18" winter wheel options/pricing - let's list them here

[JoeFromPA]

I've put 1500 miles on my Michelin PA4's in 245/45/18 now including one day of 1" snow, so really only modest winter use so far. A few comments:

- The tire feels/drives exactly like a high-end all-season tire. If you didn't tell me this was a winter tire, I'd think it was a Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 2.

- They don't get that soft vagueness at 45 degrees most winter tires do. They remain pretty firm in steering/feel. But they do feel better at 30 degrees.

- Driving on light snow, slush, and sleet so far has felt like driving on dry ground.

- I was very concerned with going with 245 width as "too narrow". I can't believe how foolish I was. A sport package 335i comes with 225 wide tires. The M235i comes with 225/40/18 tires. Both of those vehicles weigh the same as my m3.

In other words, I'm rocking winter tires almost an inch wider than the SUMMER tire setup of similarly-weighted BMW sport package'd vehicles.

What does this mean? It means, at least with these tires, the car handles in the winter better than a 335i/M235i with wider top notch all-seasons (or so I'd estimate). And that's plenty good enough for me for winter.

- I swear these tires initiate DSC less than my summer tires, weird as that sounds. I've gotten pretty frigging judicious with the throttle with no worries whatsoever. Super easy to swing out the rear a bit in MDM and power through. I'm sure I'm not gripping as much, but it doesn't FEEL like I gave up any dry traction.

Super happy with the BBS wheels as well.

[Rob76]

Here is my winter set up Rial P10 18x9. Just picked up the car today and very happy with the set up.

[Hedoniste]

Ordered michelin PA 245/40/18 & 265/40/18 for my 513M wheels.

[ghost34]

Tirerack recommended a snow/ice tire vs a performance winter. I got the 18x8 bbs sr anthracite with the Michelin xice xi3 245/45's. I'm hoping it snows a bit in chicago to justify the loss of performance on the non snow days. they are a tad squishy but it's the 245 footprint on the rears that are killing me. Every acceleration trips the TC, the steering has also been "lighten" a bit too much for my liking. The wheel is also a tad small and doesnt fill the wheel well like the stockers. damn ground hog better give us an early spring

[JoeFromPA]

That's not the 245 width that's tripping the DSC, it's the compound you went with...

Tire width does not by itself increase/decrease straight line traction. Your problem is your compound will squirm like heck and NOT stick because it's much more focused on grabbing onto and funneling snow

[F82speed]

Thanks for putting this together Joe, great thread. Just read through whole thing and looking at the BBS SRs w/PA4s on TR now. Just got the car before Christmas and need winters badly.

On a side note, where in SE PA? I grew up in Exton/Downingtown area...

[ghost34]

Originally Posted by ghost34

Tirerack recommended a snow/ice tire vs a performance winter. I got the 18x8 bbs sr anthracite with the Michelin xice xi3 245/45's. I'm hoping it snows a bit in chicago to justify the loss of performance on the non snow days. they are a tad squishy but it's the 245 footprint on the rears that are killing me. Every acceleration trips the TC, the steering has also been "lighten" a bit too much for my liking. The wheel is also a tad small and doesnt fill the wheel well like the stockers. damn ground hog better give us an early spring

just wanted to update my post. it has snowed in chicago, now it's bitter cold and I'm forced to drive on packed ice. the Michelin xice have been awesome, very surprised by the traction. the performance loss I originally complained about is manageable now after I got a few hundred miles on the tires. so far, very happy in the awful tundra I call home

[JoeFromPA]

Originally Posted by F82speed

Thanks for putting this together Joe, great thread. Just read through whole thing and looking at the BBS SRs w/PA4s on TR now. Just got the car before Christmas and need winters badly.

On a side note, where in SE PA? I grew up in Exton/Downingtown area...

Right down the road: West Chester

[Fwang]

Originally Posted by 6MMMT

Finally mounted the BBS SR 18" wheels and Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 tires and wanted to share a (dirty) pic...

Hi 6MMMT, How were Hakkapeliitta R2 treat you last winter? I'm considering your set up for the coming winter.

Couple questions about Hakkapeliitta R2, does it BMW approved(little start on the tire) because i have BMW tire&rim warranty, as long as the tire is bmw approved I can get it replace without charge.

I'm living far north in Canada(lots snow), i would like to go with Hakkapeliitta 8 Studded. Have you tried them before? will it perform the same compare to unstudded?

[Xtabi]

Originally Posted by JoeFromPA

Mkoesel,

What I'm trying to find out - and having some difficulty doing - is if the FRONT or REAR 640m or 513m can be used in a square setup.

So, for example, can I run 4 9" wide 640m wheels? Or even 4 8.5" wide 640m wheels?

I want to run a square setup I can rotate. I've gotten some good pricing now on a local pickup of 640m's....

I've read all 11 pages and did not see a definitive answer to this. Anyone know?

My M3 will be here in November and I want to be ready!

Great topic Joe thanks!

[georgere]

Originally Posted by Xtabi

I've read all 11 pages and did not see a definitive answer to this. Anyone know?

My M3 will be here in November and I want to be ready!

Great topic Joe thanks!

me too.

[Xtabi]

Originally Posted by georgere

me too.

