feedback regarding my snow tire choice on the 550i sport
12-12-2008, 08:15 AM
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My Ride: 07' 550i sport; Sapphire Black/Auburn; sport package; steptronic; navigation with R.T.T.I.; heads up; cold weather package; Logic-7; BMW MOST ipod kit; Motorola V3 snap-in adapter; rear heated seats and rear shades; anthracite headliner; sirrius sat. radio; M-aero kit; OEM style 166 Wheels with 245/35-19 front and 285/30-19 rear Michelin PS2s.
Hello all,
As winter is upon us in the northern US, I have swapped out my summer wheels and installed the winter wheel set up, which is: OEM style 124 wheels with Dunlop Wintersport M3s, 225 front 245 rear.
The tires themselves I highly recommend. They do well in rain, freezing rain and snow. 0-5 mph is still a chore when there is ice or wet snow, but once underway the car handles very well. 100-150lbs. of weight in the trunk (equally split over each wheel) does wonders for the 0-5 mph problem. As for performance in the dry, they are speed rated to 149 mph and although there is a little tread squirm if you start changing lanes quickly at triple digit speeds, the grip is still intact.
However, the purpose of this post is to offer this opinion: if I had to do it all over again I would get wider rear snow tires. It would help the 0-5 problem. Also, the traction light is going crazy!! The rears are far more worn down than the fronts. When going through a corner on dry or wet roads, the car will rotate mid corner and the stability control will kick in to cancel oversteer b/c the rears can't hold the corner. Personally, I prefer oversteer to understeer any day, especially in inclement conditions. But all the same, I would get 255s if I had to do it again.
Just an opinion in case anyone is contemplating snows for their 545/550.
Happy holidays,
DRP
As winter is upon us in the northern US, I have swapped out my summer wheels and installed the winter wheel set up, which is: OEM style 124 wheels with Dunlop Wintersport M3s, 225 front 245 rear.
The tires themselves I highly recommend. They do well in rain, freezing rain and snow. 0-5 mph is still a chore when there is ice or wet snow, but once underway the car handles very well. 100-150lbs. of weight in the trunk (equally split over each wheel) does wonders for the 0-5 mph problem. As for performance in the dry, they are speed rated to 149 mph and although there is a little tread squirm if you start changing lanes quickly at triple digit speeds, the grip is still intact.
However, the purpose of this post is to offer this opinion: if I had to do it all over again I would get wider rear snow tires. It would help the 0-5 problem. Also, the traction light is going crazy!! The rears are far more worn down than the fronts. When going through a corner on dry or wet roads, the car will rotate mid corner and the stability control will kick in to cancel oversteer b/c the rears can't hold the corner. Personally, I prefer oversteer to understeer any day, especially in inclement conditions. But all the same, I would get 255s if I had to do it again.
Just an opinion in case anyone is contemplating snows for their 545/550.
Happy holidays,
DRP
12-12-2008, 08:49 AM
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Originally Posted by 550isport' post='743914' date='Dec 12 2008, 12:15 PM
Hello all,
As winter is upon us in the northern US, I have swapped out my summer wheels and installed the winter wheel set up, which is: OEM style 124 wheels with Dunlop Wintersport M3s, 225 front 245 rear.
The tires themselves I highly recommend. They do well in rain, freezing rain and snow. 0-5 mph is still a chore when there is ice or wet snow, but once underway the car handles very well. 100-150lbs. of weight in the trunk (equally split over each wheel) does wonders for the 0-5 mph problem. As for performance in the dry, they are speed rated to 149 mph and although there is a little tread squirm if you start changing lanes quickly at triple digit speeds, the grip is still intact.
However, the purpose of this post is to offer this opinion: if I had to do it all over again I would get wider rear snow tires. It would help the 0-5 problem. Also, the traction light is going crazy!! The rears are far more worn down than the fronts. When going through a corner on dry or wet roads, the car will rotate mid corner and the stability control will kick in to cancel oversteer b/c the rears can't hold the corner. Personally, I prefer oversteer to understeer any day, especially in inclement conditions. But all the same, I would get 255s if I had to do it again.
Just an opinion in case anyone is contemplating snows for their 545/550.
Happy holidays,
DRP
As winter is upon us in the northern US, I have swapped out my summer wheels and installed the winter wheel set up, which is: OEM style 124 wheels with Dunlop Wintersport M3s, 225 front 245 rear.
The tires themselves I highly recommend. They do well in rain, freezing rain and snow. 0-5 mph is still a chore when there is ice or wet snow, but once underway the car handles very well. 100-150lbs. of weight in the trunk (equally split over each wheel) does wonders for the 0-5 mph problem. As for performance in the dry, they are speed rated to 149 mph and although there is a little tread squirm if you start changing lanes quickly at triple digit speeds, the grip is still intact.
However, the purpose of this post is to offer this opinion: if I had to do it all over again I would get wider rear snow tires. It would help the 0-5 problem. Also, the traction light is going crazy!! The rears are far more worn down than the fronts. When going through a corner on dry or wet roads, the car will rotate mid corner and the stability control will kick in to cancel oversteer b/c the rears can't hold the corner. Personally, I prefer oversteer to understeer any day, especially in inclement conditions. But all the same, I would get 255s if I had to do it again.
