The stock 2018 19" Bridgestone Alenza tires are by far the WORST tires I have every used in snow and ice. Absolutely no traction. Really bad.

Yes, makes perfect sense as these as summer performance tires. Why would you expect they'd behave any better?

 

I know, right?

But, the take away is that these tires do not perform well and caution is required when using them when the snow flies and you have to get home.

Paul

 

Yup. I learned pretty quick that going fast on ice is easy and safe...provided you don't want to turn or stop.

Newton had it right. Objects stay in the direction expected unless a human does something to try to stop that motion from occurring.

Ha!
Paul

 

Needing 2 rear tires ASAP.... still have the OEM run flats on that are not really "performance oriented".
So kicking around some options.....
1 of which is getting better performance tires for 3 season driving and picking up a dedicated winter tire package. So I found a killer deal on a set of 18" BMW X3 rims.... but I'm waiting to hear back on the actual rim size and off set to even see if these would fit. But that's what brought me here was to see if any 18" rims would clear those big M calipers.....

Any issues this far with your set up? this is an old thread so you have had some time to rack up some miles by now

 

Continuing my service of trying things that everyone says "That will never work" even though they have no proof...

The first was the mudflaps that EVERYONE said "The don't fit the M40i". But, I bought them and installed them. They look great! Front PN is 82162410525 and the rear PN is 82162410526. $141 on ebay.
View attachment 828277

I tried to drive through an Ice Storm in Nebraska last weekend and it went horribly bad. A little background...I lived in MN for many years and raced and ran SCCA ice racing dozens of times. I had a Honda CRX and Ford Focus. Both with Blizzak Winter tires. I have countless miles on snowy, icy, icky roads. I routinely drove my Goldwing to work (43 miles on highway) at temps to 18 degrees.

I am establishing that I am an expert ice & snow driver.

The stock 2018 19" Bridgestone Alenza tires are by far the WORST tires I have every used in snow and ice. Absolutely no traction. Really bad. I purchased a set of Blizzak rims & tires from Tire Rack and had them delivered to the Denver distribution center yesterday.
View attachment 828295

Tire Rack guaranteed they would fit. I bought 18" rims and 225/60/R18 tires. They clear the brakes!

18" tires fit the 2018 m40i!
View attachment 828279

Total Cost: $1800
Rims: Sparco Pro Corsa 18x8" 5x112 spacing with +35 offset. $195.58 each ($782.32)
Tires: Bridgestone Blizzak DMV2 225/60/R18. $172.79 each ($691.16)
TPW: 433 Mhz. $56.00 each ($224.00)
Black TPMS Value Stems. $2.99 each ($11.96)
CO Sales Tax: $127.94
Pickup Discount: $80.00
Bridgestone Mail-in Rebate: $70.00
Stock lug bolts (black) fit.

Download the invoice: View attachment 828293

Here they are in all their frozen and dirty glory!
View attachment 828281

View attachment 828283

View attachment 828285

View attachment 828287

View attachment 828289

View attachment 828291

You are welcome. Now, go buy em from Tire Rack!
Paul

Did you have to use spacers? I found the wheels, but the shop is saying they won't fit...

 

Are they saying you need spacers or centering rings, many aftermarket wheelsets will require the centering rings.

 

My 18" wheel set-up from tirerack, they guaranteed them to fit and they do.

 

There are several after market 18" wheels that clear the M40i's brakes, but as of 12/21 no OE BMW 18" will fit. BUT...the resulting clearance between the caliper and aftermarket barrel is less than what BMW considers acceptable as far as ice accretion. I thought about that for a while, even though I wanted 18" winter wheels, and elected to run the OE 19" BMW wheels with Nokian winters.
I've had the front Brembos on my '19 Bullitt Mustang freeze hard to the barrels on my 18" Apex winter wheels - not fun, and wasn't going to have a repeat on my commuter X3 M40

 

