Help me pick between these winter tire options

[OF Hero]

Hi all, this will be my first winter with the F80 and also my first winter with a powerful RWD car. I live in Central Ohio, our snowfall/slush/precipitation usually isn't too bad, but a lot of cold, dry days will persist.

I live in the suburbs and most of my driving to work will be freeway, where I live/commute they do a good job of salting and paving the roads fairly quick. Aside from a few inclined off ramps, no hills or descents on my commute. I have a beater Honda I will take out on really bad days as I do not yet trust my ability to control this car in extreme elements.

Debating between Michelin Alpin PA4 (leaning towards this), Nokian Hakka R2s, and less likely Blizzaks. The Michelins seem like the best bet for my situation, but there seem to be rave reviews about the Nokians. Are the Nokians too "hardcore" for my circumstances? I don't care about"performance driving" in the winter, I just want the safest option. But will the Nokians suffer in traction/comfort on cold dry days, or the odd day where the temps are actually decent (ie, ,40-50)?

All options welcomed.

[OF Hero]

Shameless bump...but really trying to order this week before things go out of stock as they usually seem to do before winter even hits.

We don't get a ton of snow/storms here (below national average for annual snowfall), so I worry about the reported squishyness of the R2s in dry/cold. Seems like the Michelins are a good compromise as they provide the best dry/cold traction and good wet/snow traction, albeit not the best. Just pull the trigger on the Michelins?

[FirstF80InSpace]

Go with the Michelin Alpin PA4. They offer really good dry winter performance and better than average snow performance. Given your situation where they clear snow quickly, I think Hakka's are overkill. I've had Blizzaks before and find them to be average.

I have the PA4's. I use them currently on my F80 and have used them on my previous cars, and never had an issue in any winter condition.

[OF Hero]

Ordered the PA4s!

[OF Hero]

Gotta love tirerack...order placed at like 4pm...at my door the next day at 9am..

[Ian1973]

I have the PA4's and probably have a worse winter than you do and mine has been fine for two seasons. I have decent tread left also considering this will be my 3rd season with them. I vote for them.

And dry grip is pretty darn good for a winter tire.

[OF Hero]

Originally Posted by Ian1973

I have the PA4's and probably have a worse winter than you do and mine has been fine for two seasons. I have decent tread left also considering this will be my 3rd season with them. I vote for them.

And dry grip is pretty darn good for a winter tire.

That's good to hear!

[turtl631]

I'm going PA4 as well. I drove my C6 Z06 through last winter here in Milwaukee on them. Actually drove in snow too, didn't have a backup winter car. Surprising dry grip. Too bad there isn't a wider rear option like a 265 or 275, I think there's a 265/40/18 in Europe they don't sell here.

[Ian1973]

They don't make much wider sizes as then you'd be on a ski. You want to sink into the snow and grip, where the weight would be spread out much more with wider tires.

[SO17]

I don't know... I can see that in theory, but I fitted a set of Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme S in 255 front and 275 rear and even in 4" of snow last winter they were excellent.

[DS_BMW]

Originally Posted by SO17

I don't know... I can see that in theory, but I fitted a set of Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme S in 255 front and 275 rear and even in 4" of snow last winter they were excellent.

Where did you get these from? How do they feel in the dry?

[SO17]

Originally Posted by DS_BMW

Where did you get these from? How do they feel in the dry?

I'm in the UK. They felt slightly knobbly when first fitted but after a few miles they felt fine. I'd previously had a set of Conti Sport Contact 6 on and when it got under 6-7 degrees the 6's weren't as grippy in the dry as the Vredestein, which I suppose was to be expected. Overall I was very happy with the Vredesteins and will put them back into service towards the end of November.

