BMW M3 Forum (E90 E92)

BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Go Back   M3Post - BMW M3 Forum > M3 (E90 / E92 / E93) > Regional Forums > USA - New England
 
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      10-24-2008, 08:46 AM   #1
lucid
Major General
lucid's Avatar
United_States
374
Rep
8,033
Posts

Drives: E30 M3; Expedition
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

NE winters and tires

Curious as to when folks put their snow tires on and pull them off in the NE. I am getting ready to put them on. Probably a little late actually, but waiting for my 18" wheels to arrive. This is my only car, so I will be driving it throughout the winter.

Btw, I have a couple of 235/40/18 Michelin PA2s for sale here if you need snow tires for the fronts:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180726
__________________
Appreciate 0
      11-01-2008, 02:09 PM   #2
Wolf-e92
Private
Wolf-e92's Avatar
2
Rep
71
Posts

Drives: M3
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Here & There

iTrader: (0)

I just got mine in from tirerack and was planning to do the switch at my 1200 mile service in 2 weeks.
Appreciate 0
      11-02-2008, 09:03 PM   #3
lucid
Major General
lucid's Avatar
United_States
374
Rep
8,033
Posts

Drives: E30 M3; Expedition
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

It was 2 deg C on my way from work the last two days, so I guess it is indeed time!
__________________
Appreciate 0
      11-04-2008, 01:09 PM   #4
makots
First Lieutenant
makots's Avatar
Singapore
49
Rep
341
Posts

Drives: '08 e92 M3 AW 6MT
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Boston, MA

iTrader: (2)

i think i'm going to run the stock 19's in the winter man. i havent got my winter tires yet! so i'm scrambling to get them. but anything that i should know that would make me not wanna get the winter tires in 19's? I really dont wanna get another 18 for the winter as i'm getting one for the track in the near future. thats y i think i'm sticking with the 19s for the winter. So any words of wisdom? haha. oh, and i got a recommendation for a 225/40-19 front and a 255/35-19 rear. Does that sound right? ben from tire rack recommended 255/35-19 front and 265/35-19 rear. which one sounds better?
Appreciate 0
      11-05-2008, 07:14 AM   #5
lucid
Major General
lucid's Avatar
United_States
374
Rep
8,033
Posts

Drives: E30 M3; Expedition
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

I don't know about the 225/40/19. Find a tire circumfrance calculator on the web and see if that'll change. Also, I don't know if the tire can be stretched that far on 8.5" rims. You don't want to use 255/35s in the front. No larger than 235/35s. I think you have typo there. Just watch your rims. The roads will be full of holes by jan/feb. I'm much less concerned about that with the 18s. It doesn't take much of a mishap to bend the 19s with low profile tires.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      11-05-2008, 08:33 AM   #6
gambitx28
shop smart, shop s-mart
gambitx28's Avatar
United_States
8
Rep
84
Posts

Drives: 2015 640i GC
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Cape Cod, MA

iTrader: (0)

I put my snows on right before the 1st snow storm (as late as possible).

I have them off by Apr 1st at the latest.
__________________
2015 X5 xdrive35i
2008 E90 M3
2002 325Ci Convertible
Appreciate 0
      11-05-2008, 10:08 PM   #7
makots
First Lieutenant
makots's Avatar
Singapore
49
Rep
341
Posts

Drives: '08 e92 M3 AW 6MT
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Boston, MA

iTrader: (2)

well. apparently the guys are recommending a 255/35 f and 265/35 rear. so i went with that. yea. i know. been taking note of the potholes man. they are ridiculous. back at home (singapore) the roads are so smooth. so its a drastic change from over here. but yea. the guys down at tire rack recommended the setup. i guess i trust them? haha. but i wont be taking the car out that much so i guess shouldnt be a prob. haha.
Appreciate 0
      11-05-2008, 10:46 PM   #8
lucid
Major General
lucid's Avatar
United_States
374
Rep
8,033
Posts

