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[Murdered_One]

What are the most cost efficient snow tires that will get me through harsh winters in the midwest. I need really good snow tires. I will be running non runflats FYI.

Suggestions? I went with Blizzacks for my 128i but I've heard other tires are better and cheaper then Blizzacks.

[Murdered_One]

Also, are there even snow tires out there that fit 264s?? I just called my local tire shop and they didnt have any.. Also, tirerack didnt come up with anything.

[ptack]

Do want good tires or cheap tires?


I'll never understand people who buy a 135i and want to put cheap tires on it. I run winter tires on the OEM rims from November through March and though they won't be as good as my PSS summer tires, I still want really good winters on so I'm safe on smow days and I can still enjoy the car's abilities on nice days.
Dunlop Wintersport 3Ds so far, but I'll go with better if it's out there.

[Murdered_One]

So far the front runner is Blizzacks WS-60s.. CostCo is running a deal locally.. for the 4 tires and mount and balancing its 744.. which I thought was reasonable.

[PA135i]

I have separate wheels for my Winters. They are 17's and are only on for 4 months. I went with Bilzzaks LM-25 performance snows. I have driven them on snow covered roads without issue. Ground clearance is the only drawback on the 135i, but it's not a truck.

[DriveHard]

Dunlop winter sport 3d's here also...

BUT picking a snow tire really has a lot to do with the actual amount of snow that you tend to encounter.

For instance here in NY we have snow, but it doesnt last long ( except this year where we had 7 storms and a blizzard in a short span of time)

I picked the performance version of theses snow tires because i really need the cold / wet weather traction more than the snow traction. Theses tires were great during the very frigid winter we had..and thats 4 months of time as opposed to the maybe 16 days we had ACTUAL snow on the ground, and of thise 16 days or so, I was still first at work in an 11 mile commute each way thru the storms, and they were some big stors this past year.

Dont by CHEAP tires... would you buy a CHEAP helmet... Buy equiptment that gets the job done for which they were designed.

[Murdered_One]

I agree.. I dont want CHEAP tires.. I just heard there were tires that were BETTER for the PRICE.. but trust me.. im not a slouch on quality.

[cvc 22349a]

OP:
You mentioned Blizzacks. If you're going to drive in snow often and it's your only car, the WS is the better choice. If not so often, the performance LM's handle really well for a snow tire. Hope you're investing in a square set of wheels for the Winter.
I ran the LM's in Tahoe for 3 winters and they were great, but I'd drive my truck if it really snowed. I'm sure Michelin and Dunlop have comparable extreme snow traction and performance winter tires.

[GaryS]

Originally Posted by Murdered_One

So far the front runner is Blizzacks WS-60s.. CostCo is running a deal locally.. for the 4 tires and mount and balancing its 744.. which I thought was reasonable.

Depending on how long you'll keep the car, it might be more cost effective in the long run to mount them on inexpensive wheels. 17x225 would be ideal. Anyway, that's what I did.

[Murdered_One]

I already have two sets of wheels.. so the 18s are already paid for.. it would cost me more to buy another set of rims and then tires.. ill stick with my 18 inch 264.. bc right now they are just sitting in my garage.

[thothtp]

I've used both Dunlop sport 3d's and Michelin X-Ice Xi2's. I live in Rochester NY, where we generally get about 1-3 inches of snow 2 out of 3 nights throughout the winter, with the occasional dump of quite a bit more.

The Dunlops were awesome all around tires, felt like a summer on dry or wet roads and still did quite well in the snow, I never really had any trouble with them. Even ended up using them over the summer because the car was in the last year of a lease and I didn't want to use up the rest of my run flats.

I have the Michelin's now, and they definitely feel more like a winter tire then the Dunlops. You can feel the tread blocks wiggling around a bit when driving, and traction isn't as high. However, in the snow they are fantastic, quite a bit more grip then the Dunlops. I hardly even notice the snow anymore, the grip level is just that high.

One of those 2 would be my recommendation, based on how much snow you get and what is more important to you, feel and dry grip or ultimate snow/ice grip.

[ptack]

About sizes, email Gill from the Tire Rack. For some reason their website does not list the Dunlop Winter Sport 3Ds in 225/40/18, but Dunlop does make them (I got them from the Tire Rack) and a square set will work well on the 264 rims.

