Winter tyres ... Winter wheels?
Discussion
I'm potentially looking to get some steelies and winter tyres for the Z4 this year after some embarrassing moments and decidedly dicey commutes in the snow last year. It's only a 2006 2.5, so should be fairly easy to shop for.
From what I can work out it makes some sense to get a second set of wheels rather than pay to swap the tyres (which I don't have tools to do myself) now, only to then put the good weather tyres back on in spring.
Anyone recommend where I should start looking for a set that comes with tyres? Or more generally if the economies of buying a second set of wheels Vs just swapping the tyres makes sense...?
The other option is to borrow my other half's Jazz which is like a mountain goat on snow, but I'm not sure I'm ready for that.
From what I can work out it makes some sense to get a second set of wheels rather than pay to swap the tyres (which I don't have tools to do myself) now, only to then put the good weather tyres back on in spring.
Anyone recommend where I should start looking for a set that comes with tyres? Or more generally if the economies of buying a second set of wheels Vs just swapping the tyres makes sense...?
The other option is to borrow my other half's Jazz which is like a mountain goat on snow, but I'm not sure I'm ready for that.
If your stock wheels are 17s or 18s, then I’d say just swap tires. See if retailer will store summers if needs be.
If 19s , then swap to 17s and cost of wheels should be covered in savings on tires.
I made such a saving but got alloys not streels .
Try eBay for refurbished OEM alloys.
If 19s , then swap to 17s and cost of wheels should be covered in savings on tires.
I made such a saving but got alloys not streels .
Try eBay for refurbished OEM alloys.
https://www.mrwinterwheels.co.uk/
Got mine from here last winter, wheel and tyre packages are well priced and delivered quickly.
Got mine from here last winter, wheel and tyre packages are well priced and delivered quickly.
As above; go for a cheap set of E46 alloys, 16' if you know they'll fit over your brake calipers and keep the cost low but effective 
A quick DIY refurb can have them looking fresher and then look to source tyres from Camskill or Tyreleader (they've generally got the best prices for tyres); you just need to get them fitted locally for £beer tokens
My previous E39s I've run OEM Style 33 'turbine' 16" alloys and winter tyres and the alloys were free (sourced locally via Gumtree) and tyres were via Camskiill. This year on my 530i touring, I'm running a straight set of OEM Style 66s (17" alloys) with Avon WV7 winter tyres, brand new, sourced via MyTyres on their eBay shop. So worth shopping around
A quick DIY refurb can have them looking fresher and then look to source tyres from Camskill or Tyreleader (they've generally got the best prices for tyres); you just need to get them fitted locally for £beer tokens
My previous E39s I've run OEM Style 33 'turbine' 16" alloys and winter tyres and the alloys were free (sourced locally via Gumtree) and tyres were via Camskiill. This year on my 530i touring, I'm running a straight set of OEM Style 66s (17" alloys) with Avon WV7 winter tyres, brand new, sourced via MyTyres on their eBay shop. So worth shopping around
SimsyZ4 said:
Thanks for the replies all, I'll see if I can spot any cheap alloys on eBay, and I'll price it up versus getting a pre-sorted package from Mr Winter Wheels.
Lawrence - I'm based just west of Manchester, how come?
I'm seriously doubting you'll find steel wheels for a Z4 here in the UK, so a set if used alloys will be the way to go. Lawrence - I'm based just west of Manchester, how come?
Personally speaking, I'd be looking for a simple, 5 spoke design, with decent thick spokes - Easy to clean off, to help make them last longer, and thick spokes will have more resistance to impacts, should you encounter any potholes that are hidden by snow/ice, or sliding into a kerb should anything unfortunate happen.
4rephill said:
SimsyZ4 said:
Thanks for the replies all, I'll see if I can spot any cheap alloys on eBay, and I'll price it up versus getting a pre-sorted package from Mr Winter Wheels.
Lawrence - I'm based just west of Manchester, how come?
I'm seriously doubting you'll find steel wheels for a Z4 here in the UK, so a set if used alloys will be the way to go. Lawrence - I'm based just west of Manchester, how come?
Personally speaking, I'd be looking for a simple, 5 spoke design, with decent thick spokes - Easy to clean off, to help make them last longer, and thick spokes will have more resistance to impacts, should you encounter any potholes that are hidden by snow/ice, or sliding into a kerb should anything unfortunate happen.
naturalaspiration said:
They're exactly the same as the wheels I've got on at the moment! They're a b
h to clean, but price looks good...if I bagged those I could even cherry pick the best 4 out of 8 for summer use...hmm 
feef said:
Why not stick on some all-season tyres and just run them all year round?
That's what I've done with previous cars but the Z4 is my "one size fits all" car that I can daily without too much hardship, as well as have a bit of fun with when I fancy it (I look after it well, but it's not precious enough to feel bad about putting some miles on).I do like to have the occasional day at the track, so I feel like I get some benefit out of having something a bit stickier. I've currently got some AD08Rs on with tons of life left in them, but they're most definitely not suited for slush and snow!
