[moldcad]

I already asked about this in another thread, but answers were inconclusive - so here I go again...

Since I like the 461M wheel much more than the 436M the M235i can only be ordered with, I purchased a set of nice, ferric grey 461M and my dealer swapped them for me, putting the (stock) Michelin PSSs on the 461Ms for summer use. My original 436M wheels are waiting for winter tires to be used in winter, and I was just about to order a square set of Dunlop Winter Sport 4Ds in the 225/40R18 size, when the following doubt crossed my mind:

It very rarely happens nowadays in Poland that roads are covered with snow and slush, so what's important in winter tires is the softer compound used, more appropriate for the low winter temperatures than that of performance summer tires. Therefore, the popular opinion that winter tires should be more narrow than summers is not so valid anymore - especially that even in winter, as long as the roads are wet or dry but not covered with snow, I tend to drive my car with more or less the same speeds as during summer (especially on good roads like motorways). So I started wondering whether I should have a staggered setup for winter just like the summer set, i.e. with rear tires being 245/35R18... Especially that:

- the rear wheels of my original 436M set are wider (8" vs. 7.5" fronts)
- using narrower rear tires will inevitably introduce oversteer
- last but not least, with 2cm narrower tires on the 8" rear wheels will make the Dunlop Max Flange Protector less efficient, as 1 cm (per wheel side) less rubber will be protecting my wheels against curbing...

Unfortunately Dunlop Winter Sport 4D doesn't exist in the 245/35R18 size, and the second most preferable (for me at least) winter tires are Pirelli Sottozero 2 which do come in both sizes (225/40 and 245/35R18) but they are more expensive (especially the 245s), much noisier (72dB Pirellli vs. 68 dB Dunlop), and I'd be loosing ability to rotate tires between front and rear while they wear out (with the rear ones losing tread depth much faster, of course)...

So as you can see there are at least the same number of pros and cons of the staggered setup. What would you do if in my shoes (answering please remember that I already do have a set of staggered wheels)?

[Transfer]

I've thought about this also because I want to use the OEM wheels for winter tires as well, in stock staggered sizes, but the Pirellis are the only option. I've had Sottozero II before and had few complaints about them, but I've also had Michelin PA4 and had ZERO complaints about them. So since we're a bit stuck, I just plan on going with the PA4 in 225/40/18 all around on stock staggered wheels. The Pirelli is not a bad tire though so if you're really committed to keeping the rear a 245, just go with it.

[Cyberdemon]

I ran the Sottozero 2's with no issues.

The difference between staggered and square setup will not be incredibly dramatic, you shouldn't be pushing snow tires to 10/10ths regardless. I did some pretty aggressive driving on 335i when I had the square Pirelli's and overall they handled very well for spirited + snow driving.

Another option is to go online, find someone selling 2 of the narrower rims and run the square setup. Trying to run the 225's on the wider wheel will probably introduce more stretch then you would want.

[DDS2015]

I have the same "issue" with my new 435. I'm using my 18" 313 wheels from my E90 that were summer staggered wheels. I still need to do a test fit of course. The point of my story is that at the tire place I went to they recommended to go with a staggered winter tire also. The reason being that then there won't ever be confusion of the rear wheels (with different offset) being put on the front axle.

For me as long as the wheels fit, I'll be going this route, likely with a set of nokian winter tyres. Those or Michelin X-Ice are my go to winter tire set up.

[moldcad]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

Another option is to go online, find someone selling 2 of the narrower rims and run the square setup.

This probably wouldn't work because of different offsets....

[rich8566]

I suggest you bag the snow tires and go for a good set of all season tires in staggered sizes. That's what I'd do in your case - and especially if you do not encounter snow covered roads.

[och]

Does anyone know if 17" 3 series wheels fit m235? I have a set of 17" 3 series wheels with winter tires that I install on my daughter's X1 during winter, and I wonder if these same wheels fit the 2er. I will try to fit them when winter is here, and if they do fit, I'll order another set of the same wheels.

