Discussion
I'm getting a new M3 and the dealer is trying to sell me a set of winter wheels. In people's experience is this worth it, do you need a set or just take it easy in the winter months? Alternatively could I not just buy a good set of tyres and swap them back and forth or even buy a cheap set of alloys with some winter tyres? What have others done, BMW want £2500-3000, any recommendations for tyres on the standard rims or cheap alloys that will fit? Car is the current M3 with 19" standard alloys. Any advice appreciated!
Definitely worth it in my opinion.
I used to be sceptical but when I got my 135i (first rear wheel drive car) I found it far worse than a front wheel drive car in the snow and ice. I decided to go for a set of winter wheels and tyres and the difference is astounding - much, much more grip for both traction and stopping.
I have an E92 M3 now and have a set of winter wheels shod with winter tyres that I simply swap myself in December and swap back in March or April.
A couple of things to take into account in relation to the cost. First of all you will easily be able to sell the set when you sell the car and should recoup about £1,000 or so (especially if you put them on the market when there is snow about and no winter tyres available!). So the overall capital cost is not as bad as it sounds. Secondly, your performance tyres will last a lot longer than you have budgeted for as you're not using them for four months a year (sounds obvious but some people forget to factor this in).
If you have a garage for storage I would definitely go for the wheel and tyre set as faffing about changing tyres on wheels twice a year is no fun.
I used to be sceptical but when I got my 135i (first rear wheel drive car) I found it far worse than a front wheel drive car in the snow and ice. I decided to go for a set of winter wheels and tyres and the difference is astounding - much, much more grip for both traction and stopping.
I have an E92 M3 now and have a set of winter wheels shod with winter tyres that I simply swap myself in December and swap back in March or April.
A couple of things to take into account in relation to the cost. First of all you will easily be able to sell the set when you sell the car and should recoup about £1,000 or so (especially if you put them on the market when there is snow about and no winter tyres available!). So the overall capital cost is not as bad as it sounds. Secondly, your performance tyres will last a lot longer than you have budgeted for as you're not using them for four months a year (sounds obvious but some people forget to factor this in).
If you have a garage for storage I would definitely go for the wheel and tyre set as faffing about changing tyres on wheels twice a year is no fun.
I went on ebay and searched for genuine BMW alloy wheels for your particular model.Then went to Oponeo for a set of winter tyres.I ended up with a brand new set of 18"alloys with new Michelin run flat tyres on from Germany for less than my local dealer wanted for the wheels alone.Sold the brand new run flats and fitted the winters.
Andy
Andy
griff7 said:
I went on ebay and searched for genuine BMW alloy wheels for your particular model.Then went to Oponeo for a set of winter tyres.I ended up with a brand new set of 18"alloys with new Michelin run flat tyres on from Germany for less than my local dealer wanted for the wheels alone.Sold the brand new run flats and fitted the winters.
Andy
M3 cars don't run on run-flats!!!!Andy
I'd not bother unless you're North of the border. Also factor in how long you're going to have the car.
I've run mine over 2 Winters on the standard 19" wheels with MPSS rubber & had no issues. Saying that we've not had particularly bad Winters but if the weather was ever really bad i'd not be out in it anyway.
I've run mine over 2 Winters on the standard 19" wheels with MPSS rubber & had no issues. Saying that we've not had particularly bad Winters but if the weather was ever really bad i'd not be out in it anyway.
It's not just snow that worries me also ice and rain. The fact we have had two good winters can only mean we're due a bad one but if I could avoid the fluffy stuff I would however, the last two major snow falls we have had down here have happened at midday when I'm already at work and thinking "it'll stop in a minute and all be gone.........." Have had a set before on a previous car and had no problem selling them on so seems a sensible move.
They're a mixed bag. Great when the weather turns real cold and/or there's bit of snow/slush on the road. But...
when there's a lot of snow and the roads turn into car parks you have all the grip you need but no ability to move around all the stuck cars. So you are effectively one of them.
you can stop and go without issue but the twit behind you on summer tyres that's tailgating with 2 inches of snow on the ground runs into the back of you when you brake.
