18" vs 17" snow tires?

jmaville · 10-19-2011, 03:59 PM

Hey Everyone i just bought my 335xi and I have sport package with 18" rims....I am trying to decide on buying 18" snow tires for stock rims and then in the future buy 19"s so the summer.... Or keep them for summer and buy 17"s to put snows on?

What do you all think?

morphius909 · 10-19-2011, 06:42 PM

17's...

18's will make your well and turning ability difficult as the snow/ice packs into your wheel well.

jmaville · 10-19-2011, 06:55 PM

yeah I was thinking that.... thanks

Jasenica · 10-20-2011, 10:51 AM

as far as I know for winter you should be using the smallest wheel and skinniest tire possible

flip4335 · 10-20-2011, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morphius909

17's...

18's will make your well and turning ability difficult as the snow/ice packs into your wheel well.

225/45/17 wheel diameter = 24.97 inch

225/40/18 wheel diameter = 25.09 inch

The diff between the two is negligible. I have 8.0x18 rims with 225/40/18 dedicated winter performance tires and have no problems getting around in winter, although I live in VA and you live in CT. When it gets too bad, I just stay at home or drive the SUV...LOL!

OP: you don't have to worry about wheel (17 or 18-inch) size as long as you stay with skinny tires specified for the BMW as winter tires.

morphius909 · 10-20-2011, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flip4335

225/45/17 wheel diameter = 24.97 inch

225/40/18 wheel diameter = 25.09 inch

The diff between the two is negligible. I have 8.0x18 rims with 225/40/18 dedicated winter performance tires and have no problems getting around in winter, although I live in VA and you live in CT. When it gets too bad, I just stay at home or drive the SUV...LOL!

OP: you don't have to worry about wheel (17 or 18-inch) size as long as you stay with skinny tires specified for the BMW as winter tires.

Hmmm didn't know it was so little difference!

yes as the poster states,skinner tires are better!

cvc 22349a · 10-20-2011, 11:35 AM

Look for a set of used OE 17" wheels for the E9X or tire rack sells 17" wheels that fit the E9X. You can rotate a square set of 17's; I'm guessing your 18's are staggered.

Atsnow · 10-20-2011, 11:44 AM

I would not worry about it
I use 215/50/17s for winter and my car is lowered

TSM330i · 10-20-2011, 12:10 PM

I'm running 18" snows (Stoptech brake clearance).
No issues at all. I'm running 235/40-18.

Rick4345 · 10-20-2011, 12:23 PM

Yes it is coming to us poor souls north of the mason dixon line. I went to 18 inch tires for the summer on my car. I saved my 17 inch original wheels and put a set of blizzaks 225/45/17 on them and used them for the first time last winter. They were great. I had Continental Pros on them originally.

jmaville · 10-20-2011, 12:38 PM

Thanks guys....we have a vw touareg thats amazing in the snow.... on real bad days I can take that...

Dackz · 10-20-2011, 01:10 PM

225/45/17's for me in the winter on blizzaks. I dont think you have an issue either way, except remember, more sidewall = better absorbtion of potholes at least.

jmaville · 10-20-2011, 02:07 PM

my stock rims are in perfect condition so I probably will just buy the 17" sport edition A7 in blk and lm-60 and carry a can of fix a flat..... Thats sounds like the best option for me...
Thanks everyone

cvc 22349a · 10-20-2011, 03:13 PM

If your susp is oe, why not get rft snows?

jmaville · 10-20-2011, 04:01 PM

yes oe....I might not sure yet....I have the 5 year tire/wheel protection through bmw so I am not worried either way....

the_doctor · 10-20-2011, 11:13 PM

I run 225/45R17 on Gislaved Nordfrost 5's - they work just fine for me.

225/45R17 is the "recommended" winter tire size for the 335 if you check out BMW's Cold Weather Tire packages.

remmib · 10-21-2011, 05:13 AM

I think both 225/45/17 and 225/40/18 will work fine in the winter.

Gary@TireRack · 10-21-2011, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by remmib

I think both 225/45/17 and 225/40/18 will work fine in the winter.

+1

Winter
http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AH8&...nter/index.jsp

