[StephenF92]

I live in the northeast and I have a 2022 M4 Competition with xDrive. The standard tires that came with the car are the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, which are summer tires. Is it really that unsafe and impractical to use these tires in the winter?

Does it make sense to invest the money in smaller wheels along with winter tires, so that it can fit in the wheel wells? If so, can I buy these from BMW directly?

[forza1976]

You should review this thread.

M3 winter tires https://g80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1836016

Don't listen to us. Listen to the tire manufacturer and see what they say about driving 4S's in colder than 40f temps.

[bmw noob]

Only if it gets super cold...or snows.

Seriously though, I would be concerned driving without at least really good all seasons of not dedicated winters with a g80. I lived in NJ my whole life, and drove nothing but rwd cars (300z, 350z, e92), and was always happy I did not have dedicated summer tires.

Even with xdrive you WILL slide in snow/slush/sleet with the factory tires. Xdrive doesn't beat physics. Haha

[luckylingy]

Just. don't.

You wouldn't compete at a track meet in wing tips or high heels, would you?

[AhsanU]

Just don't.

If you want to drive your M4 with summer tires during the winter, you need to understand the ramifications of getting caught in the snow. It doesn't matter if you have xDrive or not, MPS4S + snow = accident waiting to happen. Here's my old E46 M3 being towed because the forecast for snow was minimal in chance, so I decided to risk it, I was on MPSS back then:



I was fishtailing for a while trying to get out of the parking lot and it took about an hour and a half before I could even get to a spot where the car could be towed. It was embarrassing and I never made that mistake ever again.

You can drive during the winter on MPS4S tyres, there's nothing really stopping you from doing it. However, there are about a million reasons to just buy a dedicated winter set and call it a day. These cars are $80k+, it's folly to not fork over $1.5k-$4k extra for a set of wheels that can safely get around during the crappy winter. You're in NY, so you know it snows enough to be a nuisance. I'm getting my car at the end of January/February and am looking into a set of winter tyres to fit the stock wheels. Even if it doesn't snow from the moment I get the car, I still would like to drive around knowing that I've got tyres that can withstand the snow in case it does happen.

[Gfit]

Both my brother and I did it once years ago before we knew better. Once! Best way to describe it is it felt like I was using ice skates instead of tires and yes it was awd. Never again!

[StephenF92]

Ok, thank you for the warnings. Clearly, I need to invest in this. Any suggestions on what smaller wheels to buy to still work with the breaks and fit within the wheel wells with bigger winter tires? Any suggestions on what winter tires?

[vj123]

Originally Posted by StephenF92

Is it really that unsafe and impractical to use these tires in the winter?

Yes, its really unsafe.

Originally Posted by StephenF92

Any suggestions on what smaller wheels to buy to still work with the breaks and fit within the wheel wells with bigger winter tires? Any suggestions on what winter tires?

Link in the second post has comprehensive information.

[barryc365]

Agree with everything above but in addition you will excessively wear out and crack your summer tires driving below 40. They will degrade very badly below a certain temp

You should be fine with all seasons in OEM sizes. You could swap them on the standard wheels but if you actually plan on driving in heavy snow you probably need full winters. I went with full winters but in hindsight I probably would have been ok with all seasons

[ROBERT1183]

I used to work at Subaru and you would not believe all the wrecked WRX and STI being towed in. People assuming they were invincible because they had AWD but they failed to realize the car was delivered on summer tires. Anything below like 50 degrees they're essentially bricks. No traction. Even if you don't plan on driving in snow, I would suggest at least going with all seasons if you plan to drive in cold temps.

[vj123]

Originally Posted by ROBERT1183

I used to work at Subaru and you would not believe all the wrecked WRX and STI being towed in. People assuming they were invincible because they had AWD but they failed to realize the car was delivered on summer tires.

Its crazy that people who claim as enthusiasts and own a WRX / STI doesnt realize this base fact. I personally know a person who went through this.

[nearwater4me]

Originally Posted by vj123

Its crazy that people who claim as enthusiasts and own a WRX / STI doesnt realize this base fact. I personally know a person who went through this.

Yup. We need better driver education.
This nonsense wouldn't happen in Germany where they have rigorous classes/courses for driving test.

[Draper]

Still had summers on and got caught in a bit of snow this am.

Not super fun. 😬

[JDUNITNOW]

Originally Posted by Draper

Still had summers on and got caught in a bit of snow this am.

Not super fun.

Hope you made it home OK. I don't. switch my tires usually but I don't drive in any inclement weather and have other car to drive.

[Draper]

Originally Posted by JDUNITNOW

Hope you made it home OK. I don't. switch my tires usually but I don't drive in any inclement weather and have other car to drive.

Thanks. Took it slow and made it safe.

Winters are on now so all good.