I run them on my E61 M5 but just be aware they're not a miracle cure for everything that Mother Nature throws at the UK.
when there's a lot of snow and the roads turn into car parks you have all the grip you need but no ability to move around all the stuck cars. So you are effectively one of them.
you can stop and go without issue but the twit behind you on summer tyres that's tailgating with 2 inches of snow on the ground runs into the back of you when you brake.
I run them on my E61 M5 but just be aware they're not a miracle cure for everything that Mother Nature throws at the UK.
elliebeth said:
It's not just snow that worries me also ice and rain. The fact we have had two good winters can only mean we're due a bad one but if I could avoid the fluffy stuff I would however, the last two major snow falls we have had down here have happened at midday when I'm already at work and thinking "it'll stop in a minute and all be gone.........." Have had a set before on a previous car and had no problem selling them on so seems a sensible move.
Winters go on my cars every year, anything less than 7Deg C and you should have them on.Snow or no snow winters perform under 7Deg.
Do note that a lot of this Winter wheels scenario is pure hype, as other than in the coldest countries, it's only in the last couple of years they've started to be discussed, let alone sold in the UK.
They do offer up an advantage in more extreme conditions & yes they improve below 7 degrees c, however the crossover point is lower than that so where Summer tyres start to lose performance & Winter tyres gain is a lot closer to freezing. Personally it's more of a placebo, as they'll never outperform the Summer tyre unless you like driving closer to the limit in the Winter, in which case the Winter tyre does have an advantage.
Personally i turn the wick down when the road conditions worsen, so again the Summer tyres (certainly MPSS) are more than up to the job & i've had absolutely no reason to even consider Winter tyres. If Snow however was a more regular problem in the Winter then i would be running Winter wheels for the season as per mandated in some European countries.
End of the day it's your money & if running them provides some comfort then go for it.
They do offer up an advantage in more extreme conditions & yes they improve below 7 degrees c, however the crossover point is lower than that so where Summer tyres start to lose performance & Winter tyres gain is a lot closer to freezing. Personally it's more of a placebo, as they'll never outperform the Summer tyre unless you like driving closer to the limit in the Winter, in which case the Winter tyre does have an advantage.
Personally i turn the wick down when the road conditions worsen, so again the Summer tyres (certainly MPSS) are more than up to the job & i've had absolutely no reason to even consider Winter tyres. If Snow however was a more regular problem in the Winter then i would be running Winter wheels for the season as per mandated in some European countries.
End of the day it's your money & if running them provides some comfort then go for it.
downthepub said:
Fantastic & yes hype. That's driving on ice so even i'd concede that certain Winter Tyres would be better in those conditions. Personally i'd not be out in my M5 on the roads in such conditions so wouldn't make a difference if i was running Summers, Winters or even slicks. If the roads were that bad i'd stay home or take the train.
I think its being responsible if you regularly drive at temperatures close to zero in the winter.
And that isn't just people north of the border, I live near the south coast but drive to work at 7AM and home at 7PM when it is regularly at or close to freezing for a lot of the winter.
I ran a 650 convertible on normal tyres for one Winter and it really wasn't great a lot of the time and in any snow it was un-driveable. Winters transformed it and I now put them on all my cars. Ironically a BMW driver totalled into the back of me one day in snow when he totally lost control going down a hill - that can still happen, but that is him being irresponsible IMHO
And that isn't just people north of the border, I live near the south coast but drive to work at 7AM and home at 7PM when it is regularly at or close to freezing for a lot of the winter.
I ran a 650 convertible on normal tyres for one Winter and it really wasn't great a lot of the time and in any snow it was un-driveable. Winters transformed it and I now put them on all my cars. Ironically a BMW driver totalled into the back of me one day in snow when he totally lost control going down a hill - that can still happen, but that is him being irresponsible IMHO
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