Winter wheels/tires

[Ralphhall]

Must get winter set of wheels/tires and remove the 315 and 275 from rear and front, any suggestions for a good wheel and winter tire these 315’s are like running slicks in the snow! NO TRACTION

[Big Smoke]

My 275/315's are neatly stacked in the garage, all clean and ready for spring.
My silly looking square 255/55/18 blizzaks are ready for
"roads should be closed" trips to the ski hills.

[Best4x4xFAR]

I'd go for a set of these..

255/55-18 or 255/50-19

You want to go narrower, and obviously get away from 'Summer Performance' or 'Performance All Season' tires IMHO..

[Bimmer360]

I kept 315/275 format for winter, I don't like narrower tires and huge sidewalls. Pirellis Ice & Snow is what I have. Great tires, you'll love them!

[Ralphhall]

Thanks for the info.....other issue I have, third seat, so no spare and running RFT now.

[Best4x4xFAR]

Originally Posted by Bimmer360

I kept 315/275 format for winter, I don't like narrower tires and huge sidewalls. Pirellis Ice & Snow is what I have. Great tires, you'll love them!

While I agree the staggered look and 315 section rear tires look much better..

The Pirelli Ice & Snows are probably pretty good in the snow, but I'd bet they'd be even better in a narrower size. Narrow generally performs better in the snow by far, all other things being equal. You want to bite down though it, the wider tires tend to float on top of it.

Heck, these steamroller size tires have their limitations even in heavy rain, being much more prone to hydroplaning. There is just too much tire to evacuate the water from underneath of in some situations..

[Bimmer360]

Originally Posted by Best4x4xFAR

While I agree the staggered look and 315 section rear tires look much better..

The Pirelli Ice & Snows are probably pretty good in the snow, but I'd bet they'd be even better in a narrower size. Narrow generally performs better in the snow by far, all other things being equal. You want to bite down though it, the wider tires tend to float on top of it.

Heck, these steamroller size tires have their limitations even in heavy rain, being much more prone to hydroplaning. There is just too much tire to evacuate the water from underneath of in some situations..

Generally, the fact that narrower tires are better in snow and on ice and narrower wheel widths are normally better because it rounds the profile of the tire and helps both penetration and floatation and also because they are more stable and get better linear traction by penetrating the snow. This is not always true though; on hard-pack snow, wider tires with more sipes are better. In deep snow, wider tires might be able to float over the top, but that’s a very specific situation. I am not refuting the fact that narrower tires are better

Pirellis put technology on it's design tread pattern with an asymmetric design, wide longitudinal grooves and angled tread blocks so drivers remains in full control, even in the most difficult weather conditions but then again, you can be right about narrower version of Pirellis, they could be better.

I have been using the wider setup since BMW came up with 315/275 when E53 came out as far as I can remember and I have never had any issues. However, regardless of what winter/snow tires you have, bottomline is - it's always good to use good judgment driving in the snow.

[rh71]

Originally Posted by Best4x4xFAR

While I agree the staggered look and 315 section rear tires look much better..

The Pirelli Ice & Snows are probably pretty good in the snow, but I'd bet they'd be even better in a narrower size. Narrow generally performs better in the snow by far, all other things being equal. You want to bite down though it, the wider tires tend to float on top of it.

Heck, these steamroller size tires have their limitations even in heavy rain, being much more prone to hydroplaning. There is just too much tire to evacuate the water from underneath of in some situations..

I'm in NY snow and run my staggered set-up year round. I have all-season Conti DWS and not the stock summer rubber though. I love keeping the look and not having to swap tires twice a year. We had a good snowfall last night with lots of slush and it performed fine. The X-drive helps keep it straight too. My wife in her FWD sedan was following me and she literally got stuck just driving on a slight incline after a red light. The already-bad traffic was not happy. I jumped in, turned off DTC, and rocked her out. Never happens in the X.

[Entropy]

255/55R18 Nexen Winguards here on a cheap set of E53 wheels. Can go anywhere with this setup. I think the whole setup mounted and balanced was less than $800. You will have to bore E53 hubs out 1.5mm to fit an E70. Easy to do with a barrel sanding attachment on a corded drill (think Harbor Freight).

[josiahg52]

Picked up Style 210 wheels and 255/55R18 Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2 the same day I got the X5. Been a great combination in heavy snow. Style 209 would work also and both are the "BMW recommended fitment" wheels and tires for snow. I actually like the 18" wheel design more than the 19" Style 335 that came on it, incidentally. I don't have fender flares.