Winter Tires + Rims for the 335d

Originally Posted by GB

Are you using winter/snow tires? Any RWD car with proper winter tires should out-perform a FWD or even AWD car with all-season tires, given equal driver skills. The relative heft and good weight balance of the 335d (although a bit nose heavy) makes X-Drive nothing more then a marketing gimmick in all but the most severe conditions. And even then the limited ground clearance will be more of a factor then lack of AWD traction in most situations.

Graham

yup I have dedicated winter tires (Blizzaks)and wheels.

Originally Posted by DC-IT

I think they look better than the OEM rims on the D?

Originally Posted by DC-IT

I always drive according to the road conditions.
If the roads are covered with snow or ice I'll start off from the lights at a slow even pace and the D move off firmly without skidding or sliding as the Winter tires take over and do the job they are made for.
Without Winter tires I expect the car will be fish tailing all over and traction will be poor or non existant if there is ice on the road.

So go easy on the accellerator and see the difference.

I agree. I havent had any issues till now in past 3 New England storms. 335d with snow tires gives me more confidence than my AWD CRv.

Originally Posted by bimmerdiesel

yup I have dedicated winter tires (Blizzaks)and wheels.





335d with snow tires gives me more confidence than my AWD CRv.

This morning I drove my 4x4 Suzuki Grand Vitara fitted with Winter tires and it had difficulty braking on the street that was icy! The ABS activated as I braked at a stop sign.
I guess it has crappy winter tires that were 3 years old.

In contrast my D with new Hankook W409 performed like a champion when I drove it on ice covered roads.

pic from unexpected snow storm on tuesday. Office parking lot

Originally Posted by bimmerdiesel

pic from unexpected snow storm on tuesday. Office parking lot

Lot of snow!

Are they 550i SP's rims on your 335D?

yes sir but they are 18".

I guess I'll be resurrecting this old tread.. just curious if I could swap out the 17 stocks for 16 rims for the winter. Tirerack doesn't list that as an option, is that bc they won't fit or bc they just go with what stock wheels are?

thx!

Originally Posted by Roman-dude

I guess I'll be resurrecting this old tread.. just curious if I could swap out the 17 stocks for 16 rims for the winter. Tirerack doesn't list that as an option, is that bc they won't fit or bc they just go with what stock wheels are?

thx!

I don't think 16 inch rims will clear the rotors.

Originally Posted by DC-IT

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.

I am leaning towards the following choices:

1. Bridgestones Blizzak WS-70.
2, Conti Extreme Winter Contact (Studles Ice+Snow).
3. Hankook W409.

Since my D comes with the Continentals I think that is my first choice.
Internet research shows the Hankook W409 is quite highly regarded and the cheapest of the three.

My local tire shop says that the BMW 3ers in Canada do not come with built-in TPMS senors attached to the rims. But the TPMS works on measuring the diameter of the tire!
He said the way to determine if this is to check the valve on the tires. If the valve has a solid chrome stem then the sensor is built into the rims. If the valve has a flexible (rubber) stem then I do not need to install the TPMS sensor.

I checked and my tire do indeed have the ruber stems valve.
I wonder if he is correct?

Yes he is right No sensors

Originally Posted by Roman-dude

I guess I'll be resurrecting this old tread.. just curious if I could swap out the 17 stocks for 16 rims for the winter. Tirerack doesn't list that as an option, is that bc they won't fit or bc they just go with what stock wheels are?

thx!

To my knowledge 16" dont fit on 335. What you can do is buy 18" rims for summer and use your OEM for winters.

16" won't fit, minimum 17".

I have Dunlop Winter Sport 3ds. They work well on snow and ice.

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