[malibulivin]

alright guys...need your help. what's your preference....full winter wheel and tire set, or do you just buy tires and switch them out with your summer tires on the same rims? I'm new from CA and wondering what you guys do around here. Don't know whether to buy a used wheel and tire set, or a new set of snow tires and mount on my current rims.

Thanks in advance

[sj22]

It depends on a few things:
1. Can you store the extra set?
2. How long do you plan to keep the car? (2 winters vs. 5 winters is a big difference).

I have dedicated winter/summer sets but spent my first two winters just swapping tires. With dedicated sets, you also have the option of searching for good deals on used tires during off-season. Plus unless you want to pay top $ (25-30 bucks just to mount and balance), there is a good chance at some point the installer will scratch your rims (learnt it the hard way).

If I were you, I would just put on winter tires right now, and spend the next 6 months to find a good summer set.

[darkrom]

If the wheels you have are OEM then just use those unless you really like them.

I have my OEM 325i wheels on for the winter with snow tires and some nice CSL reps for the rest of the year with summer tires.

[Professor///M]

It really depends on where you want to spend the money.

It'll cost you anywhere from $80 to $250 to re mount and balance the 4 tires. So assuming you go to the dealership and worst case scenario:

2x mount and balance yearly: Min Cost $160, Max Cost $500

So If you have your car 3 years, you might as well just have dedicated rims for the snow. That's as long as you can afford to pay for the rims as an up front cost, and you have a place to store them.


The other thing is value. Your tires will really be worthless by themselves when you sell your car, but a rim and tire set may not be worthless.

It's up to you. I have a set of winter & summer rims and tires. I don't visualize doing it any other way.

[SmellyGreek]

One advantage of buying a second set of wheels is you can go -2 or -1 in wheel size if you have 18-19" wheels. 17" snow tires are much cheaper (and typically work better in snow due to their narrower width) than 18" or 19" ones.

[PSEE]

There's really no question -

two (2) sets of wheels/tires

you can then change them at *your* convenience at your home - OR, you
can wait all day and have them changed at a tire place - when everyone else
does - just before the first snow storm of the season.

[Rustler]

Originally Posted by SmellyGreek

One advantage of buying a second set of wheels is you can go -2 or -1 in wheel size if you have 18-19" wheels. 17" snow tires are much cheaper (and typically work better in snow due to their narrower width) than 18" or 19" ones.

This is a good point. Going to 17's for the winter is a great way to preserve your wheels (there's a little more tire to absorb pot holes and hidden obstacles under the snow) and save on cheaper equipment.

Also, I believe the general consensus is to get a narrower tire with a square (v. staggered, as in the sport package) set up. Float really kills you in the snow, and with a big meaty 255 on the back, you will have more float in the snow than your 225 in the front, and unbalanced handling.

My advice would be to get a whole new set. Tire rack has some good deals on 17 inchers ( I have the Rial Solerno, and think they have an attractive and very OEM look, especially since they take the factory center cap). At ~150 a wheel without the tire, it's not that much more than one years worth of remounting (once in the summer, once in the winter for 8 wheels total on the year).

[malibulivin]

great points guys...appreciate the input...leaning toward a used set of wheels and tires at this point. Have found a few out there on this site. I love the look of my new rims so much though.....hate to switch em out.

[bimmerdiesel]

oh you should have bought rims when you were in CA. There are so many options available for cheap through this website.
I second on 17" option.
have fun with your d in storms

[darkrom]

Originally Posted by malibulivin

great points guys...appreciate the input...leaning toward a used set of wheels and tires at this point. Have found a few out there on this site. I love the look of my new rims so much though.....hate to switch em out.

You won't love the look of you no longer new rims after a new england winter!

[TL]

Originally Posted by malibulivin

great points guys...appreciate the input...leaning toward a used set of wheels and tires at this point. Have found a few out there on this site. I love the look of my new rims so much though.....hate to switch em out.

you'll be fine it's only temp for maybe 3-4 months and then back to your regular setup

here's a pic of my winter setup


Birthday wash by GQjai, on Flickr

[malibulivin]

nice looking ride!

Bimmerdiesel, how has the d been in snow and in winter in general?

[malibulivin]

alright then......what's your pref for a great winter/snow tire. I know there are some other threads on here about this topic, but you guys have been super helpful. Curious to hear your input. Blizzaks seem to be the name that comes up most.

[bimmerdiesel]

Originally Posted by malibulivin

Bimmerdiesel, how has the d been in snow and in winter in general?

I have Blizzak WS60 225/45 square setup on 18". I have dedicated setup. So based on that I would say accelerate slowly specially in turns. Instant acceleration will lead to lot of spinning (if DTC is enabled). Don't stop on icy slopes. I make sure to have enough momentum on slopes. This is only time I miss my previous AWD.
Its fun in general... keep it slow and it will be lot of fun with amount of torque we have. It sometimes gives a feeling of drifting even though its not happening in reality.
Good set of winter tires will make your ride feel like a tank. I prefer having DTC activated...allowing bit of spinning.

[MJR63]

Originally Posted by Rustler

This is a good point. Going to 17's for the winter is a great way to preserve your wheels (there's a little more tire to absorb pot holes and hidden obstacles under the snow) and save on cheaper equipment.

Also, I believe the general consensus is to get a narrower tire with a square (v. staggered, as in the sport package) set up. Float really kills you in the snow, and with a big meaty 255 on the back, you will have more float in the snow than your 225 in the front, and unbalanced handling.

My advice would be to get a whole new set. Tire rack has some good deals on 17 inchers ( I have the Rial Solerno, and think they have an attractive and very OEM look, especially since they take the factory center cap). At ~150 a wheel without the tire, it's not that much more than one years worth of remounting (once in the summer, once in the winter for 8 wheels total on the year).

Totally agree! ^

I got a full set of tires and rims from the Tire Rack and they are the best! I went with the Dunlop Winter Sport 3D. I think they are much better then the Blizzaks on the dry pavement. Good Luck!

[malibulivin]

If I turn the lease back in, can I turn it in with snow tires on it if the tread is within acceptable range?

[e60_M5_2020]

By the end of the summer, I'm fed up with the stress and harsh ride of summer 19"s, by the end of the winter, I'm fed up with the stock look and flexing/rolling of winter 17"s.

It works out perfectly.

[Rustler]

Here's my winter setup (Rial Solerno, 17x7 w/ Pirelli Sottozero 240s, 225 tire width all around):

[pnutty]

Originally Posted by malibulivin

alright guys...need your help. what's your preference....full winter wheel and tire set, or do you just buy tires and switch them out with your summer tires on the same rims? I'm new from CA and wondering what you guys do around here. Don't know whether to buy a used wheel and tire set, or a new set of snow tires and mount on my current rims.

Thanks in advance

Welcome to MA from another person who moved here not too long ago
Is your car still on cali plates? we should take a photoshoot if it is haha.

If you are here for 1-2 winters i'd recommend buying a set of cheap used rims so you dont need to keep paying to have someone mount/dismount your tires every season. Theres a lot of good stuff on the forums, hopefully you find something soon as its starting to get cold !

[BobKingerman]

I bought a dedicated summer set and mounted winter tires on my stock 162s. The indy shop I took it to butchered 3 out of my 4 stock wheels.

It's nice to be able to jack the car up in the garage and swap out the wheels rather than loading up a set of tires and driving to a shop to have them installed twice a year.

[MJR63]

^^^^ Totally agree!!