I ended up buying a set of OEM black wheels with Michelin Alpins from the classified section. The price was too good to pass up and now my car will look the same year round.

[DantonIzzo]

I asked this in the wheels/tires section, but no body seems to know the answer, so I'm linking my question to this thread. I recently bought a used set of 18x8 BBS SR with Blizzak mounted, but I can't tell whether the centering rings are already installed. I've posted the pictures here: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=865973 or here: http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1162932

If anyone knows, I would appreciate the clarification. Thanks!

[Kankles]

Awesome thread and good to see some different winter wheel options. I've got some leftover 400M wheels from my departed f30/335i, staggered, 18x8 et34, 18x8.5 et47. I'll also run 15mm spacers all around to "offset" the mild offsets. I would have preferred to run 255/40s all around but since the fronts are only 8.0in I'll have to run 245/40 front, 255 rears with PA4 tires. Brake clearance shouldn't be an issue but I'll do a test fit before ordering tires. (MG M3 standard brakes).

Does anyone see a huge issue running 245s in the front versus 255?

[SlapShot81]

Just got the build and a production number for the 16' M4 ED. Starting to do some research re winter setup and I am wondering if anyone has been able to fit Blizzak WS80 either in 225/45, 225/40, or the 245/40 R18 all around? I am also considering Rial P10 18" wheel as it appears to clear calipers (standard brakes). I've had great experience with the previous generation WS tires on my e60 550i but I am not sure how those would perform with the M4. This tire does not come up as recommended for M4 on tirerack. Any advice is appreciated!!

[Bmwguy11]

Originally Posted by SlapShot81

Just got the build and a production number for the 16' M4 ED. Starting to do some research re winter setup and I am wondering if anyone has been able to fit Blizzak WS80 either in 225/45, 225/40, or the 245/40 R18 all around? I am also considering Rial P10 18" wheel as it appears to clear calipers (standard brakes). I've had great experience with the previous generation WS tires on my e60 550i but I am not sure how those would perform with the M4. This tire does not come up as recommended for M4 on tirerack. Any advice is appreciated!!

I think the reason the blizzak doesn't show up is that 18" recommended tires for the M3 are either 245/45R18 or 255/40R18 which the WS80's dont come in.

IMO if you want a studless winter tire in 245/45R18 get the michelin x-ice XI3.

[stonecliff]

Originally Posted by Xtabi

I've read all 11 pages and did not see a definitive answer to this. Anyone know?

My M3 will be here in November and I want to be ready!

Great topic Joe thanks!

Yes, you can run 640M 9" wheels on all four corners. I did it last winter and it is just fine. The offsets are only 2mm different between the 8.5" and the 9" wheels, and you are using the same tires on all four corners anyway. Go for it, and get the benefit of being able to rotate the tires.

[SlapShot81]

Originally Posted by Bmwguy11

I think the reason the blizzak doesn't show up is that 18" recommended tires for the M3 are either 245/45R18 or 255/40R18 which the WS80's dont come in.

IMO if you want a studless winter tire in 245/45R18 get the michelin x-ice XI3.

Makes sense... Someone from tirerack posted this article specific to M4 mentioning a 225/45 R18 tire... I am curious whether 225/45 is too narrow and whether WS80 compound is too soft for the M4. I am just a bit nervous about using a performance winter tire and if I had a choice between X-ice and WS-80 I would rather go with WS-80 since I know this tire and have confidence that it will perform well during the Chicago winters.

http://blog.tirerack.com/blog/roll-o...-m3-and-bmw-m4

[Bmwguy11]

Directly from the tirerack blog you linked

"If an M4 is your sole vehicle for Snowbelt use, go with Studless Ice & Snow tires. The Michelin X-Ice Xi3 offers a good balance between ice grip and dry road handling. You can go with 225/45R18 on 18x8 ET 30 Rial P10 wheels front and back."


Sounds like it would work fine. In fact, that's the exact setup I'm going to get. You can put 225 and 245 on 8" wide rims, either one seems fine.

[moveswiftly]

Anyone have experience with Yokohama snow tires? I can get the Rial 10 Silver, mounted balanced, tpms with tires for 1700 to my door. Looks like a great deal.

[Bmwguy11]

Originally Posted by chesterfan1230

Anyone have experience with Yokohama snow tires? I can get the Rial 10 Silver, mounted balanced, tpms with tires for 1700 to my door. Looks like a great deal.

I do not but you can get the icex with the same wheels mounted balanced tpms to your door for probably $1800. That's what it's costing me on tirerack anyways.

[SlapShot81]

Originally Posted by Bmwguy11

Directly from the tirerack blog you linked

"If an M4 is your sole vehicle for Snowbelt use, go with Studless Ice & Snow tires. The Michelin X-Ice Xi3 offers a good balance between ice grip and dry road handling. You can go with 225/45R18 on 18x8 ET 30 Rial P10 wheels front and back."


Sounds like it would work fine. In fact, that's the exact setup I'm going to get. You can put 225 and 245 on 8" wide rims, either one seems fine.

So the other option I am considering is a Nokian Hakka R2 winter tire that was rated highly on this forum. There are limited sizes, but I am thinking about 245/45R18 on Rial P10s. Did anybody use such setup and how did the tire perform on ice/hard pack?