Spacers and Changing to Winter Tires

chimp · 10-19-2015, 07:52 PM

I have the 19 inch OEM black 437 wheels and OEM PSS tires with 15mm spacers on the front and 12mm spacers on the rears. I am putting on the OEM 18 inch 640 wheels that come with the Conti tires this weekend. Should I automatically plan on removing the spacers to accommodate the winter wheel/tire setup? I am leery of taking the spacers on and off every year although installing them was not too bad. Thanks!

remmib · 10-20-2015, 11:19 AM

You can leave the spacers on.

Ian1973 · 10-20-2015, 01:38 PM

Why are you leery of taking them off? They are just a chunk of aluminum. I hope they aren't hard to install. If they are you are doing something wrong and maybe should stay away from tools.

I'm keeping mine on since my wheels are only 8" wide, they will be pretty tucked in under the body.

chimp · 10-20-2015, 06:54 PM

While I haven't had any issues since putting them on, I guess I get worried reading about some of the vibration and rattling issues elsewhere on the forums. Sort of like I got lucky the first time or something so I don't want to mess with it. Ha. But I hear you, if I got them on correctly once it shouldn't be an issue.

ghost34 · 01-15-2016, 10:52 AM

curious, I put 15 and 12mm spacers on my 18" 245/45/18 winter xice and the traction control light is always flickering. had them on a month and took them off, no TC light. put the spacers back on and the TC is flickering again. same road conditions. anybody else see this

schnell325 · 01-15-2016, 11:05 AM

Why push out the winter wheels? You're just asking for more road debris to be kicked up and onto the side of the car

Viking123 · 01-15-2016, 08:21 PM

I left mine on (12mm square, 640m 18"). I didn't have the spacers last year and it didn't look great... Looks much better this year

MAM3 · 01-16-2016, 05:55 PM

I have 18" square michelin x-ice tires with 12mm spacers - no issues.

clutchdj · 01-16-2016, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chimp

While I haven't had any issues since putting them on, I guess I get worried reading about some of the vibration and rattling issues elsewhere on the forums. Sort of like I got lucky the first time or something so I don't want to mess with it. Ha. But I hear you, if I got them on correctly once it shouldn't be an issue.

Don't worry.. The most important thing is:

1. Need to have quality spacers with a good track reputation; tms, RE, H&R to name a few.

2. Torque down your (wheels) spacers with a torque wrench, star pattern.
No speed guns or torque stix.

ElSenor · 01-17-2016, 12:30 PM

NO issues here. Running 15mm Mach Schnell spacers on my winter.

MadBeamer · 10-27-2019, 06:52 PM

So I just switched to my Michelin x-Ice 18" rims , I had 19 summer setup with 18mm front and 15mm rear. The rear is fine but the front was badly rubbing on turns when I went to reset my Tpms. Came home , parked and did full lock, fronts don't have enough clearance to turn. Luckily I was going super slow and only did 2 turns to come back home.

I took the front 18mm spacers or and it's fine now, left the rear 15mm still on (mostly because I was running late)

I don't know if its worth putting a set or 12mm or 15mm in the front again for winter...

Should I remove the rear too? I don't think it should cause any traction issue (someone here did say their TC light was coming on with spacers in the winter)

Ideas, advice?

Jockey · 10-28-2019, 02:46 PM

I run 12/10 summer with the 437m and I'm 12/12 with my 18" Apex winter setup.

I didn't run spacers last year and didn't like the look. I like the spacer look better this year.

