[JDMAF]

Hey guys - as I wait for my 340i xdrive (6MT with Msport and Track handling) to go into production I'v been thinking about what tires and what sizes to use - I will be putting the oem runflats aside pretty quickly and probably installing a high perf all season like the conti DWS. On my STi I discovered the Nokian WRG3 and ran it all year - tremendous tire - but with limited sizes. So my question is if I go with a square setup instead of the staggered 225/40 and 255/35 -19s what am I really loosing? Just looks? Say I choose a 9 inch rim all around (Love the 437 reps) and go with 255/35s all around or maybe 245/40 (mostly to fill in the wheel wells a bit because I am not lowering the car) will I really change the handling that much by going square? Would do it just to increase my choices of tire and also so the could be rotated. Thanks

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by JDMAF

Hey guys - as I wait for my 340i xdrive (6MT with Msport and Track handling) to go into production I'v been thinking about what tires and what sizes to use - I will be putting the oem runflats aside pretty quickly and probably installing a high perf all season like the conti DWS. On my STi I discovered the Nokian WRG3 and ran it all year - tremendous tire - but with limited sizes. So my question is if I go with a square setup instead of the staggered 225/40 and 255/35 -19s what am I really loosing? Just looks? Say I choose a 9 inch rim all around (Love the 437 reps) and go with 255/35s all around or maybe 245/40 (mostly to fill in the wheel wells a bit because I am not lowering the car) will I really change the handling that much by going square? Would do it just to increase my choices of tire and also so the could be rotated. Thanks

Going with a square setup makes tire sizing a lot easier since you're xDrive.

You'll get a bit less understeer and more front end grip. Square is a common track setup.

Staggered is generally for looks.

My setup is a square 255/40/18 MPSS with ARC-8 18x8.5 ET37 on a RWD M Sport with M Sport Brake Option car.

[paul e]

When my 225/45-18 tires go I will be upsizing to 245/40-18 on my xDrive. Nicer choices in that size, IMO.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by Polo08816

Going with a square setup makes tire sizing a lot easier since you're xDrive.

You'll get a bit less understeer and more front end grip. Square is a common track setup.

Staggered is generally for looks.

My setup is a square 255/40/18 MPSS with ARC-8 18x8.5 ET37 on a RWD M Sport with M Sport Brake Option car.

+1, about sums it up.

[.BMW.]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

+1, about sums it up.

+2

[BMWalltheway]

Originally Posted by Polo08816

Going with a square setup makes tire sizing a lot easier since you're xDrive.

You'll get a bit less understeer and more front end grip. Square is a common track setup.

Staggered is generally for looks.

My setup is a square 255/40/18 MPSS with ARC-8 18x8.5 ET37 on a RWD M Sport with M Sport Brake Option car.

Originally Posted by spuntyb

+1, about sums it up.

Originally Posted by .BMW.

+2

+3

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by BMWalltheway

+3

+4

[JDMAF]

Wow consensus - kind of unusual around here! -- appreciate the responses thanks.

[BEM-S4]

Yeah I'd go down a size to an 18" and mount some DWS06 tires on some BBS SR rims. Did that on my 235 and love them.

[Adamr916]

I learned my lesson with this last set of tires. I had a square set up from factory, went to staggered 19s and a year later I'm going back to the square set up. I manged to get roughly 45k out of the OEM Pirelli's, and when I replaced them with a staggered Michelin A/S 3's and need to replace them aready. To me it's not worth it to have to spend $900+ every 10k-15k miles because you can't do a proper rotation.

[JDMAF]

Originally Posted by Adamr916

I learned my lesson with this last set of tires. I had a square set up from factory, went to staggered 19s and a year later I'm going back to the square set up. I manged to get roughly 45k out of the OEM Pirelli's, and when I replaced them with a staggered Michelin A/S 3's and need to replace them aready. To me it's not worth it to have to spend $900+ every 10k-15k miles because you can't do a proper rotation.

Do you plan on going square 18 or 19s? And what size?

[Beek]

I'm loving my staggered 18' set up even though I agree it's mostly for show. I'm low mileage and not too concerned about wear issues and think it looks really good.

[lens]

Originally Posted by JDMAF

Hey guys - as I wait for my 340i xdrive (6MT with Msport and Track handling) to go into production I'v been thinking about what tires and what sizes to use - I will be putting the oem runflats aside pretty quickly and probably installing a high perf all season like the conti DWS. On my STi I discovered the Nokian WRG3 and ran it all year - tremendous tire - but with limited sizes. So my question is if I go with a square setup instead of the staggered 225/40 and 255/35 -19s what am I really loosing? Just looks? Say I choose a 9 inch rim all around (Love the 437 reps) and go with 255/35s all around or maybe 245/40 (mostly to fill in the wheel wells a bit because I am not lowering the car) will I really change the handling that much by going square? Would do it just to increase my choices of tire and also so the could be rotated. Thanks

I ran 225/45/18 and didn't like it due to ride quality etc..

