Winter tyres

[Dan H]

Given that BMWs are supposed to be pretty rubbish in the snow & that I have 2 small people that I don't want to end up stranded somewhere with, I've decided I'm going to stick a set of winter tyres on.

Anyone got any recommendations?

Stu, which ones have you gone for? Any particular reason why those?

Looks like I'll be paying around £220 per corner, so I don't want to get it wrong!

:)

[verysideways]

Don't get runflats, and don't worry too much about spending loads of money.
Have you checked the BMW Germany site to see what their configurator reckons is the correct winter tyre size for your car? I'd guess at !6" or 17" wheels, with something like 215/225 rubber all round?

I've got Nokians and part-worn Contis on the 130 and was sailing past Discos and RRs on the hills around Gloucester last year. Hysterical.
Got a set of Nankang SV2 to go on the Focus in the next few weeks too, they're the best you'll find for a budget tyre and in some tests do better than the best of the midrange (Avons).

Get Nankang SV2, or for a bit more cash get Avon Ice Touring ST, or further up the scale you've got the WInterContact/SottoZero/Nokian WR (G2 last year, D3 this year)/ Dunlop WinterSport 3D or 4D/ etc.

And if you have any questions feel free to give me a shout :)

[chevy-stu]

Hi fella,

Like you, I started reading some horror stories about these cars in the snow, and blowing out two of the runflats, hence my wheel/tyre change..

As I went up to the 19's M6 wheels for summer tyres, I've got the standard 18" wheels you've got and put part worns on all, as I reckon I just won't be doing the mileage for enough months to justify £1000 on winter tyres.

I think 2 are Pirellis, and 2 are Fuldas.. Paid £250 for all 4 fitted at my local part worn bloke In Wembley...... Looking forward to seeing if they make a difference, which I hope they do..

[Dan H]

Don't get runflats, and don't worry too much about spending loads of money.
Have you checked the BMW Germany site to see what their configurator reckons is the correct winter tyre size for your car? I'd guess at !6" or 17" wheels, with something like 215/225 rubber all round?

I've got Nokians and part-worn Contis on the 130 and was sailing past Discos and RRs on the hills around Gloucester last year. Hysterical.
Got a set of Nankang SV2 to go on the Focus in the next few weeks too, they're the best you'll find for a budget tyre and in some tests do better than the best of the midrange (Avons).

Get Nankang SV2, or for a bit more cash get Avon Ice Touring ST, or further up the scale you've got the WInterContact/SottoZero/Nokian WR (G2 last year, D3 this year)/ Dunlop WinterSport 3D or 4D/ etc.

And if you have any questions feel free to give me a shout :)

I'm just going to fit them to the standard wheels - 18" jobbies. I'd assume the same size as the existing ones - 245/40/18, but will have a look at the BMW Germany site and see.....

The budget ones in my size seem to be £20-£40 less than the branded ones, so not loads in saving.

This month's EVO has a winter tyre test feature which I'm reading at the moment. Goodyear / Pirelli / Dunlop / Michelin / Conti are all doing quite well, but the Vredstein / Hankook / Nangkang / Kumho versions are that far behind.

Will wait until I've finished reading it all and go from there.

[Dan H]

Hi fella,

Like you, I started reading some horror stories about these cars in the snow, and blowing out two of the runflats, hence my wheel/tyre change..

As I went up to the 19's M6 wheels for summer tyres, I've got the standard 18" wheels you've got and put part worns on all, as I reckon I just won't be doing the mileage for enough months to justify £1000 on winter tyres.

I think 2 are Pirellis, and 2 are Fuldas.. Paid £250 for all 4 fitted at my local part worn bloke In Wembley...... Looking forward to seeing if they make a difference, which I hope they do..

Sounds like a good deal.

I guess I'm just a bit fussy at the moment, we've got a reasonable amount of travelling lined up, Dan junior will only be 2 months old by then so I really don't want to have to worry & will probably just buy new ones.

Then get them swapped back next year & store the winter ones until required again...

[verysideways]

http://www.bmw.de/de/de/owners/current_offers/rim_configurator.html

4 different 17" wheels shown for yours, with 225/50R17 as recommended sizes.

Those size tyres will be a lot cheaper than the 18's, and you can pick up a set of the genuine 17" BMW wheels for £200 from ebay. This also helps when you tell your insurance company you've fitted genuine BMW wheels with the BMW approved winter tyre sizes, which means they can't charge you any extra (according to an ABI bulletin issued earlier this year).

Camskill have the BMW specific Dunlop D3 for £130 a piece: http://www.camskill.co.uk/m97b0s5213p73478/DUNLOP_TYRES_WINTER_SNOW_CAR_DUNLOP_SP_WINTERSPORT _3D_DUNLOP_SP_WINTER_SPORT_3D_-_225_50R17_94H_%28%2A%29_MFS_TL_Bmw_X1

[Dan H]

Cheers, Pete.

