Looking for winter rims....any buy from these guys? - Page 2 - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

DouglasABaker · 6th November 2007, 00:48

If your worry is getting stuck then you should definitively get 17" wheels all around. Thinner helps you cut through the snow easier and is critical in rear wheel drive cars like ours. I really wanted 15" but since they don't fit I went with the smallest I could find...

d-

neuspeeder · 6th November 2007, 06:32

I called these guys today.....they're planning on having some rears in stock in about 1.5 months. I got put on the call list when they arrive.

he said they should only be about $50/wheel more for rears. not too bad of a deal if you want OEM looking wheels.

Doctor J · 27th November 2007, 23:59

Well I got the rims.... 18x8

They were shipped from Florida to Vancouver in about 10 days -- pretty good! Took me a while to post pics b/c I have been away travelling.

They were double boxed and came with stickers (which I applied for the photos)

I have purchased many aftermarket rims in the past and I am very happy with the quality of these considering they were like $120 each.

Oh - and the weight of the 18 x 8s is 28 lbs.

I'll post some more pics once I get the tires on. I found a local place that has a sale on Yokos in 245/40-18 size - for $249 each.

Seeing as how I will only need these on the car for 3-4 months of the year and that winter tires last only 3-4 seasons - I didn't see the need to spend a lot of dough.

FredW · 28th November 2007, 00:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by DouglasABaker

If you mean Winter wheels for snow tires then you really should be looking at 17" wheels instead of 18. If you mean Winter wheels to avoid pitting your originals, then I think those look like a great deal...

d-

I know that BMW recommends 17" wheels, but I ended up getting 18" and have not had any problems. I did put them on winter wheels and the size is 245 40/18 all around. I think the recommendation is to make sure the contact patch is narrower than OEM.

Doctor J · 28th November 2007, 01:00

The recommended tire size from tirerack.com is 235/45-17.

Using a 245/40-18 is only a 1.5% difference.

235/45-17 vs 245/40-18
105.8mm 90.8mm Sidewall
321.6mm 326.6mm Radius
643.3mm 653.2mm Diameter
2021 mm 2052mm Circumference
495 487 Revs/km

4.2in 3.9in Sidewall
12.7in 12.9in Radius
25.3in 25.7" Diameter
79.6in 80.8in Circumference
796 784 Revs/mi

I think ultimately - your winter tire performance will depend on tire compound - not a 15 mm height difference in sidewall

You'll also put less mileage on the car because the 18" combo is 1.5% TALLER than the 17" combo

rassi · 28th November 2007, 01:09

Well done on getting these wheels - amazing price! Sometimes would wish I had done the same, as my winter setup of 17" type 66 look somewhat undernourished when you are used to the stock 18".

Doctor J · 30th November 2007, 00:23

Well got the wheels tires on now..... got a really good deal on some 245/40-18 Yokohama AVS Winters -- $249 each (well for a Canadian that is a good price at least )

I was worried the 8" rims would look funny on the rear - since I usually run a 19x10 in the back - but they don't look bad at all..... The Yokos are VR speed rated too so the handling doesn't suck either. The ride quality of 18's is much cushier than 19's that's for sure.

I'm going to drive up to Cypress Mountain and test them out this weekend.

MileHiM5 · 30th November 2007, 08:50

Doctor J-
Thanks for the pictures- they look great. I've been torn, not wanting to put a set of 17s on the beast (which is the same color as yours- can't beat LeMans Blue!) for the winter, but these 18s might be just the ticket with winter tires.