[Lynx_Rufus]

I have a 2019 M240i xDrive, right now, I'm running a staggered setup with MPSS, and I love the grip and handling. It's October in Dayton OH and time to get some different rubber for the winter.

For those of you who are not familiar, Dayton gets a few moderate snows a winter and an occasional heavy one. Most winter driving will be on cold, potholed, asphalt. I also have a 2WD F-150 (will see a fair amount of winter duty with weight in bed), and if snowmageddon strikes, the wife's Forester is a snow machine.

Based on my research, I have 3 choices: 1) Pilot A/S 3+ on stock, staggered rims, 2) Pilot Alpin PA4 on 18" square setup (PA4 not available in 245/35 18 for rear), or 3) XIce on 17" square setup.

I don't want to sacrifice too much performance (why I bought the car), but am concerned about either of the 18" choices given the poor quality of our road surface in the winter. On the flip side, I'm not sure I'd be satisfied with the XIce on 17" from a performance standpoint.

I'm not totally locked into Michelin, but they seem to fare very well in all the Tire Rack comparisons. What I'm really seeking is advice on all season staggered, vs. winter performance on 18" square, vs. winter studless on 17" square.

Thoughts?

[overcoil]

With all wheel drive all season will be satisfactory at the beginning of a snow event on slippery roads.

On 3-4 inches of fresh snow and on ice the 17 inch will probably work better because it’s more dedicated. 17-inch may help with potholes. Really important to navigate around puddles with these type of cars.

Though all wheel drive and all season tires for some people work excellent.

If you were doing a lot of highway traveling at speed in cold temps the Winter Performance tire works well.

[x233]

Pirelli SottoZero II (runflat) staggered 225/40/18 + 245/35/18 is another very good option. Great from a performance standpoint AND a dedicated winter tire. Will handle practically all possible winter conditions well. Also, this tire handles really well, wet or dry cold asphalt, certainly better than Michelin PA4 and X-Ice. Will handle snow and ice, too. Being runflat is a bonus. Will last 2 seasons. The downside is it's more expensive.

[harma24]

I run 225/40R18 Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 in New England. I have no complaints about the handling on either dry or wet/snowy/icy pavement. I use the car as a daily driver, even in some pretty severe snow storms.

However, I would highly recommend 17" vs. 18". I've hit too many potholes where I've wanted to stop and check my tires/wheels after. I've been lucky so far, but I fell like it's only a matter of time before one of them gets me.

[230iZTR]

The question is really how much snow do you expect to drive through? If it's all nicely and timely plowed roads, go with the all seasons; if it's a light snow storm here and there with a lot of wet slush in between, go with the PA4's; if you're going to be driving through fresh snow, in snow storms, or areas that aren't plowed, get the X-ices. And regardless of which one you go with, get a set of chains if you plan to drive in really heavy stuff.

I went with the X-ice xi3's myself. I would have preferred PA4's but they were on backorder in the right size when I needed them. Oh well. They're only in the car for 4 months anyway. The extra capability of the xi3 came in handy a few times and I don't drive hard enough on the street to see a difference in the dry.

Here's an interesting comparison of the previous generation tires, Pilot A/S vs PA3 vs X-ice2.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by 230iZTR

The question is really how much snow do you expect to drive through?

I went with the X-ice xi3's myself.

I'm using X-Ice Xi-3s, too. Even though it's generally relatively mild in the winter here, my approach is to be prepared if it gets ugly and I'm out driving in it. Winter performance isn't an issue for me; my performance interest is on the track in the dry and the wet. In the winter, I drive my BMW only to bring the car's fluids up to their operating temperatures.

I've lived in different regions of the country, and in some of them you'll have 10" years, and in other years you'll have 120". No matter the total amount, some years will fall in dribs-and-drabs, and in other years most of it will fall in 6-24" dumps. Banking on what's going to fall in a given winter in those regions can be a fool's errand.

Additionally, in regions of high variability, the snow may vary from dry to wet to wet ice that freezes after landing. (The latter stuff is, by far, the most fun to shovel! )

For the uninitiated, the white stuff may fall at 4 PM, 4 AM, 9 AM, noon, and/or everywhere in between. If you're salting your own driveway (to ensure that it remains usable), you may need to stay up so that when the precipitation changes from rain to sleet to snow (at, say, 2:45 AM), you're there with the right solution/flakes/rocks to lay down so that you don't slide down your steep driveway into the rush hour traffic on your street or road at 7:45 AM on your way to work.