Upgraded to 245/40/18 all around on 18x9 ET30, lowered on Dinan springs, xDrive

Pokes out a tiny bit but the car feels much more smoother.

[63MM]

+ 1 million. Have been debating about square vs staggered for my 440iGCxD but this post did for me. 255/35/19 all around for me. Now to find rims.

[NewM3driver]

Can you get track handling with X-drive?

[JDMAF]

Originally Posted by NewM3driver

Can you get track handling with X-drive?

Yes that's how I ordered mine

[Adamr916]

Originally Posted by JDMAF

Do you plan on going square 18 or 19s? And what size?

I'm just going back to the factory 18s, it's just a weekend warrior car, so it's nothing that I need to make look nice.

[CalCarNut]

Can you squeeze 255/40/18s on the 397 wheel that holds 225/45/18s? This size is closer to the 225 in terms of diameter and has the width I want.......

[paul e]

Originally Posted by CalCarNut

Can you squeeze 255/40/18s on the 397 wheel that holds 225/45/18s? This size is closer to the 225 in terms of diameter and has the width I want.......

When I went to tire rack.com they have recommended wheel widths. I seem to remember that 245 was the widest tire that fit on the 397, which I also have. But that size has a nice selection, and it's not worth it to me to get different wheels to go wider than 245 anyway.

[CalCarNut]

Seems to me you can squeeze it..but not totally sure. I've run 285/40s on a wheel width of 8.5 where the replacement width was 1.2" wider..and in this instance, it's only about 8/10ths greater than stock...1/3 less.

I agree...I like the 397..but if a 255 fits square, why not?

[CalCarNut]

Seems to me you can squeeze it..but not totally sure. I've run 285/40s on a wheel width of 8.5 where the replacement width was 1.2" wider..and in this instance, it's only about 8/10ths greater than stock...1/3 less.

I agree...I like the 397..but if a 255 fits square, why not? The odometer is almost dead on vs 225 size where the 245 actually is off by a bit over 1/2mph (shows 65..actual speed would be about 64.3mph)

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by JDMAF

Hey guys - as I wait for my 340i xdrive (6MT with Msport and Track handling) to go into production I'v been thinking about what tires and what sizes to use - I will be putting the oem runflats aside pretty quickly and probably installing a high perf all season like the conti DWS. On my STi I discovered the Nokian WRG3 and ran it all year - tremendous tire - but with limited sizes. So my question is if I go with a square setup instead of the staggered 225/40 and 255/35 -19s what am I really loosing? Just looks? Say I choose a 9 inch rim all around (Love the 437 reps) and go with 255/35s all around or maybe 245/40 (mostly to fill in the wheel wells a bit because I am not lowering the car) will I really change the handling that much by going square? Would do it just to increase my choices of tire and also so the could be rotated. Thanks

Congrats on the new car

Personally, I don't like large tires with short sidewalls especially on American roads that live in multiple seasons.

I tried the 335i w/19's and hated it.
I went with Msport 18's and now with my 340i Msport I have 18's as well.

I run staggered as I have RWD, and the setup is staggered from the factory.
It's odd to see that BMW is not using a square setup in an AWD as Audi and Subaru do.

I too store the OEM tires and get the tires I want so that when my lease is up I return the car with nearly new OEM tires, and then I get to use my tires of choice.
I ran Conti DWS on my 335i Msport and am running the new Conti DWS-06 on the 340i Msport.

This is a great tire. Yes, the sidewalls are a bit softer than other UHP AS tires, but the return is a better overall ride, and the DWS is now legendary in it's ability to actually have some snow capability. Even with my RWD I can manage even in moderate snow in the Chicago area, but I do have to be cautious, and make sure not to get stuck.
Also, I engage DTS when I need some wheel/tire spin to get me going or to keep me in a proper line. A lot of BMW drivers seem to forget to engage DTS so they can get some wheel spin to get moving.

With AWD and the DWS-06 you should have accel and handling traction nicely. As you likely already know, braking is a different matter where the tires matters and which wheels are driven doesn't.

As for the size, like I said, I prefer 18's due to more sidewall for better ride quality. I checked the OEM sizes of the staggered AWD setup and interestingly the front 25/40/19 Potenza has a 26.1" diameter, while the rear 255/35/19 lists 26", so the rears are .1" smaller in diameter. I mention this because generally with AWD systems it is preferred to have the same diameter tire all around. Of course .1" is not much difference at all.

One more thing, I would go square for the ability to do proper tire rotation, that really helps with not just keeping the tires wearing evenly, but also with tread noise and ride comfort.
With the staggered setup in my last 3 BMW's I am only able to swap left to right, and I do, and it helps to quite some of the wear noise that starts to build in. But if you can do a real rotation front to back and left to right that helps even more.

If the front can take it and has the room going 255 all around would look nice, and would give you lots of rubber for handling and especially braking.
In 18" DWS-06 255/40/18 has a 26" diameter, perfect size.
245/40/18 is 25.7" diameter, so not too far off, and since it will be square it should work nicely.