[rich8566]

17" three series wheels will not fit - they are the wrong offset for a 2 series.

[Sportstick]

But, other 17s will, such as the BBS SR wheels I got from tirerack.com, and they go over the MSport calipers.

[och]

Do these aftermarket wheels have the exact bore for BMW hubs? I hate aftermarket wheels with large bore, they always cause vibrations.

[och]

Also, what about the last get 1 series wheels, do they fit the 2?

[moldcad]

Thanks guys, but looks like some of you didn't read my OP carefully enough. The situ is as follows:
- I already do have a set of wheels (staggered, as they are the 436 M OEM wheels my M235i came on)
- I could buy also staggered set of winter tires for them, but either expensive or poor quality (my favorite winters - Dunlop WinterSport 4D - are NOT made in the 245/35R18 size which is the correct rear size for the M235i staggered setup)
- as a result of the above factors, I'm debating whether I should buy a square Dunlop set of 225/40R18 4Ds and simply stretched the rears over the (half-inch wider) rear wheels

[moldcad]

Originally Posted by moldcad

This probably wouldn't work because of different offsets....

BTW could someone remind me the exact ET numbers for staggered M235i wheels - if I somehow managed to replace my rear 8Jx18 wheels with 7.5x18 ones, perhaps - with square tire setup o 225/40 - there wouldn't be any rubbing? This would be by far the best solution to my dilemma...

[Transfer]

As I mentioned, I will be stretching 225s over the 8" rear. I doubt there will be any significant visual difference over the front 7.5" wheel. The tire choice matters most to me.

OEM rear offset 52, front 45. Fronts easily fit on rear.

[wjones14]

Originally Posted by rich8566

I suggest you bag the snow tires and go for a good set of all season tires in staggered sizes. That's what I'd do in your case - and especially if you do not encounter snow covered roads.

Given the OP's requirements, this seems like the best solution. Get a set of max performance all-seasons. They'll handle the occasional light snow and work better than winter tires on dry roads and probably would wear longer than winter tires.

[moldcad]

Sorry gents, but it's a worst solution - with my driving style, I'd never give up my staggered set of summer tires with the Michelin PSSs

[wjones14]

Originally Posted by moldcad

Sorry gents, but it's a worst solution - with my driving style, I'd never give up my staggered set of summer tires with the Michelin PSSs

Maybe we're misunderstanding each other. You indicated you wanted to put a set of staggered winter tires on the OEM M235 wheels to use during the colder months, but the problem is the lack of ultra performance winter tires in the correct sizes. I believe your reasoning for the staggered tires is that you rarely encounter snow, so you don't believe the extra width to be a problem - and he's where I'm assuming something - you want the extra width because the tire would have more contact area on dry roads and therefore should have better grip than the narrower tire.

So again, I'm not saying to give up the staggered tires, but just saying that you will have a much better selection of different brands and performance options by going with all-seasons. And I think the all-seasons would easily out-handle the winter-only tires on dry roads in cold weather.

But it seems like no one has come up with the solution that you're looking for, whatever it might be...

[moldcad]

Originally Posted by moldcad

BTW could someone remind me the exact ET numbers for staggered M235i wheels - if I somehow managed to replace my rear 8Jx18 wheels with 7.5x18 ones, perhaps - with square tire setup o 225/40 - there wouldn't be any rubbing? This would be by far the best solution to my dilemma...

Oh, and one more question: for rear wheels, does the ET offset differ for the staggered setup (8Jx18 wheels) vs. the square setup (7.5Jx18 wheels)? For the former it's 52 mm afaik, and for the latter?

[DanG]

Originally Posted by moldcad

Oh, and one more question: for rear wheels, does the ET offset differ for the staggered setup (8Jx18 wheels) vs. the square setup (7.5Jx18 wheels)? For the former it's 52 mm afaik, and for the latter?

I'm pretty sure that all four wheels are identical in the square setup.