10-19-2011, 03:59 PM	#1
jmaville Second Lieutenant 13 Rep 252 Posts Drives: 2014 F30 335i xdrive M Sport Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: CT iTrader: (-1) Garage List 2014 x3 28i [0.00] 2014 335i xdrive M ... [0.00]	18" vs 17" snow tires? Hey Everyone i just bought my 335xi and I have sport package with 18" rims....I am trying to decide on buying 18" snow tires for stock rims and then in the future buy 19"s so the summer.... Or keep them for summer and buy 17"s to put snows on? What do you all think?
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10-19-2011, 06:42 PM	#2
morphius909 Lieutenant 21 Rep 546 Posts Drives: 2011 335 Xi Special Edition-JB Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Edmonton, Alberta iTrader: (0)	17's... 18's will make your well and turning ability difficult as the snow/ice packs into your wheel well. __________________ 2011 335i X Drive Special Edition-Jerez Black 35% Tint All Around / 3M Rockguard / Weathertech/ PPK2 / 18&12mm Spacers/Lux H8 V3
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10-19-2011, 06:55 PM	#3
jmaville Second Lieutenant 13 Rep 252 Posts Drives: 2014 F30 335i xdrive M Sport Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: CT iTrader: (-1) Garage List 2014 x3 28i [0.00] 2014 335i xdrive M ... [0.00]	yeah I was thinking that.... thanks
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10-20-2011, 10:51 AM	#4
Jasenica Banned 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: '07 E92 335 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NA iTrader: (0)	as far as I know for winter you should be using the smallest wheel and skinniest tire possible
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10-20-2011, 11:35 AM	#7
cvc 22349a Colonel 164 Rep 2,556 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: SF Bay iTrader: (11)	Look for a set of used OE 17" wheels for the E9X or tire rack sells 17" wheels that fit the E9X. You can rotate a square set of 17's; I'm guessing your 18's are staggered. __________________ 2007 E90 335i, TiAg, 6AT, ZPP, ZSP, ZCW, 6FL, HD Quaife lsd, ETS fmic, GIAC s/w, Dinan intake/exhaust/oc, Koni/M3 susp, Apex Arc 8, Mich PSS
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10-20-2011, 11:44 AM	#8
Atsnow Captain 80 Rep 967 Posts Drives: E92 335xi, 2010 Boxster S Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Montreal /Plattsburgh,NY iTrader: (1)	I would not worry about it I use 215/50/17s for winter and my car is lowered __________________
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10-20-2011, 12:10 PM	#9
TSM330i 2006 330i, TSM, Black, manual, sport 878 Rep 3,699 Posts Drives: '17 C2, GTI, Z4 3.0si Racecar Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chester Springs, PA iTrader: (2)	I'm running 18" snows (Stoptech brake clearance). No issues at all. I'm running 235/40-18. __________________ 2017 Porsche C2 - manual of course 2015 GTI S 2008 BMW Z4 3.0si Coupe - because racecar
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10-20-2011, 12:23 PM	#10
Rick4345 Lieutenant Colonel 472 Rep 1,659 Posts Drives: 2022 WRX World Rally Blue Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somewhere iTrader: (13) Garage List 2022 Subaru WRX GT [0.00]	Snow!! Yes it is coming to us poor souls north of the mason dixon line. I went to 18 inch tires for the summer on my car. I saved my 17 inch original wheels and put a set of blizzaks 225/45/17 on them and used them for the first time last winter. They were great. I had Continental Pros on them originally.
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10-20-2011, 12:38 PM	#11
jmaville Second Lieutenant 13 Rep 252 Posts Drives: 2014 F30 335i xdrive M Sport Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: CT iTrader: (-1) Garage List 2014 x3 28i [0.00] 2014 335i xdrive M ... [0.00]	Thanks guys....we have a vw touareg thats amazing in the snow.... on real bad days I can take that...
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10-20-2011, 01:10 PM	#12
Dackz Hates Speed Limits 111 Rep 2,589 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Northern CO iTrader: (4)	225/45/17's for me in the winter on blizzaks. I dont think you have an issue either way, except remember, more sidewall = better absorbtion of potholes at least. __________________ E92 Space Gray 335i - COBB, BMW Performance Exhaust (stock tips), style 230 rims, LUX H8 AE's
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10-20-2011, 02:07 PM	#13
jmaville Second Lieutenant 13 Rep 252 Posts Drives: 2014 F30 335i xdrive M Sport Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: CT iTrader: (-1) Garage List 2014 x3 28i [0.00] 2014 335i xdrive M ... [0.00]	my stock rims are in perfect condition so I probably will just buy the 17" sport edition A7 in blk and lm-60 and carry a can of fix a flat..... Thats sounds like the best option for me... Thanks everyone
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10-20-2011, 03:13 PM	#14
cvc 22349a Colonel 164 Rep 2,556 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: SF Bay iTrader: (11)	If your susp is oe, why not get rft snows? __________________ 2007 E90 335i, TiAg, 6AT, ZPP, ZSP, ZCW, 6FL, HD Quaife lsd, ETS fmic, GIAC s/w, Dinan intake/exhaust/oc, Koni/M3 susp, Apex Arc 8, Mich PSS
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10-20-2011, 04:01 PM	#15
jmaville Second Lieutenant 13 Rep 252 Posts Drives: 2014 F30 335i xdrive M Sport Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: CT iTrader: (-1) Garage List 2014 x3 28i [0.00] 2014 335i xdrive M ... [0.00]	yes oe....I might not sure yet....I have the 5 year tire/wheel protection through bmw so I am not worried either way....
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10-20-2011, 11:13 PM	#16
the_doctor Private First Class 6 Rep 109 Posts Drives: 2011 AW E92 335xi 6MT Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: GA iTrader: (0)	I run 225/45R17 on Gislaved Nordfrost 5's - they work just fine for me. 225/45R17 is the "recommended" winter tire size for the 335 if you check out BMW's Cold Weather Tire packages.
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10-21-2011, 05:13 AM	#17
remmib General 1569 Rep 29,202 Posts Drives: 2013 F10 520d M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Norway iTrader: (0)	I think both 225/45/17 and 225/40/18 will work fine in the winter. __________________ F10 520d M-Sport Alpine White \| HRE P43SC 20x9+20x11 \| Michelin PSS 255/35+295/30 \| KW V3 Coilover \| M5 Front Sway Bar + M550d Rear Sway Bar \| 3DDesign Front Lip \| BMW M Performance CF Spoiler \| BMW M Performance Diffuser \| BMW M Performance Black Grills \| BMW M Performance Pedals \|
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