18/19" Performance Tires in the Snow

vindicator · 06-29-2008, 02:28 PM

How do these 18/19" wheels that come in the sport package handle in the snow? I was told that they dont grip well. If I wanted to get new tires on a leased car - what would be the best route to go? Thanks!

325/528 · 06-29-2008, 02:47 PM

They come with high performance summer tires. You could either get different rims with winter tires for the winter or get all seasons in the correct sizes. The general exclaim uhp are actually labelled as M&S tires - meaning that they don't get really hard in cold temps like summer tires do. I have asked other members from northern states and they say that they do well in light snow. Otherwise, you could get bridgestone re960, GY F1 all seasons, yokohama all seasons, etc - look on tirerack.com.

Hope this helps,
Mark

325/528 · 06-29-2008, 02:52 PM

Also, since it's a lease, you could just store your stock tires in plastic bags and put them back on before lease turn in and avoid any extra charges for worn tires.

remmib · 06-29-2008, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vindicator

How do these 18/19" wheels that come in the sport package handle in the snow? I was told that they dont grip well. If I wanted to get new tires on a leased car - what would be the best route to go? Thanks!

They don't handle in snow.

Get snowtires for snow.

Kev · 06-29-2008, 03:48 PM

You can't steer or stop with those performance tires. Get dedicated snow tires / rims package instead.

tintivilus · 06-29-2008, 03:57 PM

well... OP has an xi, so I'm pretty sure the sport package comes with all-seasons unless the upgrade to summer tires was purchased separately.

If you have summer tires, do not drive on roads that aren't perfectly dry when it's less than 40 or so degrees. Driving on snow, slush, or water on cold-hardened summer tires is a death wish.

Kev · 06-29-2008, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tintivilus

well... OP has an xi, so I'm pretty sure the sport package comes with all-seasons unless the upgrade to summer tires was purchased separately.

If you have summer tires, do not drive on roads that aren't perfectly dry when it's less than 40 or so degrees. Driving on snow, slush, or water on cold-hardened summer tires is a death wish.

Per OP

Quote:

How do these 18/19" wheels that come in the sport package handle in the snow?

All the 18s and 19s that come with the ZSP are summer performance tires, not all-season tires.

325/528 · 06-29-2008, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev

You can't steer or stop with those performance tires. Get dedicated snow tires / rims package instead.

Other than not being able to steer or stop, they work great!

Kev · 06-29-2008, 04:52 PM

LOL'ed

I had an incident where I just slid down a slope, not being able to stop or turn the steering wheel while running on ALL SEASON tires..... That was enough deterrence for me to run dedicated snow tires even on my XI.

vindicator · 06-29-2008, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjfloyd1

They come with high performance summer tires. You could either get different rims with winter tires for the winter or get all seasons in the correct sizes. The general exclaim uhp are actually labelled as M&S tires - meaning that they don't get really hard in cold temps like summer tires do. I have asked other members from northern states and they say that they do well in light snow. Otherwise, you could get bridgestone re960, GY F1 all seasons, yokohama all seasons, etc - look on tirerack.com.

Hope this helps,
Mark

Thanks Mark. This does help.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev

You can't steer or stop with those performance tires. Get dedicated snow tires / rims package instead.

Do dedicated snow tires / rims come in 18"? I really would like the 18" wheels on my next car - but I want to be ready for what the snow just incase. Do the 18" performance tires handle just as bad in the rain?

Kev · 06-29-2008, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vindicator

Thanks Mark. This does help.

Do dedicated snow tires / rims come in 18"? I really would like the 18" wheels on my next car - but I want to be ready for what the snow just incase. Do the 18" performance tires handle just as bad in the rain?

Yeah, you can get them all the way up to 19s right now, but all major manufacturers of tires make good 18" winter tires (like Dunlop Wintersport M3 or 3D, Bridgestone Blizzak LM25).

vindicator · 06-29-2008, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev

Yeah, you can get them all the way up to 19s right now, but all major manufacturers of tires make good 18" winter tires (like Dunlop Wintersport M3 or 3D, Bridgestone Blizzak LM25).

Excellent. I think I will make them throw in a pair of 18" Winter tires

Nikolas · 06-29-2008, 08:03 PM

Perfromance tires in the snow suck big time. Get some dedicated snows and yes 18's/19's are fine, staggered or not.

