[HampshireUK]

I know summer is still hanging on but I wanted to look at options before winter

More 21 “ winter availability now in good tyre brands at reasonable price. Looked at the 20” OEM wheels and tyre on eBay but they aren £2600 +.

Might invest in these this year to also prolong my summer tyres

[X3M40i_Nev]

Hmm, good shout. Agree on the winter 20”s being pricey. 19”s seem to make the most sense, but dread to think what they will Look like after the 21”s

[HampshireUK]

Originally Posted by X3M40i_Nev

Hmm, good shout. Agree on the winter 20”s being pricey. 19”s seem to make the most sense, but dread to think what they will Look like after the 21”s

Agreed I can’t bring myself to 19” wheels and tyres they look poor IMHO plus they are still £1800.

Only concern is run flats being taken off rims and back on a few times and issues with sidewalls ?

[Mike72uk]

Thats a good shout. I did the same with my F-Pace. Just bought a set of winter boots. Local dealer had a service where they would swap them over and store the unused set for me for £50 a time (so £50 to swap all 4 tyres and store them till the next time)

Hopefully I can find a local BM dealer who offers the same - don't really want to try and store 4 tyres of that size in my garage !

[ClaretFozzy]

Originally Posted by Mike72uk

Thats a good shout. I did the same with my F-Pace. Just bought a set of winter boots. Local dealer had a service where they would swap them over and store the unused set for me for £50 a time (so £50 to swap all 4 tyres and store them till the next time)

Hopefully I can find a local BM dealer who offers the same - don't really want to try and store 4 tyres of that size in my garage !

Our local BMW dealer offers that service on the proviso that you initially buy the tyres from them.

[Mike72uk]

Originally Posted by ClaretFozzy

Our local BMW dealer offers that service on the proviso that you initially buy the tyres from them.

Have just emailed my local dealers to see if they offer something similar ! Although buying the tyres from them will likely cost double

[X3M40i_Nev]

Originally Posted by Mike72uk

Have just emailed my local dealers to see if they offer something similar ! Although buying the tyres from them will likely cost double

With my Q5, my local Audi dealer offered a tyre hotel. £120 p/y to swap over from summer to winter and back again and storing wheels and tyres

I am at my BMW dealer on Tuesday so will ask if they offer anything

[Mike72uk]

Originally Posted by X3M40i_Nev

With my Q5, my local Audi dealer offered a tyre hotel. £120 p/y to swap over from summer to winter and back again and storing wheels and tyres

I am at my BMW dealer on Tuesday so will ask if they offer anything

Cheers, roughly the same as Jag....£100/year (2 x £50). Have posed the question to my local dealer.

[Sportstick]

Realizing I am far away from all the above posters, if you are first setting out to get winter tires, the ones shown are only a half-step better than all seasons in the so-called "performance winter" category. From Continental, if being able to stop/turn effectively on snow/ice is a worry (not concerned about getting moving...even all seasons can usually accomplish that), why not the Winter Contact SI or one of the Viking Contact models? Even better, Michelin XIce xi3?

Must chuckle at the concern for aesthetics of wheel size in the winter versus all the practical concerns of price and being able to get as narrow a tire as possible for improved traction. 245 to 275 sound quite wide and may lead to "snowshoeing" versus the benefits of concentrated downforce on a narrower contact patch. As a general rule, winter tires should always be narrower than the other 3 season tires. As to wheel diameter for aesthetics, are folks really looking at wheels for style at that time of year with slush/snow/ice/mud flying around?

Lastly, the concern about mounting/dismounting tires each season is a real concern for damage and deterioration. The more frequent practice over here is a second set of lower cost wheels for winter, so no dismounting/remounting/balancing issues twice a year. Essentially a 20 lugnut "pit stop" and the change is complete!

[X3M40i_Nev]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

Realizing I am far away from all the above posters, if you are first setting out to get winter tires, the ones shown are only a half-step better than all seasons in the so-called "performance winter" category. From Continental, if being able to stop/turn effectively on snow/ice is a worry (not concerned about getting moving...even all seasons can usually accomplish that), why not the Winter Contact SI or one of the Viking Contact models? Even better, Michelin XIce xi3?

Must chuckle at the concern for aesthetics of wheel size in the winter versus all the practical concerns of price and being able to get as narrow a tire as possible for improved traction. 245 to 275 sound quite wide and may lead to "snowshoeing" versus the benefits of concentrated downforce on a narrower contact patch. As a general rule, winter tires should always be narrower than the other 3 season tires. As to wheel diameter for aesthetics, are folks really looking at wheels for style at that time of year with slush/snow/ice/mud flying around?

Lastly, the concern about mounting/dismounting tires each season is a real concern for damage and deterioration. The more frequent practice over here is a second set of lower cost wheels for winter, so no dismounting/remounting/balancing issues twice a year. Essentially a 20 lugnut "pit stop" and the change is complete!