Was just looking at the German site. UK one does the same, both are saying 17" but nothing about 18" wheels. UK site is £2k or £1.5k for wheels & tyres depending on brand.

A little concerned about buying ebay wheels as you don't know what they're going to be like - maybe I'm being over cautious.

Good info regarding insurance too, cheers.

[verysideways]

On a BMW even the worst winter tyres are better than the best summer tyres in snow and ice and when the tarmac is down to freezing... :)

[chevy-stu]

Check what wheels will fit though, as I know I can only get 17" and above due to clearing the brakes - just checked and mine are 324mm discs, you've got 348mm discs on the 535D, so maybe only 18" will fit..

[Dan H]

Check what wheels will fit though, as I know I can only get 17" and above due to clearing the brakes - just checked and mine are 324mm discs, you've got 348mm discs on the 535D, so maybe only 18" will fit..

I was wondering that, as the callipers are huuuuge!

BMW say 17" wheels are their winter recommendation, so they must fit!

[Dan H]

On a BMW even the worst winter tyres are better than the best summer tyres in snow and ice and when the tarmac is down to freezing... :)

True :clap:

[verysideways]

Dan, here you go, these have just appeared on ebay, exactly the sort of thing you need:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/260888234293

[Dan H]

:thumb:

Cheers, I'll keep an eye on them.....

[Kev F]

I was looking to change the wheels and tyres on the C63 but MB dealer said that as I had the uprated brakes and discs along with the 19inch wheels, i could only swap with similar sized rims.

However, spent a hour today with ST-Racing and they had some 18inch rims that fitted and cleared the calipers...so what do MB know...:confused:

So have a set of lightweight racing wheels in 18inch coming for fitment of winter rubber. this means that I'll then have a set of wheels that I can fit slicks on and do a few track days too...:clap:

A lot more options for tyres going down to 18's from 19's too...

[Dan H]

Dan, here you go, these have just appeared on ebay, exactly the sort of thing you need:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/260888234293

Won those!


Check what wheels will fit though, as I know I can only get 17" and above due to clearing the brakes - just checked and mine are 324mm discs, you've got 348mm discs on the 535D, so maybe only 18" will fit..

I was wondering that, as the callipers are huuuuge!

BMW say 17" wheels are their winter recommendation, so they must fit!

Have test fitted them this morning - they fit, they're bloody close, but they definitely fit! :boing:

Have Event Mobile coming on Thursday with some winter Dunlops to go on them.

So you can guarantee we'll end up with the hottest winter on record now! :coolgleamA:

[Dan H]

Fitted them today.

Expect the heatwave to follow shortly.

[chevy-stu]

Fitted them today.

Expect the heatwave to follow shortly.

:D

Waiting for below 0 overnight temps, then I'l throw mine on..

[Dan H]

:D

Waiting for below 0 overnight temps, then I'l throw mine on..

We've had them a couple times out here in the (not really) countryside!

Had to scrape the screen this morning at 7.30 ish.

Have a trip ooop North before too long, so wanted them on before that.

[Fiona]

Pedro got new boots today :D

Actually he got the 2 shiny new AT tyres that I've been carting around the world on the roof put on. Yup, I finally wore the fronts out, not bad considering they've done around 45,000 miles quite literally on ALL terrains. Thought it was worth putting the fresh ones on now the gritters are out! So Mark fired up his tyre changing machiney thing at the shack :thumb:

[spiritof'76]

Put some Hankook i-cept Evo winter tyres on the van today................... can we have some snow and ice please :D

[Dan H]

Put some Hankook i-cept Evo winter tyres on the van today................... can we have some snow and ice please :D

Yes please.

Looks like it's going to get warmer over the next week. :banghead:


One thing I've notice with the winter tyres on is the the TC light flashes up a lot more often!

Went to overtake some dawdler doing 50 mph, floored it and the light was flashing like mad. :D

[spiritof'76]

Wondering why i bothered :rolleyes:

[Dan H]

Me too....

[verysideways]

Wait for it... it's coming.

[Dan H]

Ooooh. When?

I suspect end of Jan - early Feb.....

[chevy-stu]

Still waiting to swap to my wheels...

[Kev F]

I blame Dan......premature wintertraction :D

[Dan H]

You should thank me.

i've saved loads of people from getting stuck in the snow. :)

[Sparky]

You should thank me.

i've saved loads of people from getting stuck in the snow. :)

This has been very handy, as my car decided I needed to spend another chunk of cash to replace some broken bits instead of buying winter tyres.

[Dan H]

This has been very handy, as my car decided I needed to spend another chunk of cash to replace some broken bits instead of buying winter tyres.

:thumb: in an ironic kind of way. . . :confused:

[chevy-stu]

Hmmmm.

I keep seeing very cheap nearly new Winter tyres in the right sizes for my Camaro on ebay.. .... :)

[Dan H]

:D Do it.....

