Newbie question - tires and wheels

[que2k]

I havent taken delivery of my E90 yet but I am already shopping for winter tires and wheels.

I have ordered a 335xi with sport kit and on tirerack it tells me that I can use 17" wheels with 225/17/40

My question is what is all the talk about offsets and staggering?? and is tire-rack correct?

Thanks

[R12ax7]

I'm sure someone will follow up with far more info than I can give you, but generally, I think the staggering issue is really only relevant for 18" or 19" wheel options. If you have the sport package with the 18" wheels they are a staggered set-up (the rear wheels and tires are wider than the fronts).

For 17"s the set-up is usually non-staggered, or the same width front and back. So with 17" wheels there is no issue, you just put them on, and can rotate them freely.

The offset issue is when people are playing with different widths front and back, particularly with 19" wheels. Depending on what kind of staggered set up you go with you may need to use a spacer (between the mounting point and the actual wheel) in order to maintain the proper track.

The other issue is rolling diameter, which I am fuzzy on myself. Apparantly different width tires (say 265 vs. 275) as well as different manufacturers have different sidewalls so you need to take this into account in order to maintain the overall size of the wheel, otherwise your spedo will be out of whack.

Not sure if that answers your questions but again, none of this is really an issue for selecting 17" winter tires for a non staggered set-up.

(and yes, tirerack is correct)

[Nikolas]

You can stagger 17's also. The setup would be 225/45/17 front and 255/40/17 in the back.

225/45/17's are what my 335xi came with stock. 225/40/17 is the wrong size.

[Kev]

Normally, you don't want to go for a staggered setup in the winter. You want to run as narrow tires as possible. In this case, 225/45R17 would be the way to go. As for offsets of the wheels, you also need to consider the width of the wheel that you are buying as well. Gary @ Tirerack would be able to help you choose the best setup for your car.

[UdubBadger]

im one of those idiots using a staggered winter set up.

you have awd... you'll be fine either way.

i would suggest the 225/45's size for winters sidewall is a good thing to have in the snow.

[que2k]

Thanks guys, also I copied down the tirerack information incorrectly. It was 225/45/17

[Kev]

im one of those idiots using a staggered winter set up.

you have awd... you'll be fine either way.

i would suggest the 225/45's size for winters sidewall is a good thing to have in the snow.
Hey, you are not alone. I'm looking forward to running M6 reps or Style 230 in the winter as well......

[UdubBadger]

Hey, you are not alone. I'm looking forward to running M6 reps or Style 230 in the winter as well......

hahaha you're crazy dude


at least mine are only 17's

[Kev]

hahaha you're crazy dude


at least mine are only 17's
Need to clear BBK, so not much choice out there. 18s will be really tight.

[jimmy330xi]

Is it possible to find a good winter tire that will fit the style 162 wheel?

[UdubBadger]

Is it possible to find a good winter tire that will fit the style 162 wheel?

check out Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25's for your 162's Jimmy... they are dedicated winters.

If you want good all seasons for winter (since you've got an xi) you can look at Goodyear Eagle F1 A/S which seem to do well in the snow.

I'm personally going to run staggered Conti Extreme Contacts on 17's. I don't know if they make them for 18's though.

[Kev]

Is it possible to find a good winter tire that will fit the style 162 wheel?
Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25, Dunlop Wintersport M3 / 3D, Conti, Pirelli all make winter tires that would fit your 162s

[jimmy330xi]

^ Thank you guys. I found them, I was very unfamiliar with winter tires.

[Kev]

^ Thank you guys. I found them, I was very unfamiliar with winter tires.
No problem. We all have to start some where, right? I started about 10 years ago when I moved my ass from Hong Kong to Wisconsin, quickly learned the essentials of winter tires. :D

[Nikolas]

The whole narrow tire concept for snow only applies to driving in fresh snow. If you live in snow country, most of the time you are driving on packed snow. For packed snow you do want as much traction as possible. A wider snow tire in that case will work better than a narrow one. The concept in fresh snow is a narrow tire will not plow and build-up snow in front of the tire. So don't worrow about running a staggered set in the winter. You will be fine.

[UdubBadger]

cool... i'm sure i'll be fine anyway, xi works like a dream

[halB]

Don't run a staggered set in an Xi unless you can make the F/R tire circumference within 1% of each other. Failing that you risk burning out your transfer case clutch pack becasue of the F/R axle speed difference.

[UdubBadger]

Don't run a staggered set in an Xi unless you can make the F/R tire circumference within 1% of each other. Failing that you risk burning out your transfer case clutch pack becasue of the F/R axle speed difference.

winters are the 17" sport package wheels so if BMW uses them, i'm sure its fine.

however, the 19's im running for summer are staggered too so... that might be more than 1%

[UdubBadger]

just figured it out... 19's difference is .86% so im good with the 235/35/19/ 265/30/19 setup

[Nikolas]

That is why I went with 275/30 in the back. It is the identical diameter to the front at 235/35. Similar to the 17" set I quoted earlier - 225/45/17 front and 255/40/17 rear.

[UdubBadger]

ahhhh i see

[jimmy330xi]

Don't run a staggered set in an Xi unless you can make the F/R tire circumference within 1% of each other. Failing that you risk burning out your transfer case clutch pack becasue of the F/R axle speed difference.

The snow tires that I want are for my OEM 162 wheels. I am getting the same sizes as the summer OEM RFT's. I don't think I will have any issues

[jimmy330xi]

No problem. We all have to start some where, right? I started about 10 years ago when I moved my ass from Hong Kong to Wisconsin, quickly learned the essentials of winter tires. :D

Yep. I will be back in Germany right before winter time and if you are involved in an accident during the winter time without winter tires is automatically your fault, regardless of the circumstances of the accident. Also, I think if you get cought without winter tires the ticket runs you about 200 Euros per tire. I'd rather get some winter tires before I have to empty my bak account paying tickets.

[halB]

In Canada, in the povince of Quebec, winter tires are required by law for a number of months in a year. Rumor has it that the province of Ontario will follow soon.

[UdubBadger]

thats pretty interesting

[kiddo]

so is it alright to run with 235/40/18 and 265/35/18 winters in snow? I understand the narrower the better in most cases, but will I survive with these sizes and a rear wheel drive 335i?

[UdubBadger]

kiddo... it'll be fine up here, but its not gonna be fun. youre just gonna have to really take it easy on bad days but i know a few people who have rwd bimmers up here and they say the DTC works pretty well in the snow.

hahaha... maybe for a few days a year my car will be faster than yours!

(probably not though :( )

[kiddo]

cool!!! now i can order some concave wheels for my car. but what do you mean its not gonna be fun? is it because of wider rear tires?

With the crappy snowy weather here, im sure your car will be faster than mine (only when its snowing tho) haha

[UdubBadger]

im just saying you wont be able to throw it around as much as you might normally in fresh snow... actually in mushy snow thats packed... you might actually gain some traction over skinny 16 or 17's

[Kev]

cool!!! now i can order some concave wheels for my car. but what do you mean its not gonna be fun? is it because of wider rear tires?

With the crappy snowy weather here, im sure your car will be faster than mine (only when its snowing tho) haha
You'll be fine. Just be careful when you take corners, coz those ice on the side walk is a hazard to the face of your rims.