winter tire options

BMWNTHZST · 09-05-2017, 06:54 AM

Sadly it's that time of year for those of us who winter drive our M3's year round to think about what tire to buy.

I know there are lots of choices however I have narrowed it down to these two:
- Yokohama IG52C 97T
- Continental WinterContact Si 97H XL

Has anyone had experience driving on either tire in our Toronto winters? At the moment I am leaning towards to Continental tire.

Thanks in advance for your comments.

bimmergixxer · 09-05-2017, 03:22 PM

I have done three seasons with the Pirelli Sottozero tires and they perform amazing and work great in deep snow. I picked these since I leave for work early, usually before the plow arrives and need to ford some deep powder on big snow days. Also used them for the wifes miata and they are good, but not not amazing with a lighter vehicle, even with a bag of sand in the trunk. Pick a tire based on the kind of winter driving you plan on doing.

BMWNTHZST · 09-05-2017, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmergixxer

I have done three seasons with the Pirelli Sottozero tires and they perform amazing and work great in deep snow. I picked these since I leave for work early, usually before the plow arrives and need to ford some deep powder on big snow days. Also used them for the wifes miata and they are good, but not not amazing with a lighter vehicle, even with a bag of sand in the trunk. Pick a tire based on the kind of winter driving you plan on doing.

How is the wear and road noise in the warmer GTA weather? The driving you do is similar to what I encounter (when it snows).

These are on your M3?

6ixSpd · 09-05-2017, 03:30 PM

I drove on the Conti Si last winter. They're fantastic for outright deep snow grip, but way too soft for my liking. In the dry, there was far too much sidewall flex and floatiness.

I suppose if you want the ultimate in snow traction, these are the ones to get. I had zero problems outrunning SUVs off the lights in standing snow...If you value some spirited driving in the dry even in winter, the latest Sottozero is the winner. It's what I'd get if I had to choose again.

GORDON.M3 · 09-05-2017, 03:41 PM

I would like to know more importantly what kinda sizes are you guys running.
Would 225/40/18 suffice or is the rolling diameter too small?

BMWNTHZST · 09-05-2017, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gordon@

I would like to know more importantly what kinda sizes are you guys running.
Would 225/40/18 suffice or is the rolling diameter too small?

245-40-18 on all four corners is the size I'm going with no matter what tire I decide to order!

GORDON.M3 · 09-05-2017, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWNTHZST

245-40-18 on all four corners is the size I'm going with no matter what tire I decide to order!

I've heard that 235/40 R18 works just as good.

BMWNTHZST · 09-05-2017, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gordon@

I've heard that 235/40 R18 works just as good.

It will however for those days it's not bad out (most of the time) I like the wider grip and feel.

cmyE93M3 · 09-05-2017, 06:38 PM

Anyone ever run 19" winters on 220 style rims by chance? Still undecided if I will drive my M3 during the "softer" winter days. This will be the cars first winter if I do.

tokic_o · 09-06-2017, 08:00 AM

I use the Dunlop Wintersport 3D for the past 3 winters and they have performed great in both deep snow as well as the light dusting. I find that a lot of winter tires on my previous cars have performed lesser when theres a light dusting (quite often in GTA).

I usually drive out to the GO stations early in the morning before the roads are fully plowed and have had no problems other than the days when theres so much snow regular sedans would have issues regardless.

The tire isn't as soft as some have described others to be in this thread. I run 245/40/18 on OEM 18s (I think the OEM tire size is 265/40/18 on the rears?).

GORDON.M3 · 09-06-2017, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmyE93M3

Anyone ever run 19" winters on 220 style rims by chance? Still undecided if I will drive my M3 during the "softer" winter days. This will be the cars first winter if I do.

Not recommended apparently.
I would stick to the 18" choices.

KmndntKlink · 09-23-2017, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gordon@

Not recommended apparently.
I would stick to the 18" choices.

what why?
ive been running the lm60 blizzaks for 4 years flawlessly. i have the 220m 19s.
sure theyre expensive (and now replaced with a new vers ive yet to try) but why nit enjoy your m3 in the gta year round?

KmndntKlink · 09-23-2017, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmyE93M3

Anyone ever run 19" winters on 220 style rims by chance? Still undecided if I will drive my M3 during the "softer" winter days. This will be the cars first winter if I do.

drive it, its fine. i daily it, even the hard days. but im in the gta so no country roads for sure

cmyE93M3 · 09-23-2017, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KmndntKlink

Quote:

Originally Posted by gordon@

Not recommended apparently.
I would stick to the 18" choices.

what why?
ive been running the lm60 blizzaks for 4 years flawlessly. i have the 220m 19s.
sure theyre expensive (and now replaced with a new vers ive yet to try) but why nit enjoy your m3 in the gta year round?

Awesome, because I picked up a set 19" snows for my 220 style rims for this winter.

GORDON.M3 · 09-23-2017, 08:18 PM

over time the style 220M's finish will eventually corrode and flake off the rim due to the salt exposure. hence why I didn't want to use the original 19' 220M. They are too nice!!! I have a set of replica 18's in a graphite kinda color for my winter. That way I also won't get so pissed when I warp/bend a wheel in the bad winter weather conditions.

