dagdisco03

Alright my GF blew a tire and kept on driving so I'm ready to go for new wheels. I'm torn on 3 choices. Criteria I'm not loweing the car and want to run ok in the snow. If winter is real bad I will put 4 snows on but the weather changes so much it's a PITA to swap wheels back and forth every few weeks for an inch of snow. I also want minimal impact on my current ride quality but I really can't stand the stocks. Last I'm not going staggered so I can still rotate the tires. This car is a daily driver and miles are put on.

So I have narrowed it down to TSW Snetterton silver, Beyern Mesh silver and last Breyton Race GTS silver but I'm not loving made in China now. Car is 06 525XI Titanium Silver the lighter silver.

http://www.tsw.com/alloy_wheels_snetterton.php

http://www.beyernwheels.com/BMW_whee...n_typemesh.php

I would also love to stay close to the section width of the OE 225/50/17's

Tire options are 225/45-18, 235/45-18, 245/40-18. The STD seems to be 245/40-18 but I'm not sure if that is to wide to run well in the snow. I'm never had an issue with the handling of the 225's I'm just not sure if the ride will suffer since it's not the normal size tire people seem to run?

Any advice would be great thanks. Yes I'm ready to be blasted but I have other cars I run as my summer toys so I don't need this one to have the same seasonal limits as my other vehicles.

theXman

For XI models, I'd consider VMRs VB3 or V710. I would stick with the same tire size you have on currently.

luigi524td

If your GF killed a 50 series tire she'll murder a lower profile tire like the 245/40x18 that is the standard set-up for 18's on your xi. I have the CSL's and like them but they are a pain to clean. Maybe you should stick with a 17" set-up, OEMs or others. And, if she kept driving on a flat are you thinking about RFTs or conventional tires? The RFTs might be safer for a driver who is less attentive.

dagdisco03

That's true I didn't think of switching to run flats. Yes she didn't believe the FTM saying you have a flat tire until she saw the smoke coming out of the back of the car. Does the 245/40 - 18 really seem that much lower of a profile in person? I have 245/40 - 17's on my Z3 and it still seems like a good amount of rubber.

luigi524td

40 series is fine on some rutted roads - but I lost my 1st RFT and wheel on a pothole no more than 4" deep. That was a wake-up call. If I were you I'd stick with the 17" set-up and you could probably find some good deals on tires - shop price and reviews at TireRack.com ... If you decide to buy there click thru the link in my signature for additional rebates.

I swapped my original wheels for CSL reps and General UHP in 245/40 x 18. The profile is low enough for me and the tires were a bargain. I thought I'd put on the Original Bridgestones for the summer but decided I like the CSL wheel look and left them on!

dagdisco03

Well I placed my order should be in on Wednesday. Started with Beyern Mesh silver and canceled the order after size concerns and the non staggered look with a small lip. I have a feeling they would look way to small and odd without the wider lip on the rears. I switched to the Breyton Race GTS and still 18's but I think with the way the spoke goes to the edge of the tire and they have more of a sharp turn to the hub that it will trick the eyes a little more into thinking it's a little larger and has more dish then the XI has. I'll post some pic's once they are on. I couldn't find any photo's of a light silver XI or not for an E60 with 18's and this wheel setup to get an idea of how they will look. Everyone goes to big for the type of use I want out of the car with 19's or 20's. I love the way 19 and 20 look but the ride is so nice in the car there is no way I'm going to sacrifice that since it was one of the main reasons for buying the car.