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      06-06-2015, 08:41 PM   #1
pat_03
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F25 winter wheel options

I have a 2012 X3 35i with the 19" wheel option. I currently have a set of 17" wheels from my E90 and was wondering what people thought of slapping a set of tires on them to use as my winter option for my X3? Tire Rack lists a 17" option for a 35i so I assume as long as I get the correct size (235/60/17 should work) this will be ok?

Last edited by pat_03; 06-09-2015 at 08:03 PM..
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      06-06-2015, 09:53 PM   #2
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Just as long as the wheels clear the brakes you should be fine.
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      06-06-2015, 10:04 PM   #3
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That's what I did. Old set of TireTrack winter wheels/tires from an E46. Used them for an E90 and now the X3. Put new correct-fit tires on the wheels for the X3.

But... the stock tires are actually decent for winter. If I'm doing a long trip and expect serious winter storms, I'll switch to the snow tires. Otherwise, the normal commute is good with stock tires.
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      06-07-2015, 02:35 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Schmed View Post
But... the stock tires are actually decent for winter. If I'm doing a long trip and expect serious winter storms, I'll switch to the snow tires. Otherwise, the normal commute is good with stock tires.

It is the temperature that matters.

Stock (summer) tyres in the UK are advertised as being OK down to +7 degrees centigrade. When the temperature falls below that the manufacturers state that the rubber compound hardens and the braking distance lengthens giving the potential for an accident. Additional when it is wet the braking distance increases, thereby compounding the problem.

On the continent in many countries, it is mandatory to have winter tyres fitted after a certain date (forgotten exactly) even when there is no snow.
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      06-07-2015, 02:43 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pat_03 View Post
I have a 2012 X3 35i with the 19" wheel option. I currently have a set of 17" wheels from my E90 and was wondering what people thought of slapping a set of tires on them to use as my winter option for my X3? Tire Rack lists a 17" option for a 35i so I assume as long as I get the correct size (235/60/17 should work) this will be ok?
pat_03.

There is an excellent chart below.

http://www.bmwstylewheels.com/

Here is the compatibility chart for the F25..

http://www.bmwstylewheels.com/X/X3-F25

and the information for e90 wheels..

http://www.bmwstylewheels.com/bmw/306

3er E90+ 320d eff. Dynamic 7x16 ET 31

Another excellent link. If you navigate around it, you will find the offset and other useful measurements.

http://www.wheel-size.com/size/bmw/x3/
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Last edited by Peter_R; 06-07-2015 at 03:26 AM..
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      06-07-2015, 03:21 AM   #6
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Just a word of caution although the same style of wheel may be shown for different models they may be in different sizes and with different offsets and even hub sizes

So although a 3 series wheel is showing as compatible with X3 it may not be

You will need to try the wheel mounting to be sure preferably before you invest in new tyres

It may be cheaper/easier to sell your 3 series wheel set and buy an X3 set

I have just done this and it was cost neutral by selling my X1 set and buying a similar priced X3 set

It also removed any possible insurance issues as they are the correct wheel OEM for the X3
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      06-07-2015, 04:49 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy_o View Post
Just a word of caution although the same style of wheel may be shown for different models they may be in different sizes and with different offsets and even hub sizes

So although a 3 series wheel is showing as compatible with X3 it may not be

You will need to try the wheel mounting to be sure preferably before you invest in new tyres

It may be cheaper/easier to sell your 3 series wheel set and buy an X3 set

I have just done this and it was cost neutral by selling my X1 set and buying a similar priced X3 set

It also removed any possible insurance issues as they are the correct wheel OEM for the X3
Yup...that is exactly the reason I posted the last link above.

This one http://www.wheel-size.com/size/bmw/x3/

Also the very reason I purchased a complete set of wheels and winter tyres from alloywheelsdirect.net

http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw.../x3_f25_alloys

These were pricey and what I have..

http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw...08_wheel_2061#
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      06-08-2015, 05:55 AM   #8
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For the LCI cars (UK-spec and possibly others), you also need to look at an additional set of TPMS sensor valves for the new wheels or run with a 'bong' & TPMS failure message every time you start the car

We lived with the warning message through last winter but I'm changing the colour of the winter wheels during the summer and will be looking to obtain a set of sensors - I'm hoping, possibly stupidly, that BMW will make a reduced-price set available as they're pushing winter wheels
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      06-08-2015, 06:44 AM   #9
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Be very careful fitting other model BMW wheels on the F25. I bought some 17" E83 wheels, and they didn't fit (touched the brake calliper). The specs of the wheels looked good- but the wheel profile was wrong. Using spacers might have worked. Instead I bought some second hand F25 wheels from ebay.

