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

[Nat]

I have an E70 coming.

Now winter I know is still here but I just wanted to share what I found.
Option on an E 70 is the 20" Y spoke 214 alloy wheels as a winter set with 275/40/20 and 315/35/20 Pirelli scorpion ice and snow run flats. From BMW they are just under £4000 ( £3950 ) a set. I found  the same wheels on ebay , brand new for £610 ( replicas ) and kwick fit have a special offer at the moment with 25% off Pirelli tyres. I managed to get all 4 tyres for £1190. ( thats a big discount off these tyres and not everyone stocks them )Thats £1800 all in , a saving of £2200.  Personally I have read all there is to read about winter tyres and have been using them for years, and its my opinion that its always best to stick with the original width, and I prefer the security of grip offered by the wider tyres and of course my car maintains its natural good looks . There are some end of seasons bargains to be had.

Regards

Nat.

[Don Coffey]

[quote="Nat"]
I have an E70 coming.

Now winter I know is still here but I just wanted to share what I found.
Option on an E 70 is the 20" Y spoke 214 alloy wheels as a winter set with 275/40/20 and 315/35/20 Pirelli scorpion ice and snow run flats. From BMW they are just under £4000 ( £3950 ) a set. I found  the same wheels on ebay , brand new for £610 ( replicas ) and kwick fit have a special offer at the moment with 25% off Pirelli tyres. I managed to get all 4 tyres for £1190. ( thats a big discount off these tyres and not everyone stocks them )Thats £1800 all in , a saving of £2200.  Personally I have read all there is to read about winter tyres and have been using them for years, and its my opinion that its always best to stick with the original width, and I prefer the security of grip offered by the wider tyres and of course my car maintains its natural good looks . There are some end of seasons bargains to be had.

Regards

Nat.
[/quote]
Always feels good to get a bargain.  Although I'm in the skinny camp.  Running 18"ers with 255 width.  Does look odd but can't fault their ability in these extreme conditions.  That said, had I lived in southern England, I would have been happy with the twenties.

On a side note, I was offered a set of original 20"s from the dealer I brought the car from for £800. They where only used for one season with minimal wear.  I turned down the offer as I had already sourced the 18"ers.  I should have taken them anyway as it was a bargain price.  :doh:

Don

[Chompers]

Dealers are a good place to look. I just picked up a set of winter RFT's for the OH's 3 series for £400. These are only 16" steels done 100 miles, but compared to £960 + VAT for the same new I was more than happy

[X5Sport]

Brand new 168 19" for mine from a Dealer with unused RFT fitted = £500... . Now my winter set with Ripellis.

[Don Coffey]

[quote="X5Sport"]
Brand new 168 19" for mine from a Dealer with unused RFT fitted = £500... . Now my winter set with Ripellis.
[/quote]

That's a bargain!  I didn't know they did that design in 19"s.  what widths?

Don

[Chompers]

[quote="X5Sport"]
Brand new 168 19" for mine from a Dealer with unused RFT fitted = £500... . Now my winter set with Ripellis.
[/quote]

Thas what I call a result 

[X5Sport]

They told me they were 168's but they're actually 258 (now I've checked) staggered 19" (9J & 10J).  They were off a brand new X6 which the owner didn't want as was having ACS wheels fitted.  I jumped at the offer, fitted the FRTs to the E53 so it was sold with new tyres and stuck the Pirellis on.  Saved meself over £1,500 I reckon, and got a 2-year warranty

Richard

[Benstan]

Got the summers back and the wheel arches are full once again. Cost £20.80 balanced and fitted which I thought was good value.


Sent from my iPhone so apologies for typos

[AW8]

Why did you get the summer set up balanced again ?

[Don Coffey]

I put mine on (again) last night, so yes the arches are full and the car is looking good but might just find the weather will change and snow arrive again!  ::)

Don

[Benstan]

[quote="AW8"]


Why did you get the summer set up balanced again ?
[/quote]

Bloke recommended it and it cost a quid per corner.  They all needed weights repositioning apparently due to tyre wear. Guy (a local tyre bloke) thought it was worth doing every season. 


Sent from my iPhone so apologies for typos

[AW8]

.........Sorry for delayed reply - Thanks for clarifying. Personally I have only had wheels balanced when tyres fitted unless I suspect a problem, (usually after making a used car purchase).

Sat here deliberating whether to switch back to 19" summer set up......ridiculous that the winters are still on & it's approaching May.


 

[sid10]

When is best time to put them on ?

[X5Sport]

When the average temperature in the air and on the roads at the times you are driving falls to around 7C or below.  They are at their best at less than 7C.  Winter tyres do not like getting hot so it will be a few weeks yet before we need them in anger.  They are perfectly safe at higher temps, but won't last long, especially once the temps hit the high teens.

In theory with UK average temps, you could run them all year IF you do few miles, though this last Summer would probably have shredded them.

I expect to change to my winter wheel set around November, and keep them on until March/April depending upon what kind of winter we get this time.

Richard

[Horizon]

I used to put mine on in the first weekend in November, but not this year. Only because I still have them on from last year ! I don't do many miles in the X5 as it only comes out at the weekend, as I use my firms van all week.
November to April was the norm.