[pardus]

I just picked up my 335i GT and came with the staggered 19" rims with summer tires. As my wallet is a touch light right now, wanted to try and save some money with a used set. I found a set of rims and tires off another 3 series but the tires are a bit lower profile and wonder if I made a mistake buying them.

My stock set is
Front 225/45/r19
Rear 255/40/r19

the ones I bought are
Front 225/40/r19
Rear 255/35/r19

They BMW OEM rims have been freshly powder coated black and have Blizzak LM60's with 70-80% treadlife and got them for $1100 ( plus an extra back tire)

I guess they are going to be a touch smaller overall diameter, any problem with that? I was hoping to add some 10-15mm wheel spacers to help fill the wheel wells.

[Billfitz]

Personally I'd never run lower than 50 series aspect ratio winters, as they're far more prone to pothole damage, and they don't have as good traction as narrower tires.

[pardus]

I am in Vancouver Canada (a few hours from Seattle). We get snow only a few times a year and only one or two good freezes so our roads a pretty good, not a lot of potholes. But still good point, there is no sub zero temps in the long term forecast so maybe will try and sell them and look for something else.

[Billfitz]

I'd look for 18s, running 225x50 rubber. In that size good winters aren't terribly expensive, so getting used rims and buying new tires is an option. Lots of used 18s out there, being sold by guys who went to 19s and 20s.

[DanITman]

You'll need to use a tire calculator (google) to see how this will effect the speedometer and odometer in the car. Other than those two factors there shouldn't be anything stopping you from running different size tires. This is assuming the tires fit in the wheel well.

[pardus]

doing the calculator it is about 1" less diameter resulting in about 3.5% difference. The threshold seems to be about 3% so I get a warning that they are too small.

I will only be driving them 3 months a year so not a huge deal but they may look funny on the car by not filling the wheel well. I could add spacers, 12mm/15mm to square them up a bit and might help.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by pardus

they may look funny on the car by not filling the wheel well.

Compared to an SUV? As for spacers, they extend the tires further outside the wheel wells, which will throw more winter road crap onto the sides of the car. You practically need fender flares on the rear already with those 255s.

[Crashnbrn5]

If you drive careful enough you can do 245/45/19 all around. I have this set on my 335 GT. The LM-60's

[pardus]

What do u mean drive careful enough?

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by pardus

What do u mean drive careful enough?

Avoiding potholes. That's easy enough on side streets, but on the highway they can come on so fast that you can't avoid them.

[Crashnbrn5]

Originally Posted by pardus

What do u mean drive careful enough?

Correct, avoiding potholes and just taking it easy, ya know, normal driving, lol. Since I'm running this set now, I'll give you guys monthly updates on the performance and the damage that may incur driving these Brooklyn streets, as well as the rest of the Tri-state

[pardus]

Sold them for what I paid, off to buy a new set of rims and rubber. choice is either the cheaper 18" package or spend $500 more for a set of 19". will chat with the shop and see what they have to say.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by pardus

choice is either the cheaper 18" package or spend $500 more for a set of 19". will chat with the shop and see what they have to say.

If they say anything other than all that you'll get for the extra $500 is better looks at the expense of durability find another shop.

[Machinebuilder]

A good size is 225/50-17 all around. You can get a set at a reasonable price. You do not need tpms sensors if you want to save some money. I run Michelin snow tires and am happy. My car is a 328xgt. With m package.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by skiwhmts

A good size is 225/50-17 all around. You can get a set at a reasonable price. You do not need tpms sensors if you want to save some money. .

+1, 225/55-17 is good too, but I'd put the money saved on bling into tpms, having the warning on all the time would drive me nuts.

[f30bmw335]

Originally Posted by pardus

Sold them for what I paid, off to buy a new set of rims and rubber. choice is either the cheaper 18" package or spend $500 more for a set of 19". will chat with the shop and see what they have to say.

You sold hem? Dam. I was supposed to buy them but you got to them first then he told me he might of gave you my contact info if you weren't gonna keep them.

[Machinebuilder]

Billfitz. You are correct. I double checked and see my tires are 225/55-17. Sorry The 50 series 18 wheels are my m sport wheels. Regarding the tpms issue....I originally ordered Tpms sensors but the shop could not get them to work. They offered to take them off the bill after trying to program them. I then planned on getting some from the dealer but the price was crazy high so I passed on them. Well when I start up I have to to hit the main knob twice more than usual. After that there is a yellow caution light but it's not too bright. Actually it's not bad and worth the $450 savings. I have two other sets of wheels with them and I find it's no big deal.

[pardus]

Originally Posted by benjunior

You sold hem? Dam. I was supposed to buy them but you got to them first then he told me he might of gave you my contact info if you weren't gonna keep them.

Hey Ben, no I am the original guy you talked to about them. I haven't heard back from the guy I sold them to so I guess they are working for him. I warned him that they were like 2" smaller diameter on his 7 series but he didn't care. I wouldn't use them because of a 3.4% difference but he is going to be at 10%

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by skiwhmts

Regarding the tpms issue....I originally ordered Tpms sensors but the shop could not get them to work.

They must have been the wrong ones. I very much doubt that BMW makes their own, you should be able to get the right ones from the OEM supplier, but they'd have to be an exact match.