Winter Wheel Opinions (Poll!)

[Landerholm]

Thinking about a set of winter wheels.... Down to 2 options...

Both are 17".......about the same weight. The RIALs supposedly have great build quality and something like a 5 year warranty from TireRack!

RIAL:


Style 66:


The car:

[edjack]

If you're going to mount snow gobblers, get some 16 in BMW take-offs, and mount a narrower, higher-profile tire with the same load-carrying capacity and rolling radius. Big fat tires are not too good in the snow.

Tire Rack can help you decide on the correct size.

[jstern]

If you're going to mount snow gobblers, get some 16 in BMW take-offs, and mount a narrower, higher-profile tire with the same load-carrying capacity and rolling radius. Big fat tires are not too good in the snow.

Tire Rack can help you decide on the correct size.

Living in Maine I need the best snow performance for the Winter. I run 15 inch steel wheels with Nokian hakkapeliitta studded snows. I've painted the wheels body color to soften the 'taxi cab' look but I don't care how much it snows-the car goes, stops and turns in everything. Perhaps you don't need all this in Seattle, but 16 inch snows in a narrower and higher profile will be a ton better in the snow than 17s. Don't worry about weight-a heavier wheel will be better in the snow than a light one.

[Qsilver7]

Since the OP's car info is incognito (no model or model year info)...we don't know if he can run 15" wheels or not. The 540i/iT can't run anything smaller than a 16" wheel...they won't fit over the brakes. And some 530i models are optioned with the larger brakes, too...so are committed to 16" or higher wheels.

And there's no specs given for the Rial 17" wheel... so we can't speculate on what size tire can be mounted to that wheel.

A 17" wheel that is between 6"-7.5" wide can be mounted with 215/50/17 winter tires and do well. The tire is thinner and slightly taller...but still within spec...and will work well if there's a need to drive thru a deep 6"-10" snowfall as well as do well in icy/slippery conditions.

I ran 215/50/17 Michelin X-Ice xi2 winter tires in the Great Lakes region and they performed flawlessly...and the slightly taller sidewall helped smooth out the heaved pavement and pot holes caused by a constant freeze/thaw cycle that destroys the roads around here.

The Style 66 wheels are 8"x 17" so if you go with those wheels...I'd consider looking at a 225/50/17 wheel as an alternative (might save a few $$$) as well as the standard 235/45/17 tires for an 8" wide wheel.

The OP is in the Seattle area...so unless there'll be driving in the higher elevation areas...its probably more cold temps/rain/light snow/sleet/slush winter conditions moreso than deep snow that lingers for weeks on the ground.

TIP: help us help you better by creating a signature that has some car info like model/model year/build date etc. This helps us answer more specifically to how your car is equipped etc...rather than guessing or giving you incorrect information due to you having a different engine/tranny/options/etc.

Here's some pics of 215/50/17 X-Ice xi2 tires mounted to my 540iT's 7.5"x17" M-Contour wheels (replicas)...again, they got me thru some really deep snow & ice storms over the last few years...never got stuck or slid off the road etc:

[AnotherGeezer]

Sipes.

Must have sipes!

[Spirit Force]

Living in Maine I need the best snow performance for the Winter. I run 15 inch steel wheels with Nokian hakkapeliitta studded snows. I've painted the wheels body color to soften the 'taxi cab' look but I don't care how much it snows-the car goes, stops and turns in everything. Perhaps you don't need all this in Seattle, but 16 inch snows in a narrower and higher profile will be a ton better in the snow than 17s. Don't worry about weight-a heavier wheel will be better in the snow than a light one.

15" tires are just too wobbly under E39. You'll better off with 16" or 17" winter tires. Maine is down south from where I'm looking at 65" latitude.

[AnotherGeezer]

15" tires are just too wobbly under E39. You'll better off with 16" or 17" winter tires. Maine is down south from where I'm looking at 65" latitude.

I'd take advice from anyone that hails from Mika Häkkinen land.

[topaz540i]

16inch borbet five spokes

[dareckibmw]

Voted "Rial"
I bought mine 4 years ago and they still looks like brand new! and I think they looks very good on e39.

Rial Salermo 17x8 with 235/45/17 with Blizzak LM-25

[Landerholm]

Voted "Rial"
I bought mine 4 years ago and they still looks like brand new! and I think they looks very good on e39.

Rial Salermo 17x8 with 235/45/17 with Blizzak LM-25

Wow! Never seen these on an E39 until now. Do you have any more pics of the RIALs on your car?

No I didn't give a lot of info because I was really just asking about design but...

Both candidates are 17x8" and I do live in the Seattle area so its more ice that I deal with, or small amounts of compact snow. Not exactly Chicago!

I could go down to a 16" but I'd rather keep the look of a 17" on that car...I think a 16" would look tiny?

[Der Krieger]

What no one has mentioned is that the Rials are easier to get clumped snow out of. The Style 66 has small, narrow holes where snow likes to stick; and it's pretty easy to get an imbalance when some of it comes out and some of it doesn't.

[leeuga11]

Voted "Rial"
I bought mine 4 years ago and they still looks like brand new! and I think they looks very good on e39.

Rial Salermo 17x8 with 235/45/17 with Blizzak LM-25

Ive only seen snow maybe a dozen times in my life, usually flurries. But if i had to get a winter setup you by far have the best looking.

[Shifty1]

If it snows park your car, people in seattle have no idea how to drive in it.

[dareckibmw]

Wow! Never seen these on an E39 until now. Do you have any more pics of the RIALs on your car?

I couldn't find any except this one below. But there is a guy with an M5 and Rialto's on M5Board

[Landerholm]

Gaah I wish that M5 had silver RIALs that would give me a better idea. Small wheels should never be dark! Thanks for the info I'll see if he has more pics.

If it snows park your car, people in seattle have no idea how to drive in it.

This is absolutely true.....unfortunately I've been caught in a few surprise storms, and I never want to be that person abandoning their car! Predicting snow here is ridiculous for every 10 times they say it "might" snow on the news it snows once.

For those who don't know..... (or make fun of us)...
It snows rarely in seattle (an average of 8" a year or something) but with an inch on the ground the city shuts down. We get wet snow that turns into wet ice and then have Metro buses getting stuck all over the area on the slightest inclines in .5" of compact snow. The hilly terrain and wet snow makes it really nasty. We had a bus crash through a wall and hang over I-5 one year because of a hill.

Interesting the Rials are leading the poll. Style 66 not too popular here!

[dareckibmw]

They'll looks good on your car. Little photo chopped

[Landerholm]

Not a bad job with photoshop! Does it look like the M5 is running spacers with them? I know they have a 20mm offset normally??

I like the "stock" factor of the style 66 but the RIAL is visually bigger and more modern looking. I'm undecided still.

Are you running 235/45/17 on them?

[dareckibmw]

Yes, they are 235/45/17 originally ordered from tirerack.

I see them still on tirerack with both colors; Silver and Anthracite Painted http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/resul...rSpecial=false

[Landerholm]

I can get style 66 wheels cheaper than that -- and I already have 2 fronts. I'm not sure which wheel is structurally stronger I wish I knew.

[exbenz]

Remember when I iMessaged you saying 66's are ugly... Looks like I was right according to this thread.

My car is going to sit at home when it snows. It doesn't always snow in Seattle, but when it does all hell breaks loose.