A municipality's plows may arrive when it's convenient, or they may not. I choose winter tires assuming the worst conditions. As well, I'm pleased to have winter rubber on when it's dry and 10° out. If it's really ugly, I'm fortunate to be able to just skip going out in it.

[Mehim]

Alpins 255/35/18 fit just fine on staggered stock rims. I run them no problems. Stay away from blizzaks they are trash.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Mehim

Stay away from blizzaks they are trash.

That depends on the conditions in which you drive. Some winter tires are better in some conditions, and others are better in other conditions.

This is a useful and somewhat recent summary of winter tire test results that details the pros and cons of a variety of winter tires:

https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...es-for-winter/.

[Mehim]

Originally Posted by dradernh

That depends on the conditions in which you drive. Some winter tires are better in some conditions, and others are better in other conditions.

This is a useful and somewhat recent summary of winter tire test results that details the pros and cons of a variety of winter tires:

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15102773/best-snow-tires-for-winter/.

This is 4 years old. Lot if progress has been made since then.

[msej449]

I can +1 the Pirelli Winter Sottozero Serie-II and also the Pirelli Winter Sottozero S3 (which I have on my M235i convertible, on 7.5Jx17 square).

The Serie-II is a very good performance winter in those transitional autumn and spring conditions, on dry and warmer roads i.e. it' doesn't give a lot up to summers in these conditions. It's a good general winter tyre and snow tyre.

The S3 is very good in snow and particularly resistant to hydroplaning. When I got my M235i I opted for the S3s over the Serie-II I'd had on my 3 series as I anticipated spending more time in the Alps. However, it really does shine in very wet weather with deep/standing water on the road, which was an unexpected bonus in wet UK winters.

There are other brands, but these are the only two I've actually used on my BMWs in mixed wet UK + snowy Alps + spring/autumn UK conditions.

Regarding going to 7.5Jx17 square: Yes, you'll notice the difference vs 18" but for me, it's a useful imposition - wetter, colder winters means I have to compromise in driving style anyway: can't get over climate and physics.

[MassNerd]

Originally Posted by 230iZTR

The question is really how much snow do you expect to drive through?

That is the big question.

I've had the X-Ice 2 and 3's on multiple cars and they are a great snow & ice tire. But they are not a fun tire. Very soft.

If you must drive through heavy snow and want to have maximum confidence then X-Ice with a narrower tire is the way to go.

I personally am in a different situation though. I do live in New England and do ski (and intentionally drive in heavy snow). However, we've got a Highlander with snow tires on it for that job. Also, for work, if it snows, I have the ability to work from home.

So I'm primarily looking for a performance tire that can handle freezing weather and occasional surprise snow or ice. For this reason I'm planning on getting the PA4's. I think it will give up less performance and be good enough for the limited winter weather driving I need to do.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Mehim

This is 4 years old. Lot if progress has been made since then.

I agree. The newest Blizzak WS90 is the new and improved version of the WS80, and the Hakkapeliitta R3 is the new and improved R2.

I made my previous comment due to having found Blizzaks to be very effective in deep slush and in slush over ice. These were common conditions in late winter and in the spring in a place I used to live. It's not a dry handling tire, though, that's for sure.

[YamaLink]

Originally Posted by MassNerd

I personally am in a different situation though. I do live in New England and do ski (and intentionally drive in heavy snow). However, we've got a Highlander with snow tires on it for that job. Also, for work, if it snows, I have the ability to work from home.

So I'm primarily looking for a performance tire that can handle freezing weather and occasional surprise snow or ice. For this reason I'm planning on getting the PA4's. I think it will give up less performance and be good enough for the limited winter weather driving I need to do.

Former South Weymouth resident here, also work from home and we have a Highlander, too, ha! I've done the Blizzak route on an Audi, and it defeats the purpose of my spirited driving in cold weather. The PA4 gets rave reviews, but they sure are spendy! The A/S 3+ gets rave reviews but noise seems to be an issue.

[CO_Steve]

I won the RMBMWCCA autocross last year on Georgetown Lake, 4wd non-stud snow class on XIce3s in my wife's 328d Touring. Conditions varied from foot deep to glare polished ice. Good tire.