Winter Tyres for 18" Wheels

[peddy]

I can't find one for the rears @ 255/35R18 or 245/35R18... (There is 245/40R18 though)

Vredestein WinTrac Xtreme come in 265/35R18 But I'm thinking that is quite wide for winter? what do you guys think?

Yay or Nay

[cj10jeeper]

Not gone down the Winter tyre route myself but I would certainly seek a norrower tyre over a wider tyre if I could ne get a like for like match. Def would not go for the bigger profile either as that just increases rolling radius, albeit minor.

From off road experience I can certainly tell you that a narrower tyre is much more suitable to clear water and snow (or mud) and gain/maintain traction. Same applies to cars on snow - just look at the WRC's on 3" wide tyres whne racing on snow and ice.

[peddy]

Thanks CJ.
There's also 235/40R18? would work out cheaper too. Speed would only be 1.526% slow (60mph > 59mph)

[PawnSacrifice]

I'd also keep to the correct profile height.

Have a look at www.mytyres.co.uk - good choice and price as they come from Europe. Although you may need to wait up to a week. When searching set the speed rating to "all" - just let the insurance know what you end up with. If you have a search I posted a link to a couple review sites as well. I have Dunlops and they're really good - even just in the cold, without the snow / ice, traction is so much better

[mmm-five]

Thanks CJ.
There's also 235/40R18? would work out cheaper too. Speed would only be 1.526% slow (60mph > 59mph)

That or a 245/35r18 would work.

You could probably get away with 235/40 or 225/40 all round, but they won't give your rear wheels much rim protection - although I'm sure BMW suggests 225 width all round for winter tyres (17" on non-///M and 18" on ///M).

[Trut01]

Peddy,

I have put 225 Wintracs all round on my 108's without any problems at all. mmm-five is spot on though, the rim protection on the rears is as good as gone. I've been well impressed through this cold spell though - they have made a massive difference

[cj10jeeper]

Pretty sure the 'right' thing to do if going for Winter tyres would be to pick up some spare rims, possibly narrower but similar offset and use those.

This would not only eradicate rim protection issues, but save the delicate 108's and avoid the £40 costs twice a year of tyre swapping and logistics of moving a Zed and spare wheels and tyres to a garage.

[peddy]

From next week I'll have 2 sets of M wheels, so not sure what I'll do with the spare set... might just refurb it and sell it on.

[Trut01]

A agree cj. However my love of the 108's runs deep. So I now have a winter and a summer set - the logic being that I can refurb at my leisure twice a year and always have spotless rims on the zed. Nice idea in theory, but haven't yet been through the refurb process which might become a bit cumbersome...