Blizzak vs Studded

[Cabrio2007]

So I decided to not garage my baby over the winter and drive her instead. E93 2007

I wanted yours guys' opinion on what tire I should buy, and wether or not I need to put different rims on the car for the winter.

I currently have 18s and it's a sport set up so I'm 235/35 in the rear, and 225/40 in the front. So does that mean my rim sizes are also different; are the ones in the rear wider than the front?

So I'm unsure wether to get winter rims or not. I've been looking at blizzak packages on tire rack and there's a 17" package either rims for like $1260. Or should I just buy winter tires and out them on my current 18s? I'm just afraid to ruin my OEM rims over the winter due to salt and snow. Can I even run on 17s with my setup?

Last question. What would you guy with, blizzaks or studded tires. I've seem some tires with the studs built in, and since my car is RWD I want as much traction as possible.

Thanks in advance for the advice!

[badwayz]

Firstly, thats a weird tire set up, the fronts are 2.5% larger diameter than the rears. To be the same diameter, you should be rolling 215/40 and 245/35.

Second, I have always used studless snow tires without a hitch. I would buy Blizzaks over anything studded any day. I always drive my BMW's during the winter and with snow tires I have never had an issue, even when I've had to plow through the snow because my car was lower than the snow depth.

[ross1]

Tallest tire you can fit which means new wheels, fat tires suck in snow regardless of tread.
Studs are worthless on all but ice and tend to be shed if you do any tire spinning.

[samger2]

I think the OP mistyped it...the rear should be a 255, not a 235, which is the OEM factory setup on the sport package 3 series. What you should most be concerned with is the width of the tire, you want to go as narrow as possible, so the best choice would be a 225/45R17 on all 4 corners. I wouldn't go with studded tires for 2 reasons...1) when you're driving on pavement the ride will suck. 2) the studs will only really benefit you in the ice. Generally speaking studdable snow tires don't do quite as well on ice and snow if the studs aren't installed because they are a harder compound to keep the studs from coming out, so they don't flex as much and don't get quite as good grip as a non studdable snow. So in other words, my recommendation would be to get a non studdable blizzak, that will give you the best traction without going overkill with something that's only truly beneficial on ice and will ride like a log wagon.

[Critter7r]

You may have already checked, but very few municipalities below 45degrees latitude allow studding of tires on paved streets.

[Cabrio2007]

I believe I mistyped it. The tires on the rear are wider than the front. I toyed with the idea of going non-runflat snow tires on my current rims, but the different sizes and the fact that I don't want to mess my rims up will prevent that.

After shopping around (bav auto sports, BMW, tirerack, Costco, SAMs) I found tirerack to be the most comparable. Costco was the cheapest because they didn't charge shipping, but they don't carry wheel/tire combos.

I went with the Blizzak LM-25 in 17s and got the A7 rims with BMW center caps. Out the door it ran me close to $1600. BMW was $2000 so not to shabby of an amount of savings.

I was wondering if anyone has experimented with changing to non-runflats? I know the cars are designed and tuned to run in runflats, but I honestly don't like the harsh ride and not to mention the price is ridiculous.

I can't believe that a set of tires run me $1300 for summer OEM and they don't even come with a mileage warranty-bogus!


You may have already checked, but very few municipalities below 45degrees latitude allow studding of tires on paved streets.

I did check. I went to my state's BMV site and they are legal here from November to April. I saw on the website that it said to check before buying.

Good looking out though!

[badwayz]

I believe I mistyped it. The tires on the rear are wider than the front. I toyed with the idea of going non-runflat snow tires on my current rims, but the different sizes and the fact that I don't want to mess my rims up will prevent that.

After shopping around (bav auto sports, BMW, tirerack, Costco, SAMs) I found tirerack to be the most comparable. Costco was the cheapest because they didn't charge shipping, but they don't carry wheel/tire combos.

I went with the Blizzak LM-25 in 17s and got the A7 rims with BMW center caps. Out the door it ran me close to $1600. BMW was $2000 so not to shabby of an amount of savings.

I was wondering if anyone has experimented with changing to non-runflats? I know the cars are designed and tuned to run in runflats, but I honestly don't like the harsh ride and not to mention the price is ridiculous.

I can't believe that a set of tires run me $1300 for summer OEM and they don't even come with a mileage warranty-bogus!



I did check. I went to my state's BMV site and they are legal here from November to April. I saw on the website that it said to check before buying.

Good looking out though!

I would have bought a nice set of used wheels from Craigslist and then ordered winter tires and had a shop install them. I looked into some 17's myself and had about a $900 total after all said and done. But I'm glad youre happy.
I hate runflats and wouldnt run them myself either, way too expensive and they ride terrible. You do have a spare right? Just asking because my Dad's Mini doesnt and thats why the cra came with runflats.

[samger2]

There is no spare on the E9x 3 series

[Cabrio2007]

I would have bought a nice set of used wheels from Craigslist and then ordered winter tires and had a shop install them. I looked into some 17's myself and had about a $900 total after all said and done. But I'm glad youre happy.
I hate runflats and wouldnt run them myself either, way too expensive and they ride terrible. You do have a spare right? Just asking because my Dad's Mini doesnt and thats why the cra came with runflats.

