[gotgemini2000]

I ordered a stick shift G80 M3 which should arrive in February. I have a farm with a bunch of gravel entrances and need to get a set of snow tires for the thing. Wondering if there are any good steel rims that would fit the good bolt pattern, and which would let me do 18 inch snow tires with some good rubber, which could also be used to rip around a bit on gravel.

Any good 18 inch steel rims that might fit? Something like this (https://www.bbwheelsonline.com/rt-st...k-45mm-x48512/) that I could put some good thicker winter rubber on that could double as a gravel ripping around wheel set?

[luckylingy]

VMR rims are an affordable option to OEM and can be made with the correct bolt pattern, center bore and offset. Your bigger challenge may be finding winter tires this season.

[gotgemini2000]

Looking for something like this more so:

[Professor///M]

Please don't.

[gotgemini2000]

Originally Posted by JSTDR1V

Please don't.

Trying to find options. Car arrives in February. Every other car I’ve had (E36 325i, E36 328i, E90 330i, E39 540i, all sticks) has had good cheap steel rims on for winter rims, with a lot of rubber on them to take good pothole hits. All the options I’m seeing for the M3 look like costly bad rims for snow tires. Form follows function. Planning to use this on driveways into my farm also, where 3 of 4 ways in are dicey gravel.

[Aeromotive]

Unpopular opinion after having a few cars with cheaper/smaller/narrower/tucked in wheels for winter (I'm not into spacers for winter driving) :

it's not a bad idea to go with steelies (if they clear the brakes) instead of the hideousness I see sometimes, especially if you mention a farm and gravel...

I mostly drive on cleared roads and rarely deep snow, so I'll keep the stock rims during winter.

[BMWRacer523]

don't you have a truck for the farm?

[luckylingy]

Originally Posted by BMWRacer523

don't you have a truck for the farm?

Yes, there are other solutions ...

[gotgemini2000]

Originally Posted by luckylingy

Yes, there are other solutions ...

This style rim looks more functional to me for the use I have in mind. Do any exist in 18 inch size for the G80 bolt pattern?

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by gotgemini2000

This style rim looks more functional to me for the use I have in mind. Do any exist in 18 inch size for the G80 bolt pattern?

The bolt pattern is the key here, since BMW just changed that and for that reason you're better off looking for another-brand 5x112 pattern wheel but that gives you center bore/offset headaches.

Steel wheels are almost a thing of the past. I'm with luckylingy here: Your easy solution is an inexpensive (VMR or whatever) alloy wheel and accept that you'll beat the hell out of 'em on gravel etc.

[forza1976]

Lol. Steel wheels. Are we on a Jetta forum?��

[gotgemini2000]

Originally Posted by forza1976

Lol. Steel wheels. Are we on a Jetta forum?��

Just looking for something very functional. Note the M3 station wagon pictured in earlier postings with steel rims also…

[BMWRacer523]

That's not an M3 station wagon but that's not relevant. As others mentioned, its unlikely there are steelies in 5x112

Just look for a cheaper aftermarket wheel option.

[HorsePower]

Most people running a down-sized square winter setup on these cars seem to be running 19x9.5 all around, with 275/35 19 snow tires (or all seasons). That's what I'm running.

In theory, since the base wheel option on a G8x is 18 front 19 rear, I would think it would be possible to run a square set-up of those 18s (although I haven't seen anyone do it yet). That would allow for a little more sidewall all around (although it's a minimal increase from the oem 19 inch front size).

I can't imagine there are readily available steel wheels that fit these cars, and clear the front brakes.

I also installed the Tommy L Garage (fellow forum member and great guy!!) mud flaps. When people hear "mud flaps" and M3 they seem to laugh - but they look great, were easy to install, and seem to do their job so far. (Like you, I regularly drive to and from a farm, as well as on the local roads in agricultural areas which, this time of year, have lots of gravel, branch pieces, and other junk on them...between the mud flaps, the square 19" snow set-up, and full car Xpel ultimate 10 mil PPF with ceramic on top, I feel protected.)

[gotgemini2000]

Originally Posted by BMWRacer523

That's not an M3 station wagon but that's not relevant. As others mentioned, its unlikely there are steelies in 5x112

Just look for a cheaper aftermarket wheel option.

