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[ganachain]

I will soon be taking over a lease on an '08 335i w/Sport package.

I'm in Kentucky which means I'm on the snow border basically. We usually get more ice than snow and some years can be almost no snow. I figured I needed either all seasons or winter tires. To complicate matters, my brother-in-law has a 2007 328i w/Sport package and drove all last year with the original Bridgestone summer runflats - even in the winter. We had a warm winter last year so only a few days of snow. I'm worried that the extra power in the 335i might mean that I wouldn't be able to get away with what he did. So...

1) Roll the dice and keep the Bridgestone Summer runflats on
2) Buy all seasons or winter tires and swap 'em out (decided against this - because the below situation ends up being the same cost and the tires are easier to change out)
3) Buy some inexpensive rims and tires and just swap them in my garage in Nov/Dec. and then put summers back on in late Mar.

So do I want to go with (1) or (3).

If (3)...
1) All season or winter tires
2) TPMS or not - if not, what is required to make the 335i not care that TPMS aren't on there
3) 17" or (and I found some) 18" rims that are OEM size. If 17", any problems with alignment or any other issues from moving away from OEM size?

After lots of reading and research, Tirerack's suggestion of 205/50-17 rims with Blizzak LM-25's seems like the best bet.

I've got all seasons on my current Infiniti G35 that I've driven in the winter - and they're not great in the snow/ice/cold at all. How well will the Blizzaks (Performance Winter) be on the warmer days during the winter? Will the performance of the car suffer drastically?

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by ganachain

1) All season or winter tires

You should be fine with A/S since you don't get much snow and if you do it'll most likely only last a few days at a time. Winters wear out much quicker than A/S.

Originally Posted by ganachain

2) TPMS or not - if not, what is required to make the 335i not care that TPMS aren't on there

The only way is to have TPMS.
I don't have it on my summers and the warning light is always on. its a little annoying but you get used to it pretty quickly, it dings when you start the car and then displays a little light all the time. if you think it might get to you then just get the TPMS... they are pretty cheap now (like $150-$200 from a vendor).

Originally Posted by ganachain

3) 17" or (and I found some) 18" rims that are OEM size. If 17", any problems with alignment or any other issues from moving away from OEM size?

for winters I'd suggest 17's but 18's wouldn't be too bad, you'll just find more of a selection of tires in 17's probably... and 17s will handle better in snow (plus they are cheaper and so are 17 inch tires)

Originally Posted by ganachain

After lots of reading and research, Tirerack's suggestion of 205/50-17 rims with Blizzak LM-25's seems like the best bet.

I've got all seasons on my current Infiniti G35 that I've driven in the winter - and they're not great in the snow/ice/cold at all. How well will the Blizzaks (Performance Winter) be on the warmer days during the winter? Will the performance of the car suffer drastically?

not really since Blizzak LM's are performance winters, but like I said, since they are so soft, they'll wear much quicker if there isn't snow on the ground.

I'd still say get some A/S... try Goodyear F1 A/S or Continental Contiprocontacts A/S... they both have great dry ratings and the best wet/snow ratings in that category.

for a 17 inch deal I'd say grab either a cheap set from tirerack or try looking at the wheel classified section for some 17" zsp rims style 161 off a 328i (thats what I have for winter)... you can find those for about $75-$100 a rim.

[ganachain]

Am I really going to be poorly served by getting winter tires down here? I have all-seasons on my G35 and they are not very good at all with any kind of moisture on the road when it gets cold. I know the 335i will be worse because it has more torque. My subdivision never gets plowed and we can have snow on the roads back here for a week or two at a time - and the G35 has had some white knuckle sideways drives which I don't want to repeat...

If I'm doing a full wheel swap, wouldn't it make sense to get perforance winter tires to play it safe?

[David 12]

gana, I have a 2007 335i w/sport package with a six speed manual transmission. I have been through two winters now with my Blizzak Lm-25 tires. They are 225-45-17 (all four) and I got them mounted on low-priced ASA wheels from Tirerack. I like the 225's as compared to the 205's because they are a little sportier but still great in the snow. No alignment problems at all.

Great performance in the snow and not bad handling tires overall. For a little over $1,000, a small price to pay for peace of mind. Highly recommended.

