[NanasBack]

Originally Posted by teaston

Go with 245 all-round, they're a cheap tyre size and fit the front and rear wheels perfectly.

^This.

Wish I'd thought of that.
Four 245x40x18 would work on 8 and 8.5 wheels on S or Xdrive.

I bought some 225 and 255's last month, but the 245's would probably work out cheaper.

[Bigyin1314]

I’ve just bought Yokohama wdrive winter tyres - 235/45/18 which fit nicely onto staggered 8/8.5J rims.

[McBeemer]

To answer your original question, I would use original wheels as winters & hunt out a set of 19's for summers. It's generally not recommended to remove & refit tyres regularly. It's also nice to be able to change over yourself, along with a deep clean of the wheels once a year.
They don't take up any more space than tyres only too.
I've gone that route & fitted a delivery mileage (basically new) set of 704's which I got for around £900 complete from a dealer, albeit on Bridgestone run flats. They are not atrocious, but I'm sure I've just got used to them & I'll be pleasantly surprised when I change them to non run flats when they are done!

[Rich9600]

Originally Posted by teaston

Not available in our sizes though.

Just looking this morning.

Available in go-flats. As long as you go square.

https://www.blackcircles.com/catalog...?tyre=36582651

[tjlees]

conti 850s for me

didn't get stuck but plenty of 4wd fails last winter - can't correct the second but you get the idea

Though 8ft snowdrifts stopped most!

[teaston]

Originally Posted by tjlees

conti 850s for me

didn't get stuck but plenty of 4wd fails last winter - can't correct the second but you get the idea

Though 8ft snowdrifts stopped most!

I didn’t know they got snow in Australia!

[tjlees]

Originally Posted by teaston

I didn’t know they got snow in Australia!

[dmc340]

First time poster so apologies if this has been answered before but does anyone know if you can get winter tyres for the standard 19" wheels on a 340 Shadow or do I need to downsize? I will need to be able to get chains on as will going to the alps with the car.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by dmc340

First time poster so apologies if this has been answered before but does anyone know if you can get winter tyres for the standard 19" wheels on a 340 Shadow or do I need to downsize? I will need to be able to get chains on as will going to the alps with the car.

Yes of course, they're more expensive than the 18" ones though.

[dizzy619]

Yep.. Put winters on the 18's and get yourself some nice 19's

[TiredGeek]

Winter 19's
https://www.blackcircles.com/catalog...?tyre=35374013
https://www.blackcircles.com/catalog...?tyre=34226134

Set of used good rims off eBay ~ £600

[1966-TR4]

I'm probably not going to bother changing tyres this year. I will happily drive in the kind of weather I would have driven in in my previous 2wd car. Beyond that, I probably won't bother driving.

Last year, with winters on the xdrive, I was one of the few cars moving in my area during the Beast from the East. But to what end? - couldn't go anwyhere and ended up "working from home" just like everyone else.

Every year the same thing happens, people who are not prepared get stuck overnight on the M80 when it snows, and nothing can move. The only way I can avoid getting stuck with them is to not drive, irrespective of what kit I've got on the car.

[sensible]

I have 19" 442M with Bridgestone run flats for summer (225 front and 255 rear) and bought a set of 18" 400M with Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 winter tyres 225/45 18 all round. They work fine and are the recommended tyre size for winter tyres. Rear 225''s are just about acceptable on an 8.5j but you could go bigger.

Good advice to use your 18" for winters and get 19" for summer.

[Wills2]

I was running some Hankooks back in the late unpleasantness, even though the rears were shot at 2mm they still dug and clawed their way through the snow the beast from the east sent our way.

I just run the same sizes as my summers 275 on the rear 255 on the front and swap over once a year which doesn't hurt the side walls.

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by teaston

I didn’t know they got snow in Australia!

Lots of it in the blue mountains

[samm134]

I'm putting Michelin Crossclimates on the Wife's 330d xdrive. She has a 225/45/18 square setup on there already.

And you are right, they do get rave reviews.

[Hooded]

Originally Posted by samm134

I'm putting Michelin Crossclimates on the Wife's 330d xdrive. She has a 225/45/18 square setup on there already.

And you are right, they do get rave reviews.

Just a heads up, they do a 235/45/18 in cross climate too if you still have the 8.5j rear wheels on the car (that's assuming you just have a square tyre set up of 225/45/18 on the stock wheels currently).

The 235/45/18 is the closest crossclimate tyre size they do to the 255/40/18 which are fitted by BMW to the rear 8.5j.

If I was running crossclimates I'd go 225/45/18 front on the 8j and 235/45/18 rears on the 8.5j.

Great tyres by the way!

[samm134]

Originally Posted by Hooded

Just a heads up, they do a 235/45/18 in cross climate too if you still have the 8.5j rear wheels on the car (that's assuming you just have a square tyre set up of 225/45/18 on the stock wheels currently).

The 235/45/18 is the closest crossclimate tyre size they do to the 255/40/18 which are fitted by BMW to the rear 8.5j.

If I was running crossclimates I'd go 225/45/18 front on the 8j and 235/45/18 rears on the 8.5j.

Great tyres by the way!

Her car has the 8J square setup as it is the luxury spec.

[Hooded]

Originally Posted by samm134

Her car has the 8J square setup as it is the luxury spec.

That's simple then, they do the exact tyre size in crossclimates

I had them on my old 320d and they performed great all year round including in snow

[doncarlyon]

I've got a second set of 18" 400m to put winters on. Still undecided on tyres but swaying towards the new vredestein wintrac pro.

Sizes... going to go with 225/45/18 all round unless anyone has advice on other sizes?

Wheels are 8j and 8.5j rear.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by doncarlyon

I've got a second set of 18" 400m to put winters on. Still undecided on tyres but swaying towards the new vredestein wintrac pro.

Sizes... going to go with 225/45/18 all round unless anyone has advice on other sizes?

Wheels are 8j and 8.5j rear.

225's are very stretched on the rear wheels and some tyre places won't even fit them. I've gone for 245/40's all round.

[sahajesh]

Originally Posted by 1966-TR4

I'm probably not going to bother changing tyres this year. I will happily drive in the kind of weather I would have driven in in my previous 2wd car. Beyond that, I probably won't bother driving.

Last year, with winters on the xdrive, I was one of the few cars moving in my area during the Beast from the East. But to what end? - couldn't go anwyhere and ended up "working from home" just like everyone else.

Every year the same thing happens, people who are not prepared get stuck overnight on the M80 when it snows, and nothing can move. The only way I can avoid getting stuck with them is to not drive, irrespective of what kit I've got on the car.

Exactly - doesn't matter how well-kitted your own car is, still subject to the actions of the general population.