Time for tires, should I sell the 69s and do 20s? Staggered good for a 3.0 in snow?

[Ricky Bobby]

Alright so I'm adding a poll to this one to make it fun, I am the most indecisive person around, so I wanted some input. The tires on my sport package Style 69 wheels are absolutely shot, so it's time. When I looked up 255/55/18 tires, the ones I want are over 700 bucks, plus mount and balance.

I started thinking, I can get style 87 or 168 reps for about that price plus the cost of tires, then maybe sell the 69s (they are in great shape with no curb marks) and recoup some costs.


I have a few questions, being that I am a 3.0 owner and I live in NJ, where it does get wintry from time to time. I do not switch wheels for winter with this car, so that's not an option.

I found 168 reps with Toyo Proxes ST tires from "wheel-tech-tuning" on ebay, 1850 shipped. Are the Toyo Proxes ST tires good to handle light snow or winter driving? Any other tire recommendations for year round driving in light snow, I heard of Conti DWS as well.


Lastly, what are the thoughts to run a non-staggered 20" wheel setup on a 3.0 year round, and will it make a difference running 275 width tires all around as opposed to the 315 in the rear in winter? I can get a square set of style 87 reps for 700 bucks, then add in 275/40s all around. I like the idea of not having to rotate, and to be honest, I'd like some opinions about how the 3.0 handles the snow with heavy, wide tires at the rear. Something like the 4.6 or 4.8 I understand because it has more power which needs the width at the rear, but I can't help but wonder if the 315 width tires coupled with the weight of a 10.5" wheel is going to hinder the handling of the X in the snow.


Here are the 168 reps with Toyo tires I found (wheel tech tuning)
20" BMW X5 3.0, 4.4, 4.8 AND X6 STAGGERED WHEELS AND TIRES - STYLE 168 RIMS | eBay


Here are the Style 87 reps, 20x9.5 all around (staggered is same price):
Brand New - 20" 20x9.5" Alloy Wheels for 2000-2006 BMW X5 - Set of 4 | eBay


Thanks for any input on shoes for my X!

[cfmistry]

The Proxes ST IIs are great tires. I've had them in snow and they handle it well, although mine were relatively new at the time. They also wear very well (I've done 13k miles and they're barely worn). As for upgrading to 20" wheels, you will have the following: decreased acceleration, decreased braking distance, worse mpg, rougher ride, better handling, more tram lining, and more road noise. Which of those will bug you, is up to you! Also as you already mentioned, a wider tire in the rear will be detrimental in snow - that being said, I run my 315s in the snow and she handles just fine on my 4.4i... they key is to be light on the throttle so you should be fine. People do run the square setup you mentioned by the way, and it is also a good choice. You will want spacers however to fill in the rear fenders better.

Cyrus

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by cfmistry

The Proxes ST IIs are great tires. I've had them in snow and they handle it well, although mine were relatively new at the time. They also wear very well (I've done 13k miles and they're barely worn). As for upgrading to 20" wheels, you will have the following: decreased acceleration, decreased braking distance, worse mpg, rougher ride, better handling, more tram lining, and more road noise. Which of those will bug you, is up to you!

Cyrus

Coming from lowered volkswagens for the past 8 years the rough ride and road noise doesn't affect me, and trust me on new tires anything is quieter than the bald, cracked, halfway dry rotted OEM michelins on there now (on the highway the tire noise is louder than my AC running).


I guess I'm just wondering if the 3.0 would take better to a square setup as opposed to staggered if I were to do the 20s?

[tmv]

Sound like a good all-season tires will suit better for you. Continental Extreme Contact DWS. It has good reviews from Tireracks. That's my next tire choice. 3.0 with 20" wheels is fine (for me) for everyday use. In my case, it feels lighter with HRE 20" than with Style150 19"

[Zulu95]

Yoko Geolanders. I'm on my second set.

[Ricky Bobby]

Geolanders are great tires, my mom ran 2 sets on her Touareg back in the day, I'd definitely consider those too.

Should a 3.0 be rocking staggered 20s though?

[tmv]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Geolanders are great tires, my mom ran 2 sets on her Touareg back in the day, I'd definitely consider those too.

Should a 3.0 be rocking staggered 20s though?

Why not? I rock them.

[Ricky Bobby]

yours are extreme lightweight though!


I guess I'm wondering if the staggereds are going to handle like a pig in the snow being extremely heavy (oem or reps are probably close to 38 lbs apiece for 20x10.5s) with some wide 315s, and at the same time if I am going to hate not being able to rotate tires.

[tmv]

Buy my 19" Style150 and later replace the tires with the same size all around. I can throw in 15mm spacers and longer wheel bolts for the rears. Put snow tires on your Style69 for winter use. No more dilemma!

[JCL]

20" tires, staggered or not, are about looks over function. If you like the look, go for it. Accept the reduced performance (slower acceleration, longer braking distances, harsher ride if they are heavier) but enjoy the looks.

Staggered can't be rotated, but you shouldn't be rotating them anyway. This isn't your father's Oldsmobile. With proper alignment, they should wear evenly. Rotating just reduces the performance further in an effort to wear the opposite side to what wore first.

Staggered doesn't have any impact on snow performance. The weight of the wheel tire combination doesn't have anything to do with winter conditions, just with handling in general. The shape of the contact patch does matter in winter, as wider tires are always pushing snow at the leading edge, so wider is worse, but if you are running 20s in the snow you have already accepted the handicap of wide tires in winter. Yes, you can get around, but you will not get any of the performance that your vehicle was designed to deliver. Like playing basketball in hiking boots, it is technically possible, but why would you?

Put proper winter tires on your existing wheels, then buy summer performance tires for the 20s, staggered or not, and don't compromise with all season tires.