New BMW Owner - Saying hello and need advice

[deccandreams]

I have always admired BMW cars and have been fortunate to finally get one. I leased the 2011 BMW 328xi (white/chestnut) after having the Audi Q5 for little over a year. Audi Q5 was good but realized it wasn't really what I really wanted i.e. a fun and fast driving machine.

I am also new in Columbus, OH and apparently it snows as much as NJ over here. Wanted your opinion on if I should get winter tires installed; If yes - do I need to get the rims as well and would also appreciate if there are specific brands that are better (or look for something on Tirerack.com etc)


I will be taking delivery in a day and will post pics as soon as I have the car.

Thanks


10 Audi Q5 (sold)
06 Acura TSX (sold)
02 Suzuki Aerio SX (still driving--surprisingly highest fuel efficient car I've owned)

[mryakan]

Welcome and congrats. Please post on the tire section for tire/wheel advice.

[nmonfared]

Hey man, welcome to bimmerforums! You'll love it here, tons of information all at your fingertips.

If you're ganna be driving in the snow frequently, I'd say definitely head over to the tire & wheel section and get some input there. You'll be able to make a better decision.

Cheer!

[Shadowline335is]

Hey decca! Welcome to the forums. I am just up the interstate from you in Medina (I-71 and Rt. 18). The tire/wheel forums are helpful but I will say that you do not get that much snow in Columbus compared to the rest of Ohio. Your xi with all-season tires should be fine. I have an '07 335xi with all season/sport tires and have no troubles at all.

[ChipB]

I would say that a dedicated set of wheels and snow tires is optimal. That way you can run summer tires in the summer and winter tires in the winter. All seasons are a compromise - but one which may be "good enough," depending on what you want from the car. When I lived in NJ I ran with all seasons on my E36, for years and thought it was fine, though I avoided driving it in heavy snows. But later I switched to dedicated winter & summer set ups, and it really opened my eyes to a level of performance that I had been missing. I am much more confident in the winter, and enjoying much better handling in the summer. I'm not sure about the Columbius area, but if you get the lake effect snows like they do in Toledo or Cleveland I would really recommend getting winter tires. Even if you don't get a lot of snow, a set of high performance winter tires like the Dunop Winter Sport 3D's work much better on cold dry pavement than do all seasons - they have none of the "squirminess" that some winter tires have.

[62Lincoln]

Welcome!

[psmura]

Welcome to the forums, check craigslist or the wheel/tire section and pick up a cheap set of wheels to mount your snows on. Or mount snows on your stock wheels and pick up a nice set of aftermarkets for summer use. Since your leasing I would bet your gonna want a set just for winter, which you can sell when you lease is up.

[3coupe]

I lived in Columbus for 30 years before migrating south, and I would say you should be fine with the standard set up on the 328xi. There is the occasional really heavy snow, but they are decent about pre-treating and removal up there. The all-seasons on the 328xi do the job well enough with the awd, based on a thread I was reading the other day in the wheel and tire forum.

I'm assuming your car does not have any of the options that delete the all-season tires for performance tires.

[deccandreams]

Thanks all for your valuable inputs....much appreciated.

I finally decided to get the 225/45R17 Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D winter performance tires without the wheels. I am getting them installed at the dealership. Got these from tire rack. Will get them installed on current wheels.

[Remphoto]

Thanks all for your valuable inputs....much appreciated.

I finally decided to get the 225/45R17 Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D winter performance tires without the wheels. I am getting them installed at the dealership. Got these from tire rack. Will get them installed on current wheels.

I live just north of Columbus and have been getting by OK with the all-season on my 328xi. After previously owning a X3, I find that ground clearance is the biggest limiting factor in a big snowfall. That said, your snows will give you a little extra margin and will save miles on your expensive runflats.