[MikeMidd]

Am (finally) getting on the ball re: a winter tire package for my 335 ZSP (not a daily driver).

Wanted to see if the E90Posters from the DC area have any recommendations on winter tires you have been particularly pleased or unhappy with.

I grew up in Upstate NY and lived in Vermont for five years, so my winter tire experience has involved ones that were good in heavy snow and packed snow/ice. Would rather get something here that is solid for the DC slush/ice/mix, as opposed to serious snow.

Let me know if you guys have any thoughts.

[ase2dais]

I miss my Alpins, but heres some good reading but with more search you can find others

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ght=snow+tires

[BK]

I give the thumbs up to the Dunlop M3 DSSTs. Worked for the last two winters, will work for this one. Reasonably good in snow, very good in cold and wet, and surprisingly usable in dry and even warm weather. Mine is a DD. Don't put snows on your ZSP wheels. Get 17" wheels for them and max of 225 width. Search "snow tires" for why you'd want to do this.

IMO, if you're swapping tires, you might as well get performance winter tires rather than "all-seasons," even though we don't get much snow here. We do get some, and there's not really a significant difference in feel, noise, or grip from today's performance winter tires versus all season treads. You're swapping anyway, you might as well get the good stuff. Other than the Dunlops (which may be replaced now by the "SP Winter Sport 3D," looks to be the same tread design), the Continental ContiWinter Contact and especially the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25s seem to be popular too.

[IDreamofBimmers]

I had the dunlop wintersport 3D... they were excellent...
look them up on tire rack!

[MikeMidd]

Thanks for the replies, guys.

I'm probably going to go with either the Blizzak LM-25s or the Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3Ds. Given that they sound about equal, I may shop on price. Agree, 17 inch set-up, prob 205 width.

But, to play devil's advocate...

My 335 is not a daily driver, use it nights and weekends, and can be judicious about use if needed. My previous car, a Mazda6 w 17in all-season performance touring tires (jack of all trades, master of none), did fine here in DC/NOVA during winter.

I've heard that the 335 ZSP tires are pretty poor even in cold weather, let alone slush/snow/whatever. For someone who grew up driving in snow, and tends to find DC winters pretty wussy... do I reeeeeally need to drop $1200 on tires and wheels?

[OnOn]

I just ordered my set from Tirerack yesterday. Went with the Blizzak LM-25 on 17 inch Rial's. Should have them on by the middle of next week. I drove the stock 18' RFT's last winter and had a couple of "oh crap" moments...never again.

OnOn

[BK]

Originally Posted by MikeMidd

I've heard that the 335 ZSP tires are pretty poor even in cold weather, let alone slush/snow/whatever. For someone who grew up driving in snow, and tends to find DC winters pretty wussy... do I reeeeeally need to drop $1200 on tires and wheels?

I grew up driving in snow, too, and if your 335i was a DD, you'd need to switch from the ZSP tires. For a non-DD, IMO it would be nice but is not necessary. However, be aware that the summer tires really do lose a lot of grip in the cold even without any precipitation. If you're driving your 335i in the winter on the summer tires, expect to be startled a few times by this.

[pseto]

good choice on the Blizzaks. that's what I have and they were great last winter.

with the smaller rims, I could feel how much lighter I was last winter.