Just an opinion in case anyone is contemplating snows for their 545/550.
Happy holidays,
DRP
A month ago I put the Wintersport 3D's on my 550. I also used my stock 124 wheels but went 245 40 18 all the way around.
I think a narrower tire in the snow is actually better for snow grip though.
In Chicago we have had about 3 decent snowfalls so far and the difference with these tires is simply amazing. But last winter I did limited driving with the Bridgstones RE050's and they are summer tires which were almost undrivable in snow.
12-12-2008, 09:28 AM
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Best winter setup is 225/50 17" or 245/40 18" but the tires should be Continentals.
But winter tires (and MS tires) can never be as good as summer tires, because
the winters need to get a grip on ice and that means softer tires.
The E60 is by nature a bit understeer, for safety reasons.
But winter tires (and MS tires) can never be as good as summer tires, because
the winters need to get a grip on ice and that means softer tires.
The E60 is by nature a bit understeer, for safety reasons.
12-12-2008, 12:28 PM
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My Ride: 2008 Alpine White 550i Sport, Cream Beige Interior, 6-Sp Manual - retired 9/2011
Well, it finally snowed here last night (on a work day), and I didn't get to try out my Dunlop 3D's....still at TireRack being analyzed for problems with either the wheels or tires I sent back. I really wished I could have tested them out, but instead got to drive my stepdad's Maxima in the white stuff...whoopie! 
12-12-2008, 03:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Ricracing' post='743937' date='Dec 12 2008, 01:28 PM
Best winter setup is 225/50 17" or 245/40 18" but the tires should be Continentals.
But winter tires (and MS tires) can never be as good as summer tires, because
the winters need to get a grip on ice and that means softer tires.
The E60 is by nature a bit understeer, for safety reasons.
But winter tires (and MS tires) can never be as good as summer tires, because
the winters need to get a grip on ice and that means softer tires.
The E60 is by nature a bit understeer, for safety reasons.
12-12-2008, 03:46 PM
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My Ride: 2007 530i. Purchased 6/28/07. Titanium Silver Metallic, Black Dakota Leather, Dark Poplar Trim, Steptronic, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Bluetooth, Adaptive Control Xenons. 10/30/07 Added OEM 124s with 245/40/18 & 275/35/18 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires. Installed red Cal Covers� from BavAuto. 11/21/07 Added OEM all-weather floor mats (for winter, carpet in summer) and coat rack. 6/26/08 installed M5-style rear spoiler. 6/30/08 put on red reflectors. 8/22/08 Euro turn signal stickers applied. 3/20/09 Installed Shadowline Trim. 3/27/09 Added Matte Black Kidney Grilles from Trinity. 4/03/09 Installed Bimmian Shadow Matte Black 530i Badges. 4/04/09 Installed LED license plate lights from Trinity. 5/01/09 Installed Brabus Interior LED Kit and White Angel Eyes. 5/02/09 Put in Brabus 6K Fogs. 5/14/09 Removed charcoal filter. 5/15/09 Installed light smoke LED side marker lamps from Trinity. 5/21/09 Sprint Booster. 6/12/09 Painted exhaust tips flat black. 6/13/09 Pulled red Cal Covers and painted calipers low gloss black. 6/27/09 RPI Ram Air Scoop from Trinity. 8/15/09 Installed Brabus's silver invisibulbs front and rear. 9/24/09 Installed R-Dash license plate LEDs from Brabaus (John).
Originally Posted by DrLev99' post='744125' date='Dec 12 2008, 03:28 PM
Well, it finally snowed here last night (on a work day), and I didn't get to try out my Dunlop 3D's....still at TireRack being analyzed for problems with either the wheels or tires I sent back. I really wished I could have tested them out, but instead got to drive my stepdad's Maxima in the white stuff...whoopie!
12-12-2008, 07:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Veight' post='743921' date='Dec 12 2008, 12:49 PM
I think a narrower tire in the snow is actually better for snow grip though.
A wider tire will not offer more grip, it will offer less...
12-18-2008, 09:11 AM
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My Ride: 07' 550i sport; Sapphire Black/Auburn; sport package; steptronic; navigation with R.T.T.I.; heads up; cold weather package; Logic-7; BMW MOST ipod kit; Motorola V3 snap-in adapter; rear heated seats and rear shades; anthracite headliner; sirrius sat. radio; M-aero kit; OEM style 166 Wheels with 245/35-19 front and 285/30-19 rear Michelin PS2s.
Originally Posted by Rudy' post='744306' date='Dec 12 2008, 11:55 PM
Correct.
A wider tire will not offer more grip, it will offer less...
A wider tire will not offer more grip, it will offer less...
12-18-2008, 10:01 AM
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My Ride: My ex-ride: EU '08 LCI 520dA. Space Grey, Sport Seats in Black Leather/Fabric Anthracite, Sport Steering Wheel, A/C with Extended Features, Hi-Fi Speakers, Cup Holders, Cruise with Braking function, Folding Rear Seats, Xenons, Park Distance Control.
Originally Posted by 550isport' post='747991' date='Dec 18 2008, 08:11 PM
My understanding is that a wider tire in snow is bad in all situations except...ultra low speed straight line traction. Just like a skinny tire will better resist hydroplaning in the rain, but on wet pavement with no standing water, a wider tire will stop the car better.
