winter tires?

kmarei · 09-12-2011, 03:34 PM

i just checked tirerack
there are very few sizes of winter tires available
am i buying at the wrong time or something?
can't find any decent ones in good sizes
i'd love to get 245/40 and 265/40 18"
or 235/40 and 255/40 18"
and yes i know the recommended is 235, and that thinner is better. but here in VA it doesn't snow that much, its usually just cold, cold enough for the PS2s to suck

and when its really bad i use my wifes X3

Templar · 09-12-2011, 03:36 PM

I think there has always been a small selection of winter tires for this car. I've never bothered. It took some balls trying to drive this to the shipping company in Germany in November, but I did it safely, haha... Now I have another car and it's AWD.

You could PM Ben, he might be able to look deeper into the inventory for you.

**ben@tirerack** · 09-13-2011, 07:43 AM

Snow tire availability is a bit limited this year it seems, though there have never been a ton of options for staggered snow tire setups. Dunlop Wintersport 3D is most readily available, and has been pretty popular for the M3. They're in 235/40R18 and 255/40R18.

Pirelli says they'll send some 240 Sottozero's in that size combo, but they may be later in the season, December or so.

Michelin says they're backordered on the 235/40R18, so I am not counting on the Pilot Alpin PA2 for this year.

**ben@tirerack** · 09-13-2011, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

It seems winter tires are always limited... every year.

Having said that my tires just shipped from tire rack.... running 255/35/19 in the front, and 275/35/19 in the back - best and worst winter set-up ever! Oh the insanity!

Haha, yes, snows are even tougher for the 19". Awesome winter setup for a cold winter without too much deep snow. 255 and 275 in the deep stuff could be...interesting

kmarei · 09-13-2011, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ben@tirerack

Snow tire availability is a bit limited this year it seems, though there have never been a ton of options for staggered snow tire setups. Dunlop Wintersport 3D is most readily available, and has been pretty popular for the M3. They're in 235/40R18 and 255/40R18.

Pirelli says they'll send some 240 Sottozero's in that size combo, but they may be later in the season, December or so.

Michelin says they're backordered on the 235/40R18, so I am not counting on the Pilot Alpin PA2 for this year.

thing is, i need to know what tires are available because based on that
i know which wheels to buy

it's either VMR VB3 8.5" front 9.5" rear
or Apex Arc 8 in 9.5" all around
or OEM 18's

would you say the dunlop wintersport 3d in 235/40R18 and 255/40R18 are good?

k5ng · 09-13-2011, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmarei

thing is, i need to know what tires are available because based on that
i know which wheels to buy

it's either VMR VB3 8.5" front 9.5" rear
or Apex Arc 8 in 9.5" all around
or OEM 18's

would you say the dunlop wintersport 3d in 235/40R18 and 255/40R18 are good?

Ben's been a great resource. I'm about to pick up a set myself. Traded a couple of emails the last couple of days with him. He's right, not much out there for staggered sets except the Dunlops. They do seem to be popular and have good feedback. Wish the Alpin PA3s had the staggered sizes.

884487 · 09-13-2011, 10:25 PM

I just bought LM 60s 255/40r18 on matte black 18x9.5 et22 vmr vb3s. I wanted to go staggered, but seems all of vmr's 8.5 wide et20 matte black wheels are back ordered with no deliver time specified. I guess square is okay as LM 60s did not have great staggered sizes in 18" for this car anyways. I hope the front offset works out okay...
Thanks David at eas!

**ben@tirerack** · 09-14-2011, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmarei

thing is, i need to know what tires are available because based on that
i know which wheels to buy

it's either VMR VB3 8.5" front 9.5" rear
or Apex Arc 8 in 9.5" all around
or OEM 18's

would you say the dunlop wintersport 3d in 235/40R18 and 255/40R18 are good?

Yes I would definitely say the Dunlop are good. They are a very balanced performance winter tire: snow traction is good, road handling is good (for the category). You can find tires that specialize more in one area or the other, but all around the Dunlop is a very good balance.

Rekrul · 09-15-2011, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ben@tirerack

Yes I would definitely say the Dunlop are good. They are a very balanced performance winter tire: snow traction is good, road handling is good (for the category). You can find tires that specialize more in one area or the other, but all around the Dunlop is a very good balance.

Hey ben would it be a bad idea to run 245/40/18 with 9.5's? OR should I just run 255 all around? Thank you. Furthermore could you pm me with your best price shipped for the above two in Dunlop Wintersports?