Can't comment on the tyres (tires) you mention, but as far as your other points go, can't argue. On my Q5 I had (and still have) a set of 18"s with winter tyres on, and if I do go for winters, will probably get a set of 19"s

[HampshireUK]

I was close to ordering the Continental tyres listed above but they specify they are for cars, when you select SUV or 4x4 they say they are not suitable

Is this relevant If the size and load index are correct ?

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

Realizing I am far away from all the above posters, if you are first setting out to get winter tires, the ones shown are only a half-step better than all seasons in the so-called "performance winter" category. From Continental, if being able to stop/turn effectively on snow/ice is a worry (not concerned about getting moving...even all seasons can usually accomplish that), why not the Winter Contact SI or one of the Viking Contact models? Even better, Michelin XIce xi3?

Must chuckle at the concern for aesthetics of wheel size in the winter versus all the practical concerns of price and being able to get as narrow a tire as possible for improved traction. 245 to 275 sound quite wide and may lead to "snowshoeing" versus the benefits of concentrated downforce on a narrower contact patch. As a general rule, winter tires should always be narrower than the other 3 season tires. As to wheel diameter for aesthetics, are folks really looking at wheels for style at that time of year with slush/snow/ice/mud flying around?

Lastly, the concern about mounting/dismounting tires each season is a real concern for damage and deterioration. The more frequent practice over here is a second set of lower cost wheels for winter, so no dismounting/remounting/balancing issues twice a year. Essentially a 20 lugnut "pit stop" and the change is complete!

I don’t think winter contact SI are available here, and those nordic tyre models are definitely not suitable for UK use!

[Rbrown]

Originally Posted by HampshireUK

Agreed I can’t bring myself to 19” wheels and tyres they look poor IMHO plus they are still £1800.

Only concern is run flats being taken off rims and back on a few times and issues with sidewalls ?

I have 20" summers and 19" winters.

The 19" wheels and tyres have the same circumference as the 20"s. So don't look too silly.

My neighbour has commented that he prefers the 19" wheels - and he has 21" wheels on his Range Rover.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Rbrown

I have 20" summers and 19" winters.

The 19" wheels and tyres have the same circumference as the 20"s. So don't look too silly.

My neighbour has commented that he prefers the 19" wheels - and he has 21" wheels on his Range Rover.

I'm going to get my Autec's painted black soon, as I'm jealous of yours!

[HampshireUK]

Originally Posted by teaston

I don’t think winter contact SI are available here, and those nordic tyre models are definitely not suitable for UK use!

The TS860 S is available on Oponeo

The question is are they suitable for the X3

[teaston]

Originally Posted by HampshireUK

The TS860 S is available on Oponeo

The question is are they suitable for the X3

They are probably the best winter tires available but not sure they're worth the premium over Dunlop 5's or Goodyear gen1's

[HampshireUK]

Originally Posted by teaston

They are probably the best winter tires available but not sure they're worth the premium over Dunlop 5's or Goodyear gen1's

Answer the question on the suitability as not SUV tyres

They are the only tyre available to keep 21” standard size and have great reviews

[teaston]

Originally Posted by HampshireUK

Answer the question on the suitability as not SUV tyres

They are the only tyre available to keep 21” standard size and have great reviews

If they are the correct size for the X3 then they will be SUV tyres, some manufacturers just don't brand them with the SUV label.

[HampshireUK]

Originally Posted by Rbrown

I have 20" summers and 19" winters.

The 19" wheels and tyres have the same circumference as the 20"s. So don't look too silly.

My neighbour has commented that he prefers the 19" wheels - and he has 21" wheels on his Range Rover.

The problem I see is that most of the time we don’t get snow and if so lasts a few days just frost/wet and cold. Moving to 19” wheels and losing 3cm of rubber on the back will impact handling. I also appreciate in winter conditions you shouldn’t drive like a fool but often we get 10 degrees and sunny weather.

[X3M40i_Nev]

Originally Posted by HampshireUK

The problem I see is that most of the time we don’t get snow and if so lasts a few days just frost/wet and cold. Moving to 19” wheels and losing 3cm of rubber on the back will impact handling. I also appreciate in winter conditions you shouldn’t drive like a fool but often we get 10 degrees and sunny weather.

But then even X3M comes with narrower rears than M40i. I don't see having 19"s with 245's causing handling issues, but agree if temp over 7, winters aren't as effective. I tend to swap over Nov-Mar (end of)

[teaston]

Originally Posted by HampshireUK

The problem I see is that most of the time we don’t get snow and if so lasts a few days just frost/wet and cold. Moving to 19” wheels and losing 3cm of rubber on the back will impact handling. I also appreciate in winter conditions you shouldn’t drive like a fool but often we get 10 degrees and sunny weather.

Less rubber on the rear just gives it less under steer tendency, my 255 all round winters handle really well!

[HampshireUK]

I am going to go ahead and order the 21” OEM size Ts860s tyres. I will report back on how they feel once fitted.