[spiritof'76]

There is some stuff falling out of the sky here that i think just about qualifies as snow.................... that'll be winters arrival then :o

[Dan H]

Yeah, had some of that today.

Landed & melted straight away as it was too warm for it to last. :(

[Dan H]

It's snowing & settling.

Hoooray!! :D

[Fatboy 18]

I got some new Wide whitewall tyres fitted on the Harley 2 days ago, bloody cold riding it home yesterday, and now there's white stuff falling to match the tyres :D

[Fiona]

Just drove home from work with a fine dusting of snow settling on the roads. The marina car park is up to about 1 inch, Pedro didn't even notice it :D

[spiritof'76]

Dobby is ready :D

Not sure i am though :rolleyes: Think i might stay in today drinking hot chocolate and watching movies ;)


http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq293/n4aja/IMG_2504.jpg

[Dan H]

Just been out to do a little bit of shopping.

I don't understand why everyone is driving so slowly?! :D

Flooring it still gets the DTC kicking in & stamping on the brakes gets the ABS working.

But you can make good progress if you're smooth with the controls.

[Marcellus]

Winter tyres make a hell of a difference..

I've just returned from 4 weeks in the Alps in a 4x4 with summer tyres and I have got to say it was the most uncomfortable driving I have ever done..... positively scary tbh!!

The thing was not only were they summer tyres they were also 25.5cm wide, the car had about 450bhp under the right foot and was an auto/tiptronic thing........

Now as most of you are ware I have some pretty good experience of driving in those conditions so agree with everything you say Dan about smooth, anticipation, gently gently...... but when you're coming down a windy mountain road heading for a hairpin with a drop at the side and the ABS kicks in and you have no "retardation" it is one of those sphincter moments and if you do use some right foot there is only so much that it can iron out!!

I had snow socks and they're absolutely crap...... so spent an afternoon looking for some good old fashioned traditional chains (not an easy thing for 255/40/17s but once they were on it was completely different.

The direct comparision for me is that all of our previous cars out there had snow tyres and we rarely had to use chains and I met a client with the same car as mine only he had snow tyres on it and I took it out and the difference was amazing!!

[spiritof'76]

Just took Dobby out for a play............

First though it took an hour to get the BMW from the garage to the road :banghead:

Dobby on winters wasn't sure what all the fuss was about as she just ploughed through and i then went off looking for the least used roads in the area and she still din't bat an eyelid :p....... even an emergency stop went pretty well :D

Then upset the 2mph brigade with an overtake on a country lane :stirthepot:

[chevy-stu]

left the house last night just as the snow started falling (great timing) luckily I'd swapped to the winter wheels that afternoon.. :)

First impression on snow with winter tyres are definately grip way way better on braking, acceleration etc.. Still have the traction and ABS light coming up a little on some slippier areas. I had to do a couple of stops on my way into town, so on setting of again at around 10pm I did have a wheelspinning/thought I was stuck moment whilst trying to do 3 point turn on a slope, but just about gripped and got round. By 3am the snow was properly thick, and still had no issues using proper smooth driving ...

Winter tyres are great and definately way safer on snow/slush, but still have their limits in a heavy auto RWD car...

[Fiona]

It's interesting driving around the snow covered car park on the marina. Other peoples tyre tracks seem to simply compact the snow, looking at Pedro's tyre tracks alongside you can clearly see the difference. The chunky all terrains bite through to the tarmac and churn up the snow rather than squashing it. :D

[Fatboy 18]

Trouble with swapping tyres is where the hell do you store the other ones :( I just dont have any space left :( Recently had to clear out my mum and dads house, so you end up with double the amount of tools garden rakes etc, loft is crammed, just got to shift some stuff somewhere :(

I have a set of chains for my van and they are brilliant (in deep snow) but crap on salted slushy roads, I actually ended up snapping some of the links last year as the tarmac wore them out :(

[Dan H]

Trouble with swapping tyres is where the hell do you store the other ones :( I just dont have any space left :( Recently had to clear out my mum and dads house, so you end up with double the amount of tools garden rakes etc, loft is crammed, just got to shift some stuff somewhere :(

I have a set of chains for my van and they are brilliant (in deep snow) but crap on salted slushy roads, I actually ended up snapping some of the links last year as the tarmac wore them out :(

My normal wheels & tyres are currently chucked in one of my sheds.

Once we've moved, I'll get some sort of superfandango bracket / rack or whatever made up so I can keep them on the wall in the garage.

The hassle of finding a space is easily out-weighed by the benefit of having proper winter tyres & not having to faff around with chains.

Business opportunity for you - rent a storage unit over winter for your set & charge other people to store theirs in that unit - get it right, cover your costs & make a little bunce too.... :D

[spiritof'76]

Should have fitted winter tyres :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtFyoPGopDo&feature=player_embedded