Winter wheels and tyres?

[andyscole]

I have searched the site but looking for an answer as to what wheels I can put on my e91 for the winter? I live in the sticks and after last years trouble (and the wife crashing) I'm going to buy so cheap wheels and fit winter tyres. Can I fit wheels from any e9x? Or can I fit e46 also? Plus will 16" fit or 17" the smallest?

Thanks in anticipation.

[soda]

Depends what model you have what wheels will fit, if it's a 330i/d you will need at least 17" wheels to clear the brakes.

Also you will need to check the offset of whatever wheels you are buying, E46 and E90 wheels have different offsets

[andyscole]

Have a 330. Would e60 17" wheels fit ok ie the offset be the same?

[briers]

andyscole said:

Have a 330. Would e60 17" wheels fit ok ie the offset be the same?

You need 225/45/17 - check the sticker on the chassis, drivers door side. You will need to get the speed rating right as well. Look for the lines marked M&S for mud and snow.

I bought some BMW 330 coupe alloys off ebay for £110 (long story) and some new vred wintrac extremes to go on my 335 coupe and as they were the right speed rating and size recommended by BMW for the car BMW were happy and so were my insurance and warranty company. Worked out very cheap in the end.

The 5 series might have a bigger profile like 50. And yes, at least 17" BMW wheels to clear the brakes. Some after market 17's won't fit either.

Edited by briers on Tuesday 16th November 15:12

[E30M3SE]

andyscole said:

Have a 330. Would e60 17" wheels fit ok ie the offset be the same?

They would, but the offset is much lower on the e60.

You need a 8x17 et34. eg Styling 285, 32, 158, or 159.

[Guyr]

5 series wheels do not fit 3 series.

Other alternative is to buy steel wheels/winter from internet. I bought from mytyres.co.uk and the combination of wheels/tyres was cheaper than buying the tyres alone in the UK.

Prices have risen and availability has dropped for winter tyres now the season is underway though.

[AC Schnitzer]

Vote 1 for steels, this is however the wrong time of year to try and buy winter tyres. Camskill have a few sizes available but we have been struggling to get appropriate sizes for customers who have just woken up to the idea. The best time to order them is June or July when winter is furthest from your mind.

[Silver993tt]

Last year I bought a brand new set of BMW replica alloys specifically designed for the 3 series, 17" with new winter tyres - 225x45x17 all round. £750 all in, great deal and the car still looks nice without resorting to black steels.

[andyscole]

Cheers chaps. Had a look at some of the site and your right that availability seems very poor. Will spend tonight scouring the interweb!!

[gizard]

Got a full set of wheels and tyres from Mitcheldever for a E91 335d - wheels are not official BMW but are identical 18" - decided to get the same size as summer tyres ie. wider at the rear. Tyres are Pirelli Sotozero's - an there is an offer at the moment from Pirelli that if the temperature during Jan and Feb 2011 is higher than 7 degrees c for 30 days or more then you get 50% back...... not that I think it will be but there you go.

[-Pete-]

Next year I might buy some wheels and winter tyres for my E61, it's on 225/50/R17 95W's and it's useless at low temperatures. Can anyone tell me which other wheels would fit, with the same offset etc? Is there a simple guide somewhere showing equivalent width/aspect-ratio etc. And does anyone sell steel wheels for an E61? I don't care what it looks like, I just want to be able to drive.