Continuing my service of trying things that everyone says "That will never work" even though they have no proof... The first was the mudflaps that EVERYONE said "The don't fit the M40i". But, I bought them and installed them. They look great! Front PN is 82162410525 and the rear PN is 82162410526. $141 on ebay. View attachment 828277 I tried to drive through an Ice Storm in Nebraska last weekend and it went horribly bad. A little background...I lived in MN for many years and raced and ran SCCA ice racing dozens of times. I had a Honda CRX and Ford Focus. Both with Blizzak Winter tires. I have countless miles on snowy, icy, icky roads. I routinely drove my Goldwing to work (43 miles on highway) at temps to 18 degrees. I am establishing that I am an expert ice & snow driver. The stock 2018 19" Bridgestone Alenza tires are by far the WORST tires I have every used in snow and ice. Absolutely no traction. Really bad. I purchased a set of Blizzak rims & tires from Tire Rack and had them delivered to the Denver distribution center yesterday. View attachment 828295 Tire Rack guaranteed they would fit. I bought 18" rims and 225/60/R18 tires. They clear the brakes! 18" tires fit the 2018 m40i! View attachment 828279 Total Cost: $1800 Rims: Sparco Pro Corsa 18x8" 5x112 spacing with +35 offset. $195.58 each ($782.32) Tires: Bridgestone Blizzak DMV2 225/60/R18. $172.79 each ($691.16) TPW: 433 Mhz. $56.00 each ($224.00) Black TPMS Value Stems. $2.99 each ($11.96) CO Sales Tax: $127.94 Pickup Discount: $80.00 Bridgestone Mail-in Rebate: $70.00 Stock lug bolts (black) fit. Download the invoice: View attachment 828293 Here they are in all their frozen and dirty glory! View attachment 828281 View attachment 828283 View attachment 828285 View attachment 828287 View attachment 828289 View attachment 828291 You are welcome. Now, go buy em from Tire Rack! Paul Will they clear brakes if I have 22 inch on there now?

 

I have 21 inch now 2018 m40i, will 18 inch work and clear brakes?

 

Found a good deal on the 18

 

Continuing my service of trying things that everyone says "That will never work" even though they have no proof... The first was the mudflaps that EVERYONE said "The don't fit the M40i". But, I bought them and installed them. They look great! Front PN is 82162410525 and the rear PN is 82162410526. $141 on ebay. View attachment 828277 I tried to drive through an Ice Storm in Nebraska last weekend and it went horribly bad. A little background...I lived in MN for many years and raced and ran SCCA ice racing dozens of times. I had a Honda CRX and Ford Focus. Both with Blizzak Winter tires. I have countless miles on snowy, icy, icky roads. I routinely drove my Goldwing to work (43 miles on highway) at temps to 18 degrees. I am establishing that I am an expert ice & snow driver. The stock 2018 19" Bridgestone Alenza tires are by far the WORST tires I have every used in snow and ice. Absolutely no traction. Really bad. I purchased a set of Blizzak rims & tires from Tire Rack and had them delivered to the Denver distribution center yesterday. View attachment 828295 Tire Rack guaranteed they would fit. I bought 18" rims and 225/60/R18 tires. They clear the brakes! 18" tires fit the 2018 m40i! View attachment 828279 Total Cost: $1800 Rims: Sparco Pro Corsa 18x8" 5x112 spacing with +35 offset. $195.58 each ($782.32) Tires: Bridgestone Blizzak DMV2 225/60/R18. $172.79 each ($691.16) TPW: 433 Mhz. $56.00 each ($224.00) Black TPMS Value Stems. $2.99 each ($11.96) CO Sales Tax: $127.94 Pickup Discount: $80.00 Bridgestone Mail-in Rebate: $70.00 Stock lug bolts (black) fit. Download the invoice: View attachment 828293 Here they are in all their frozen and dirty glory! View attachment 828281 View attachment 828283 View attachment 828285 View attachment 828287 View attachment 828289 View attachment 828291 You are welcome. Now, go buy em from Tire Rack! Paul

Thanks for the information, picked up a 18 inch setup with Michelin Ice used one season from a guy who purchased from tire rack. Now I’m looking to replace the summer 21’s with a higher mileage all season. Any recommendations?

 

Tirerack, you'll have your choice of ultra high performance all seasons and touring, for a smoother more comfortable ride choose the touring tab.

 

BUT...the resulting clearance between the caliper and aftermarket barrel is less than what BMW considers acceptable as far as ice accretion. I thought about that for a while, even though I wanted 18" winter wheels, and elected to run the OE 19" BMW wheels with Nokian winters.

I'd love to see his front brake clearance a little better. From the far away picture it looks like more than i ever had on my OEM V70R wheels with the fixed Brembos. Never had an issue with that and spent a lot of time in ski country.

Random similar pic from online.