Hi Paul- I have been very happy with my 1996 318ti. It has all weather tires and I put sand bags in the trunk but it is still not great in the snow. I was thinking of putting snow tires on either the back rims or all 4 rims. Any thoughts on that? If I wanted to get 2 or 4 new rims, are there special rims needed for the 318ti? The current size of my tires is 205/60R15. Appreciate any thoughts that you have. Regards, John

I've been running snow tires on all four wheels in the winter, which definitely makes a difference - so does having weight in the back. Regarding rims, all I've ever had are the factory original steel ones, so I'm probably not the guy to ask. The only size tire I've ever used is 185/65/r15. People rave about Blizzak's, I've got Michelin X-ice tires on now, they seem OK. On ice, nothing really works, other than maybe studs.

I use to run all weather tires in the winter, learned my lesson though; slid through a turn at around 15, 20 mph in Denver, hit the opposite curb with my right front. Bent the tie rod and control arm, the rim, flattened the tire, and broke the bumper. Went back to the "scene of the crime" twice after the snow melted, and each time, found more pieces of my bumper. I ended up replacing the suspension parts in my driveway in the middle of February, eventually pieced the bumper back together and had it painted. I learned that snow tires are not really that expensive.

Where in NJ? I grew up in a place called Colonia.

Paul
96ti 257,000mi

Hi Paul-

Thanks for the advice. Sounds like a lot of damage without much speed- bummer. I grew up in Scotch Plains so not too far from Colonia. Then lived in Ramsey, NJ for a while and now I am up in Sparta which is a little hilly and tends to get more snow- although it was 60 degress this weekend after being 19 Thursday morning.

John