Xoutpost.com - Almost wintertime.....

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Winter Tire and Wheel Package

Not knowing how much winter weather to expect in my first year in Germany, I decided to risk running on the all season standard Bridgestones. After a few "all-wheel ice skating lessons" and a greater than normal snowfall in southern Germany, I decided to use Tire Rack's recommended package this year. (In an odd bit of trans-Atlantic economics, I saved US $150 to air freight through USPS, rather than purchase the same package locally!) I have the standard, non-Sport OEM 18 inch setup.

These are Bridgestone Blizzak 255/55-18 runflats on Moda 18x8 model EB1 rims. Other than more tread noise, the dry performance has been almost identical to the standard tires on the twisty valley roads. Of course, after spending $1450 to prepare for snow, we'll probably have a mild winter!
http://whizzospace.com/misc/IMG_1234.jpg

Temperature has been dropping below 35F lately, and yesterday I put on my 18" 'winter' set - 255/55 R18 Bridgestones on OEM BMW 18" wheel (the one which comes by-default on X5)... I put 30mm spacers in the rear, no spacers in front. Looks tolerable, much softer ride.

The spacers have their own lugs - eg mount spacer on the hub with its own bolts, then mount wheel to the spacer. They have hub centric design, look very solid. My bro had same setup last winter, no issues with load etc, so hopefully they would hold.

I first installed them without spacers... Rear wheels got "lost", it looked ugly (VERY VERY ugly, I usually dont care about visuals, and was debating spacers or no spacers, but this bad look was just too much....).

Pic below.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCL (Post 767304)

There are additional risks with spacers, because you are loading the wheel bearings, hubs, and wheel bolts beyond what they were designed for. If they are well-made hub-centric spacers, with appropriate wheel bolts, you can mitigate some of those risks, but you won't change the fact that you are loading up the wheel bearings.

Spacers have their supporters, and that is fine. Others won't ever use them, choosing function over appearance. Your call.

Edit: Some more reading for you. See the link I provided in post #7 on this thread: http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...l-spacers.html

JCL,

Thanks for your informative post! I had been considering spacers because I don't like the look of the 18" wheels with the wide flares. I've decided to forgo the spacers idea now...

I was going to have my 18" winter wheels painted a ferric grey (like my 20" summer wheels -- which I'm much happier with) or possibly even a bit darker than that (so that the small wheel size was less obvious) but haven't done that yet. Maybe next season...

. . . . Brian

I currently have the 20's but i keep my 18's rims while selling

the tires . I need snow tires and was thinking of getting the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 255/55/18 from tirerack..The question i have is the 18's are not runflats..will i have a problem with sensors"light coming on"? I have sensors on both sets of rims. I also have the flares so would it be a hassle if i had the dealer take them off for me and then put them back on with the 20's when winter is over? Also, should i go w/ Bridgstone or Pirelli Scorpin ice/snow tire? about same price.

you are OK as long as you have a sensor in terms computer throwing error codes. HOWEVER, just remember should you get a flat, pull over and change the tire, as warning will tell you to continue driving :)