Search on this forum for further details.
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      06-08-2015, 12:14 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pat_03 View Post
I have a 2012 X3 35i with the 19" wheel option. I currently have a set of 17" wheels from my E90 and was wondering what people thought of slapping a set of tires on them to use as my winter option for my X3? Tire Rack lists a 17" option for a 35i so I assume as long as I get the correct size (235/60/17 should work) this will be ok?
The stock sizes are:

OEM: 245/45/19 (mine) Style 369 8.5 x 19 ET 38
Minus 1: 245/50/18 (235/50/18 should also work)
Minus 2: 245/55/17

The X3 comes with a staggered wheel size sometimes, which is 9.5X19 ET = 48 mm

And I've read these are the specs of the X3 F25 wheels, which would seem to match up with the above two 19" wheels:

PCD 5x120, centre bore 72.5mm and M14x1.25 bolt thread. ET 32-51

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...heel-reference

Last edited by Lotus99; 06-08-2015 at 12:20 PM..
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      06-08-2015, 02:54 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lotus99 View Post
The stock sizes are:

OEM: 245/45/19 (mine) Style 369 8.5 x 19 ET 38
Minus 1: 245/50/18 (235/50/18 should also work)
Minus 2: 245/55/17

The X3 comes with a staggered wheel size sometimes, which is 9.5X19 ET = 48 mm

And I've read these are the specs of the X3 F25 wheels, which would seem to match up with the above two 19" wheels:

PCD 5x120, centre bore 72.5mm and M14x1.25 bolt thread. ET 32-51

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...heel-reference
When I tried last winter [in UK] for tyres for the rear wheels for the X25 for 19" staggered setup (BMW * rated and RF) you could not get them. I see you can now.

It does not make sense to use a staggered setup in snow anyway, because you need the rear wheels to follow in the tracks of the fronts for optimum traction.

Accordingly it is best to get 18" or even 17" [non staggered] BMW approved F25 wheels. That is the reason for me going to alloywheelsdirect.net . The company consults with BMW and its suppliers and gives advice for the correct winter tyre to ensure there are no fitment problems and that everything is correct when it comes to your insurance. http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw.../x3_f25_alloys

My OEM wheels with summer tyres are... http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw...69m_wheel_2328

I purchased the following OEM wheels with winter tyres as follows: http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw...308_wheel_2061
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Last edited by Peter_R; 06-08-2015 at 03:04 PM..
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      06-08-2015, 03:22 PM   #12
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My post was mainly in response to pat_03, who said that 235/60/17 should work. That is the wrong size for 17's, as I posted above. If you go to any tire size calculator site, it will show you that the size he suggested results in a 5% diameter difference from stock, and you really don't want to be going more than 3% difference. 235/50/17 would work, as it's a 2% difference.

Otherwise, as 1010tires even goes as far as saying, "When changing tire sizes, we recommend staying within 3% of the diameter/height of the original tire. Any more than this and you face the risk of brake failure."

No thanks.

I use willtheyfit when you have the specs of the wheels also, then you know exactly how the new setup with wheels and tires will fit.
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      06-09-2015, 07:25 PM   #13
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Hey everyone. Thanks very much for the replies, very helpful. I've talked to a couple tire shops and they have suggested using 225/60/17 rather than the "stock" 245/55/17 as the diameter is within 2%, they are narrower therefore perform better in the snow and are cheaper! The main thing for me is the rims. The ones I have from my E90 are RTX Bergen, 17x8, CB 72.6, ET40. The wheel size site says offset should be ET32 and it also said the offset for the E90 should be ET34... I assume ET40 is within the acceptable range for F25 given they worked perfectly on the E90? Tire shop seemed to think they would be fine but I want to make sure they'll be ok and also not look off, ya know? Unfortunately I need winter tires. I live on the East coast of Canada and the stock 19" Goodyear run flats wouldn't stand a chance here! Looking at a set of Toyo GSi-5 tires as they apparently have crushed up Walnut shells in the rubber that acts like studs without the drawback of having studs. Kinda neat!
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      06-09-2015, 07:32 PM   #14
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Also to note. In Canada we have FTM (measures wheel rotation) as oppose to TPMS in the rims so no issue there either

Last edited by pat_03; 06-09-2015 at 08:04 PM..
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