Drives: E30 M3; Expedition
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by makots View Post
well. apparently the guys are recommending a 255/35 f and 265/35 rear. so i went with that. yea. i know. been taking note of the potholes man. they are ridiculous. back at home (singapore) the roads are so smooth. so its a drastic change from over here. but yea. the guys down at tire rack recommended the setup. i guess i trust them? haha. but i wont be taking the car out that much so i guess shouldnt be a prob. haha.
You shouldn't fit 255/35s onto the front stock 19" wheels. That's crazy. Someone's trying to offload tires they have in stock to you. Why would you want wider than stock winter tires? You want to go narrower for better traction in snow. Plus, that will eliminate/reduce the understeer designed into the stock setup. The last think you want on ice/snow is less understeer. Who's making the recommendation? I'd strongly suggest you cancel that order if you can.
__________________

Last edited by lucid; 11-06-2008 at 09:42 AM..
Appreciate 0
      11-09-2008, 10:09 AM   #9
MBrown1003
Eight Bimmers and counting
United_States
35
Rep
761
Posts

Drives: 2014 F10 M5
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Massachusetts, USA

iTrader: (0)

Here's my history of winter/summer tires:

Season.......Car..........Winters On......Winters Off
2002-2003...E39 M5.....Nov 25...........May 2
2003-2004...E39 M5.....Dec 2.............May 13
2004-2005...E39 M5.....Dec 14...........April 9
2005-2006...E39 M5.....Dec 26...........April 1
2006-2007...E39 M5.....Dec 16...........<not sure of the date>

2007-2008...E92 335i...<Jan delivery>..May 5
2008-2009...E90 M3.....<Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm>

I'm finding that the Michelins on the M3 are more temperature-sensitive than my prior summer tires. One night when it got into the 20s, the car was pretty loose for the first few miles. It got better once the tires warmed up.

FWIW, my prior summer tires have been Dunlops (M5, 335i) + Bridgestones (M5). The winter tires have been Dunlops (M5, 335i) + Pirellis (M5)
__________________
2014 F10 M5
Previously...
Threes: '08 E90 M3, '07 E92 335i,
Fives: '11 F10 550i, '02 E39 M5, '00 E39 540i/6, '97 E39 528i, '92 E34 525i
Others: VW, MBz, Peugeot, Toyota, Olds
Appreciate 0
      11-09-2008, 10:38 AM   #10
rfedele
Enlisted Member
rfedele's Avatar
2
Rep
41
Posts

Drives: 08 M3 Sedan
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Jersey Shore

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MBrown1003 View Post

I'm finding that the Michelins on the M3 are more temperature-sensitive than my prior summer tires.
+1. I've had Conti's and P-Zero's that weren't as sensitive to rain and cold, but the PS2's are the best in dry/warm conditions.
__________________
"Accept the advice of others only in the rarest of circumstances." Beethoven



present: 08 E90 M3 / past: 2007 997 C2, 2005 997 C2S, 2005 Audi S4, 2004 Volvo S60R
Appreciate 0
      11-09-2008, 07:44 PM   #11
makots
First Lieutenant
makots's Avatar
Singapore
49
Rep
341
Posts

Drives: '08 e92 M3 AW 6MT
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Boston, MA

iTrader: (2)

it was the guys at tire rack. they were the ones who recommended the sizings. aparently there are quite a number of people that are going to run this set up too. So what would your suggestion for 19' rims is? the tires are suppose to get here next week so i cant really do much now. but i wanna get it right. so what you suggest? as i think the only comp that makes 19' winters are bridgestone and pirelli.
Appreciate 0
      11-10-2008, 07:58 PM   #12
lucid
Major General
lucid's Avatar
United_States
374
Rep
8,033
Posts

Drives: E30 M3; Expedition
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by makots View Post
it was the guys at tire rack. they were the ones who recommended the sizings. aparently there are quite a number of people that are going to run this set up too. So what would your suggestion for 19' rims is? the tires are suppose to get here next week so i cant really do much now. but i wanna get it right. so what you suggest? as i think the only comp that makes 19' winters are bridgestone and pirelli.
The ideal setup on the stock 19" rims would be 235/35 F and 255/35 R. The issue is that you can't get those sizes for the same tire brand and model at the time. There just doesn't seem to be any vendors that make a snow tires in both those sizes for whatever reason. That is probably why you were recommended what you were recommended. I think it is a poor recomendation. It won't make you crash or anything and you should be okay, but it is not the optimal setup for the 19" wheels at all.

