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[Seven7]

Hey guys, im picking up my 2011 M3 this friday and I planning to put on snow tires right away once I pick up the car. I went to a tire dealership last week, and I told them I needed blizzak ws-60s for the extreme snow I get here in London. I am wondering what sizes I should get for the front and back wheels.

He recommended
Front:P235/40r18
Rear245/40r18

The biggest size for these tires are p245/40r18, I am wondering should I upgrade the front tires from p235 to p245 instead. Thanks for any advice!!

[VonSwoopington]

Why would you put wider tires in the snow?

Narrow tires gives you more traction.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/womt/112_9...#ixzz16AINYO5V

Myth: Wide tires provide better traction under all weather conditions. In fact, putting oversize snow tires on a car delivers better snow traction.
Fact: The opposite is actually true. Wide tires tend to "float" on deep snow, and the tread lugs never have a chance to "dig" through to the road surface to gain traction. Narrow tires are a better option in deep snow. The tire acts similarly to a knife cutting through butter; the blade works best when using the narrow edge to push through the butter rather than the wide flat side of the blade.

[ec_E92]

Originally Posted by VonSwoopington

Why would you put wider tires in the snow?

Narrow tires gives you more traction.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/womt/112_9...#ixzz16AINYO5V

Myth: Wide tires provide better traction under all weather conditions. In fact, putting oversize snow tires on a car delivers better snow traction.
Fact: The opposite is actually true. Wide tires tend to "float" on deep snow, and the tread lugs never have a chance to "dig" through to the road surface to gain traction. Narrow tires are a better option in deep snow. The tire acts similarly to a knife cutting through butter; the blade works best when using the narrow edge to push through the butter rather than the wide flat side of the blade.

+1

Plus with a square setup you can rotate your fronts and rears each season.

[Seven7]

So should I keep the set up the guy at the tire dealership recommended or should I also downgrade the rear wheels to P235 as well?

[e90m3_6MT]

Originally Posted by ec_E92

+1

Plus with a square setup you can rotate your fronts and rears each season.

can't rotate, the back tires once upfront introduced a vibration in the steering.
It's probably the way the tires get worn in the back makes them unusable upfront.

also BMW does not recommend rotating tires

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...=tire+rotation

[sor]

Thinner is better, but personally, the difference between 235 and 245 is pretty minor. Square setup is nicer since you can rotate. I went with the 245/40s since they fit better on my 8.5"x19" rims and give me a little more rubber thickness with which to protect the rims. the 235s I had previously had to stretch outward to get the bead, making them seem even thinner, and the sidewalls at an angle instead of perpendicular to the ground offered less protection.

[signes]

Originally Posted by e90m3_6MT

can't rotate, the back tires once upfront introduced a vibration in the steering.
It's probably the way the tires get worn in the back makes them unusable upfront.

also BMW does not recommend rotating tires

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...=tire+rotation

You can rotate. You should check your alignment - I have rotated without any issues. You also may have stored your tires incorrectly.

[ec_E92]

Originally Posted by e90m3_6MT

can't rotate, the back tires once upfront introduced a vibration in the steering.
It's probably the way the tires get worn in the back makes them unusable upfront.

also BMW does not recommend rotating tires

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...=tire+rotation

I haven't had an issue rotating. I store them upright on a dedicated set of rims and change them myself. Try going through a local tireshop that offers lifetime alignment (I found one for $150) and get an alignment every winter/summer setup season. I use masking tape to mark the rim so I know what corner of the car it came off of when I go to my summer's.

Side note: This car is AMAZING in the snow!!!

[Seven7]

so should I just put on a square set up of P235/40r18 instead? since you said the thinner the tires the better it is?

http://blog.tirerack.com/blog/make-d...-up-or-stagger

[bobbyd1961]

Originally Posted by k7-seven

Hey guys, im picking up my 2011 M3 this friday and I planning to put on snow tires right away once I pick up the car. I went to a tire dealership last week, and I told them I needed blizzak ws-60s for the extreme snow I get here in London. I am wondering what sizes I should get for the front and back wheels.

