winter tire size question

[Ali//325i]

Hey guys I am a new driver and I live in michigan, my e30 will be out of the shop within the next few days or so, I am just finishing a 5speed swap, short shifter install, A lightweight flywheel is going in, possibly a custom exhaust, and custom cold air intake aswell. Now to my point, I am young , it's going to snow and i doubt my summer tires will be able to handle any type of snow lol. But i need advice on what tire size to get. Right now i have the stock bottle caps and i will remove my summer tires and just throw my winter tires on there. I am buying the hankook W401 or W404 depending on which size you guys recommend. These are my choices in sizes:

185/65-14
185/70-14
195/60-14

Now i know some people swear by their blizzaks and such but my friends brother in law is a pro rally driver and he is sponsored by hankook and he convinced me to buy these. The ironic thing is he was actually using bottlecaps on his rally car (94 civic hatchback) when he was at SNO*Drift 2005. So basically my question is which size should i get for my stock bottle caps.

For more info. My car is a '89 325i cabrio and stock suspension. Any help would be great. I need to order these within the next few days or so, that way I can have them mounted before the heavy snow starts. Thanks in advance.

-Ali

[Axxe]

195/60-14

[Ali//325i]

any specific reasoning or did you just randomly pick one lol. I am really new to the whole choosing a tire situation so info along with your choice would be appreciated but by no means necessary- but still appreciated.

-Ali

[gazellebeigem3]

i personally run 235 70 15s on my beater

[Mystikal]

185/70/14, without a doubt. Check the diameters, the others are too small.

I just ordered mine in that size this afternoon.

[T.Dot E30]

185/70/14, without a doubt. Check the diameters, the others are too small.

I just ordered mine in that size this afternoon.

damn, ur going from 225s to 185s?

i stick with the stock size, 195/65r14

[Mystikal]

Very few of the best winter tires come in 195/65, yet a lot do in 185/70.

And yeah, it should be a nice change. Jay will be sideways permanently.

[T.Dot E30]

Very few of the best winter tires come in 195/65, yet a lot do in 185/70.

And yeah, it should be a nice change. Jay will be sideways permanently.

thats why when i was lookin for prices for you all i found were blizzaks ws-50s for ~$120. forget to tell u that price.

[Mystikal]

Yeah, in the 185/70/14 there's Kumho KW11s, Viking Snowtechs, Nexen Eurowins...and that's just the T-rated ones (I refuse to go to Q-rated).

I tried to order the Vikings through multiple shops, seem to be on national backorder. So I demanded the Nexens, which I put on the E46 last year and handle exactly like Pirelli 210 Snowsports. When I bought them last year no one at Wheels Direct even heard of them, but now it seems every tire shop around here has glowing reviews. Getting them for $76/ea installed, too.

[T.Dot E30]

I tried to order the Vikings through multiple shops, seem to be on national backorder. So I demanded the Nexens

I would have never thought nexens were any good....i always thought they were some no name brand that made shit tires.

[Mystikal]

I thought so too. Turns out even in Europe they are considered pretty damn good, I know I really like them on the E46.

[SchnellerVert]

The cheapo Firestones in 185-70-14 work very nicely in snow, ice well they could be better. But what the hey they are only on the car 3.5 months tops.

[egk2]

damn, ur going from 225s to 185s?

i stick with the stock size, 195/65r14

Skinnier is better when it comes to snows, I just threw 185/70/14's on my bottle caps for $35 a tire, they're Semperit Winter grips and seem to be a nice tire for the money, we'll see how they do in the snow.

[3serious]

Where do I look to find tires for $35? The best I can find around here is $73 for the firestones. Thanks

[egk2]

Where do I look to find tires for $35? The best I can find around here is $73 for the firestones. Thanks

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