Watch the holes that will start opening up in about a month or so on your 19" wheels. Actually, I just hit one the other night in the dark on my winter wheels, and the tire/wheel got marked slighly. I am glad I wasn't on my 19s!

Last edited by lucid; 04-09-2011 at 12:15 PM..
Appreciate 0
      11-10-2008, 07:59 PM   #13
lucid
Major General
lucid's Avatar
United_States
374
Rep
8,033
Posts

Drives: E30 M3; Expedition
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by rfedele View Post
+1. I've had Conti's and P-Zero's that weren't as sensitive to rain and cold, but the PS2's are the best in dry/warm conditions.
PS2s do not like the cold at all, but they are excellent in the rain for a performance tire.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      11-10-2008, 08:01 PM   #14
lucid
Major General
lucid's Avatar
United_States
374
Rep
8,033
Posts

Drives: E30 M3; Expedition
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MBrown1003 View Post
Here's my history of winter/summer tires:

Season.......Car..........Winters On......Winters Off
2002-2003...E39 M5.....Nov 25...........May 2
2003-2004...E39 M5.....Dec 2.............May 13
2004-2005...E39 M5.....Dec 14...........April 9
2005-2006...E39 M5.....Dec 26...........April 1
2006-2007...E39 M5.....Dec 16...........<not sure of the date>

2007-2008...E92 335i...<Jan delivery>..May 5
2008-2009...E90 M3.....<Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm>

I'm finding that the Michelins on the M3 are more temperature-sensitive than my prior summer tires. One night when it got into the 20s, the car was pretty loose for the first few miles. It got better once the tires warmed up.

FWIW, my prior summer tires have been Dunlops (M5, 335i) + Bridgestones (M5). The winter tires have been Dunlops (M5, 335i) + Pirellis (M5)
Wow, you sure are methodical on this one. How did you manage to wait until December with the snowfall?
__________________
Appreciate 0
      11-10-2008, 09:18 PM   #15
MBrown1003
Eight Bimmers and counting
United_States
35
Rep
761
Posts

Drives: 2014 F10 M5
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Massachusetts, USA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by lucid View Post
Wow, you sure are methodical on this one. How did you manage to wait until December with the snowfall?
From 1990 until early 2007, I also had a GTI as a second car, so if we got early snow, I could take the VeeDub. OTOH, the 540 and M5 were SO MUCH BETTER than the GTI in the snow that I typically took the Bimmer if the weather was REALLY awful, and left the VW at home.

Anyway, looking back at my logs, I didn't realize I'd mounted the snows that late so many times -- especially the one on Dec 26!
__________________
2014 F10 M5
Previously...
Threes: '08 E90 M3, '07 E92 335i,
Fives: '11 F10 550i, '02 E39 M5, '00 E39 540i/6, '97 E39 528i, '92 E34 525i
Others: VW, MBz, Peugeot, Toyota, Olds
Appreciate 0
      11-11-2008, 04:29 PM   #16
lucid
Major General
lucid's Avatar
United_States
374
Rep
8,033
Posts

Drives: E30 M3; Expedition
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MBrown1003 View Post
OTOH, the 540 and M5 were SO MUCH BETTER than the GTI in the snow that I typically took the Bimmer if the weather was REALLY awful, and left the VW at home.
With the M, one can say it's because it has LSD, but the 540 performing better than the GTI is interesting. Did the GTI have all seasons or something?
__________________
Appreciate 0
      11-12-2008, 06:24 AM   #17
MBrown1003
Eight Bimmers and counting
United_States
35
Rep
761
Posts

