They work incredibly...i believe the dedicated snow tires make that much of a difference. I was a bit concerned with the 20's at first, as i spend a considerable amount of time during the winter season traveling to various mountains for snowboarding. I've driven in up to a foot of unplowed snow at about 20-30mph and they handled quite well.

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3...wintracur4.jpg

18" OEM and the tree climbing Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme.
:popcorn:

will those rims clear the calipers on the 4.6is? If I remember correctly, only a few of the 18 inch rims BMW manufactures actually clear the calipers on the 4.6 and 4.8is. I have a set of 18" from an 05 sport 3.0i, and the wheel weights got knocked off since they didn't clear the brake caliper ....

I guess I better check before I order tires :thumbup:

If not, I guess I'll sell these and just order the Elbrus 18"ers from TR, or maybe just go with a 19".

I just bought a set of semi-new 57s with the 235/65/17 tyres,,for €180.00!
Just put them on for the "short" winter here in Portugal....and my...compared to my 20" starggered set up.these are so confortable,I feel like I am in a Limo;).....
They look bloody awful,though..-(

If you are intrerested in Vredestein, they do come in 19 and 20 inch sizes.
www.estrictlyforeign.com

Those X3 wheels are cool looking! I'd get those, especially since you say the price is right and they are OEM, not reps.

Oops - the OEM X3 wheels do not clear the 4.6is calipers. Well - actually the wheels clear, but the factory installed weights do not clear. And it is quite tight too.

I think I would be better off unloading these and going with 19" from TR or on OEM sport rims.

I might be interested in taking them from you if the price is right. ;)

My 17" wheels though have near new Latitude Tour HP's on them... I just spent nearly $900 on them a few months ago... don't know if I can get the wife to agree with another 'investment'. :)

You can have them for $500 - that is what I paid for them. I thought it was a very very good price considering they came from a 2009 and they look brand new inside and out - zero scratches or anything on them. Very nice rims.

But one thing I was thinking - couldn't I just remove the factory balance weights and have them balanced on another spot on the rim? I should bring one over to a tire shop and ask them about that. Maybe I could use them afterall.

They are still rather tight tho - worries me for snow rims because packing snow between the rim and caliper might fug up something. I would bet an aftermarket rim has more clearance in that area. I would have maybe 2mm.