, if you have AWD and four tires that will not grip in snow, such as 18" performance tires, AWD will not help at all: you will have 0 wheels that get traction. In your situation, I would recommend the following: 1. Order your car as you like it, with SP or without. 2. Upon delivery, replace the rubber on your stock rims with snow tires. Sell the OEM tires with 0 miles on this forum, or wherever you like. You may even want to keep them for when you resell the car. 3. Purchase your 162s with performance rubber from BMW wheels, a seller here or anywhere else you like to buy from. Maybe even get 19" aftermarkets if that's your thing: go nuts! Mount these wheels in the summer time, and keep the stock rims with winter tires on during the winter. This is the optimal solution, and the best part is that you should be able to sell the stock all season runflats for the same amount that a good pair of snows will cost you. Add a fix-a-flat can, and away you go Drive safe, and good luck with your car!
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12-21-2005, 02:20 AM	#4
Tierfreund Major 21 Rep 1,002 Posts Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	Excellent post ! __________________ No, not THAT kind of tierfreund!
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12-21-2005, 08:00 PM	#5
flipmde786 Lieutenant 25 Rep 513 Posts Drives: 330xi Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (0)	Performance tires won't do anything for you in snow, even with an xi. If you get the 162 wheel option, you'll need a set of winter tires too. One thing to ask yourself, though, as I have asked myself: do you really need AWD? I live in Long Island and, coming from a FWD car, I thought I need AWD and RWD isn't gonna work out in snow. But I read many posts about people using snow tires with RWD models and faring just fine. I thought about it, and seeing that it snows a handful of times in a winter season here, and most of the time it's dry, I have started to think that I don't need AWD. So now instead of planning for a 330xi, I'm thinking more on the lines of a 330i ZSP or upcoming 335. Unless someone can convince me otherwise...
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12-21-2005, 11:06 PM	#6
flipmde786 Lieutenant 25 Rep 513 Posts Drives: 330xi Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (0)	Actually, now I'm thinking that I don't want to have the hassle of changing tires/wheels...I won't have time, especially with med school ahead of me... So then I'll get an xi like my original plans. But still, I stand by my view that AWD isn't necessary for the weather here in LI.
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12-22-2005, 03:13 PM	#7
Casey 5 Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 256 Posts Drives: E90 335i,SPG,ZSP,ZPP,Step Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chapel Hill, NC iTrader: (0)	If you want 18' 162s and good winter traction here is your best bet: >Forget xi for an 18' set up like 162's >get 330i with sports package--comes with 162's and summer tires >get second set of 162's (or 196's like me) from BMW wheels and mount them with 18' Blizzaks from Tire rack >From Nov-April run the winter set up From May to Oct to run summer set up. P.s. You can have your 162's from BMW Wheels and your Blizzaks from Tire Rack dropped shipped to your local BMW dealer for mounting and balancing.
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