09-05-2017, 06:54 AM	#1
BMWNTHZST Enthusiast 194 Rep 1,283 Posts Drives: 2015 F80 M3 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Toronto iTrader: (27) Garage List 2011 BMW E93 M3 [0.00] 2004 BMW M3 [9.50] 2015 BMW F80 M3 [0.00] 1997 BMW 840CI [9.50] 2011 BMW X5 M [10.00] 2008 BMW 335i Conve ... [8.40]	winter tire options Sadly it's that time of year for those of us who winter drive our M3's year round to think about what tire to buy. I know there are lots of choices however I have narrowed it down to these two: - Yokohama IG52C 97T - Continental WinterContact Si 97H XL Has anyone had experience driving on either tire in our Toronto winters? At the moment I am leaning towards to Continental tire. Thanks in advance for your comments. __________________ 2017 Porsche 718 Boxster Carerra White / Garnet Red / Black 2013 Porsche 991.1 911 Carrera S Platinum Silver Metallic / Black and Yellow accents 2014 F31 328i xDrive Alpine White / Black
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09-05-2017, 03:22 PM	#2
bimmergixxer Railside Performance 48 Rep 331 Posts Drives: E92 M3 R8 V10 Q5 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Railside Performance iTrader: (8) Garage List 2010 Ducati Streetf ... [7.00] 2017 Q5 [0.00] 2017 BMW R NineT Racer [5.00] 2010 Audi R8 V10 Ma ... [0.00] 2008 M3 [10.00]	I have done three seasons with the Pirelli Sottozero tires and they perform amazing and work great in deep snow. I picked these since I leave for work early, usually before the plow arrives and need to ford some deep powder on big snow days. Also used them for the wifes miata and they are good, but not not amazing with a lighter vehicle, even with a bag of sand in the trunk. Pick a tire based on the kind of winter driving you plan on doing.
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09-05-2017, 03:30 PM	#4
6ixSpd Save the manuals! 6015 Rep 6,746 Posts Drives: '16 M3, '23 718 Spyder Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: 416 iTrader: (4)	I drove on the Conti Si last winter. They're fantastic for outright deep snow grip, but way too soft for my liking. In the dry, there was far too much sidewall flex and floatiness. I suppose if you want the ultimate in snow traction, these are the ones to get. I had zero problems outrunning SUVs off the lights in standing snow...If you value some spirited driving in the dry even in winter, the latest Sottozero is the winner. It's what I'd get if I had to choose again. __________________ '16 M3 \| '23 718 Spyder Past: E92 M3, F87 M2, E39 M5, etc
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09-05-2017, 03:41 PM	#5
GORDON.M3 Brigadier General 1423 Rep 3,002 Posts Drives: E92 M3 • F25 X3 M-Sport Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: LAX/YYZ/NRT iTrader: (11)	I would like to know more importantly what kinda sizes are you guys running. Would 225/40/18 suffice or is the rolling diameter too small?
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09-05-2017, 06:38 PM	#9
cmyE93M3 First Lieutenant 286 Rep 307 Posts Drives: E93 M3 Join Date: May 2017 Location: Oakville & Chicago iTrader: (1)	Anyone ever run 19" winters on 220 style rims by chance? Still undecided if I will drive my M3 during the "softer" winter days. This will be the cars first winter if I do. __________________ 2008 E93 M3 \| SSII \| HRE P40's (Sold 2018) 2011 E90 M3 \| Jerez Black (Sold 2019) 2019 Lexus IS300 (lasted 3 months) 2020 Toyota 4Runner TRD (fun truck) 2014 Tesla Model S P85 (wicked car) 2011.5 E92 M3 \| Space Grey \| ADV.1?s
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09-06-2017, 08:00 AM	#10
tokic_o First Lieutenant 34 Rep 397 Posts Drives: F87 M2 / F36 430i / E92 M3 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	I use the Dunlop Wintersport 3D for the past 3 winters and they have performed great in both deep snow as well as the light dusting. I find that a lot of winter tires on my previous cars have performed lesser when theres a light dusting (quite often in GTA). I usually drive out to the GO stations early in the morning before the roads are fully plowed and have had no problems other than the days when theres so much snow regular sedans would have issues regardless. The tire isn't as soft as some have described others to be in this thread. I run 245/40/18 on OEM 18s (I think the OEM tire size is 265/40/18 on the rears?). Last edited by tokic_o; 09-06-2017 at 01:07 PM..
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09-23-2017, 08:18 PM	#15
GORDON.M3 Brigadier General 1423 Rep 3,002 Posts Drives: E92 M3 • F25 X3 M-Sport Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: LAX/YYZ/NRT iTrader: (11)	over time the style 220M's finish will eventually corrode and flake off the rim due to the salt exposure. hence why I didn't want to use the original 19' 220M. They are too nice!!! I have a set of replica 18's in a graphite kinda color for my winter. That way I also won't get so pissed when I warp/bend a wheel in the bad winter weather conditions.
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