E30M3Driver · 06-29-2008, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vindicator

Excellent. I think I will make them throw in a pair of 18" Winter tires

You need 4. Unless you don't want to be able to steer.

vindicator · 06-29-2008, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E30M3Driver

You need 4. Unless you don't want to be able to steer.

I'm going for the hi-low effect - 19s in the back and 18s in the front.

halB · 06-29-2008, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vindicator

I'm going for the hi-low effect - 19s in the back and 18s in the front.

Don't do that in an Xi unless you can make the F/R tire circumference within 1% of each other. Failing that you risk burning out your transfer case clutch pack becasue of the F/R axle speed difference.

E30M3Driver · 06-29-2008, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by halB

Don't do that in an Xi unless you can make the F/R tire circumference within 1% of each other. Failing that you risk burning out your transfer case clutch pack becasue of the F/R axle speed difference.

I'm pretty sure that was a joke

vindicator · 06-30-2008, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E30M3Driver

I'm pretty sure that was a joke

Yep it was a joke!! LOL

325/528 · 06-30-2008, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by halB

Don't do that in an Xi unless you can make the F/R tire circumference within 1% of each other. Failing that you risk burning out your transfer case clutch pack becasue of the F/R axle speed difference.

[/I]

You do need to have the front tire overall diameter within 1% of the rear tire overall diameter or you may harm the all wheel drive system. It is NOT a joke.
Apparently the system will read the speed difference as wheel slippage and apply the traction control system.

You could do it with different size wheels as long as the overall wheel diameter front and rear are the same, although it could look funny if the fronts had taller sidewalls...

06-29-2008, 02:28 PM	#1
vindicator balllllllllin 22 Rep 173 Posts Drives: 2009 335i xDrive Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: MI iTrader: (0)	18/19" Performance Tires in the Snow How do these 18/19" wheels that come in the sport package handle in the snow? I was told that they dont grip well. If I wanted to get new tires on a leased car - what would be the best route to go? Thanks! __________________
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06-29-2008, 02:47 PM	#2
325/528 Second Lieutenant 23 Rep 278 Posts Drives: pinto Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: lost soul iTrader: (7)	They come with high performance summer tires. You could either get different rims with winter tires for the winter or get all seasons in the correct sizes. The general exclaim uhp are actually labelled as M&S tires - meaning that they don't get really hard in cold temps like summer tires do. I have asked other members from northern states and they say that they do well in light snow. Otherwise, you could get bridgestone re960, GY F1 all seasons, yokohama all seasons, etc - look on tirerack.com. Hope this helps, Mark
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06-29-2008, 02:52 PM	#3
325/528 Second Lieutenant 23 Rep 278 Posts Drives: pinto Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: lost soul iTrader: (7)	Also, since it's a lease, you could just store your stock tires in plastic bags and put them back on before lease turn in and avoid any extra charges for worn tires.
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06-29-2008, 03:48 PM	#5
Kev Critical Care Anesthesiologist 491 Rep 8,824 Posts Drives: SMB F83 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (24) Garage List 2009 Porsche 911 Ca ... [9.50]	You can't steer or stop with those performance tires. Get dedicated snow tires / rims package instead. __________________ kev { divinum est sedate dolorem } "your friendly neighborhood critical care anesthesiologist"
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06-29-2008, 03:57 PM	#6
tintivilus Lieutenant Colonel 26 Rep 1,826 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lake County, IL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E92 335i [0.00] 2003 325i [0.00]	well... OP has an xi, so I'm pretty sure the sport package comes with all-seasons unless the upgrade to summer tires was purchased separately. If you have summer tires, do not drive on roads that aren't perfectly dry when it's less than 40 or so degrees. Driving on snow, slush, or water on cold-hardened summer tires is a death wish.
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06-29-2008, 04:52 PM	#9
Kev Critical Care Anesthesiologist 491 Rep 8,824 Posts Drives: SMB F83 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (24) Garage List 2009 Porsche 911 Ca ... [9.50]	LOL'ed I had an incident where I just slid down a slope, not being able to stop or turn the steering wheel while running on ALL SEASON tires..... That was enough deterrence for me to run dedicated snow tires even on my XI. __________________ kev { divinum est sedate dolorem } "your friendly neighborhood critical care anesthesiologist"
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06-29-2008, 08:03 PM	#13
Nikolas Colonel 313 Rep 2,576 Posts Drives: 996 TT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sierra Mountains iTrader: (0)	Perfromance tires in the snow suck big time. Get some dedicated snows and yes 18's/19's are fine, staggered or not.
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