Confused on winter tire setup

[indy335i]

I've read a lot of threads on snow tires but I'm confused and need a little help please.

I have a 2018 M4 convertible with stock wheels in these sizes

- Front 255/35/19
- Rear 275/35/19

I just wanted to mount snow tires on the stock wheels. So I worked with Tire Rack and they recommended the square setup. I purchased Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 in 255/35R19 for all four wheels.

The installer has said the 255 will not fit on the stock rear wheels. Is that true?

Thanks!

[kindafrosty]

The installer is incorrect, many people run 255/35/19 winters on stock 437M wheels.

The issue is, mounting a 255mm tire on a 10 inch rear wheel is not ideal due to the stretch, (noticeable appearance difference, less contact pressure for ice, increased pothole damage potential, less contact area for grip in corners, etc), but it's still very possible.

[indy335i]

Originally Posted by kindafrosty

The installer is incorrect, many people run 255/35/19 winters on stock 437M wheels.

The issue is, mounting a 255mm tire on a 10 inch rear wheel is not ideal due to the stretch, (noticeable appearance difference, less contact pressure for ice, increased pothole damage potential, less contact area for grip in corners, etc), but it's still very possible.

Thank you! Ugh...I hate that Tire Rack recommended that. I'm confused on an option for the rears then. Nothing is available in stock sizes with the same speed rating. I was trying to avoid a new set of wheels, but is that what I should do?

[swagon]

Originally Posted by indy335i

I've read a lot of threads on snow tires but I'm confused and need a little help please.

I have a 2018 M4 convertible with stock wheels in these sizes

- Front 255/35/19
- Rear 275/35/19

I just wanted to mount snow tires on the stock wheels. So I worked with Tire Rack and they recommended the square setup. I purchased Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 in 255/35R19 for all four wheels.

The installer has said the 255 will not fit on the stock rear wheels. Is that true?

Thanks!

OEM BMW winter set is a square 255/35 R18 or R19 setup using 8.5" front and 9" rear wheels (Styling 640M and 641M).

A 255-section tyre on the stock 10" is not ideal at all due to the stretch, as said above. Maybe try find the OEM winter wheels on the cheap, or run staggered winter tyres.

[TopJimmy]

I run a set of 255 Blizzaks on the stock 437s for winter. It works.

[kindafrosty]

Originally Posted by indy335i

Thank you! Ugh...I hate that Tire Rack recommended that. I'm confused on an option for the rears then. Nothing is available in stock sizes with the same speed rating. I was trying to avoid a new set of wheels, but is that what I should do?

Yeah this is a rough time of year to shop for winter tires no doubt. So your tire + wheel selection in the rears depends on the type of winter weather you're going to be be driving in. Go wider for mainly dry road driving, stay narrow for bad winter weather driving. The PA4's have an all-season tread pattern with winter compounds, so they're decent for light snow and dry roads. Anything more than that, you want an actual winter tire such as the Blizzaks, Nokians, or PA5's. As for the wheels, I'd recommend a separate, narrower winter set for a multitude of reasons, but it's not essential

[indy335i]

Ok, so I got the square setup (Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 in 255/35R19) installed and it works. Not ideal but better than summers.

Thanks for everyone's help!

[Boznien]

Originally Posted by indy335i

Ok, so I got the square setup (Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 in 255/35R19) installed and it works. Not ideal but better than summers.

Thanks for everyone's help!

sorry to revive an old thread.

did you have any photos of this setup?

I want to sell my winter wheels and use 437m as the winter set.

I want to keep the winter tires from the 641m wheels and throw them on the 437m wheels.

they are 255/35/19.

[tgb1974]

Originally Posted by indy335i

Ok, so I got the square setup (Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 in 255/35R19) installed and it works. Not ideal but better than summers.

Thanks for everyone's help!

Just an update on this topic. During the winter, I run Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 in the stock staggered sizes on the 437M wheels (275-35-19 rear and 255-35-19 front). The trouble is that Michelin seems to have stopped making the Pilot Alpin PA4 in the 275-35-19 size. However, Michelin now makes the Pilot Alpin 5 in the 437M stock sizes. They do not appear on the Tire Rack website but Tire Rack can sell them as a special order. Hope this helps.

[D_SheerDrivingPleasure]

I am selling a nice set of winter tires if you are interested. sized for 437M wheels. PM me if interested...

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2082614