Originally Posted By: Rand
It sounds like you want a performance winter tire to me.
also what size do you normally run if you have some rims and run
a 40-45 series tire a 55inheritantly will have more give.
add in a q rated marshmallow and its definitely a different driving experience
Yes and no. I presently have performance snow tires and, except for being H-rated, they aren't very "performance" and they aren't very "snow" either, despite everyone else on the planet who has them scoring them highest among their peers. (I said I could write a book
)
Over the last couple of years since I bought the M3s we've had two kids, my wife is now stay-at-home, we're doing fewer "Interstate" trips and I may be willing to accept that the winter driving priority is shifting. Some "scary" incidents of insufficient grip even with full snows with deep tread have led me to wonder if a performance snow is simply too much of a compromise and I would be better to shop for "worst conditions" rather than "typical conditions". A T-rated unit like the Xi2 shouldn't be that bad (?). This isn't a "fair weather" car, it's _the_ car. Sure, we try not to go anywhere in bad weather, but...
I run 235/45/17 on factory style 5s in the summer (Michelin PS2s) with the 225/55/16 on style 33 for the winter. Technically I could fit 15" over my brakes or I could buy 17s for the winter too. We get a lot of pavement break up in this area from the constant freeze-thaw and frankly I like a) going a little narrower with the factory 16s for winter grip , b) getting a little sidewall to protect the rest of the car from broken pavement and shallow potholes and c) having more types of tires to choose from.
I'm fine with the "give" of my M3s in 55 profile, I'm not so OK with the slip.
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I wouldnt get anything less than h rated.
In this size even most of the performance tires top out at H, or they might come in H or V and the dealers only get H.
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the only non performance snow tires I would consider would be the
continential extremewinter contact (T rated)- similar performance to the xice xi2's
and
you can get the xice xi'2 by downsizing (narrow is good in winter) they are available in 215/60R16 and 215/55R16
(t rated)aprox 450+ shipping after rebate.
I'll look into the Contis and spend some time with a tire size calculator to look into downsizing. Do you have any favourite links to reviews on the Contis? Any idea how much Gislaved technology is in those Contis?
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for performance it depends on how much you want to spend
the brand new Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3 (h rating)
490+ship after rebate
The PA3s are on my shortlist, but I'm curious if I'll just find them the same as my M3s. My dad has a similar car (an E39 540) and he has Pilot Alpin PA2s (and PA before that) that he's happy with, but he spends the two worst months of winter in Florida so it's not a significant data point.
I'm curious about my theory of German cars pounding sipe edges to nothing. No one seems to be able to discuss this at any level of detail. I'd expect some sipe designs or directionality to be able to withstand this better, but then I'd expect the "top rated" M3 and 3D to incorporate this design since they're Made in Germany and recommended by BMW dealers here in Canada. Perhaps the zig-zag sipe isn't the best.
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If you want a studded snow the most "sporty"
Pirelli winter carving
550+60studding = 610+shipping after rebate.
I hadn't looked at Pirelli, but I'd like to determine some of the pros and cons for studding on otherwise equal tires and the claims of dramatically reduced wet and dry traction.
My dad used a set of Pirelli Snowsport 210s (the standard dealer recommendation) for one year. They were the sportiest in the dry, but were lackluster in anything "winter". They also wore very poorly, requiring replacement in a season (perhaps two) where Michelins have gone 4 seasons on the same vehicle/alignment/pressures/driver. My friend with an E46 323i also got Snowsports. He got sideways a number of times he wasn't expecting either and bought some unstudded Hakka 2s instead which he was happy with but were dreadfully noisy.
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you should figure 60$ for mount and balance or 85-90$ for roadforce mount and balance.
My shop has a Hunter roadforce balancer and knows how to use it. That's why they're my shop.
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NOTE: the LOAD RANGE XL are a beefier heavier tire and cost slightly more(10-15$) each tire.
I don't require this load range, I only mentioned it as an indicator of sidewall strength. Of course that sometimes just equates to an uncomfortable ride and not good handling (just like runflats).
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just my opinion but that car is begging for performance snows.
that being said as long as its below 45F, a t-rated studless will be much improved over an R or Q rated.. as far as handling.
Sure, but I've spend enough time unable to go or unable to stop that maybe I'm ready to dial down the performance a little.
It's always below 45F, but the roads are salted and cleared in my area. Studs may be a little carried away but I found myself tippy-toeing through some really nasty, icy [censored] with the family where studs would have saved the day.
Frankly, I'd like to get a third set of tires - Hakka 5s with studs on 15" steelies - and keep them in the garage for storms. That's getting a little carried away though
With the air tools, two jacks etc... I can change tires in ~10 minutes myself - summers, winters and storm tires. Voila
Thanks for you opinions, I'll definitely check into some of the things you've mentioned.