SimsyZ4 said:
naturalaspiration said:
They're exactly the same as the wheels I've got on at the moment! They're a bh to clean, but price looks good...if I bagged those I could even cherry pick the best 4 out of 8 for summer use...hmm naturalaspiration said:
16" tyres sidewalls aren't a bit too high for track use? Maybe just keeping winters on stand by and putting them on only if snow is forecast? With such an iffy weather no one can tell, it. May well turn out to be snowless... Once the 16" summers wear off completely I would consider getting 17s for the new set of summers - for that extra grip on track and less ambiguity when cornering. And then put winters on the old 16s.
There is that. It's pretty close to my original plan (still have some eBay alerts set up for bigger OEM wheels) but I ended up getting some decent tyres for the 16s as there was a day coming up and I hadn't got any better wheels yet. After some track time it was clear the top priority was better brakes and a few other bits and bobs before spending on bigger wheels.You've got me thinking again though - it might be a good time to get just winters or all seasons fitted to my existing wheels.
I can then take the tyres I am running at the moment and sell them on for a few quid as part worn. Then, come spring, I can bite the bullet and get the wheels I actually want and put some decent rubber on those instead.
I have a Z4 as well, but I don't put winters on it as I use my 3 Series if the weather is cr*p!
But I found a set of 16" alloys with Michelin winter tyres for my E46 daily for £180 5 years ago, and sold them for £120 three years later on Z4forum as they'd also fit any E85 Z4 other than a facelift 3.0Si (or M).
I can't change tyres but changing wheels costs nothing, apart from a bit of time so that seemed like a bargain to me!
But I found a set of 16" alloys with Michelin winter tyres for my E46 daily for £180 5 years ago, and sold them for £120 three years later on Z4forum as they'd also fit any E85 Z4 other than a facelift 3.0Si (or M).
I can't change tyres but changing wheels costs nothing, apart from a bit of time so that seemed like a bargain to me!
I do exactly the same.
Got a couple of sets of wheels for for the E46 when I got it, for £40 a set !
recently had one set shod in Nexen Winters.
I fit the wheels myself as its quick and easy, just a trolley jack.
I've always been a big advocate of a second set of winter wheels / tyres; even with 4x4's (Cayenne Turbo / hybrid) makes a huge difference.
Got a couple of sets of wheels for for the E46 when I got it, for £40 a set !
recently had one set shod in Nexen Winters.
I fit the wheels myself as its quick and easy, just a trolley jack.
I've always been a big advocate of a second set of winter wheels / tyres; even with 4x4's (Cayenne Turbo / hybrid) makes a huge difference.
There seems to be a lot of talk in here about putting Winter tyres on to help drive on snow, but let's not forget that "Winter" tyres are not only for when there is snow on the road.
"Winter" tyres are designed to offer more grip when the temperatures drop below 7°C, due to being manufactured from a softer compound. The treads are slightly more open, to assist with driving on snow, but not to the same degree as full on "Snow" tyres.
Anyone who has driven a car on low profile, summer tyres when the temperature has dropped below 7°C in winter, knows that the car feels far more disconnected with the road than it does in warmer weather (in fact, when you start getting down to 0°C and below, it can feel as though you're barely in contact with the road at all sometimes, and as though the tyres are filled with concrete instead of air!).
So basically, don't think winter tyres are only for when there's snow on the road - They're a benefit long before the snow comes (if it does at all!)
"Winter" tyres are designed to offer more grip when the temperatures drop below 7°C, due to being manufactured from a softer compound. The treads are slightly more open, to assist with driving on snow, but not to the same degree as full on "Snow" tyres.
Anyone who has driven a car on low profile, summer tyres when the temperature has dropped below 7°C in winter, knows that the car feels far more disconnected with the road than it does in warmer weather (in fact, when you start getting down to 0°C and below, it can feel as though you're barely in contact with the road at all sometimes, and as though the tyres are filled with concrete instead of air!).
So basically, don't think winter tyres are only for when there's snow on the road - They're a benefit long before the snow comes (if it does at all!)
I agree with you entirely, which is why I fitted the winters to my E90 earlier this week!
But going back to the OP's question, a 2006 325i should be fine on 16s - that's what the winters fitted to the 06 plate E91 325i I bought in March last year had on it, and they were great. Especially in the aftermath of the Beast from the East!
But going back to the OP's question, a 2006 325i should be fine on 16s - that's what the winters fitted to the 06 plate E91 325i I bought in March last year had on it, and they were great. Especially in the aftermath of the Beast from the East!
stuart_83 said:
https://www.mrwinterwheels.co.uk/
Got mine from here last winter, wheel and tyre packages are well priced and delivered quickly.
Got mine from here too.Got mine from here last winter, wheel and tyre packages are well priced and delivered quickly.
I've used https://www.bmautosport.co.uk/showroom/index.php/e... previously. I bought some refurbed 17" wheels from them for my E92 335i back in 2010; price, quality and delivery were all good. Will be fitting them to my 335D tomorrow.
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