[macdaddy_o]

There is out perform, and there is adequate. Breaking and turning are the major points where the winter tires make a huge difference. Unless you are going up a steep driveway that has 6 inches of snow, the all weather tires will be sufficient


By all means to want drive around and not worry about it, get a set of winter tires. I just hated having to store the things and lug them back and forth from the shop

[Bjames93*]

I have been looking for this information. I’m trying to understand what 18 in wheels I can run that are light weight. I am currently square still on 19 inch 664m wheels. I believe they are 19/8 squared.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by kosmokratur

OK, I know this is probably sacrelige to our Southern friends but...

I'm in Western NY and I have my eyes on a nice M550 with 19 inch wheels. I THINK the tires are Pirelli RF's.

Are these cars decent in the snow? Part of my sales pitch to the fam is that this car would climb out of our driveway while my e38 and e39 can't. Of course none of you have been here ,,,, the slope might be 2-3 degrees but the RWD ones have incredible trouble getting out.

BTW, the G30 doors etc. are aluminum, right? I'd really hate to ruin (another) nice car if they're steel.

I know what you are talking about. I have an E39 and I've had E38s and E65s. I'm sure you know those RWD cars are fine with snow tires. Without, it's like you are driving on a frozen pond.

I'm in MA and I don't drive my M550 in the winter. I keep the summer non runflat rubber on all year. But, I had an F10 X-drive and it was fine with all season runflats, but the winter potholes here caused many flat tires with the shitty runflat technology. But traction was manageable. Never got stuck like RWD cars.

I use my E39 for winter and for the first time, I did not change up to snows. I needed tires and got sick of switching summer to snow and went with all seasons. We shall see.

The M550 will be more than fine with a snow tire setup.

[carbo56]

Originally Posted by cna90

Ideally you want 19". Only certain 18s will clear your callipers. Better have some room to avoid ice. Your current rims are 664m. Dealer sell those exact rims with Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 in a square setup. They're great. You can get them in jet black if you want a different look for winter.

I got a 19" square 664M/Sottozero 3 package to use with my 2018 M550, and I am continuing to use them with with my 2021 M550. Both cars came with 19" staggered summer tires. This combo has given me the best of both worlds here in NJ - excellent performance in both summer and winter conditions. The winter tires perform much better even on dry surfaces in low temps (below freezing) than all-seasons. I highly recommend using two sets versus all seasons.

[MarkSCD]

It drives like a dream with my 19" square 664M/Sottozero. A lot of businesses are closed today due the heavy snowfall. I made the drive in issue free.

[rschmidt624]

kosmokratur, I am in your neck of the woods (Rochester) and have a 2018 M550i XDrive with Michelin Pilot A/S 4's and they are fantastic in the snow. BMW has a terrific all-wheel drive system that manages the power well but coupled with good tires, you feel unstoppable. I do have the dynamic handling package so that might be better too. I dropped the stock run-flats just before winter and will never go back.