[Bimmer Al]

Newbie here. After leaving BMW in 2002 and driving 2 Audi's I am back with BMW. With that said I am looking to start shopping for a set of winters for a 2006 325i Sport. Any suggestions would be more than welcome. Thanks!

[chicagolab]

After a few months of searching around, I got a great deal on a winter set up. A few months ago I got 159oem rims from a member on here for $300 shipped. Today, I was able to find winter tires (michelin alpin)for $250 on craigslist form somewone who had used them for one season on a benz. So my whole set came to approx. $550. If you have time keep looking around, if not then use tirerack as others here have used.

Welcom to the forum

[halB]

Dunlop Winter Sport M3 ROF (DSST) 225/45HR17 on ASA JH3 17". I used a very similar setup on my 530Xi last winter and it was good. Doing the same for my E93 this winter.

[spacedogg]

Originally Posted by halB

Dunlop Winter Sport M3 ROF (DSST) 225/45HR17 on ASA JH3 17". I used a very similar setup on my 530Xi last winter and it was good. Doing the same for my E93 this winter.

I have a similar setup...except I use Dunlop Winter Sport 3Ds in the non-runflat version. The Winter Sport 3Ds are newer design than the M3s. Both will be give you great winter performance.

[Bimmer Al]

Thanks for the feedback. If I were to purchase non RFT for winters I was told by the dealer that while they were on the car and you had a flat roadside would be voided. Is this true?

In addition I have practically new Pirelli winter sports from my Audi but they are 16's. A couple of issues. First I would still require a new set of rims as the bolt patterns do not match. Secondly, would 16's look odd given the way the 17 sport package tires fill the wheel well?

Should I just sell the Audi package and start over? I am looking to own my BMW for 6-8 years.

[ctgazer]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Al

Thanks for the feedback. If I were to purchase non RFT for winters I was told by the dealer that while they were on the car and you had a flat roadside would be voided. Is this true?

In addition I have practically new Pirelli winter sports from my Audi but they are 16's. A couple of issues. First I would still require a new set of rims as the bolt patterns do not match. Secondly, would 16's look odd given the way the 17 sport package tires fill the wheel well?

Should I just sell the Audi package and start over? I am looking to own my BMW for 6-8 years.

the dealer is feeding you a load of crap. the roadside assistance comes with the car, not the tires. i got a flat about a month ago on the 427 with after market rims and tires, obviously no spare. called roadside assistance and they picked me up after about a 30 min wait.

roadside assistance is for anything broken down in your bmw. not just tires. if your exhaust flew off, or whatever. they only tow to a dealer, so you have to get ti fixed there. thats where they ding you mad $$....or you could have it towed from the dealer to your garage, well...you coulda done that in the first place..

it all depends. you can pick up some 16" steelies for cheapo. if you do that, just take the tires off your audi wheels and stick em on your steelies. 325i's look ok with 16's if you dont have a substantial drop (non SP). with an aggresive drop, yes, you may want to go bigger, which also means more $$ in terms of wheels and tires.

edit: just reread your post and it says you plan on keeping your car for 6-8 years. in that case, pick up a set of 17" rubber. you'll get maybe 5 seasons outta it since the winters have been getting warmer and warmer and consists of only around 3 months.

[Bimmer Al]

In terms of getting 17's. If I am going to keep the car might as well look good doing it

Thanks for the advice about roadside.

Thanks for the feedback. Who would be a good retailer to look at for a set of winter rims and tires? Want to get your collective experiences and pricing in the GTA.

[ctgazer]

try chris@tirewerkes. he'll hook you up. i think itll cost around 1500 or so for a set of 17's + winters. or you could alternatively look for a used set of 17" and just pick up the rubbers from him or elsewhere

[Soni]

Originally Posted by spacedogg

I have a similar setup...except I use Dunlop Winter Sport 3Ds in the non-runflat version. The Winter Sport 3Ds are newer design than the M3s. Both will be give you great winter performance.

Does Vancouver need winter tires since it doesn't really get snow??

[agnisb]

Originally Posted by Soni

Does Vancouver need winter tires since it doesn't really get snow??

it depends wat u do buddy

i still get snow tires cause i go snowboardin like 20-30 times a yr and i need the snowtires...

btw, anybody know where's a good place to get snowtires... cause i just had my e90 335i for 2 months and starting to think about snowtires

thanks ppl.... pace

[rocketm]

Originally Posted by halB

Dunlop Winter Sport M3 ROF (DSST) 225/45HR17 on ASA JH3 17". I used a very similar setup on my 530Xi last winter and it was good. Doing the same for my E93 this winter.

Would it be better to go with 18"? The 17" will look very small on an E93.

[deim]

Originally Posted by ctgazer

i got a flat about a month ago on the 427 with after market rims and tires, obviously no spare. called roadside assistance and they picked me up after about a 30 min wait.

I was wondering - how you guys deal with long trips on non-RFT tires? I often have trips about 1000km (600-700miles) one way, even worse - it's to another country - from Canada to US. What would I do in the case of flat tire?! No spare in the trunk...
I didn't pay too much attention to the configuration of the trunk when I looked at the car in the dealership - is there a space for spare tire, at least for a donut-type one?
I just hate the idea of being stuck in the middle of nowhere, and no spare tire...

[halB]

E9X do not come with spares, and the runflats are good up to 150km with no air.

Frankly, there is no difference between these and compact spare donuts as they are also meant for short range temporary use only (except that runflats cannot be reused after 150km, and cost up to $500 a piece to replace). Besides, when was the last time you check tire pressure on your spare and do you carry an electric air pump to pump your donut up to 65psi when you need it??

If you want to be 100% sure you have to carry both a full size spare and an electric pump.

[deim]

Actually, I was asking about the situation when you replace run-flats with normal tires.

And about your question - I do have an electric pumps in both of my cars, along with pressure gauge and torque wrench. In addition to this, I have in my trunk: towing rope, jump-start-cable, emergency triangle, small medical kit. All of this is always there. I am participating in TSD rally's, and most of this is mandatory to have to be accepted in the race Oh, sometimes in the winter before the race I also put a small shovel to dig myself from some snowbanks in the case If I lost control completely
Now, I carry most of it even in normal situations (except shovel, of course).

P.S. Not planning to rally 335i though, which I'm going to order next spring

[halB]

Actually I'm about to switch out the runflats on my E93. I have a set of iForged Hyper Black Monaco 19's with Falkens non-runflats to go in. I am planning to carry an Airman kit (good for 300km) and have my roadside assist number programmed into my cell phone.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/pr...romSearch=true

BMW sells a simliar M-Mobility kit but costs way more.

For winter I will stick with runflats - don't feel like dealing with flat tires when it is -20C outside.