Sponsored by The Tire Rack

[335i_LeMans_pkgmax]

Hey everyone!

I am sure this has been talked about, but I am looking for a TIME SPECIFIC deal for some winter tires and wheels. I am waiting for my dealership to finish preparing my 2009 335xi Msport Sedan.

I have a few questions:

1) Should I stick with 18 inch wheels? Why?
2) Where can I find a good deal on a package?
3) Do they need to be offset?

Thanks for the HELP!!!

[VMRWheels]

1) It would be a good idea to stay under 18's for a larger range of winter tires.
2) Tirerack.com has great tire deals all the time.
3) Depending if you have the 17" package or 18" package from the dealer. The 18's come staggered and will need the 225/255 tire sizes.

-Charles@VMRWheels

[335i_LeMans_pkgmax]

Originally Posted by VMRWheels

1) It would be a good idea to stay under 18's for a larger range of winter tires.
2) Tirerack.com has great tire deals all the time.
3) Depending if you have the 17" package or 18" package from the dealer. The 18's come staggered and will need the 225/255 tire sizes.

-Charles@VMRWheels

Thanks for the reply! I have the 18" package from the dealer. Does this mean I have to stay with the 18"?

[VMRWheels]

You can mount 17 or 19" wheels if you would like. It really depends on how much you are willing to spend on wheels/tires and what you will be doing with the setup.

-Charles@VMRWheels

[335i_LeMans_pkgmax]

Originally Posted by VMRWheels

You can mount 17 or 19" wheels if you would like. It really depends on how much you are willing to spend on wheels/tires and what you will be doing with the setup.

-Charles@VMRWheels

I was thinking of getting a nicer rim and then swapping the tires from my M-sport Rims to the new ones and put the winters on the M-sports. Although this doesn't seem to make much sense. I am probably better offer getting two sets of wheels and tires, and then sell the M-sports.

[ORIGIN M.]

I'd go with basic 17" Wheel from Discount Tire, and put on a killer set of winters.

[335i_LeMans_pkgmax]

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

I'd go with basic 17" Wheel from Discount Tire, and put on a killer set of winters.

Speaking of killer set of winters -- What is the best winter tire?

[mani82]

I just order Nokian Hakkapelitta R studless winter tires. They should be the best you can get. These are of course intended for driving in harsh winter conditions.

[335i_LeMans_pkgmax]

Originally Posted by mani82

I just order Nokian Hakkapelitta R studless winter tires. They should be the best you can get. These are of course intended for driving in harsh winter conditions.

Can you post some pics of them on your car please? Yep I am a pain HAHA

[CubanJJ09]

think blizzaks are the most common along with another set (forgot the name) i got wheel/tire combo of 225/40/18's from tirerack mounted balanced to my door for around 1100.

[335i_LeMans_pkgmax]

Originally Posted by CubanJJ09

think blizzaks are the most common along with another set (forgot the name) i got wheel/tire combo of 225/40/18's from tirerack mounted balanced to my door for around 1100.

Do you swap the tires only each winter and keep the same wheels (style 189)? If so how much do you get charged to change them?

[CubanJJ09]

no i have a dedicated winter/summer set. i store them at my brothers place. lucky enough hes a gear head and bought a house with a heated garage. hes got an air gun and about a thousand tools to work on his 69 gtx. so i just go over there and bum all his tools. it may be worth it to buy a dedicated set. i havent done the math on swapping tires out on the same wheel but its be a PITA to mount/balance every 6 months or so.

[marconi118]

nice wheels CubanJJ09!

what are they?

[335i_LeMans_pkgmax]

Originally Posted by marconi118

nice wheels CubanJJ09!

what are they?

+1

[Gary@TireRack]

We would recommended minus sizing to 17" for winter use on this car using a 225/45R17 tire size on all four corners. There are handful of wheels we carry that will clear the brakes and work well. Two of the more popular choices have been the Sport Edition A7 and Rial Salerno. For maximum winter traction, consider the Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60. For more of a balance between winter traction and dry road handling/cornering, we've had very good experience with the Dunlop Winter Sport 3D and Bridgestone Blizzak LM60.

You can view the complete list of wheel and tire options, along with costs and availability here :

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

There is currently a $50 rebate offer good till Oct 9, see this link for details :


http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AH8&...p&promoID=WT92

[335i_LeMans_pkgmax]

Originally Posted by Gary@TireRack

We would recommended minus sizing to 17" for winter use on this car using a 225/45R17 tire size on all four corners. There are handful of wheels we carry that will clear the brakes and work well. Two of the more popular choices have been the Sport Edition A7 and Rial Salerno. For maximum winter traction, consider the Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60. For more of a balance between winter traction and dry road handling/cornering, we've had very good experience with the Dunlop Winter Sport 3D and Bridgestone Blizzak LM60.

You can view the complete list of wheel and tire options, along with costs and availability here :

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

There is currently a $50 rebate offer good till Oct 9, see this link for details :


http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AH8&...p&promoID=WT92

Thanks for the reply! I will be putting an order in before the 9th! Thanks again Gary!

[CubanJJ09]

Originally Posted by marconi118

nice wheels CubanJJ09!

what are they?

thanks
sport edition km-11 from "the rack" they were 100 bucks per wheel everyone says they look better than the 600 dollar oems 189's pretty sad. funny thing is the blizzaks were more than twice the cost of the wheel...... and well worth it

ps. covers up the brake dust pretty well. couldnt tell it was on there until it rained or someone touched it

[Tee-Dub]

I'm in this debate right now too. I've got the 17" wheels waiting, but need tires. I've heard great things about the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 tires.

[VMRWheels]

Originally Posted by Gary@TireRack

For more of a balance between winter traction and dry road handling/cornering, we've had very good experience with the Dunlop Winter Sport 3D and Bridgestone Blizzak LM60.

I agree! We've had great feedback from the 3D and Blizzak's from our wheel/tire packages.

-Charles@VMRWheels

[zeeman335]

Hey Gary,

Will I be ok with 17x8 Bright Satin Sport Edition KM11, wrapped up in 225/45/R17 Bridgestone Blizzak's WS-60, TPMS installed on my '07 335i ? Will it clear the brakes and cause any rubbing? How about the speedometer, etc?

[CirrusSR22]

Look into the new Continental ExtremeWinterContact too. It's the same tire as the Continental ContiVikingContact 5 that is sold in Europe. The ContiVikingContact 5 and it's predecessor, the ContiVikingContact 3 have won that big Scandanavian winter tire test (studless) almost every year. It beats the Nokian RSi, Nokian R, Michelin X-Ice 2, etc.... It's slightly cheaper than the Blizzak WS-60 too.

That being said, I've had the Blizzak WS-60 for the past two winters in Minnesota and I think it's excellent. Noticeable better than the previous WS-50.

[CubanJJ09]

Someone used the copy and paste function well