[Boosted_N54]

oh boy oh boy!!!! all i can say is that the PA3 winter performance tires SAVED MY ASS THIS PAST WINTER IN THE SNOW. i never got stock in the snow with these tires there fucking amazing i was really shocked

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....ilot+Alpin+PA3

[Dackelone]

The Blizzacks are good IF your winter months stay (well) bellow freezing all the time. Above freezing they are quite rubber-y feeling at speed. They are quite sodt tires when its warm outside. But when its cold... and the snow is fresh... they are great tires. Just not so great at high speeds or when its above freezing.

Dunlaps M3's are a better choice for more high speed driving. They are decent in snow too. I have had them and liked them very much. I think the Dunlaps might be the best compromise. They are also not that expensive.

I have some Good Year RFT snows currently for my winter setup from BMW. They are good tires too. But they are $$$. I think I will either get Dnlaps or Michelins when I burn thru my rear snow tires.

Michelin's - I have always heard good things about them. I have PS3's for my summer tires and I am really happy with them. I don't think you can go wrong with them. But I suspect they are the most expensive of the bunch.

[m_thompson]

I am very happy with the Michelin X-Ice Xi2s that I got from Tire Rack.

[rogm]

Anyone from Maryland area can comment on this? I just moved from sunny FL!
I have another set of 17 inch wheels, I am hoping to use during winter, I drive 34 miles each way to work, mostly hwy.

[Boomstick1491]

Originally Posted by rogm

Anyone from Maryland area can comment on this? I just moved from sunny FL!
I have another set of 17 inch wheels, I am hoping to use during winter, I drive 34 miles each way to work, mostly hwy.

+1 for the Washington Metropolitan Area

[GaryS]

Originally Posted by rogm

Anyone from Maryland area can comment on this? I just moved from sunny FL!
I have another set of 17 inch wheels, I am hoping to use during winter, I drive 34 miles each way to work, mostly hwy.

I'm completely happy with Dunlop Winter Sport 3Ds, which are winter performance tires, optimized for cold pavement or light snow. I'll probably try Michelin PA3s next, because I've heard they're even more performance oriented.

[mzem]

Anyone from Maryland area can comment on this? I just moved from sunny FL! I have another set of 17 inch wheels, I am hoping to use during winter, I drive 34 miles each way to work, mostly hwy.

I've got a couple of friends that live in the DC area. One has an M3 and the other has a Mustang GT. Both of them have performance-type snows installed on their cars (Blizzak LM's and Haapapeliita's). With the winters that you typically experience, I doubt that you'd want the squishy/loud WS series Blizzaks. I had the WS60's on my old Maxima. They worked phenomenally when there was snow/ice on the road and the temps were consistently below 32F. If we have a few dry/warm weeks in a row, they can get a bit annoying. If I wasn't in the process of relocating to the Bay Area, I would being going with the WS type snows.

[KingOfJericho]

Dunlop Wintersport 3D all day long. I had the M3s before them and they were also awesome. FWIW, my ex had a Subi STI on Blizzaks and I could get around MUCH easier with the M3s on my FWD Altima SE-R than she could on the Blizzaks.

[rogm]

Originally Posted by GaryS

I'm completely happy with Dunlop Winter Sport 3Ds, which are winter performance tires, optimized for cold pavement or light snow. I'll probably try Michelin PA3s next, because I've heard they're even more performance oriented.

Originally Posted by mzem

I've got a couple of friends that live in the DC area. One has an M3 and the other has a Mustang GT. Both of them have performance-type snows installed on their cars (Blizzak LM's and Haapapeliita's). With the winters that you typically experience, I doubt that you'd want the squishy/loud WS series Blizzaks. I had the WS60's on my old Maxima. They worked phenomenally when there was snow/ice on the road and the temps were consistently below 32F. If we have a few dry/warm weeks in a row, they can get a bit annoying. If I wasn't in the process of relocating to the Bay Area, I would being going with the WS type snows.

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

Dunlop Wintersport 3D all day long. I had the M3s before them and they were also awesome. FWIW, my ex had a Subi STI on Blizzaks and I could get around MUCH easier with the M3s on my FWD Altima SE-R than she could on the Blizzaks.

thanks guys! so winter performance it is!

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by ptack

Do want good tires or cheap tires?


I'll never understand people who buy a 135i and want to put cheap tires on it. I run winter tires on the OEM rims from November through March and though they won't be as good as my PSS summer tires, I still want really good winters on so I'm safe on smow days and I can still enjoy the car's abilities on nice days.
Dunlop Wintersport 3Ds so far, but I'll go with better if it's out there.

^this

Dunlop D3s are amazing. 225 square fits on the stockers.

Ill be more than likely putting mine up for sale soon if youre interested. Im on a massive 17" wheel binge this year.