18" snows vs. 17" snows
12-21-2007, 07:59 AM
#21
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My Ride: G30 M550i
Model Year: 2018
Originally Posted by C's Bimmer' post='509177' date='Dec 21 2007, 11:11 AM
I have the 18" 123's as my Winter set-up (Blizzak LM-25 Tires) and love them. I think the difference between 17's and 18's for winter is negligible in these cars.
Sounds like you made a great choice.
Sounds like you made a great choice.
12-21-2007, 02:46 PM
#22
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My Ride: 2006 BMW 550i "Ben Hogan's 5 Iron"
SilverGrey/Black Sport, L7, NAV, CW, AS, Split FR
2003 Audi A4 3.0 CVT "Part of the Moniker"
Silver/Ebony, Prem, CW, Star 17s
Originally Posted by yayankee' post='507653' date='Dec 17 2007, 11:19 AM
....on a 2008 550i with sport package. BMW dealers say that BMW does NOT reccommend 18".
My dealer said the same thing, adding thinner tire diameter exerts more pressure in a narrower contact patch. Thus, more traction.
That said, I went 18's without regret and the car handles fine. 17s look like shit. If I lived in Antartica and my BMW dealer recommended 16s, I'd go with 17s.
12-21-2007, 03:00 PM
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12-21-2007, 03:15 PM
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My Ride: 2006 BMW 550i "Ben Hogan's 5 Iron"
SilverGrey/Black Sport, L7, NAV, CW, AS, Split FR
2003 Audi A4 3.0 CVT "Part of the Moniker"
Silver/Ebony, Prem, CW, Star 17s
Originally Posted by JSpira' post='509368' date='Dec 21 2007, 08:00 PM
This is all correct.
May I respectfully disagree here?
May I respectfully disagree here?
12-21-2007, 03:18 PM
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I use 16" winter tires and they're really fine. I like the modest wheel size actually, even though I know larger wheels look good on the E60. I have Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme tires fitted for the winter, and I like them, they seem to be better than the Michelin winter tires (grip, noise).
Today was the 1st snow-white day in the Netherlands, see picture.
Off-topic: xBMWx, I absolutely love your avatar picture!!
Today was the 1st snow-white day in the Netherlands, see picture.
Off-topic: xBMWx, I absolutely love your avatar picture!!
12-21-2007, 04:13 PM
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Originally Posted by jcatral14' post='509374' date='Dec 21 2007, 07:11 PM
18s here but no experience yet as I haven't had the chance to put them on 
Are you driving on summer tires?
12-21-2007, 04:25 PM
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My Ride: E46 325i Touring
E60 530i Sedan
Originally Posted by JSpira' post='509390' date='Dec 21 2007, 08:13 PM
You have had them for a week and not put them on?
Are you driving on summer tires?
Are you driving on summer tires?
I like to live on the edge
Hopefully sometime next week. The summers have held up admirably but white knuckle driving all the way. Luckily have a beater Montero to get me thru some bad days
12-21-2007, 05:08 PM
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My Ride: E46 330, E60 550 on order: Carbon Black/Natural Brown, 6MT.
My setup is 18", and I had no problem with the recent heavy snows. Things did get a little nerve racking when the snow was deeper than the front bumper however. (The car did fine. I didn't want to mess up my shiny new car.)
12-23-2007, 03:55 PM
#30
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My Ride: 2008 550i, Carbon Black Metallic with Black Dakota Leather, Sport Package, Sport Automatic Transmission, NAV, Cold-Weather Package, Folding Rear Seats, Rear Side Impact Airbags, Sirius, iPod/USB Adapter,
Model Year: 2008
Picked up my Dunlop M3's Saturday and drove back fom Newport , RI., about 150 miles, i dry weather, sweet driving at speed on I95. The tires drove like the were on rails.
BMW of Newport is a first class operation they had my wheels and snow tires ready upon my arrival and I only had to wait about 35 minutes for them to put on the snows and store my summer tires and wheels in my trunk and back seat. While I was there I spoke to Jerry, the SA, about whether 17 or 18 were the way to go. He felt an 18" has to push more snow out of the way than a 17" inch wheel but a premimum snow tire would not be a problem in either size. In addition, if snow in your area is not a regular occurance the 18" look better and handle just fine.
Today I drove to Boston in rain and again the Dunlops were superb. I was at times doing 80-85 on Mass Pike and I84 and the tires tracked true and handled the road surface brilliantly.
Looking forward to the next snow fall.
Bring it on!! I'm ready.
BMW of Newport is a first class operation they had my wheels and snow tires ready upon my arrival and I only had to wait about 35 minutes for them to put on the snows and store my summer tires and wheels in my trunk and back seat. While I was there I spoke to Jerry, the SA, about whether 17 or 18 were the way to go. He felt an 18" has to push more snow out of the way than a 17" inch wheel but a premimum snow tire would not be a problem in either size. In addition, if snow in your area is not a regular occurance the 18" look better and handle just fine.
Today I drove to Boston in rain and again the Dunlops were superb. I was at times doing 80-85 on Mass Pike and I84 and the tires tracked true and handled the road surface brilliantly.
Looking forward to the next snow fall.
Bring it on!!
I'm ready.