[maniz]

My snow tires are being put on by a mobile tech as I type this. I went with Blizzak LM-32 on my OEM 19" wheels (which will now be relegated to winter duty). Our snow tire options are extremely limited here in the States. In the OEM sizes, it was either the LM-32, Sottozero 3, or a Kumho model I had never heard of. I went with the LM-32 because of their reviewed performance in deeper snow compared to the Pirelli, albeit at a slight performance disadvantage. I don't plan to push the car around turns even in the dry during winter months so I am fine with that.

On our SUV, we now have Nokian Hakkas. Can't wait to try them out in the snow. Wish I could get them for the M as well.

OF Hero, what size rims did you put your tires on?

[OF Hero]

Originally Posted by maniz

My snow tires are being put on by a mobile tech as I type this. I went with Blizzak LM-32 on my OEM 19" wheels (which will now be relegated to winter duty). Our snow tire options are extremely limited here in the States. In the OEM sizes, it was either the LM-32, Sottozero 3, or a Kumho model I had never heard of. I went with the LM-32 because of their reviewed performance in deeper snow compared to the Pirelli, albeit at a slight performance disadvantage. I don't plan to push the car around turns even in the dry during winter months so I am fine with that.

On our SUV, we now have Nokian Hakkas. Can't wait to try them out in the snow. Wish I could get them for the M as well.

OF Hero, what size rims did you put your tires on?

Bought a set of used 19" 437 wheels that will be my dedicated winter setup. What width did you go with? I did 255 square.

[maniz]

255 is a good size to have on all sides for cutting through snow. I didn't want to stretch the sidewalls so stayed with OEM staggered sizes; 275 and 255. My factory wheels are 437 as well.

[OF Hero]

Yeah I kinda wish I did the same as I won't be driving thru a lot, or any deep snow so I hate to lose the staggered look. We'll see.

[Professor///M]

Originally Posted by OF Hero

Hi all, this will be my first winter with the F80 and also my first winter with a powerful RWD car. I live in Central Ohio, our snowfall/slush/precipitation usually isn't too bad, but a lot of cold, dry days will persist.

I live in the suburbs and most of my driving to work will be freeway, where I live/commute they do a good job of salting and paving the roads fairly quick. Aside from a few inclined off ramps, no hills or descents on my commute. I have a beater Honda I will take out on really bad days as I do not yet trust my ability to control this car in extreme elements.

Debating between Michelin Alpin PA4 (leaning towards this), Nokian Hakka R2s, and less likely Blizzaks. The Michelins seem like the best bet for my situation, but there seem to be rave reviews about the Nokians. Are the Nokians too "hardcore" for my circumstances? I don't care about"performance driving" in the winter, I just want the safest option. But will the Nokians suffer in traction/comfort on cold dry days, or the odd day where the temps are actually decent (ie, ,40-50)?

All options welcomed.

I vote for the nokians. They will get you out of any situation. The Studded 8s or 9s would be too hardcore for your situation. I can't speak to the nokians on a M3, but I had them on my 335 and they were fantastic.


Keep in mind that the only winter tires that BMW officially puts on their cars are Contis... and they're a Michelin brand. I think that speaks to the few bad reviews I've read on the Alpins.

I'm sure based on your weather situation any winter compound tire will be fine.

[DocOct]

Originally Posted by maniz

My snow tires are being put on by a mobile tech as I type this. I went with Blizzak LM-32 on my OEM 19" wheels (which will now be relegated to winter duty). Our snow tire options are extremely limited here in the States. In the OEM sizes, it was either the LM-32, Sottozero 3, or a Kumho model I had never heard of. I went with the LM-32 because of their reviewed performance in deeper snow compared to the Pirelli, albeit at a slight performance disadvantage. I don't plan to push the car around turns even in the dry during winter months so I am fine with that.

On our SUV, we now have Nokian Hakkas. Can't wait to try them out in the snow. Wish I could get them for the M as well.

OF Hero, what size rims did you put your tires on?

You can get Hakkas in 19 for the m. That's what I drove last winter in Canada.
Superb tire.

[maniz]

In stock sizes? Nokian doesn't list Hakkas wider than 255 on their site. That was the issue I ran into.