[VasWander]

Looking for some expert advice. I bought a new 2018 M240i manual RWD performance edition that included 225/35R19 front tires on a 7.5 x 19 wheel and 245/30R19 rear tires on a 8.0 x 19 wheel.

This coming winter I planned to put on all-season tires on the 19’s but discovered no tires are available.

The stock wheels on these cars are 225/40/R18 on a 7.5 x 18 front and 245/35/R18 on a 8.0 x 18 rear.

I want to buy 18” 436 wheels with Pilot Alpin PA4 tires. Should I match the stock staggered wheel size(7.5 & 8.0) regardless if I go square or staggered tires? Will either set-up mess up my odometer or braking systems?

I want performance when it’s cold and dry but traction during the annual average 42” of snow. Looking to sell the car at 30K miles and want the best set-up possible to pass on to the new owner. Thanks!

[Aspen235]

I bought some Tire Rack wheels (TR Motorsport) for autox that are 17x7.5 square set up that clear the brakes. I plan to run winter tires on them, probably 225/45/17. Narrow tires with more sidewall are best for winter driving in slush and snow. The diameter is within 1% of stock so all is good speedo-wise.

[VasWander]

Ya so where I live I only expect maybe 15 days all winter driving on snow and ice. I used to own an xDrive and it was simple square set-up. Since stock M240i & my M Performance package both have staggered rims is why I'm so confused. I assume if I copy to 18" stock staggered set-up I can't go wrong as well as if I move to warmer climate and still own car I can always throw track tires on the winter rims or just sell outright. The square set saves a lot of money and can be rotated but not sure how it would fit with the M Performance brakes or affect the onboard systems?

[VasWander]

I decided the staggered set way too expensive and am going to buy complete set from TireRack - 18 BBS SX wheels with 225/40R18 Pilot Alpin PA4 (they had a closeout special). I'll post a pic in 2 months when I mount them.

[Mehim]

The pilot alpins are really good. I run them on stock staggered 18 rims. 225/255 and swap them for summer rubber. Costs about 80$ to swap tires on the stock rims.

[Aspen235]

Originally Posted by VasWander

Ya so where I live I only expect maybe 15 days all winter driving on snow and ice. I used to own an xDrive and it was simple square set-up. Since stock M240i & my M Performance package both have staggered rims is why I'm so confused. I assume if I copy to 18" stock staggered set-up I can't go wrong as well as if I move to warmer climate and still own car I can always throw track tires on the winter rims or just sell outright. The square set saves a lot of money and can be rotated but not sure how it would fit with the M Performance brakes or affect the onboard systems?

So does you car have different brakes than the regular M240i?

[VasWander]

Yes it has M Performance brakes but reading other postings I should be okay clearance wise with the 18 x 8's ET45. I'll soon find out!

[msej449]

There's only so much that you can do to counteract the fact of lower ambient temperatures and more rain in winter. Even in the dry, it's cooler and 'dry' in February is likely to be damper than 'dry' in August.

For me in the UK and going regularly to the Alps to ski, I'm a bit like you - I want to be able to avoid hyrdoplaning in our wet winters, while still retaining reasonable handling when it's dry. Plus being able to cope with Alpine snow when I'm skiing, without having to fit my chains.

So, I'm on the BMW-recommended square 17" setup with 7.5J wheels and 225/45 R17 94V XL winter tyres.

The choice of tyre for me came down to the Pirelli Winter Sottozero Serie-II or the Sottozero S3. I've had the former before, and it trades some snow capability for extremely good dry handling (for a winter). But I opted for the S3* because while it trades some dry handling for good snow performance, it's also particularly resistant to hydroplaning. In N.America, I think there are probably other brands in the same category and taking a look at the various threads should help you there.

Overall, my opinion is that 19" in winter is not going to work, even if I could get winter tyres to fit (which I can't). I could retain the original wheels and get staggered winters, but the narrower rears on the 17" are better at anti-aquaplaning and better in snow. So the above spec it is.

There's also a degree of self-control in the switch to winters, t makes me very aware that the car isn't in it's summer setup. Which I see as a good thing in a performance car - my only near-fatal driving mistakes have been when I tried to pretend I could drive the same in winter as summer, and found out that I simply couldn't.

*Pirelli Winter Sottozero S3:



and the Alutec 7.5Jx17 wheels

[VasWander]

Thanks for input I totally agree with you. I have a one car garage for my car and my motorcycle. I think the best solution is a two car garage for my dual sport bike, a three season BMW sports car, and a skiing 4Runner.