[snareman]

A few M's ago I didn't know just how bad they were in winter and had it out in the lightest dusting of snow. I was at a light waiting to turn left. The light turned green and I started trying to go and was spinning the tires so much even going slowly that the light turned red before I even made it all the way through the turn. And then I was almost completely unsuccessful backing up my driveway that must have about a 3 degree incline to it. They seem to be ok in just cold weather as long as I don't do anything crazy, but I'd be afraid to do anything in cold precipitation with them.

[DRKNESSAudiDad]

^^^. Lol you’ve got quite the love for M4’s way to keep it live.

[StephenF92]

My BMW dealership in NY is telling me that I need to buy new wheels to fit the winter tires. They have a package they are offering me costing $4,400 for four 19 inch Rim Style 829 Matte Black wheels and four Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 tires.


Does this seem reasonable or am I getting ripped off? Can't I just put the winter tires on the wheels that came with my car when I bought it, which are the 19"/20" M Double Spoke bi-color wheels style 825M?

[m5eattle]

Originally Posted by StephenF92

My BMW dealership in NY is telling me that I need to buy new wheels to fit the winter tires. They have a package they are offering me costing $4,400 for four 19 inch Rim Style 829 Matte Black wheels and four Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 tires.


Does this seem reasonable or am I getting ripped off? Can't I just put the winter tires on the wheels that came with my car when I bought it, which are the 19"/20" M Double Spoke bi-color wheels style 825M?

Get the part number and look it up online. Call other dealerships and ask if they can beat the price.

I paid close to MSRP for my M5C winter wheels and tires, roughly 3600. The tires on that set, PA5 star-marked, are amazing. The wheels used in the M5 set aren't my favorite. If I were to do it again, instead of the package I'd buy a set of 19 wheels and have the PA5* put on separately.

[chris3g]

Originally Posted by StephenF92

My BMW dealership in NY is telling me that I need to buy new wheels to fit the winter tires. They have a package they are offering me costing $4,400 for four 19 inch Rim Style 829 Matte Black wheels and four Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 tires.


Does this seem reasonable or am I getting ripped off? Can't I just put the winter tires on the wheels that came with my car when I bought it, which are the 19"/20" M Double Spoke bi-color wheels style 825M?

Alpin 5 doesn't come in a suitable 20inch size so for that particular tire you do need a full set of 19" wheels.

[HorsePower]

Originally Posted by AhsanU

Just don't.

If you want to drive your M4 with summer tires during the winter, you need to understand the ramifications of getting caught in the snow. It doesn't matter if you have xDrive or not, MPS4S + snow = accident waiting to happen. Here's my old E46 M3 being towed because the forecast for snow was minimal in chance, so I decided to risk it, I was on MPSS back then:



I was fishtailing for a while trying to get out of the parking lot and it took about an hour and a half before I could even get to a spot where the car could be towed. It was embarrassing and I never made that mistake ever again.

You can drive during the winter on MPS4S tyres, there's nothing really stopping you from doing it. However, there are about a million reasons to just buy a dedicated winter set and call it a day. These cars are $80k+, it's folly to not fork over $1.5k-$4k extra for a set of wheels that can safely get around during the crappy winter. You're in NY, so you know it snows enough to be a nuisance. I'm getting my car at the end of January/February and am looking into a set of winter tyres to fit the stock wheels. Even if it doesn't snow from the moment I get the car, I still would like to drive around knowing that I've got tyres that can withstand the snow in case it does happen.

This post brings back memories for me!! First weekend I had my carbon black e46 M3, I had to work that Sunday. Drove it into work, parked in an underground garage, and ended up having to work all night. It was mid April, so I didn't expect snow. Got in, fired her up, exited the garage, and quickly realized it had snowed 3 or 4 inches of heavy slush overnight. I was on a brand new (literally, 30 miles or so) set of MPSS. Got to the highway OK, and the highway was just wet and salty, no problems. Got off a few miles from home, and quickly realized that the nannies would simply not let the car rev, so I had to disable everything and use every skill I had to get home (which I did, safely).

Interestingly enough, back then, nobody focused nearly as much on the temperature issues though. I drove those tires the next winter, only on dry roads but in temps well below freezing. When winter started, I had PLENTY of rubber left. I corded those tires in about 2,000 miles or so of cold weather driving. Imagine my surprise when I needed to put new tires on the rear in well under 10,000 miles (and only 1 year), in order to pass inspection. Freezing temps and summer rubber...picture scraping a pencil eraser on sandpaper I guess.

[luckylingy]

Originally Posted by StephenF92

My BMW dealership in NY is telling me that I need to buy new wheels to fit the winter tires. They have a package they are offering me costing $4,400 for four 19 inch Rim Style 829 Matte Black wheels and four Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 tires.


Does this seem reasonable or am I getting ripped off? Can't I just put the winter tires on the wheels that came with my car when I bought it, which are the 19"/20" M Double Spoke bi-color wheels style 825M?

That's not an unreasonable price quote, in large part because they have tires. I have $3,000 invested in my set-up (two rims, four tires with dealer employee discount), so the extra $700 per rim is money well spent. You'll be hard-pressed to find Alpin 5s at this late date anywhere.