You want summer tires when it's warm and dedicated snows for the winter. I would not compromise by going with the all seasons if maximum performance is your goal.

As far as the tpms goes: I never had the sensors installed on my blizzaks - It seems like it is a personal preference, but I do not feel unsafe by not having them on my winter tires.

Gary from TireRack is a great guy and has helped me a number of times in the past.

Good luck!

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by ganachain

Am I really going to be poorly served by getting winter tires down here? I have all-seasons on my G35 and they are not very good at all with any kind of moisture on the road when it gets cold. I know the 335i will be worse because it has more torque. My subdivision never gets plowed and we can have snow on the roads back here for a week or two at a time - and the G35 has had some white knuckle sideways drives which I don't want to repeat...

If I'm doing a full wheel swap, wouldn't it make sense to get perforance winter tires to play it safe?

yeah but go on tire rack and look at the ratings of your g35's tires compared to the contis or goodyears... these are ultra high perf. A/S not touring A/S which comes OEM on most cars.

you can do winters... I just don't think its a good investment in Kentucky (up here in Madison its either have winters or don't drive). Youre gonna go through a set every year or two because of how much you dry pavement you'll be driving on which could get pretty expensive.

but its your choice. Give Tire Rack a call and ask their opinion... they know tires better than any of us do.

[ganachain]

udubbadger:

Heh - believe me, I ditched the OEM Goodyear Eagle RSA's with 8,000 miles on them. I currently have Kumho Ecsta ASX's that have been with me for a winter and I had Avons before that; both respectable all seasons. Both were passable but I never felt decent in the snow/slush on either. I like the Kumho's better than the Avons so far.

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by ganachain

udubbadger:

Heh - believe me, I ditched the OEM Goodyear Eagle RSA's with 8,000 miles on them. I currently have Kumho Ecsta ASX's that have been with me for a winter and I had Avons before that; both respectable all seasons. Both were passable but I never felt decent in the snow/slush on either. I like the Kumho's better than the Avons so far.

thats fine man,

just compare these

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....ating=H#Survey


http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....ating=H#Survey


http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....ating=H#Survey


i mean its all up to you... i just thnk it'd be silly to buy new winters every year for you

[ganachain]

udubbadger:
I've never had winter tires on a car I've owned before. Would the tread wear out in 4000 miles of driving during the winter months?

The Continental ContiExtreme Contact seem good - and I almost got them before. If I match them with some 225/45-17 wheels all around, the price is right and that should get me good for Nov - Feb/Mar

[UdubBadger]

it is possible.

most people i've talked to about this say you get about 2 seasons of driving on them per set (on average). now thats with a lowe avg temp for 4-6 months and decent amount of snow on the ground i would assume since its coming from people who live around me and minnesota.

if you use winters when its warmer out (like over 40 deg) then they soften up much faster and wear pretty quickly, so yes it is possible to wear them out in a matter of 4 or 5 months depending on how much you drive and in what conditions.

plus don't forget that even though this car is RWD, BMW's traction control (DTC) is excellent... so that might differ from what you've driven in the past.

Ask people who live in similar area/climate as you do what they do in the winters... you'll get some good info that way too.

[E30M3Driver]

If you have any chance of winter weather, you should have a set of snows on hand. It is no fun to have summer rubber on and have to navigate snow.

the 205s are ridiculous for a 335i, go with 225.

[Former_Boosted_IS]

I have personally driven in 1-2" of snow on the stock runflats and the car was utterly out of control. I am in the same dilemna. Do these A/S tires offer enough traction on stock 18's?

[UdubBadger]

www.tirerack.com


go find out

[ganachain]

Well....
I just spoke with Tirerack. They said to go with Blizzak LM-25 performance winter. The tirerack rep said that they are close to a good all season in performance in the dry cold but MUCH better in slush and snow. I was told that as long as I swap out the wheels/tires in the early spring before it gets very warm, I should be able to last 3-4 seasons with the Blizzaks.

[David 12]

I agree with the TireRack rep. I am going into my third winter and my Blizzaks have plenty of tread left. The good thing is that since they are all the same size, they can be rotated (unlike the stock staggered arrangement.)

But Udub is right - Only use the snows when the weather is consistently below 40 degrees.