It’s an E46 325xi with an M3 drivetrain including the S54, and a 6 speed, so an M3 station wagon…that looks good in my book and has a really functional rim

I’m not concerned about cost here, just trying to find something fit for purpose. Want to be able to run my new G80 on gravel roads kind of quick with snow tires on them. If not steel rims, I can’t find much/anything that looks suitable for 18 inch thick rubber snows which I think will be essential for this purpose

[gotgemini2000]

Originally Posted by HorsePower

Most people running a down-sized square winter setup on these cars seem to be running 19x9.5 all around, with 275/35 19 snow tires (or all seasons). That's what I'm running.

In theory, since the base wheel option on a G8x is 18 front 19 rear, I would think it would be possible to run a square set-up of those 18s (although I haven't seen anyone do it yet). That would allow for a little more sidewall all around (although it's a minimal increase from the oem 19 inch front size).

I can't imagine there are readily available steel wheels that fit these cars, and clear the front brakes.

I also installed the Tommy L Garage (fellow forum member and great guy!!) mud flaps. When people hear "mud flaps" and M3 they seem to laugh - but they look great, were easy to install, and seem to do their job so far. (Like you, I regularly drive to and from a farm, as well as on the local roads in agricultural areas which, this time of year, have lots of gravel, branch pieces, and other junk on them...between the mud flaps, the square 19" snow set-up, and full car Xpel ultimate 10 mil PPF with ceramic on top, I feel protected.)

Sounds awesome - any chance you could share a picture of your setup?

[luckylingy]

Originally Posted by gotgemini2000

I’m not concerned about cost here, just trying to find something fit for purpose. Want to be able to run my new G80 on gravel roads kind of quick with snow tires on them. If not steel rims, I can’t find much/anything that looks suitable for 18 inch thick rubber snows which I think will be essential for this purpose

You may be (well) ahead of the curve, as far as use case for the G8x this early in its lifecycle. FWIW, when I competed in SCCA national TSD rallies years ago, I often drove on gravel roads in a spirited fashion and know firsthand how much fun can be had off pavement. (I even got pulled over for having a license plate that was illegibly dirty.)

At this early stage you might spec an 18" VMR rim with higher-aspect ratio tire to fulfill your needs/desires. Perhaps by the time those rims are spent, you'll have more wheel options -- including steelies.

Just curious -- are you planning to protect the G80's paint with PPF, or just let the rock chips fall where they land? German cars' paint tends to be pretty soft, so you might want to plan ahead of time.

[HorsePower]

Originally Posted by gotgemini2000

Sounds awesome - any chance you could share a picture of your setup?

Here are a few pics taken right after PPF and ceramic were done, with the winter set-up already on.

I don't have any pics yet with the mud flaps on (just put them on last week), but if you search for Tommy L Garage mud flaps on this forum, there are a few threads with pictures and videos.

[BMWRacer523]

I too can recommend VMR setup here's mine. These are 19.9.5 et25. Running 12mm Future Classic spacers front and back. I have Michelin PA-5s on them but for your gravel setup you may need a different tire.

I would recommend you contact kevin@eas (you can message him via the forum).

[gotgemini2000]

Can one run 824Ms, but just the 18 inch fronts, on both the front and the rear, for an 18 inch BMW rim with a bit more\rubber?

Asking because at the very least an 18 inch rim seems less likely to get damaged as much with more rubber around it than a 19 or 20.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by gotgemini2000

Can one run 824Ms, but just the 18 inch fronts, on both the front and the rear, for an 18 inch BMW rim with a bit more\rubber?

Asking because at the very least an 18 inch rim seems less likely to get damaged as much with more rubber around it than a 19 or 20.

Great question and we do not know -- nobody has posted that they actually tried. The front rotors are 380mm and the rears are 370mm, so it seems likely the front wheel will fit on the rear. The 824Ms are forged and not cheap, although maybe on the used market...

I'm taking delivery of my 824M-equipped car on the 24th and we are expecting snow and cold for a week or so. I may just try it out if I get tired of drooling on the car in the (heated) garage.

[luckylingy]

Originally Posted by gotgemini2000

Can one run 824Ms, but just the 18 inch fronts, on both the front and the rear, for an 18 inch BMW rim with a bit more\rubber?

Asking because at the very least an 18 inch rim seems less likely to get damaged as much with more rubber around it than a 19 or 20.

Yes, that'll work. Front brake rotors are always bigger in front (even if not by much, as is the case with our G8x), so then it's a matter of rim width and offset. If the offset's the same but front rim width is less than rear, spacers are a simple solution to restore inner clearance. That's what I did with a 'square' set of 19" x 9'5" 825Ms.