Drives: 2014 F10 M5
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Massachusetts, USA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by lucid View Post
With the M, one can say it's because it has LSD, but the 540 performing better than the GTI is interesting. Did the GTI have all seasons or something?
I'm assuming it's because of the superior balance of the Bimmers. Yes, the GTIs (I had two of them) had all-seasons, so that didn't help, but I've never been a fan of FWD, especially in bad weather.
__________________
2014 F10 M5
Previously...
Threes: '08 E90 M3, '07 E92 335i,
Fives: '11 F10 550i, '02 E39 M5, '00 E39 540i/6, '97 E39 528i, '92 E34 525i
Others: VW, MBz, Peugeot, Toyota, Olds
Appreciate 0
      11-12-2008, 08:30 AM   #18
jaay11
Second Lieutenant
United_States
17
Rep
279
Posts

Drives: 2012 550i Dinan 2
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: LA

iTrader: (0)

really?

Quote:
Originally Posted by makots View Post
i think i'm going to run the stock 19's in the winter man. i havent got my winter tires yet! so i'm scrambling to get them. but anything that i should know that would make me not wanna get the winter tires in 19's? I really dont wanna get another 18 for the winter as i'm getting one for the track in the near future. thats y i think i'm sticking with the 19s for the winter. So any words of wisdom? haha. oh, and i got a recommendation for a 225/40-19 front and a 255/35-19 rear. Does that sound right? ben from tire rack recommended 255/35-19 front and 265/35-19 rear. which one sounds better?
get some snow shoes on those 19s....they say we're in for a good (meaning bad ) winter this year.
Appreciate 0
      11-12-2008, 05:06 PM   #19
lucid
Major General
lucid's Avatar
United_States
374
Rep
8,033
Posts

Drives: E30 M3; Expedition
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MBrown1003 View Post
I'm assuming it's because of the superior balance of the Bimmers. Yes, the GTIs (I had two of them) had all-seasons, so that didn't help, but I've never been a fan of FWD, especially in bad weather.
I'd say that the all season's are the main reason for the difference in performance. Yes, BMWs have good traction in general, but there is no comparison between a car on snow tires and all seasons. All season are a poor comprimise for both summer and winter driving.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      01-17-2009, 05:49 PM   #20
Kev
Critical Care Anesthesiologist
Kev's Avatar
Hong Kong
481
Rep
8,828
Posts

Drives: SMB F83
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Seattle, WA

iTrader: (24)

Garage List
You need snow tires to stop properly. Once it gets frigid like now, A/S tires will turn hard and you'd be screwed when you try to stop.
__________________
kev { divinum est sedate dolorem }
"your friendly neighborhood critical care anesthesiologist"
Appreciate 0
      02-25-2009, 03:54 PM   #21
makots
First Lieutenant
makots's Avatar
Singapore
49
Rep
341
Posts

Drives: '08 e92 M3 AW 6MT
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Boston, MA

iTrader: (2)

so since march is around the corner, when is the right time to take off the winter tires?
__________________
2008 AW/BLK M3 6MT / Eisenmann Race / H&R / HID Angels / 3D Front & Rear Lip / UUC SSK / TE37 / Turner Pulleys / 4.10FD & 2 Clutch Salisbury Diff / Escort 9500ci

Appreciate 0
      02-25-2009, 03:59 PM   #22
lucid
Major General
lucid's Avatar
United_States
374
Rep
8,033
Posts

Drives: E30 M3; Expedition
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by makots View Post
so since march is around the corner, when is the right time to take off the winter tires?
Yeah, I can't wait. I usually swap them out late-March although that might be a bit too early. See seasonal average temps here:

http://www.weather.com/weather/wxcli...nav_undeclared
__________________
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:29 AM.




m3post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST