Living in Westchester County, NY just north of NYC. Have been looking for a winter tire and wheel package. Did not see much at Tire Rack, in the way of wheels (their availability is low) and BMW prices are insane. Looking at the Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 to pair with a set of wheels.

Does anyone have any suggestions. Looking to spend about $2500 all-in.

19" Wheels on vehicle now, will go to 18" for winter

Thanks

 

pmed

 

You can go to 17" as I did, better for snow, and lower cost thrown in for free.

Try for take-offs or look in on-line forum adverts. You can probably find four nice BMW 17" wheels for $100-125 each.

 

I have oem 124 rims w/ 18" snows (the Dunlop M3 wintersport 3D). They were great yesterday in the mess we had. I've had 18" snows before (Dunlop M3 wintersport), there's no problem at all with 18" snows and look light years better IMHO. I saw someone's 645 with a 17" winter setup from tirerack yesterday...looks like crap!!...and we have to live with them on for 4-5 mos... Stay w/18's for winter.

 

I ordered my winter set through Tire Rack, but the stock gets low around now. If I were you, I'd buy some used OEM 18s from this board or bimmerfest, or maybe find a cheap set on e-bay. Then buy a set of M3s from Mavis Tire and have them do the installation. Mavis has a lot of locations around Westchester. Their prices are the same as Tire Rack and they have plenty of stock. http://www.mavistire.com/ProductCart/pc/_locations.asp

 

My two cents...

I have my stock 124 18" wheels with non-run flat 245/40/18 Dunlop winter sport 3D's. This is the first time I have had the 3D's, and these snow tires perform like an exceptional all-season tire. And, staying with the 245 width, there is nearly no compromise in dry cornering and stopping power. I used two sets of the Dunlop Sport M3's on my 96 Impala SS, and they were phenoninal! For my 545i, I was influenced by tirerack's rating of the 3D as #1, and the M3 as #2, and went with the 3D's. Neither tire feels like a sacrifice when driving on dry or wet pavement. The 3D's are the quietest, and will get you through the snow, but the M3's will give you the best straight line snow traction, and they perform about 95% as well as the 3D's on dry and wet.

You really can't go wrong with either of these, and you will not believe how well you can corner considering that these are dedicated snow tires. If you go with the 245/18's and you're a skier who anticipates going through snow often, go for the M3's. If you see less snow than that you will be totally happy with the 3D's.

 

As mentioned...
Get some OEM takeoffs from someone off this board or ebay then mount some Dunlop 3Ds and you will be set.

 

Any 'snow' tire is gonna make all the difference in snow/ice whichever you choose;
others I checked were Dunlop Graspics(cheap), Vredelstein( good, but seemed pricey), Blizzaks.

 

I had luck with Tire rack and just ordered, Dunlop graspics and 18inch sport wheels (?A7). About $1100 with TPS and shipping. I wasn't to fussy about the wheel style though. Good luck.

 

After years of experience and returned wheels (even BMW specific models) you cannot trust anyone but Tire Rack to know which wheels will clear those sport calipers. I use 17" ASA wheels on my 545 sport and Semperit Speed Grip (speed rated snows that are inexpensive) and they are great; now on their third season. I don't ski anymore, but they get me up the hills from the Hudson riverfront every morning. Good luck,

http://forums.e60.net/index.php?act=attach...st&id=53980
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?act=attach...st&id=53979

Avoid fussy wheel styles; salt and grit are hard to remove and they deteriorate first in those nooks and crannies.
Don't forget to ask for wheel center roundels (free); mine arrived after I took these shots.
Ray Hull,
Albany