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      08-29-2011, 07:11 PM   #1
canzilla
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Narrower winter tires on M-sport wheels?

Anyone knows if I can use narrower tires on the M-sport wheels(369M)?

Looking for a set of ROF winter tires to replace the Goodyear LS2.
Already check on tirerack, but I cannot find any thing that is narrower than 245.

Any suggestions will be helpful.

thx

Last edited by canzilla; 08-29-2011 at 11:23 PM..
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      08-29-2011, 09:23 PM   #2
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The make the Blizzak LM 60 in the OEM 245/45-19 not ROF but probably the best snow performance...
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      08-29-2011, 11:17 PM   #3
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Agree, but I want to know if I can use narrower tires as an alternative.

Narrower tires are cheaper and better to drive in the snow.
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      08-30-2011, 02:04 AM   #4
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I've been driving the past 7 winters with OEM sized winter tires on an 911C4 cab and 335XI w/sport package. I went -2 on an FX45 because that was the largest winter tire I could get in '04. I have never had any problems driving through the snow. IMO ground clearance is going to be more of a limiting factor than the width of the tires. I think you'll do fine with OEM sizes.
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      08-30-2011, 04:51 AM   #5
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Don't you have to get narrower wheels to use narrower tires?
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      08-30-2011, 09:47 AM   #6
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Quote:
Don't you have to get narrower wheels to use narrower tires?
Not necessarily. There are a range of widths that will fit a particular width rim.
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      08-30-2011, 03:53 PM   #7
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I had no idea of that. Interesting. What defines the range? Something you look for on the specs of the wheel? Or is it more a tire that fits a range of wheels? This is true with RFTs?
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      08-30-2011, 11:34 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by richardew View Post
I've been driving the past 7 winters with OEM sized winter tires on an 911C4 cab and 335XI w/sport package. I went -2 on an FX45 because that was the largest winter tire I could get in '04. I have never had any problems driving through the snow. IMO ground clearance is going to be more of a limiting factor than the width of the tires. I think you'll do fine with OEM sizes.
Thx
If the price for narrower tires is not much different, I will stick with OEM size.
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      08-31-2011, 12:24 PM   #9
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You should be able to find Blizzaks that are run-flats. They have them in most sizes.
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      08-31-2011, 12:42 PM   #10
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Quote:
I had no idea of that. Interesting. What defines the range? Something you look for on the specs of the wheel? Or is it more a tire that fits a range of wheels? This is true with RFTs?
I am no tire expert. Rims seem to be sized in 1/2 inch increments. Tires are in 5 mM increments. The reps at tirerack can answer the question what tire will fit in what rim.
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      09-01-2011, 03:02 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by canzilla View Post
Anyone knows if I can use narrower tires on the M-sport wheels(369M)?

Looking for a set of ROF winter tires to replace the Goodyear LS2.
Already check on tirerack, but I cannot find any thing that is narrower than 245.

Any suggestions will be helpful.

thx
I have on order Dunlop winter sport 100V XL Run-Flats, these will go on Team Dynamics Pro-Race 1.3 Alloys 18" * 8.5" all round.
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      09-01-2011, 06:35 AM   #12
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On Tire Rack it mentioned we need the new TPMS. My agent said the sensors are built into the system and not mounted on the wheels.
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      09-01-2011, 06:55 AM   #13
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Originally Posted by XB101 View Post
On Tire Rack it mentioned we need the new TPMS. My agent said the sensors are built into the system and not mounted on the wheels.
If your "agent" works in the service department, I'd look for a different Service Dept. If that statement came from a CA, I'm not surprised since they often don't have any understanding of the vehicle from an engineering viewpoint.

The F25 X3 Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) uses a battery powered transmitter mounted in each wheel (cost: About $50 each from Tire Rack). Pre mid-2006 E83's used the "less accurate, indirect", wheel speed sensing system, but after 2006 BMW went to real pressure monitoring instead of the older indirect method. When the F25's came out the frequency of the RF transmitters was changed, so although the E83 transmitters look like the new F25 transmitters, they won't work with the newer system.

The only "sensors built into the system" are the pick-up antenna boxes adjacent to each wheel, that work in conjunction with the wheel's internal transmitters. Mounting aftermarket wheels without TPMS transmitters, will, of course, disable the TPMS.

If you want the vehicle TPMS to work, you must invest in a set of transmitters. With "normal" use, the batteries are expected to last 5 or 6 years. There is a kit to replace the batteries, a process that also requires some gasket replacements.

Last edited by Lotus7; 09-01-2011 at 07:06 AM..
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      09-01-2011, 04:01 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nahoa View Post
I had no idea of that. Interesting. What defines the range? Something you look for on the specs of the wheel? Or is it more a tire that fits a range of wheels? This is true with RFTs?
Here is the spec sheet on the Blizzacks - look at the column that says rim size and it will give you a range of appropriate rim widths. The higher the sidewall the more leeway you seem to have...
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes
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