View Poll Results: Both have great All Season tires, which to keep for the Winter?
Voters: 23. You may not vote on this poll
My Winter Dilema
09-08-2009, 07:11 AM
#21
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why are these your only two options? ie 19s or 17s? bite the bullet and get a PROPER set of 18" dedicated snows, not all season crap tires that dont really do well in any situations 
get real snow tires for your winters and you will enjoy your car all year round 
get real snow tires for your winters and you will enjoy your car all year round
09-08-2009, 07:23 AM
#22
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My Ride: F10 M-Sport
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Originally Posted by JOHN' post='1001171' date='Sep 7 2009, 06:56 PM
Park the 5 in the garage and get a cheap SUV for the snow. You don't want to destroy that beauty with salt. 
Whatever u do don't use the 166's
Whatever u do don't use the 166's
09-08-2009, 08:36 AM
#23
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My Ride: 2004 530i
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19' DPE GT7
Originally Posted by m630' post='1001702' date='Sep 8 2009, 09:11 AM
why are these your only two options? ie 19s or 17s? bite the bullet and get a PROPER set of 18" dedicated snows, not all season crap tires that dont really do well in any situations get real snow tires for your winters and you will enjoy your car all year round
get real snow tires for your winters and you will enjoy your car all year round
09-08-2009, 04:00 PM
#24
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My Ride: 2008 535i: June 6th start build, complete June 17th, at NY Port July 5th, at dealer July 10th, took delivery Friday July 13- Plantimum Bronze/Natural Brown Leather/Light Poplar, Sport Package, Sport Auto, Active Steering, Premium Package, CWP & PDC. Dinan Performance Software 384hp & 421 ft/lbs.
Winters are too long for crappy wheels.
09-08-2009, 05:37 PM
#25
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My Ride: e36 318i manual convertible top, 5 speed manual, calypso red/black soft top, cassette am/fm radio, heated sand leatherette seats, michelin mxv4 allseason tires (100% stock)
e60 545i sport package, 6 speed manual, sapphire black, 18" 124 wheels bridgestone runflats (summer) 17" rial salerno dunlop runflats (winter) navigation, satelite radio, winter package, PDC, sunshades, wood trim, dakota leather seats (100% stock)
Originally Posted by cleung' post='1001676' date='Sep 8 2009, 09:36 AM
I say put some proper winter tires on the 17's and then add spacers to fix the look. Its just all around bad to have 19's in the winter, even if you had 19" winter tire option (they aren't that good). Plus i'm not sure what the weather is like in Chicago but where I'm from the wheels would be covered in snow half the time anyways.
+1. The car is designed for use with winter tires. Chicago weather is unpredictable and at times unforgiving. Better to drive safely on less attractive rubber than look good sliding off road.
09-09-2009, 03:46 AM
#27
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My Ride: 2004 E60 530i, 2012 E70 X5 35i
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I say, stick with the 17's for winter only. Get purely dedicated winter tires. Its a safe bet. you dont want to mess up the car in case of anything. 
(I'm not biased btw....)
(I'm not biased btw....)
09-09-2009, 07:17 AM
#28
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My Ride: Jan 2006 E63 650i Sport
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Originally Posted by nwilliams' post='1001272' date='Sep 8 2009, 03:14 AM
I'm seriously thinking of finding a 19" option for winter. There's a few options of 19" tires that are available for winter setups and I'd be curious to know how bad they really are?
When returning my previous E60 company car, I had to fit some standard 17" OEM rims with RFT winter tyres... and they handled worse than my 19" non-RFT winter tyres! I had to drive the 17s in heavy /fresh snow and was all over the place. The next day in similar conditions, the 19s (that I had transferred to my E61 Touring) handled better. Now this is not a very scientific comparisson, however it seriously surprised me, because I thought it would be the other way round. Not sure if it had to do with the RFT vs non-RFT, but the 19" non-RFT set-up I have handled better than that 17" RFT set-up.
Another example: Whilst parked at a skiing resort my car ended up burried under snow. After digging it out I then had to drive it out up a hill, which I did without issues/getting stuck. This was whilst running 245/18" non-RFTs all round (on M135 rims).
I fortunately do not need to do masses of snow driving and mainly only snow driving on main roads that get gritted / prepared, however after 3 years of 18" / 19" winter rims, the wheels have always been fine at the end of the season and have got me everywhere I need to go. I appreciate those of you living in colder climates or in the hills / remote areas may not want to take the risk, but IMHO those living in cities / areas with well prepared roads should not worry about 18" or 19" set-ups. As for keeping the rims in good condition, well that's just a matter of cleaning them regularly, which most of us do in the summer anyway!
09-09-2009, 07:23 AM
#29
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My Ride: 2004 E60 530i, 2012 E70 X5 35i
Model Year: 2004
As for 18's and 19's for winter, dont forget, the tires are expensive in comparison to the 17 inch winter tires.
That is one of the main reason why I stuck with 17 inch for winter setup. The other is more control on 17's with winter than 18s/19s.
That is one of the main reason why I stuck with 17 inch for winter setup. The other is more control on 17's with winter than 18s/19s.
09-09-2009, 09:27 AM
#30
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My Ride: 2004 530i
premium package/active steering/auto sunshade/tiag/black dakota leather/logic 7
35% tint all around
19' DPE GT7
Originally Posted by nigxdoof' post='1002787' date='Sep 9 2009, 09:23 AM
As for 18's and 19's for winter, dont forget, the tires are expensive in comparison to the 17 inch winter tires.
That is one of the main reason why I stuck with 17 inch for winter setup. The other is more control on 17's with winter than 18s/19s.
That is one of the main reason why I stuck with 17 inch for winter setup. The other is more control on 17's with winter than 18s/19s.