Time for Winter Tires?

[BMWftw]

Hey everyone

I've had my new M3 for 3 days now, and am so satisfied with it. Can't wait till I'm through the first 2000km (break-in).

I live in Vancouver BC, and the weather is definately getting colder each day. I have beautiful 19in double spokes on my LeMans blue E92 M3, but is it time to store them away for the winter and get some Winter Tires?

I looked into BMW's winter package, cost around $4000 for 4 winter tires and rims + free first year installation. Should I get my tires from them or get it from say Cal Tire or some other place?

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advanced

[ns2000x]

Congrats!
I wanted to maintain the OEM look also, but you can get better wheels for much less pre-owned.

I bought a set of 219/260M's (the 18" M3 rims) with winter tires installed for far less than your dealer quote from one of the very helpful and friendly M3Post Canadian forum members.

Originally Posted by BMWftw

Hey everyone

I've had my new M3 for 3 days now, and am so satisfied with it. Can't wait till I'm through the first 2000km (break-in).

I live in Vancouver BC, and the weather is definately getting colder each day. I have beautiful 19in double spokes on my LeMans blue E92 M3, but is it time to store them away for the winter and get some Winter Tires?

I looked into BMW's winter package, cost around $4000 for 4 winter tires and rims free first year installation. Should I get my tires from them or get it from say Cal Tire or some other place?

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advanced

[redline9001]

Tire rack would be good choice also, Tunerworks is also good choice.

[Doctor J]

i found almost new OEM 19" M6 rims with Bridgestone Blizzak tires for $1500 on this board. SHop around

[Chowster]

$4000? That's almost TWO sets of brand new inexpensive winter setups in my book.

[bobblehead]

Go across the border and ask for quote from a US BMW dealership there and compare ... if you must choose the winter stock setup

[trf417]

What winter tires do you guys run?

[Chowster]

Originally Posted by trf417

What winter tires do you guys run?

Lots of LM25 and LM60s in use, more so in snowier climates. Some M3s run on PA3s and Wintersport 3Ds (including me).

Don't forget to

Ben@tirerack has some good info as well.

[trf417]

Thanks for the info!

[moe80]

I just found a set of OEM's 18's, winter package from BMW for $1600, no scuffs or marks on rims, tires have about 8-9mm left on threads, PA3's. Plus 4 carry bags included.

Found on Kijiji. Try there.

Hope the PA3's are good for the London snow...I've read mixed reviews

[Chowster]

Originally Posted by moe80

I just found a set of OEM's 18's, winter package from BMW for $1600, no scuffs or marks on rims, tires have about 8-9mm left on threads, PA3's. Plus 4 carry bags included.

Found on Kijiji. Try there.

Hope the PA3's are good for the London snow...I've read mixed reviews

Good deal! Correct fitment for M3s? PA3s have had mixed reviews for snow. I haven't had them myself, but there was lots of discussion about the the PA3s last winter on the forum. It seemed as though most experienced winter drivers didn't enjoy the PA3s as much as LM60s for true snowy driving. Have fun with your new setup!

[moe80]

I did read all those reviews. This is what leaves me with mixed concerns.
Most of the people I spoke to, and some dealers who called some customers have, said they were good and had good success in the snow. I will report back once snow falls.

These are from an E92M, winter package sold from BMW london.
I couldnt pass up on the price

[Chowster]

Trust me, I would've bit on the price too! Might as well try them for one season.

Originally Posted by moe80

I did read all those reviews. This is what leaves me with mixed concerns.
Most of the people I spoke to, and some dealers who called some customers have, said they were good and had good success in the snow. I will report back once snow falls.

These are from an E92M, winter package sold from BMW london.
I couldnt pass up on the price

[mpm3]

last storm we had in nj when i had my M with snows it was awesome !!!!! no joke i hope my 911 can do as well i swear my M3 did better then my audi...it deff has something to do with the LSD

[kristobias]

Originally Posted by Chowster

Good deal! Correct fitment for M3s? PA3s have had mixed reviews for snow. I haven't had them myself, but there was lots of discussion about the the PA3s last winter on the forum. It seemed as though most experienced winter drivers didn't enjoy the PA3s as much as LM60s for true snowy driving. Have fun with your new setup!