Yeah I don't have a spare. Most of the newer BMWs come factory with RFTs and therefore don't have spares.

I know of someone who has the same car and he went non RFTs and he said something about a mini spare. He doesn't carry a jack because he doesn't really have room. You could always just call the roadside service and have them put the spare on.

[badwayz]

There is no spare on the E9x 3 series

Another reason why I dont care for newer Bimmers. I'd buy regular tires and then buy a spare to carry with me. Runflats last for 50 miles with a hole in them? I do a lot of driving and it would suck to be a few hundred miles from home with no spare and a flat tire.

[Critter7r]

Runflats aren't designed to necessarily get you HOME, just to the nearest place that can can replace the tire.

[Cabrio2007]

It's pretty sad when a whole set of Firestone Firehawks (one of their best tires) is cheaper than two of the OEM runflats.

[Magik]

I think the OP mistyped it...the rear should be a 255, not a 235, which is the OEM factory setup on the sport package 3 series. What you should most be concerned with is the width of the tire, you want to go as narrow as possible, so the best choice would be a 225/45R17 on all 4 corners. I wouldn't go with studded tires for 2 reasons...1) when you're driving on pavement the ride will suck. 2) the studs will only really benefit you in the ice. Generally speaking studdable snow tires don't do quite as well on ice and snow if the studs aren't installed because they are a harder compound to keep the studs from coming out, so they don't flex as much and don't get quite as good grip as a non studdable snow. So in other words, my recommendation would be to get a non studdable blizzak, that will give you the best traction without going overkill with something that's only truly beneficial on ice and will ride like a log wagon.

I have a 2012 335is with a staggered set up. I put on a set of Blizzaks 225/40/18 LM-60 RFT yesterday. Granted upstate NY so far has been unseasonably warm, it's currently 50 degrees and dry. Anyway, I found these tires to be very soft - lost a lot of grip and stability especially cornering above 40mph on dry roads. My accelaration on the straigh has also suffered. The DTC (dynamic traction control) indicator comes on almost every 10 mins just going to work in the am. I do drive "spirited" but that's why I bought a BMW int he first place. The dealership agreed that blizzaks run very soft on dry pavement. I wish I knew that my handling in the dry would suck so. Now can't wait till it gets colder and starts to snow so I can enjoy these tires...or till it get warmer so I can put my Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP's back on. :shifty

[Magik]

1,000 miles later, I want to retract every negative I said about Blizzak LM60 RFts. I have now broken these bad boys in and they are awesome on dry land. The grip is better and very on the slippery stuff, this grips like a champ. So my apologies if I have turned anyone off purchasing winter tires.

[Cabrio2007]

1,000 miles later, I want to retract every negative I said about Blizzak LM60 RFts. I have now broken these bad boys in and they are awesome on dry land. The grip is better and very on the slippery stuff, this grips like a champ. So my apologies if I have turned anyone off purchasing winter tires.

Yeah it states in the manual that came with the Blizzaks that they need a 500 mile break in. I got the Blizzak LM-25 RFTs and they are awesome. I stepped down from 18s to 17s as smaller tires are better for snow (BMW recommended).

[Magik]

Yeah it states in the manual that came with the Blizzaks that they need a 500 mile break in. I got the Blizzak LM-25 RFTs and they are awesome. I stepped down from 18s to 17s as smaller tires are better for snow (BMW recommended).

Yeah, these are my first ever winter tires. Good to know about the break in period. I plan on moving to Richmond VA next summer so I didn't need dedicated winters, just something to get me through this last winter. Then back onto the OE Michelin pilot sport ps2 until they wear out followed by the Ultra High Performance All-Season Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFTs

[Cabrio2007]

Yeah, these are my first ever winter tires. Good to know about the break in period. I plan on moving to Richmond VA next summer so I didn't need dedicated winters, just something to get me through this last winter. Then back onto the OE Michelin pilot sport ps2 until they wear out followed by the Ultra High Performance All-Season Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFTs

What do those all-season Potenzas run? I lived in Germany for a while so I'm used to switching my tires out for summers/winters every year. It seems they last a little longer that way, but it could just be me.

[Magik]

What do those all-season Potenzas run? I lived in Germany for a while so I'm used to switching my tires out for summers/winters every year. It seems they last a little longer that way, but it could just be me.

They are expensive $240 and $320 for staggered front and rear all seasons on tirerack. It makes sense to have dedicated winter and summer tires if you live in the Northeast or midwest. Richmond VA is not in the snow belt so all-seasons should handle the occasional snow storm without a too many problems, I hope.

[Jim@tirerack]

The Bridgestone RE960 AS Pole Position will be 245.00 front and 320.00 rear each. They are by far the best riding run flat tire on the market. In our testing you could not tell the difference between run flat and non run flat. They also have a 40K mileage warranty and they are all season. The only prolbem is they are not going to be available till April.
If I can help with the tires let me know.

[Rocket99]

The Bridgestone RE960 AS Pole Position . . . The only problem is they are not going to be available till April.


Which RE960's are not going to be available until April?

I have the stock 16" wheels and I'm probably going to need the RE960 in a 205/55R16 in a few months. These appear to not have any availability issues. Correct?

[Jim@tirerack]

It is the run flat tires in the 18" sizes. I do have the 16" run flats in stock. If I can help let me know.