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Thread: Set up for winter tires

  1. #1
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    Set up for winter tires

    I want to use my E46 M3 throughout the winter, with dedicated winter tires. I could:

    * get winter tires to fit the stock 18" rims, or
    * get a spare set of rims in smaller dimensions, maybe 17"

    What is the best approach? I know most people say that you should use narrower tires for snow. But the only 17s I can find are only 1" narrower in the rear, and they're the same width in the front. I haven't found any 18s that are narrower than the stock ones.

    Any suggestions? Thanks!

  2. #2
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    When I had my 330 , I had a snow set on 17"s

  3. #3
    MauiM3Mania's Avatar
    MauiM3Mania is offline Observer/Master Skeptic Moderator
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    If you must run snows, get a set of skinny (8" max) 17" wheels and put on some Blizzaks. Narrow wins in snows.

    Where are you located? I too am in the USA but don't need snows.
    04M3 TiAg 69k slick-top 3 pedal
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    WTB: 3.5" Eurosport/Conforti CAI

  4. #4
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    Thanks...I'm in Indianapolis, and I get the feeling that it's going to be a bad one this year (we've already had a few days below freezing, in October )

    I was thinking about these: https://indianapolis.craigslist.org/...344494431.html

    From the info I looked up it looks like they're 8" wide and have a 47mm offset. So I would need spaces in the rear.

  5. #5
    MauiM3Mania's Avatar
    MauiM3Mania is offline Observer/Master Skeptic Moderator
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    The cars/wheels have different offsets, honestly I don't know what is needed to accommodate those particular wheels/snows. I don't miss the midwest!
    04M3 TiAg 69k slick-top 3 pedal
    99M3 Cosmos 61k S50B32 euro 6Spd

    88M3 AW 43k miles Project FS


    WTB: 3.5" Eurosport/Conforti CAI

  6. #6
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    While I run all seasons and not winters since we don't usually get lots of snow in the PNW, the strategy I chose was to put the all seasons on my stock wheels and then I bought a square set of wider ARC-8's for summer/track. You could do something similar if you want something higher performance (and lighter) for the summer.

    The alternative would probably be to find a beat set of OEM BMW E46 wheels in either 17 or 18 inch with offsets that will fit, for cheap. Note that you may be able to get away with running significantly different offsets than stock if you go to 17 inch and/or a narrower tire, because you'll have that much more clearance.
    1999 M3/2/5 - Titanium Silver - Track/Weekend Toy


  7. #7
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    17" inexpensive steel wheels with Blizzaks.

    Buy somewhere other than Tire Rack.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by lmtfi View Post
    17" inexpensive steel wheels with Blizzaks.

    Buy somewhere other than Tire Rack.
    Why not tire rack?

  9. #9
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    TireRack is great. Great prices and super fast shipping. I get tires from them via UPS in under 24 hours from when I place the order. Its amazing.

    And you'll get your mount and balance for free if you buy both wheels and tires from them. They'll show up ready to bolt on. Saving $100+ dollars on mount and balance is nothing to sneeze at.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by divil View Post
    Why not tire rack?
    They screwed me royally 3 weeks ago on a purchase. An inexperienced Tire Rack employee recommended a tire size fitment on a RE71R that sounded wrong to me. I even challenged it - and he assured me it was right. I had to repeat the model of the car and wheel size to him FOUR times because he kept getting it wrong. Shipped tires to a Tire Rack installer and guess what? They don't fit.

    I called Tire Rack and the "Customer Service" lady told me right off that if the tires had touched the ground - the chances they would take them back were almost zero. I told her that the car needs to settle the suspension under weight to determine the fit - and she cut me off and connected me to another TR employee "for technical advice". That person apologized, said he would check on it and call me back. 7 days later with no call back (thanks Tire Rack!) - I called them and they couldn't have hustled me off the phone faster.

    I have ordered countless sets of track and street tires from TR for over a decade. When they are selling you something - they are great. If there is a problem - they are expert at dodging their customers. Sales excellence is nothing if you don't stand behind your advice and errors. Tire Rack burned a decade of reputation with me - and they couldn't care less.

    I didn't know that customers buying 4-5 sets of tires each year were so easy to come by - and so easy to burn.
    Last edited by lmtfi; 11-03-2017 at 12:36 PM.

  11. #11
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    Don't trust tirerack to give you fitment advice for your specific car. They make their money selling tires to people who know nothing about cars. They aren't performance specialists. Know exactly what you need, and then go to tirerack.

    Either measure yourself in advance based on wheel/tire specs, or ask someone in the community who has first-hand experience and no vested interest in selling you tires. I've found that the guys at Apex have a lot of data for BMW aftermarket wheel/tire fitments, including some compiled in forum threads here and elsewhere.
    Last edited by TostitoBandito; 11-03-2017 at 01:01 PM.
    1999 M3/2/5 - Titanium Silver - Track/Weekend Toy


  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by lmtfi View Post
    They screwed me royally 3 weeks ago on a purchase. An inexperienced Tire Rack employee recommended a tire size fitment on a RE71R that sounded wrong to me. I even challenged it - and he assured me it was right. I had to repeat the model of the car and wheel size to him FOUR times because he kept getting it wrong. Shipped tires to a Tire Rack installer and guess what? They don't fit.

    I called Tire Rack and the "Customer Service" lady told me right off that if the tires had touched the ground - the chances they would take them back were almost zero. I told her that the car needs to settle the suspension under weight to determine the fit - and she cut me off and connected me to another TR employee "for technical advice". That person apologized, said he would check on it and call me back. 7 days later with no call back (thanks Tire Rack!) - I called them and they couldn't have hustled me off the phone faster.

    I have ordered countless sets of track and street tires from TR for over a decade. When they are selling you something - they are great. If there is a problem - they are expert at dodging their customers. Sales excellence is nothing if you don't stand behind your advice and errors. Tire Rack burned a decade of reputation with me - and they couldn't care less.

    I didn't know that customers buying 4-5 sets of tires each year were so easy to come by - and so easy to burn.
    Tell us the wheel size you were using, and the tire size you were sent.

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