Winter Tyre Info and Discussion Thread ( Keep related chat here please)

B5tew · Post by **B5tew** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 6:26 pm

Now that I have got my winter wheels on. The back of my car has got a similar overhang on the rear arches to a coachbuilt motorhome is it possible to fit wheel spacers
The problem is I have got the arch extensions so it looks even worse
I found these on ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160823327704? ... 1423.l2649
Are they any good or a no no ?
Thanks in advance
Stewart

shadrack · Post by **shadrack** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 9:11 pm

they arte the ones you want

seem a tad expensive though maight be able to track some down a little cheaper, as ive said before on here (doent always work but) i went to order eibach pro 40mm spacers and shop said sorry will be 2 weeks as they have to come from germany, went on german ebay and bagged a set direct and save £40, after running them for 8 months though tey are perfect

Don Coffey · Post by **Don Coffey** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 2:00 pm

Fitted the winter wheels today. Wheels were sourced from E70 so had to fit spacers to the rear wheels. Paid £250 for the rims and then fitted Nokian (Russian made) and favoured by the Scandinavias. They are non run flat, but filled with tyre magic and carry a compressor just incase.

Also took the time to fit the roof bars and cycle carriers with the intension to now keep the bars and carriers as one piece to allow for quicker fitment.

Rear wheels a little lost in the arch but not as bad as I thought it would have been.

Don

squeaky2 · Post by **squeaky2** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 2:32 pm

What size spacers did you use? Need to refit the e70's soon

Don Coffey · Post by **Don Coffey** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 3:25 pm

[quote="squeaky2"]
What size spacers did you use? Need to refit the e70's soon
[/quote]

I may have used the wrong phrase. I needed to use a spigot (I think) to allow for the different hub size on the rear wheels compared to the E70. 72.6 mm as opposed to 74.2 (I believe) for the E70.

I had thought about spacers, but intend to source some proper X6 winter wheels, 255/50/19. These are made with more of a throw on the rear rims, forcing them to fill the arches better.

Don

squeaky2 · Post by **squeaky2** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 4:30 pm

I was thinking of trying these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-X5-Hubcen ... 4169dfa81c

Horizon · Post by **Horizon** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 5:10 pm

Hi
Some on here prefer the sort that bolt on type, the spacers bolt on to the hubs with 5 bolts, then your original bolts secure the wheel to the spacer. ( however they are expensive )
These ones here come with 5 extended bolts for each wheel, which would do away with your individual locking/ security bolt, so you may find it up on bricks one morning.

Edited, I originaly typed 4 bolts instead of 5

Don Coffey · Post by **Don Coffey** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 5:19 pm

[quote="Horizon"]
Hi
Some on here prefer the sort that bolt on type, the spacers bolt on to the hubs with 4 bolts, then your original bolts secure the wheel to the spacer. ( however they are expensive )
These ones here come with 4 extended bolts for each wheel, which would do away with your individual locking/ security bolt, so you may find it up on bricks one morning.
[/quote]

Security aside, I would feel comfortable using a four bolt system. How do you decide which bolt to leave out? Surely this would also leave an uneven bolt pattern.

Don

squeaky2 · Post by **squeaky2** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 5:22 pm

I suppose the next question is do you really need the spacers in the first place? what difference do they make?

Don Coffey · Post by **Don Coffey** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 5:37 pm

[quote="squeaky2"]
I suppose the next question is do you really need the spacers in the first place? what difference do they make?
[/quote]

Well unless you're driving like a mad man, the only reason is cosmetic. The winter wheels are on for practical reasons, so for me I'm happy to accept the lost wheel in arch look. I had a winter set up on the E53 that looked a little strange, but never felt the need for spacers.

Don

B5tew · Post by **B5tew** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 5:41 pm

[quote="squeaky2"]
I suppose the next question is do you really need the spacers in the first place? what difference do they make?
[/quote]The problem is the rear wheels look totally lost on the rear arches so a 25mm spacer will make the wheels fill the arches a bit more
I have found some bolt on ones for £62.00 delivered

This is what the rears look like - a lot different from my 20s that fill the arches

Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk

squeaky2 · Post by **squeaky2** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 5:50 pm

The rears looked lost in the arches of the e70 but it was something i got used too and wasnt that bothered about. Im assuming the spacers are more for the aesthetics then rather than a handling or safety thing

Chief1409 · Post by **Chief1409** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 7:49 pm

The only thing about the spacers (only really applies if you are really going to be driving in thickish snow) is that the offset very slightly reduces effectiveness of the winter set up as rears don't get to fully run in the compacted line made by the fronts. For us in the UK I guess that makes naff all difference.

Don Coffey · Post by **Don Coffey** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 9:06 pm

[quote="Chief1409"]
The only thing about the spacers (only really applies if you are really going to be driving in thickish snow) is that the offset very slightly reduces effectiveness of the winter set up as rears don't get to fully run in the compacted line made by the fronts. For us in the UK I guess that makes naff all difference.
[/quote]

Nice technical explanation. It wouldn't have occurred to me. As I live in the sticks that has in the past few years suffered with snow that's laid for up to six weeks, i have to consider functionality over form.

Don

Don Coffey · Post by **Don Coffey** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 1:41 pm

Well clean and bagged the summer wheels and put to bed for the winter period. I have taken the air out off the tyres and stored them on their side, one on top of the other. I take it his is ok and won't cause any issues?

Don

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