Daft · 09-15-2011, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

It seems winter tires are always limited... every year.

Having said that my tires just shipped from tire rack.... running 255/35/19 in the front, and 275/35/19 in the back - best and worst winter set-up ever! Oh the insanity!

That's my winter setup exactly! Well tire size anyway. Drove very nicely last winter with more than average snow fall. Looks good too!

gthal · 09-15-2011, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daft

That's my winter setup exactly! Well tire size anyway. Drove very nicely last winter with more than average snow fall. Looks good too!

Daft, you were my winter inspiration my friend... I'm running the same on my ZCP wheels this winter... all because of you!

**ben@tirerack** · 09-16-2011, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rekrul

Hey ben would it be a bad idea to run 245/40/18 with 9.5's? OR should I just run 255 all around? Thank you. Furthermore could you pm me with your best price shipped for the above two in Dunlop Wintersports?

245/40R18 is officially recommended to fit up to a 9.5" wheel. They'll look a bit stretchy on that size, but 100% safe to run. Not on PM due to the demands of my work email and phone: it was just too many things to check. So feel free to email me if you want to get a specific quote with your ZIP code.

Rekrul · 09-16-2011, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ben@tirerack

245/40R18 is officially recommended to fit up to a 9.5" wheel. They'll look a bit stretchy on that size, but 100% safe to run. Not on PM due to the demands of my work email and phone: it was just too many things to check. So feel free to email me if you want to get a specific quote with your ZIP code.

Will it inhibit the tires effectiveness? +22 offset btw. I will email you asap, if I go ahead and get these wheels.

**ben@tirerack** · 09-16-2011, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rekrul

Will it inhibit the tires effectiveness? +22 offset btw. I will email you asap, if I go ahead and get these wheels.

Offset seems fine. Offset can affect whether a tire rubs on the car or not, but will not affect whether or not it mounts on a given width of wheel.

The tire will not lose effectiveness, since it is still within its recommended range of wheel widths.

It will not give as much curb protection on a 9.5 as it would on a narrower wheel, that would really be the only drawback.

09-12-2011, 03:34 PM	#1
kmarei Major General 688 Rep 6,845 Posts Drives: 2018 Audi RS5 coupe Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Reston, VA iTrader: (34) Garage List 2018 Audi RS5 [0.00]	winter tires? i just checked tirerack there are very few sizes of winter tires available am i buying at the wrong time or something? can't find any decent ones in good sizes i'd love to get 245/40 and 265/40 18" or 235/40 and 255/40 18" and yes i know the recommended is 235, and that thinner is better. but here in VA it doesn't snow that much, its usually just cold, cold enough for the PS2s to suck and when its really bad i use my wifes X3 __________________
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09-12-2011, 03:36 PM	#2
Templar Lieutenant Colonel 268 Rep 1,883 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: One of the coasts... iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [10.00]	I think there has always been a small selection of winter tires for this car. I've never bothered. It took some balls trying to drive this to the shipping company in Germany in November, but I did it safely, haha... Now I have another car and it's AWD. You could PM Ben, he might be able to look deeper into the inventory for you. __________________ '11 BMW E92 ///M3 - ZCP and DCT '15 Ford F-250 - Lariat, 6.7 Powerstroke Turbo-diesel
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09-13-2011, 07:43 AM	#3
ben@tirerack M3Post Supporting Vendor 87 Rep 964 Posts Drives: 740i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: South Bend, IN iTrader: (0)	Snow tire availability is a bit limited this year it seems, though there have never been a ton of options for staggered snow tire setups. Dunlop Wintersport 3D is most readily available, and has been pretty popular for the M3. They're in 235/40R18 and 255/40R18. Pirelli says they'll send some 240 Sottozero's in that size combo, but they may be later in the season, December or so. Michelin says they're backordered on the 235/40R18, so I am not counting on the Pilot Alpin PA2 for this year. __________________ _______________________________________________ I have accepted a new position at Tire Rack and am no longer in the sales department. gary@tirerack.com is available to assist with M3 questions.
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09-13-2011, 10:25 PM	#7
884487 Enlisted Member 0 Rep 32 Posts Drives: TBD Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	I just bought LM 60s 255/40r18 on matte black 18x9.5 et22 vmr vb3s. I wanted to go staggered, but seems all of vmr's 8.5 wide et20 matte black wheels are back ordered with no deliver time specified. I guess square is okay as LM 60s did not have great staggered sizes in 18" for this car anyways. I hope the front offset works out okay... Thanks David at eas!
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