He recommended
Front:P235/40r18
Rear245/40r18

The biggest size for these tires are p245/40r18, I am wondering should I upgrade the front tires from p235 to p245 instead. Thanks for any advice!!

i have the fronts all around. i keep being told 1 size is better in the snow so i went with it

[Seven7]

which one should I use all around??
p235/40r18?
or
p245/40r18?

Many thanks

[Doctor J]

I grew up in London Ontario -- they don't get severe winter -- far from it

I wouldn't worry about getting overly narrow tires -- unless you are driving in back roads near Lucan or head up to muskoka a lot

[Seven7]

Originally Posted by Doctor J

I grew up in London Ontario -- they don't get severe winter -- far from it

I wouldn't worry about getting overly narrow tires -- unless you are driving in back roads near Lucan or head up to muskoka a lot

lol, Im from Vancouver and I'm only staying in London for another 2 years to get my bachelor in uwo. But last year, the snow was pretty intense and I dont want to risk anything driving this car here in London.

[Seven7]

I just called one of the body shops and they shut me down when I told them that I wanted a square set of blizzaks ws-60s in the p245/40R18s. He told me it wouldnt fit ==" He asked me what model it is and I said it's at 2011 E92 m3 coupe and he said "yup, those wont fit, you need a bigger size for your rear wheels". Any suggestions?

[gthal]

Originally Posted by k7-seven

I just called one of the body shops and they shut me down when I told them that I wanted a square set of blizzaks ws-60s in the p245/40R18s. He told me it wouldnt fit ==" He asked me what model it is and I said it's at 2011 E92 m3 coupe and he said "yup, those wont fit, you need a bigger size for your rear wheels". Any suggestions?

Tell the shop that they are selling bulls%$t. I am running 245/40-18s on my OEM rims without any issues. The BMW dealer put them on. They are a tad stretched on the back but well within the specs of the tire. The speedo is only off 2.3% which is no problem at all.

IMO, 245/40-18 are the best size to run in a square set up if you have any real winter as it is a good compromise between narrower snow traction and wide enough dry road traction. 235 might be better in snow but you give up too much in the dry. 265 is a little wide for any real snow... doable but not ideal.

Call a different shop...

[Edman951]

I've had 235 on all 4 corners for 2 winters, now going on third.
235 is very stable in the snow and ice, but the rear 235 make the speedo be off by almost 10 km/h. and not very stable on acceleration on the dry.
Also the 235 is narrow for the rear 9.5 wide rims, so the tire is very stretched.
An important decision is to have the keep the possibility to rotate.
I used up my winter tires pretty good on my first winter versus the second. even that i wont rotate this year, because the fronts are still more used up, then the rear i have now, now having the old fronts from my first winter with the M.
Trust me you will use them up since your car is new.

[Edman951]

Considering you are in London Ontario, and you don't get that much deep snow.
245 is the factory front size, and its the closes match to the stock rears, w/o going wider.

Go 245/40r18 all around. thats what i would do on my next winter tire purchase

[signes]

Originally Posted by k7-seven

I just called one of the body shops and they shut me down when I told them that I wanted a square set of blizzaks ws-60s in the p245/40R18s. He told me it wouldnt fit ==" He asked me what model it is and I said it's at 2011 E92 m3 coupe and he said "yup, those wont fit, you need a bigger size for your rear wheels". Any suggestions?

I am another with 245/40 all around on OEM 18s. It is stretched for the rears but within the tire mfg.'s tolerances. 235 on the other hand will not work on a 9.5" rear like the OEM 18. You don't really need it anyway, 245 width will be fine for you. Yes narrower tends to be better but you won't notice the difference between a 235 and 245, plus the 245 will provide more dry grip. I've been through some pretty hair snow storms with my setup and had no issues. Good luck.

[dcstep]

You're overanalyzing this. Just get the staggard set up. I've got the Pirelli Soto Zero tires staggard on my 2009. We get plenty of snow here in Colorado and the slightly wider rear tires is NOT and issue. Yes, in deep snow, narrower tires might give a bit more traction, but you're getting full snows and your car will handle great with that setup.

Dave

[M3BatMobile]

I agree go with staggered setup, my recommendation is to get Dunlop M3's, i had blizzak's they were too soft, great in snow, terrible on dry pavement, too soft. Dunlop M3's are the best, awesome in snow, firm ride on dry COLD pavement particularly when highway driving

trust me you will love them