[Dr. G]

I need to pick winter wheels soon so I can make my purchase, but I'm having difficulty imagining how the wheels will look on my car in real life. I was hoping I could get some opinions and input as to what everyone thinks on here.

I saved the pics off tirerack, if anyone has real life pics of the rims please post them up.

The first two tires are 17's the next two are 18's. I'm guessing 17's might be a better idea for winter. (from Toronto area)

[BTM]

I like option #2. FWIW, many run 17s because they offer a little more profile which, in theory, should help your grip. However, there are multitudes of people running 18s without issue, and I plan on using my stock 18s for winters. Tires are cheaper in 17" diameter though, so for some this may become a factor. Were it not for my plans to run 19s in summer, I would probably go for 17" winters as well.

[Kolyan2k]

17s or 18s doent really matter. 18 will be more expensive of course. All depends how much u wanna spend. Ideally, I would get 18 VMR wheels.

Not a fan of black wheels, I would pick #4 from that list

[Coolieman1220]

will it clear your brakes? I just acquired a set of Rial Salerno 17's and they barely clear my calipers...

[BTM]

Originally Posted by Coolieman1220

will it clear your brakes? I just acquired a set of Rial Salerno 17's and they barely clear my calipers...

Tirerack's wheel selector "pre selects" wheels in sizes and offsets that will fit. This is why for many cars you must "drill down" to get to your available choices. For an example of "drilling down" I will use is my own car, I must hit 2007 > BMW >335i Sedan > W/ Sport Package > W/ Rubber Valve Stems

[tlak77]

I just ordered 17 MOTEGI RACING MR118 (looks like your second choice) with some Continental Extreme Winter Contact from tirerack. Setup is for 335d with sport package. Tires are on back order as of now. I went with 17 to get little extra "pothole protection" FYI, bmw center caps don't fit very well with above wheels according to Gery.
T

[RB]

A lot of 17" wheels do not fit over the brakes on a 335. The folks at Tire Rack can tell you which wheels will fit and which ones will not.

[BTM]

Originally Posted by RB

A lot of 17" wheels do not fit over the brakes on a 335. The folks at Tire Rack can tell you which wheels will fit and which ones will not.

Read my above comment - as long as you are shopping for your specific car, the wheels they offer you will fit. If for some reason difficulties arise, PMing Gary@Tirerack on here would be the first move I made.

[galahad05]

I like #1, but I never have liked that fake "rivet" look on wheels. So no.
Of the remaining, #4 is the nicest. Adds contrast with the black car.

[jmar0351]

Originally Posted by BTM

I like option #2. FWIW, many run 17s because they offer a little more profile which, in theory, should help your grip. However, there are multitudes of people running 18s without issue, and I plan on using my stock 18s for winters. Tires are cheaper in 17" diameter though, so for some this may become a factor. Were it not for my plans to run 19s in summer, I would probably go for 17" winters as well.

They also happen to be one of the cheapest sets on the site
I may end up getting those with my aw 335i.
Sorry about the other day btw. I was wrong.

[sickem]

my vote is #2.

[galahad05]

I never understood that monochrome look. It always seemed to me to be like those guys who always dress in all black or all white--unimaginative. "I can't think of what colors go together so I'll just use the one."

[WWONG]

#2 and the last one look great. Personally, though, I think #2 would look better in a gun-metal type color. I've always thought of black rims, regardless of cost, shape, or size, as cheap because they remind me of that part behind the hub cap on Corollas

[tony20009]

I'd pick option 1 because they look easier to clean and because they are smaller and allow more clearance in snow.

I do like the fourth option just because I think they look good. I also think the black/dark wheel color thing is a trend that'll pass, but you may not plan on keeping the car or the wheels that long. Finally, the fourth option doesn't look too terribly hard to clean.

[BTM]

Originally Posted by tony20009

I'd pick option 1 because they look easier to clean and because they are smaller and allow more clearance in snow.

I do like the fourth option just because I think they look good. I also think the black/dark wheel color thing is a trend that'll pass, but you may not plan on keeping the car or the wheels that long. Finally, the fourth option doesn't look too terribly hard to clean.

The faux rivets in option 1 prove very cumbersome in cleaning, and they are the same size (17") as option 2. The black/black (murdered out) paint/wheel combo is best objectively described as subjective, but yes the 4th option does further look easy to clean, so long as OP switches to ceramic brake pads which produce a lighter whitish "dust" which is much less obvious than the black dust on silver wheels. The black dust on black wheels, however, is near invisible.

So long as you like the style, and are using the standard factory supplied brake pads, I would like to take the opportunity of this expanded reasoning to corroborate my own recommendation of option #2.

[san6279]

Everything else being equal, I like #4 the best.

[TheRox]

last is best

clean

[DenverJayhawk]

don't waste money on 18"s for winter tires. The smaller and narrower the tire, the better it performs in snow and ice.

[Kruz]

Gary cannot accept PMs....email him.

4-3-2-1 in that order.

[jsunma]

Originally Posted by DenverJayhawk

don't waste money on 18"s for winter tires. The smaller and narrower the tire, the better it performs in snow and ice.

I'm glad someone brought this up. I was going to say that the real recommendation from TireRack and others - if you really want their advice - is that smaller and narrower is the way to go for snow driving. And given that you're in Toronto, you have some serious winter driving to contend with. I'm not sure if there's a 16" wheel that fits your car, but if there is, that would be the way to go IMO. Otherwise the 17s. I recently ended up mounting my winter 16" wheels a month early (long story involving a destroyed runflat) and I have to say that aside from the fact that I don't like the way the wheels (the least expensive MSW 16" 5-spoke alloy that TireRack carries) look quite as much compared to stock, there's something nice about the less harsh ride and improved gas mileage that the smaller wheel and tire combination affords. And come winter, I'll be glad to have improved and safer handling in the white stuff ... not to mention the security in knowing that I'll not be trashing the "nice" summer wheels on bad winter roads. Just a thought.

(oh, fwiw, I like the last pic )

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by jsunma

I'm glad someone brought this up. I was going to say that the real recommendation from TireRack and others - if you really want their advice - is that smaller and narrower is the way to go for snow driving. And given that you're in Toronto, you have some serious winter driving to contend with. I'm not sure if there's a 16" wheel that fits your car, but if there is, that would be the way to go IMO. Otherwise the 17s. I recently ended up mounting my winter 16" wheels a month early (long story involving a destroyed runflat) and I have to say that aside from the fact that I don't like the way the wheels (the least expensive MSW 16" 5-spoke alloy that TireRack carries) look quite as much compared to stock, there's something nice about the less harsh ride and improved gas mileage that the smaller wheel and tire combination affords. And come winter, I'll be glad to have improved and safer handling in the white stuff ... not to mention the security in knowing that I'll not be trashing the "nice" summer wheels on bad winter roads. Just a thought.

(oh, fwiw, I like the last pic )

smaller and narrower is for deep snow driving. smaller and narrower will kill your performance on dry road. i had ZERO problems driving on 18s with 245 tires in worst New England conditions.

[Eights-n-Aces]

To answer your question I like number 1 the best. But, to be honest, after living in Michigan for more than 35 years, I don't remember EVER looking at someone's wheels (or car for that matter) in the winter and thinking WOW! Honestly, who gives a F? If I were putting winter wheels on I would buy the cheapest (but reliable of course) wheels I could find.

Don't get me wrong, I like dressing up my car too and I hand wash/detail almost weekly. But during the winter I wouldn't even wash my car until it warmed up. For what you're going to pay for those, you could buy a beater and be done with it.