Need Snow Tires for my 2001 330CI!!! Help!
- Thread starter TSilver330CI
- Start date
I got lucky last year and got the last of Dunlop M2's. They were a real bargain and got me through all the snow with zero hassles. I used 17 inchers and just had them put on my stock rims. No problems. The new Dunlop M3 is supposed to be even better than the M2, but I got a great price on a great winter tire. Get all 4, it's the only safe and secure way to go.
I agree. If I were shopping for 3 tires, I would probably go ahead and get all four replaced and put the partially worn one back in the trunk as the spair.
As far as snow tires, I don't think it's such a bad thing to just get snow tires for the rear two wheels. Obviously, your front turning is going to suffer, but a lot of people just throw on the two rear snow tires when they need them. It's not unheard of and not a crazy alternative if four snow tires aren't in your budget.
I would try to get the smallest rims that will fit over your calipers and the thickest rubber tread you can find. Cheap steal with hub caps would be preferable cuz you want the weight in the snow and you don't want snow collecting in the spokes (grew up in Colorado here). Don't get M&S tires, you want the real deal: SNOW tires.
As far as snow tires, I don't think it's such a bad thing to just get snow tires for the rear two wheels. Obviously, your front turning is going to suffer, but a lot of people just throw on the two rear snow tires when they need them. It's not unheard of and not a crazy alternative if four snow tires aren't in your budget.
I would try to get the smallest rims that will fit over your calipers and the thickest rubber tread you can find. Cheap steal with hub caps would be preferable cuz you want the weight in the snow and you don't want snow collecting in the spokes (grew up in Colorado here). Don't get M&S tires, you want the real deal: SNOW tires.
TSilver330CI said:
Ok, but on 16 inch wheels, are the tire sizes the same on all 4? Please someone has to know this!
THanks
THanks
THanks for the info aNoodle. I guess I will have to end up calling my dealer about this. Others that have replied to this post have said that 16 inch wheels will work, my question now is simply regarding the tires. On my PS2 Sport Tires the tire sizes for the rear are different than for the front. If I get 16" snow tires, will the tire sizes also need to be different?
time for me to sound like a broken record again. only 16" to fit the 330's calipers is the AT Italia type 5 rims. other than that, you have to go w/ the 17s to clear the front calipers.
205s or 225s are the recommended specs. i'd say 205s if you see a lot of snow in the winter, 225s, if you get mostly cold weather but not much snow, because wider tires would help out in the dry traction dept.
as for staggering tire sizes, don't. you have no need for it. and also if you have the same size set, you can rotate them for the following year, prolonging your winter tire life, only if for another season.. at least try to anyway..
i'm actually gonna get my hands on the dunlop m3s this winter. for some reason reading about blizzaks, i didn't feel as confident w/ em. any inputs?
205s or 225s are the recommended specs. i'd say 205s if you see a lot of snow in the winter, 225s, if you get mostly cold weather but not much snow, because wider tires would help out in the dry traction dept.
as for staggering tire sizes, don't. you have no need for it. and also if you have the same size set, you can rotate them for the following year, prolonging your winter tire life, only if for another season.. at least try to anyway..
i'm actually gonna get my hands on the dunlop m3s this winter. for some reason reading about blizzaks, i didn't feel as confident w/ em. any inputs?
yes, all the same size.
your performance tires are different sizes (ie 40/225 in front vs 35/255 in rear)
because that number is the height of the sidewall as a percentage of
the width of the tire. since the rear tires are wider, for the tires to have
the same sidewall height the # is lower. ==>40%of 225 and 35% of 255 is
pretty close to have 4 tires the same size. (as I understand it)
your performance tires are different sizes (ie 40/225 in front vs 35/255 in rear)
because that number is the height of the sidewall as a percentage of
the width of the tire. since the rear tires are wider, for the tires to have
the same sidewall height the # is lower. ==>40%of 225 and 35% of 255 is
pretty close to have 4 tires the same size. (as I understand it)
weren't blizzaks one of the first high perf snow tires on the market? oxymoronic as that may sound.. they do cost a bit more than the wintersport M3 counterpart.
i'm 90% sure i'll be picking up the dunlop wintersport M3 205/55VR16s for $105 per and AT Italia Type 5s at 139 per. not that i need the V rating, actually i'd rather not, the H rated tires at same size are both a bit more @ 113 per and 107 per. i wonder why it costs a bit more.. any thoughts on this? (i tried direct linking, but it's based on java session, and won't work..![[:(]](/images/smilies/frown.png "Frown [:(]")
i'm 90% sure i'll be picking up the dunlop wintersport M3 205/55VR16s for $105 per and AT Italia Type 5s at 139 per. not that i need the V rating, actually i'd rather not, the H rated tires at same size are both a bit more @ 113 per and 107 per. i wonder why it costs a bit more.. any thoughts on this? (i tried direct linking, but it's based on java session, and won't work..
man i've been saying below all winter last year.. finally went to the beginning of the post and saw that xmas63 pretty much said it all.. so i really did end up soundling like a broken record.. i really should read all of the post.. not just some of it before posting eh? ![[?|]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_banghead.gif "Bang Head [?|]")
oh well, as long as we all share the good info ![[:D]](/images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin [:D]")
oh well, as long as we all share the good info I would imagine that there is some dry-weather performance sacrifice when you go from 17 to 16 inches, but since you're dealing with a snow tire (i.e. a tire that is not designed for optimal dry-weather handling in teh first place), it's hard to know how significant the effect is or if it would be noticeable to the average driver.