10-19-2015, 07:52 PM	#1
chimp Private First Class 122 Rep 185 Posts Drives: 2015 M4\|2021 X4MC\|2022 X4MC Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	Spacers and Changing to Winter Tires I have the 19 inch OEM black 437 wheels and OEM PSS tires with 15mm spacers on the front and 12mm spacers on the rears. I am putting on the OEM 18 inch 640 wheels that come with the Conti tires this weekend. Should I automatically plan on removing the spacers to accommodate the winter wheel/tire setup? I am leery of taking the spacers on and off every year although installing them was not too bad. Thanks!
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10-20-2015, 11:19 AM	#2
remmib General 1569 Rep 29,202 Posts Drives: 2013 F10 520d M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Norway iTrader: (0)	You can leave the spacers on. __________________ F10 520d M-Sport Alpine White \| HRE P43SC 20x9+20x11 \| Michelin PSS 255/35+295/30 \| KW V3 Coilover \| M5 Front Sway Bar + M550d Rear Sway Bar \| 3DDesign Front Lip \| BMW M Performance CF Spoiler \| BMW M Performance Diffuser \| BMW M Performance Black Grills \| BMW M Performance Pedals \|
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10-20-2015, 01:38 PM	#3
Ian1973 Colonel 736 Rep 2,134 Posts Drives: 15 M3 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Charlton, NY iTrader: (0)	Why are you leery of taking them off? They are just a chunk of aluminum. I hope they aren't hard to install. If they are you are doing something wrong and maybe should stay away from tools. I'm keeping mine on since my wheels are only 8" wide, they will be pretty tucked in under the body.
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10-20-2015, 06:54 PM	#4
chimp Private First Class 122 Rep 185 Posts Drives: 2015 M4\|2021 X4MC\|2022 X4MC Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	While I haven't had any issues since putting them on, I guess I get worried reading about some of the vibration and rattling issues elsewhere on the forums. Sort of like I got lucky the first time or something so I don't want to mess with it. Ha. But I hear you, if I got them on correctly once it shouldn't be an issue.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-15-2016, 10:52 AM	#5
ghost34 Second Lieutenant 106 Rep 258 Posts Drives: M235 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Aurora CO iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 Volvo XC90 [0.00] 2015 BMW M235 xdrive [0.00]	curious, I put 15 and 12mm spacers on my 18" 245/45/18 winter xice and the traction control light is always flickering. had them on a month and took them off, no TC light. put the spacers back on and the TC is flickering again. same road conditions. anybody else see this
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01-15-2016, 11:05 AM	#6
schnell325 Bored at work.... 890 Rep 5,391 Posts Drives: 2016 F82 M4 GTS//2022 M235iGC Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Comox Valley iTrader: (8)	Why push out the winter wheels? You're just asking for more road debris to be kicked up and onto the side of the car __________________ Grey Matter:2008 E92 M3:608/425. SG/PS SOLD! Dark Matter:2015 F80 M3:495/505. SOLD! Anti Matter :2016 F82 M4 GTS What next?!? A 2022 M235i GC- I must be getting old
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01-15-2016, 08:21 PM	#7
Viking123 Private First Class 44 Rep 189 Posts Drives: 2015 M3 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	I left mine on (12mm square, 640m 18"). I didn't have the spacers last year and it didn't look great... Looks much better this year
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01-16-2016, 05:55 PM	#8
MAM3 New Member 3 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 2016 M3 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Massachusetts iTrader: (0)	I have 18" square michelin x-ice tires with 12mm spacers - no issues.
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01-17-2016, 12:30 PM	#10
ElSenor Second Lieutenant 135 Rep 238 Posts Drives: 16' AW/SO M3 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Stuttgart, Germany iTrader: (0)	NO issues here. Running 15mm Mach Schnell spacers on my winter.
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10-27-2019, 06:52 PM	#11
MadBeamer Private First Class 68 Rep 193 Posts Drives: 2017 M4 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Smallville, KS iTrader: (0)	So I just switched to my Michelin x-Ice 18" rims , I had 19 summer setup with 18mm front and 15mm rear. The rear is fine but the front was badly rubbing on turns when I went to reset my Tpms. Came home , parked and did full lock, fronts don't have enough clearance to turn. Luckily I was going super slow and only did 2 turns to come back home. I took the front 18mm spacers or and it's fine now, left the rear 15mm still on (mostly because I was running late) I don't know if its worth putting a set or 12mm or 15mm in the front again for winter... Should I remove the rear too? I don't think it should cause any traction issue (someone here did say their TC light was coming on with spacers in the winter) Ideas, advice?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-28-2019, 02:46 PM	#12
Jockey Brigadier General 3451 Rep 4,983 Posts Drives: 992 C4S Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Park City, UT iTrader: (1)	I run 12/10 summer with the 437m and I'm 12/12 with my 18" Apex winter setup. I didn't run spacers last year and didn't like the look. I like the spacer look better this year.
	Appreciate 0 Quote