[Stan876]

Sorry to dig up a regular thread but i cant fing one specific to what i want to know. I am a big fan of Winter tyres but not a big fan of putting some small diameter wheels and big walled tyres on the car for months of the year. Has anyone run the 403 19's with winter tyres what make did you use? - can you get 19" run flat winter tyres to fit them? Thanks in advance,

[Jekyll]

For wide low profile tyres I'd definitely recommend Vredestein Winrak Xtremes. Excellent on tarmac as well. Apart from a tiny bit more road noise, you'd hardly know you were on winters. Ran these as 245/45 18s on the F11.

That said, I ran some narrow profile 205/55 16s Federal winters on my E91 - it was completely unstoppable in the snow - even on very steep hills on unploughed roads. Didnt work so well on wet tarmac though!

[ZigmundUK]

I couldn't spot the vwx's in rft for the 18m or 19m sizes. But there were some on mytyres. Might've been the pirellis.

[davyk31]

You won't get the Vreds in run flats, there arent a lot of winter tyres which are runflats and to be honest you are probably better going for standard winter tyres for reasons of cost, availability, softer sidewall therefore bit more give for the standard tyres.

[gtsussex]

Completely agree on non run flats for winters. Pirelli Sottozeros go from £240 down to £160 each when selecting same tyre but without runflat option.

Roads are so utterly crap after snow that any give in sidewalls is greatly appreciated so hopefully by time you get to change back to summers, they've fixed most of the holes (was nearly May before I changed over this year - bonkers).

[Stan876]

Originally Posted by gtsussex

Completely agree on non run flats for winters. Pirelli Sottozeros go from £240 down to £160 each when selecting same tyre but without runflat option.

Roads are so utterly crap after snow that any give in sidewalls is greatly appreciated so hopefully by time you get to change back to summers, they've fixed most of the holes (was nearly May before I changed over this year - bonkers).

It was may before i changed mine as well ridiculous (damn global warming!!) How do you cover yourself against punctures or don't you bother?

[gtsussex]

Originally Posted by Stan876

It was may before i changed mine as well ridiculous (damn global warming!!) How do you cover yourself against punctures or don't you bother?

Foam inflator in the boot. In six years of having the Mini (both 17' summers and 16' winters are runflats), touch wood I've never had a puncture. On its original runflats, we had 3!

With BMW on order I figure I will play the percentages and do the same for set of winters. I reckon if you trashed it to point of inflator not working, chances are runflat would be so trashed you'd not want to drive it anyway and would call assistance so what's the difference apart from fact you'll be shelling out nearly 50% more for a replacement!

Of course I've now cursed myself and shall have endless punctures this winter now!

[Stan876]

Originally Posted by gtsussex

Foam inflator in the boot. In six years of having the Mini (both 17' summers and 16' winters are runflats), touch wood I've never had a puncture. On its original runflats, we had 3!

With BMW on order I figure I will play the percentages and do the same for set of winters. I reckon if you trashed it to point of inflator not working, chances are runflat would be so trashed you'd not want to drive it anyway and would call assistance so what's the difference apart from fact you'll be shelling out nearly 50% more for a replacement!

Of course I've now cursed myself and shall have endless punctures this winter now!

My Elise has got a foam can in the boot always dreaded having to use it to be honest having never tried one it it just seems unlikely it will work.

[gtsussex]

Originally Posted by Stan876

My Elise has got a foam can in the boot always dreaded having to use it to be honest having never tried one it it just seems unlikely it will work.

Have had 3 Elises since 1998 (actually just about to sell what will probably be my last) and have only had one puncture and that was whilst racing at Snetterton and those lovely people from Yokohama had a lovely truck full of new ones!

The pain with the Elise (especially if you've got it lowered) is getting it on recovery truck!

[Stan876]

Originally Posted by gtsussex

Have had 3 Elises since 1998 (actually just about to sell what will probably be my last) and have only had one puncture and that was whilst racing at Snetterton and those lovely people from Yokohama had a lovely truck full of new ones!

The pain with the Elise (especially if you've got it lowered) is getting it on recovery truck!

I am about to sell mine as well gone back to motorbikes my Mrs not happy but you have to get your adrenaline hit from somewhere

[Stan876]

These might be a sloution for similar money to the BMW 16" and 17" i think i would have to check the sizes they don't seen to be offering staggered but i am sure they could


http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/komplet...ModelCode=3889

[gtsussex]

Looking at their sets, you can have 18" with Sottozero Runflats with M+S and * BMW mark for just over £1500 all in. Vredestein Wintrac-xtreme's come in at under £1300.

[gtsussex]

In fact this is really quite hard to argue with following choice. 18" rims (with TUV approved offsets) with Michelin Pilot Alpin (V rated but doubt I'll do more than 149mph on them!). All for £1180 inc VAT. Pretty good value.

http://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/kom...ModelCode=3837

[Stan876]

Just realised they do a big range of TUV aprroved wheels 18's and 19's all between £1400 and £1900

[Stan876]

I think we have crashed their site now

[Torque of the Devil]

In my opinion when buying winter wheels you want ones that are easy to clean, not some 20 spoke nightmare, Ideally 5 big flat spokes that you can clean in 30 seconds

[gtsussex]

Originally Posted by Vanguard

In my opinion when buying winter wheels you want ones that are easy to clean, not some 20 spoke nightmare, Ideally 5 big flat spokes that you can clean in 30 seconds

Completely and utterly with you on that one which is why you'll see my link has 5 spoke plain wheels on quote! The added bonus is they are also far cheaper.

[Stan876]

Originally Posted by Vanguard

In my opinion when buying winter wheels you want ones that are easy to clean, not some 20 spoke nightmare, Ideally 5 big flat spokes that you can clean in 30 seconds

I understand your logic but do you want big clumping Alloys on your beemer for 5 months?

[gtsussex]

This is them on a 1 series. Personally I think they look okay -

[Alkidrew]

Go for the black ones and you don't need to clean them all winter!! (detailing folk will faint if they read this)

[Stan876]

Originally Posted by gtsussex

This is them on a 1 series. Personally I think they look okay -

Your right they do look alright. The Msport brakes i am thinking of ordering would look good behind them as well

[gtsussex]

Okay, don't shoot my Photoshop skills (as they are crap) but here goes....