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Winter wheels - sizing

J

Jellybaby38

Member
Afternoon all.

With the current lovely weather I've been reminded that maybe it's worth swapping to winter tyres for a few months, especially as we live at the top of a hill. So far so good.

I currently have 255/35/R18s on the back and 225/40/R18 on the front. Model is 23i SDrive Msport if it makes a difference.

Ideas from like-minded friends are just swap out the tyres and swap back at Easter, which seems fairly sensible, or get a set of 17" rims with winter tyres and do it yourself each season. I was hoping to opt for the first option, but there only seems to be one brand of tyres with winter tyres of those dimensions for the rear (Continental) which are £250 a pop, which starts to bring me into the realm of just getting a full set of 4 smaller rims with winter tyres on.

My actual question, aside from the necessity of switching to winter tyres in the UK, is whether I can swap out the 18" set with different width and profile for a 17" set that all matches?
 
It's always a good idea to swap to full winters from Nov-Feb imo, especially if you live in a hilly area like you do. The difference in grip will be night and day if you haven't previously experienced how good winter tyres are.

I have the same summer spec wheels and tyres as you and swap in a (square) set of 16 inchers on 225/50/R16 Kumho Izens and they just about fit. Presuming E89 would be a nono for these size wheels tho. Minimum wheel spec should be in your owners manual or shout out Mr Wilks for his advice. He's the forum wheel guru.

Go for Nokian full winters. They're incredible in snow and ice. The Finns know a thing or two about winter rallying ;)
 
E89s came in three wheel sizes 17/18/19

If you went square set up which is probably the most expected for winter use then it’s either 225/45 17 or 225/40 18 or 225/35 19

For winter wheels and associated potholes 17 would probe best followed by 18.

In the UK with very variable weather IMHO you would be better to go for all season tyres for your winter use…

Goodyear / Michelin and Conti all do good all seasons..

I used to use pure winter tyres on all our 3 cars but progressively moved across to all seasons as they give you almost all the benefits of winter tyres but cope much better with warmer weather which can unexpectedly arrive in the UK even in March and especially April..

You can pick up for example BMW 103 17” daises for not a lot and they fit ok..ideally with a small spacer…

Many many permutations….depending on where you live and your priorities..
 
For winter tyres a square set up of 225 is the preferred BMW choice on 17” rims, I think the car looks better on 18” and comfort remains acceptable, so that would be my recommendation. I did run a full winter set on my e89, however I do prefer the Continental AllSeasonContacts on the G29, plenty of grip in cold conditions and on roads that were icy and needed care to walk on, were a breeze with plenty of feel. I would definitely recommend buying another set of alloys with tyres to make life easier. The attached photo was taken up a gradual to steep slope on the way to a disused quarry, a Range Rover got a little further up the slope, perhaps another 10 metres and then got stuck! The second is the current set up

03C88507-0393-408A-9D0D-10088203E432.jpeg
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sars said:
The attached photo was taken up a gradual to steep slope on the way to a disused quarry,
Click to expand...
I dare not ask why you were going there, young lady. :oops:
Re-living those heady days of your youth? :poke: :lol:
 
[ref]Pondrew[/ref], Actually, nothing so sordid, I took my ten year old daughter sledging for the first time :thumbsup:
 
I think narrower rims and tyres would probably be more effective in snow/ice than your current sizes, and the winter tyres would be much cheaper!

My E91 3 Series came fitted with 16" Bridgestone Blizzak winters and they were great in the snow. My current E90 has 17" Hankook winters and they have been equally impressive.

You might find a set or you could just buy some suitably sized wheels and get winters fitted and still be ahead financially that buying winters in your current sizes.

I have a set of E89 Style 290 17s that I will be selling soon, although they currently have summer tyres fitted.
 
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