Pls recommend snow tires for my e60

[Dave T]

Can someone recommend snows for my new 545? I know nothing about tires.

For my 99 540, my dealer sent me to Direct Tire. It seems that they've now gotten into the tire biz, and can sell me the tires/rims directly. I'd like to know if there's anything else people would recommend, and if I might do better buying direct from a tire store.

Here's what my dealer is recommending (his handwriting is pretty cryptic, so I might not have it exact):

Tires: Dunlop SP Winter Sport, 225/50 R17
Wheels: 7.5x17 Style 138, alloy rims.

$2316.80, for 4 tires/rims.

Thanks!

- Dave

[marinakorp]

Go to tirerack.com

get a set of alloy 17' rims (might be able to find some in a for sale on one of the boards)

and put in the tire size looking for and you will see a few come up... bet it's cheaper than the 2300

I was able to find a set on 16' rims (like to go down a size for better grip in winter) and they fit fine... got the whole thing for 500.00


might be able to get a new set for 1200 or so

[Ågent99]

I hear people swear by Blizzaks but these are winter-only tires. Do you plan to swap twice a year?

Chris

[marinakorp]

Do you have a sport package?

[marinakorp]

Tires for 130 - 180 * 4 = 700 +-

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compare1.jsp?startIndex=0&vehicleSearch=true&width=225%2F&ratio=50&diameter=17&sortCode=49700&minSpeedRating=V&ratio=50&width=225%2F&diameter=17&minLoad=S&search=true&pagelen=20&pagenum=1&pagemark=1&performance=W&speed_rating=VR&speed_rating=WR&speed_rating=YR&speed_rating=ZR&x=14&y=11
Rims for 199 a piece x4 = 800

http://www.tirerack.com/upgrade_garage/WheelSearch.jsp?&autoMake=BMW&autoModel=545i+Sedan&autoYear=2004&autoModClar=


should be under 1500

[Dave T]

Marina - yes - sport package. Why?

So, would a place like tirerack.com have rims with the BMW label thing on them? My dealer guy said that the off the rack rims had to have spacers put in, because of the brakes on bimmers. Isn't that an issue?

[shabbaman]

Marina - yes - sport package. Why?

So, would a place like tirerack.com have rims with the BMW label thing on them? My dealer guy said that the off the rack rims had to have spacers put in, because of the brakes on bimmers. Isn't that an issue?

You gotta love dealers! They'll say anything to make a buck. :rofl:

[Dave T]

I doubt he was lying, he's a very honest guy, and has bent over backwards to help me in the past, sometimes at his own expense. Can anyone back him up on this? It's something I'm unclear on - what this "spacer" business means. If I buy tires from tirerack, will that be an issue? And, do they provide the "BMW" cap thingies for the tires?

[shabbaman]

I doubt he was lying, he's a very honest guy, and has bent over backwards to help me in the past, sometimes at his own expense. Can anyone back him up on this? It's something I'm unclear on - what this "spacer" business means. If I buy tires from tirerack, will that be an issue? And, do they provide the "BMW" cap thingies for the tires?
If you order from tirerack, you'll get the BMW center thingies. Can't help you out on the spacer issue, but if you post this question on the tire forum

bimmerfest tire and wheel forum (http://www.bimmerfest.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=49)

then you'll get the answer you're looking for.

[Dave T]

Thanks! I never noticed there was a tire and wheel forum here. I'll repost my question there.