[Rhino at Work]

Just doing some man maths on an M340i and would appreciate your help.

Can anyone confirm whether you can run 18" wheels for a winter tire set. I expect you can as I can see from the configurator that a 330i with MSport brakes can have 18s but I'm not 100% sure the 340i brakes are the same size.

TIA.

[eddiehaug]

I use 18's winter and summer tires in my 330e MSport. I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be able to use them with the 330i.

[Axeman15]

You may have to inform your insurance company.

[Jbrock22]

Originally Posted by Rhino at Work

Just doing some man maths on an M340i and would appreciate your help.

Can anyone confirm whether you can run 18" wheels for a winter tire set. I expect you can as I can see from the configurator that a 330i with MSport brakes can have 18s but I'm not 100% sure the 340i brakes are the same size.

TIA.

I have 18" on a M340. If you have the cooling & HP package then you may have an issue clearing the brakes.

[Rhino at Work]

Originally Posted by Jbrock22

I have 18" on a M340. If you have the cooling & HP package then you may have an issue clearing the brakes.

Thanks for the confirmation.

[verysideways]

Or you could just run Michelin Cross Climate + in the stock 19" staggered sizes (they are available in those sizes, i've checked).

[danorman777]

Originally Posted by verysideways

Or you could just run Michelin Cross Climate + in the stock 19" staggered sizes (they are available in those sizes, i've checked).

This is my plan once my Pirellis are worn enough. I always have used winter tyres on my rear drive BMWs but on the xdrive M340i hopefully they will be a good compromise through the year.

[Rhino at Work]

Originally Posted by danorman777

This is my plan once my Pirellis are worn enough. I always have used winter tyres on my rear drive BMWs but on the xdrive M340i hopefully they will be a good compromise through the year.

Originally Posted by verysideways

Or you could just run Michelin Cross Climate + in the stock 19" staggered sizes (they are available in those sizes, i've checked).

Originally Posted by danorman777

This is my plan once my Pirellis are worn enough. I always have used winter tyres on my rear drive BMWs but on the xdrive M340i hopefully they will be a good compromise through the year.

Interesting thoughts. For me I prefer one or the other and 18s give you much more choice for the winters. ETTO of course.

(Edit - by one or the other I mean using both winters and summers as appropriate)

[danorman777]

I do agree Rhino. However the cost of original wheels and tyres seems to creep up and up with TPMS added that I cannot justify it here in the South East. If I lived further up North I would definitely use summers and winters. Having just lost a lot on a set of winter wheels and tyres that I sold I have to go for the compromise now.

[paulockenden]

Thing is, in the warmer temperatures of summer then summer tyres are going to have much better stopping distance than winter rubber.

All seasons tyres are a better compromise than using winters all year round.

[verysideways]

I've run two sets of wheels for my daily for the last decade or more, but having tried the Cross Climates in summer and having seen the Tyre Reviews tests of them in winter conditions i think they may actually be the perfect UK "all year" tyre. 90% of the performance of a decent summer tyre in summer, and 90% of the performance of a winter tyre in winter.

Just got to wear out my PS4S set first :-)

[paulockenden]

Conti AllSeasonContact are another contender, usually matching or beating Cross Climate in tests (especially wet weather performance).

[danorman777]

In the UK, with wet weather Summers, then all season tyres can be a better choice so long as you avoid track days. I am undecided between crossclimates and Contis all seasons.

[Drew474]

The cross climates are not star marked, therefor not recommended for BMW’s. I contacted Michelin direct regarding this, as i wanted to put them on the M340i.

[danorman777]

Originally Posted by Drew474

The cross climates are not star marked, therefor not recommended for BMW’s. I contacted Michelin direct regarding this, as i wanted to put them on the M340i.

I still am not sure if that matters in terms of handling/warranty/insurance???

Also the Contis do not come in the staggered 19" sizes for the M340i it seems.

[Drew474]

Originally Posted by danorman777

I still am not sure if that matters in terms of handling/warranty/insurance???

Also the Contis do not come in the staggered 19" sizes for the M340i it seems.

I really have no idea how they specify all this. Ive read previously that if there are any drivetrain issues the dealers are told to check the tyres.

[B6WAF]

I bought a full set of 796M wheels with Pirelli Sottozero3 tyres for mine, and they fit perfectly and in my opinion look almost as nice as my summer ones. X-Drive and winter tyres in snow was incredible - first time in years that I've looked forward to driving in snow !! The car would go anywhere I pointed it.

[ROSSCOE]

Crossclimate 2’s are being released in the uk in the coming months

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by verysideways

Or you could just run Michelin Cross Climate + in the stock 19" staggered sizes (they are available in those sizes, i've checked).

I will certainly be looking at this quite seriously when the Pirelli run-flats on mine need replacing. Being honest I don't think I drive hard enough nowadays to get the benefit of something like PS4S's and from what I've read a good set of All-Seasons will be more than adequate for my needs in summer conditions. In addition, they will also offer a significant improvement over summer tyres in winter conditions so, as you say, they sound like an ideal compromise for many UK drivers.

[Rhino at Work]

Originally Posted by JNW1

I will certainly be looking at this quite seriously when the Pirelli run-flats on mine need replacing. Being honest I don't think I drive hard enough nowadays to get the benefit of something like PS4S's and from what I've read a good set of All-Seasons will be more than adequate for my needs in summer conditions. In addition, they will also offer a significant improvement over summer tyres in winter conditions so, as you say, they sound like an ideal compromise for many UK drivers.

Now I'm a bit reluctant to ask this for fear of seeming all "clever clever" or offending you but it's asked because I'm always interested in why people buy the cars they do.

I was just trying to reconcile the comment above in bold with the fact that you drive an M340i with the performance of a very recent M car.

The answer may well be "because I can" but as I say I'm just interested.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by Rhino at Work

Now I'm a bit reluctant to ask this for fear of seeming all "clever clever" or offending you but it's asked because I'm always interested in why people buy the cars they do.

I was just trying to reconcile the comment above in bold with the fact that you drive an M340i with the performance of a very recent M car.

The answer may well be "because I can" but as I say I'm just interested.

No offence taken!

I bought the M340i because I like a good 6-pot petrol; yes part of that is the performance but things like the refinement and soundtrack are also very important to me.

In terms of what I meant by how I drive nowadays, going back a few years to when I had my M3 CS the car probably did three figures pretty much every time it went out providing the journey was long enough for it to be warmed-up properly. However, traffic conditions have changed massively since then and so has speed limit enforcement; therefore, the available performance in the M340i gets used much more selectively - and in truth less frequently - than it did in my M3.

And in terms of using the tyres, if I'm honest for me the M340i doesn't encourage quite the same driving style as an M3 either - at the end of the day it's a 1.8 tonne estate car and, good as the handling and grip undoubtedly are, it's not a sports car that encourages me to take it by the scruff of the neck and really go for it on a twisty road. Obviously others may think differently - which is fair enough - but for me PS4S's would be overkill on my car (hence my comment something like Cross Climates would be good enough for me most of the time).

Don't get me wrong, I very much enjoy the M340i - in my view it's a great all rounder as a daily driver - but mine's debadged and I try to make sure I fly under the radar wherever possible. Occasionally it gets extended but for that happen I need to be sure the road's clear of traffic and camera vans and, as I'm not inclined to get up in the middle of the night to drive to the North Yorkshire Moors or the Dales, it doesn't happen that often! But I know the performance is always there when I want it and that actually gives me reassurance and satisfaction even though I'm not using all of it all of the time!

[verysideways]

I actually think the reduction in grip from PS4S to cross climate will make the chassis more playful at sensible speeds…