I did not have the best luck with PA3's on previous BMW's. I have been running Dunlop 3D's on the last few cars with great success. They were on my M3 last winter and it was awesome.

Shameless plug, selling my setup if anyone is looking in the CDN classifieds, 19" oem plus Dunlop 3D's

[stefan]

Mine are going on the 31st. I'm trying Sottozero's for the first time this year. Previous winters owned were X-Ice, X-Ice 2, Blizzak LM60, LM25, Wintersport 3Ds, and Nokians... so we'll see how these stack ups.

[Chowster]

Originally Posted by stefan

Mine are going on the 31st. I'm trying Sottozero's for the first time this year. Previous winters owned were X-Ice, X-Ice 2, Blizzak LM60, LM25, Wintersport 3Ds, and Nokians... so we'll see how these stack ups.

That's alot of winter tires... Care to rank them for us???

[veightkiller]

i just installed mine today.

[gthal]

Originally Posted by Chowster

That's alot of winter tires... Care to rank them for us???

+1

I ran PA3 last year and one thing I can say is that I really miss the dry weather performance compared to the LM-60 I have on now. In fairness, it is still relatively warm... 8c today... and the LM-60 will do better when it is colder. The PA3 felt like performance tires in these temps and the LM-60s, although much better than regular winter tires, have noticeably more squirm.

Update... temps were at freezing this morning and the LM-60 were MUCH better. Still not as good as the PA3 but close.

[stefan]

Originally Posted by Chowster

That's alot of winter tires... Care to rank them for us???

Sure! I can come to a clear answer on this actually..

1. LM-60 - replacement for LM25, great tire for our cars, good wear, and best all-rounder. They hold up really well in very cold conditions. They handle snow well. Deep snow, they aren't as good as the Nokian's, but they counter that with better "warm" wear and dry handling.
2. LM-25 - about the same in my experience.. I didn't wear the tread down on the LM-60s enough to know if its low-tread grip was any better than the 25's.
3. Nokian Hakkipilleta R's - amazing grip, easily the best of the bunch but quite soft and wear down very fast in the dry/warm. Being Calgary, we have too much fluctuation IMO to get the most money out of these tires. But if snow is the main concern, these are the best.
4. X-Ice 2 - slightly improved over the original X-Ice, though I had problems -30 and down. Snow performance was pretty bad.
5. X-Ice - not a very good tire. Didn't wear too badly, but really didn't offer good grip in any situations.
6. Wintersport 3D - by a large margin the worst of the bunch. These were even on my STi and were still completely useless. I don't know what these tires are supposed to be good at.. maybe marginally cold days above -10C. But for most of the winter I found them to be useless.

[gthal]

Originally Posted by stefan

Sure! I can come to a clear answer on this actually..

1. LM-60 - replacement for LM25, great tire for our cars, good wear, and best all-rounder. They hold up really well in very cold conditions. They handle snow well. Deep snow, they aren't as good as the Nokian's, but they counter that with better "warm" wear and dry handling.
2. LM-25 - about the same in my experience.. I didn't wear the tread down on the LM-60s enough to know if its low-tread grip was any better than the 25's.
3. Nokian Hakkipilleta R's - amazing grip, easily the best of the bunch but quite soft and wear down very fast in the dry/warm. Being Calgary, we have too much fluctuation IMO to get the most money out of these tires. But if snow is the main concern, these are the best.
4. X-Ice 2 - slightly improved over the original X-Ice, though I had problems -30 and down. Snow performance was pretty bad.
5. X-Ice - not a very good tire. Didn't wear too badly, but really didn't offer good grip in any situations.
6. Wintersport 3D - by a large margin the worst of the bunch. These were even on my STi and were still completely useless. I don't know what these tires are supposed to be good at.. maybe marginally cold days above -10C. But for most of the winter I found them to be useless.

Great commentary!! Thanks for this.

I would add the following:

LM-25 had better dry road handling characteristics compared to the LM-60.

Michelin PA3 had AMAZING cold, dry road handling but was only OK in fluffy snow and marginal in slushy, icy snow (which, unfortunately is what I see most of).

For those who see hard winters with snow, slush and ice... LM-60. For those with some powder but 90% dry pavement, I liked the PA3.

[redline9001]

I put the winters on today as well... the last week of driving to work in -3c the PS2 were a little slippery. Could not get on the gas at all without the TC lighting up solid.