First timer here. Just picked up my 550 and thanks to the great advice and photos I've seen here I have ordered my M aero kit and M166 wheels. My question is: can I use the stock 18" wheels in the winter with snow tires. The dealer says no, you can't use staggered wheels with winter wheels. Seems reasonable, but was looking for other opinions. Thanks.

 

Welcome to the board. If you use the search function you will finds lots of threads on snow tires. This thread is an example.... http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=...0tires&st=0

I would go with 18" not 17" for looks. I'm in snowy Michigan and many from Midwest US claim 18" are good and look even better. I would keep your 124 fronts and buy two new fronts for non-staggered 124 set-up with Dunlop Wintersports 3 (I have them, and yes, non-staggered set is advised). Blizzaks are great too and a good option but Dunlop maintain a bit more performance for dry conditions IMO. Tirerack.com gives good write-ups for tire and wheel options if you don't want 124's. I went with 18" 5-spoke Mille Miglias from Tirerack to go with my Dunlops. You can buy discounted 124 fronts from Garry at Newport BMW, Crevier BMW, or bmwwheels.com for a discount, or buy them cheap from forum member on the "for sale" board. Good luck.

 

Good idea. I hadn't thought of buying 2 new fronts for the rear.

 

Welcome aboard, glad you could join us. Where are you located?

I did the same thing you are doing: M-Kit + 166 wheels. The looks kill.

Hell, yes, winter tires can fit on the staggered 124s. That's what I did and they work just fine. I put on Dunlops 245/40 front and 255/40 rear. Works out fine for the fitment.

So far, how would you describe your experience in going from a 2001 M5 to the new 550i?

 

I'm just north of Boston.

Nice to know someone has used the staggered setup for winter wheels. Any others out there with staggered winter setup? I put 4 snow tires on both the M3 and M5 and the cars could go anywhere. Both felt incredibly stable in New England winters.

I made a serious error in judgement and had a 2002 Audi A6 4.2 between the M5 and 550, so it's been almost 3 years between bimmers. The Audi simply cannot compare as a driver's car to the BMW. So far I'd say the 550 feels bigger and heavier than the M5, but the engine is smoother. I haven't opened it up yet, but so far it feels almost as fast as the M5. The 550 also delivers a little less feedback from the road. That should change when I ditch the run flats.

 

Although the eternal fued between Boston and NY(in baseball that is) is in our catergory of differences, we do share the same type of weather, more or less. I also have been looking into a setup with either all season performance tires or winter tires jsut for the season. One of the main reasons is the Run flats, they're just unbearable, they disconnect me from the road. So I'm looking into getting 166 style with all season tires.

Would this alone be sufficient for semi good handling in snow and rain being that they're staggered and all?

 

I wouldn't do it. I ran snows on my M3 and M5 in the past and I had no problems. I ran all-seasons on an Audi quattro, but I have no experience w/ all-seasons on a rear-drive bimmer. I think they're better for climates w/ occasional snow, not areas w/ severe winter and significant snow fall.

 

Heard it said that 18" 135's can be fitted with non RFT tyres, I'm going to refit my 135's for winter, however as I scored for a full replacement set of Goodyear RFT's after 8000 miles I'll stay with them.