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[bimmergeek]

I have a 2011 335is with 18" wheels. I was not planning on getting new wheels. Any recommendations on winter/snow tires?

Charlie...

[san6279]

You should do a search as there is a lot of good info on this site. That being said, I ran with staggered Pirelli Sottozeros last winter (in Seattle) and they worked great.

[VMRWheels]

A lot of our customers like Blizzak LM-60s for winter.

[Frank2808]

Originally Posted by VMRWheels

A lot of our customers like Blizzak LM-60s for winter.

I use the Blizzak LM-60s on my 2011 335is stock rims for the winter in Cleveland and they work awesome!

[Gary@TireRack]

Originally Posted by bimmergeek

I have a 2011 335is with 18" wheels. I was not planning on getting new wheels. Any recommendations on winter/snow tires?

Charlie...

See the winter sticky for some ideas. A few helpful snippets from it:

"... you can use 225/40R18 on both the front 8" wheels and the rear 8.5" OE wheels with no problem. This is actually very common to do. Eliminating the stagger in this way works very well for winter and results in better winter traction."

"Get snow tires appropriate to your climate and driving style. If you don't see much snow during the winter, and you like to drive/corner fast on cold dry roads then look into the H-rated or V-rated "high performance" winter tires like the Bridgestone Blizzak LM60, Dunlop Winter Sport 3D or Michelin PA3.

If your area gets heavier snow, you are often driving on packed snow and ice, or if you are simply willing to give up some dry grip and steering response for maximum safe winter traction then look into a more aggressive snow tire. Among the best of this type are the Blizzak WS-70, Michelin XIce XI2, and Continental Extreme Winter Contact. Winter tires like these will offer the best in snow and ice traction, but will give up some dry road responsiveness over the more performance - oriented H/V rated snow tires to get that additional traction. "

[I<3boost]

I recommend no tires. Store it. Your car makes so much low end torque it's almost impossible to grip even with snows. Store it. #justsaying

[Gary@TireRack]

Originally Posted by I<3boost

I recommend no tires. Store it. Your car makes so much low end torque it's almost impossible to grip even with snows. Store it. #justsaying

Hundreds of 335i owners on this forum would beg to differ. Keep in mind that the driver controls engine power and torque via the gas pedal so the argument that the car is too powerful to get grip is not a winning one. Add traction control and winter tires to the equation and this vehicle is quite capable in winter.

[LindaTheCat]

Originally Posted by Gary@TireRack

Hundreds of 335i owners on this forum would beg to differ. Keep in mind that the driver controls engine power and torque via the gas pedal so the argument that the car is too powerful to get grip is not a winning one. Add traction control and winter tires to the equation and this vehicle is quite capable in winter.

And to add on to that! Let's remind ourselves. Decades ago when our grandparents drove their cars in winter, what was the most popular drivetrain? RWD! And they'd still make it through and thus had our parents and thus us ;-)

[hubble bubble]

Originally Posted by I<3boost

I recommend no tires. Store it. Your car makes so much low end torque it's almost impossible to grip even with snows. Store it. #justsaying

335 is a GREAT winter car - as long as the snow isn't deeper than 5 inches (your ground clearance). the nearly perfect weight balance makes it on of the best handling winter car I ever drove, along with my old e46.

This comes from lots of winter driving experience. I live in Calgary and ski in the Rocky Mountains every weekend from mid-Nov to mid-Apr. I love cruising at 120-130kmh (75-80mph) on snow covered roads, watching all the SUVs in the ditches. I even have heated seats in the back.

I drive Nokian Hakkapeliittaa R in the winter. From Finland. Recommended by BMW driving instructors and many local Subaru/Mitzubishi winter racing freaks. Great tire on deep snow, better than my old Pilot Alpin on dry roads. Wife has Michelin Xice2 on her Accord. Amazing on ice and packed snow but squishy on dry roads.

[remmib]

Originally Posted by hubble bubble

335 is a GREAT winter car - as long as the snow isn't deeper than 5 inches (your ground clearance). the nearly perfect weight balance makes it on of the best handling winter car I ever drove, along with my old e46.

This comes from lots of winter driving experience. I live in Calgary and ski in the Rocky Mountains every weekend from mid-Nov to mid-Apr. I love cruising at 120-130kmh (75-80mph) on snow covered roads, watching all the SUVs in the ditches. I even have heated seats in the back.

I drive Nokian Hakkapeliittaa R in the winter. From Finland. Recommended by BMW driving instructors and many local Subaru/Mitzubishi winter racing freaks. Great tire on deep snow, better than my old Pilot Alpin on dry roads. Wife has Michelin Xice2 on her Accord. Amazing on ice and packed snow but squishy on dry roads.

Some you find the Nokian R good on dry roads, I thought the were soft and squishy like all other nordic winter tires?
How do you like them on the wet?

[bimmergeek]

Originally Posted by Gary@TireRack

See the winter sticky for some ideas. A few helpful snippets from it:

"... you can use 225/40R18 on both the front 8" wheels and the rear 8.5" OE wheels with no problem. This is actually very common to do. Eliminating the stagger in this way works very well for winter and results in better winter traction."

"Get snow tires appropriate to your climate and driving style. If you don't see much snow during the winter, and you like to drive/corner fast on cold dry roads then look into the H-rated or V-rated "high performance" winter tires like the Bridgestone Blizzak LM60, Dunlop Winter Sport 3D or Michelin PA3.

If your area gets heavier snow, you are often driving on packed snow and ice, or if you are simply willing to give up some dry grip and steering response for maximum safe winter traction then look into a more aggressive snow tire. Among the best of this type are the Blizzak WS-70, Michelin XIce XI2, and Continental Extreme Winter Contact. Winter tires like these will offer the best in snow and ice traction, but will give up some dry road responsiveness over the more performance - oriented H/V rated snow tires to get that additional traction. "

I'm in Long Island, NY. We get some good snows but only sporadically. Last year I had a 2008 335i coupe with M/S tires. Enough to get me around except during the really deep stuff. So whatever I get needs to have good cold/dry handling.

[Ctm309]

Dunlop Winter Sport 3D or Pirelli SottoZero Serie ll. Have them both for better than 3 seasons. Low noise, really good dry handling and great grip in the snow. Both can be had at Tire Rack.

[Gary@TireRack]

Originally Posted by bimmergeek

I'm in Long Island, NY. We get some good snows but only sporadically. Last year I had a 2008 335i coupe with M/S tires. Enough to get me around except during the really deep stuff. So whatever I get needs to have good cold/dry handling.

It sounds like you would be happier with a performance oriented winter tire like the Michelin Pilot Alpin AP3.

Winter
http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AH8&...nter/index.jsp

[Alessandro]

+1 on the Nokian Hakkapeliittaa R i just put those on for this winter they are amazing.

[williewonkerz]

Originally Posted by Gary@TireRack

"... you can use 225/40R18 on both the front 8" wheels and the rear 8.5" OE wheels with no problem.

Is that right? Looks off. I'm looking at exact same thing. I have 18" vmr rims that are 8" wide (both front and back). Is the size 225/40 or 225/45?

I'm clued at this......

[Gary@TireRack]

Originally Posted by williewonkerz

Is that right? Looks off. I'm looking at exact same thing. I have 18" vmr rims that are 8" wide (both front and back). Is the size 225/40 or 225/45?

I'm clued at this......

I wouldn't post it if I had any doubts.