Sponsored by The Tire Rack

[OTO335i]

Hey guys,

This will be my first winter with the 335 and I'm looking into getting some winter tires very shortly. I have picked up a set of BMW style 44 wheels (17'' wheels off an E46) and will run these for winter.

I was hoping to get some insight on what everybody else runs here for a winter set up. So far my experience with my previous car (02 Audi a4 sport) wasn't very pleasant for winter, I believe that this was the case because my tires did not have a thick side wall (I forget but I believe I ran either a 45 of 50 series tire).

My plan with the 335 is to run a set of 225/55/17 on all four corners. This would give me 1.6 inches of a taller tire compared to my summer set up (225/40/18 in the front and 255/35/18 on the rears)

What are your thoughts and experience with winter tires and wheels?

Thanks

Mitch

[david in germany]

Originally Posted by OTO335i

Hey guys,

This will be my first winter with the 335 and I'm looking into getting some winter tires very shortly. I have picked up a set of BMW style 44 wheels (17'' wheels off an E46) and will run these for winter.

I was hoping to get some insight on what everybody else runs here for a winter set up. So far my experience with my previous car (02 Audi a4 sport) wasn't very pleasant for winter, I believe that this was the case because my tires did not have a thick side wall (I forget but I believe I ran either a 45 of 50 series tire).

My plan with the 335 is to run a set of 225/55/17 on all four corners. This would give me 1.6 inches of a taller tire compared to my summer set up (225/40/18 in the front and 255/35/18 on the rears)

What are your thoughts and experience with winter tires and wheels?

Thanks

Mitch

Speedo will be a bit off. BMW reccomends 225/45/17. This is what I run as well.

[OTO335i]

Originally Posted by david in germany

Speedo will be a bit off. BMW reccomends 225/45/17. This is what I run as well.

I'm aware the speedo would be off a little but that doesn't bother me, I'll just keep in mind my speed while driving.
How does your set up work out? The reason I'd like to go 55 is so that I have more tire that'll be able to dig into the snow and grab...

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by OTO335i

This will be my first winter with the 335 and I'm looking into getting some winter tires very shortly. I have picked up a set of BMW style 44 wheels (17'' wheels off an E46) and will run these for winter.
...

55 is too tall. I run a set of 225/45R18 for winter - this as opposed to the /40 normal height. So /50 would be the same height for a 17" wheel. My speedo is almost dead accurate with the winter set on.

But the real problem is that the E46 wheels are a different offset (46mm rather than 35mm) than the E9x requires. You're going to be very very close to the shock/springs. You definitely won't be able to put on chains on a 225 tire with those wheels (this is very important if the state patrol ever requires chains - turn around time!) You may well need to drop to a 7" rim and/or a 205 width tire to get things to fit.

[david in germany]

Originally Posted by OTO335i

I'm aware the speedo would be off a little but that doesn't bother me, I'll just keep in mind my speed while driving.
How does your set up work out? The reason I'd like to go 55 is so that I have more tire that'll be able to dig into the snow and grab...

Had it in fairly deep German snow without any issues. car is amazing with good tires.

[OTO335i]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

55 is too tall. I run a set of 225/45R18 for winter - this as opposed to the /40 normal height. So /50 would be the same height for a 17" wheel. My speedo is almost dead accurate with the winter set on.

But the real problem is that the E46 wheels are a different offset (46mm rather than 35mm) than the E9x requires. You're going to be very very close to the shock/springs. You definitely won't be able to put on chains on a 225 tire with those wheels (this is very important if the state patrol ever requires chains - turn around time!) You may well need to drop to a 7" rim and/or a 205 width tire to get things to fit.

Thanks for your response, I fitted the E46 wheel without a tire to the front of my car to check fitment and the wheel does come close to the shock, but when I put my stock 18'' wheel it appears like it sits just as close. Where can you locate offsets for the wheels? My summers are on Style 193 wheels and the E46 wheels are Style 44. I will not be putting chains on my wheels (I'm located in Ottawa, Ontario) I hope I don't have any fitment issues with tires on.

Originally Posted by david in germany

Had it in fairly deep German snow without any issues. car is amazing with good tires.

Thanks for your response, That gives me a little piece of mind!

[ECSTuning]

I run Michelin PA4s in stock size (on the cars original stock 18s). Never any issues in the deeper stuff, and ride quality doesn't really suffer.

For ride quality, the tire itself (brand/version/etc) as well as size are going to come in to play from my experience.

-James

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by OTO335i

...
Where can you locate offsets for the wheels? ...

I will not be putting chains on my wheels (I'm located in Ottawa, Ontario)

They're stamped on the back side of the spokes: 46 mm, 35 mm, etc.

What are you going to do when you get stuck? And you can even with snows on an AWD car. (Of course mostly you get stuck when you get high-centered and chains don't help then.)

I would ask a tire shop for a test fit before buying.

[OTO335i]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

They're stamped on the back side of the spokes: 46 mm, 35 mm, etc.

What are you going to do when you get stuck? And you can even with snows on an AWD car. (Of course mostly you get stuck when you get high-centered and chains don't help then.)

I would ask a tire shop for a test fit before buying.

I'll take a look for the offset but I'm pretty sure you are correct with the numbers you had given me.

This is my third AWD car, MY first was a 99 Impreza and the only reason I really got stuck with that car is because I would test how deep of snow I could get the car to go through lol.

My second AWD car was my 02 Audi A4 which I never took through very deep snow like the Impreza but I never got stuck with the Audi, Even on the stormy days where they hadn't plowed the streets yet.

I'm not planning to take the 335 in very deep snow since I don't want to crack anything on the front end or any shields underneath so my plan is to not get stuck lol If I do I'll have my buddies pull me out with their trucks.

[hz_diesel]

I had nokian happs r2 225/45/17 on some APEX ec-7 on my 335ix coupe when it was lowered and FBO. I plowed thru everything no issues. I wake up at 5 am so sometimes I am too lazy to shove, never got stuck and never had a issue. This winter will be interesting since I no longer have AWD.

[OTO335i]

Originally Posted by hz_diesel

I had nokian happs r2 225/45/17 on some APEX ec-7 on my 335ix coupe when it was lowered and FBO. I plowed thru everything no issues. I wake up at 5 am so sometimes I am too lazy to shove, never got stuck and never had a issue. This winter will be interesting since I no longer have AWD.

Thanks for your reply, it reassures me that I shouldn't have any issues then!

[hz_diesel]

Originally Posted by OTO335i

Thanks for your reply, it reassures me that I shouldn't have any issues then!

No problem but you should raise it if you can because clearance prob will be your only issue.

[Wolf 335]

Been driving RWD bmw in Canadian winters for the past 12 years. You must have winter tires and you are good to go. No issues in the snow.

[OTO335i]

Originally Posted by hz_diesel

No problem but you should raise it if you can because clearance prob will be your only issue.

I'll most likely go with a 225/50/17. I should be ok with that.

[OTO335i]

I ended up getting some 225/50r17 winter tires and got them inatalled on the style 44 E46 wheels. I've test fitted them to the front and boy was the spacing close, I went for a quick ride, l and there's no sign of rubbing or anything so I'll be good to go!