Topic: Run flat winters?

[Julie]

Just got a promo email from BMW promoting winter tire and wheel packages. Looks like they are about $1200 higher than Tirerack for the same tires. They are offering either 16" Blizzak LM-25 (2450 on alloys) or the Dunlop Wintersport M3's (1850 on steelies with hubcaps) for the 3 series. Granted,the wheels are undoubtedly better quality but for use in salt and sand.....

Yikes.  For that price, those 16" (style 156) look pretty small on the actual cars IMHO.  For $500 more, you can get the (IMHO) nicer 17" (style 159) wheel set.

I negotiated my winter set with the purchase of my car, so I could get another style.  If I wanted the 16 inch wheels, I think I'd pick another style or go with tirerack.  Of course, this is all personal opinion.....

[sailor723]

I plan to pull the trigger on these in the next couple of days so I'd thought I'd bump this thread. I've pretty much decided that it's between the Bridgestone LM-25's and the Dunlop Wintersport M3's. Cost and ratings on the two are about the same. I had an earlier version of the Dunlop on the Coopers S and they worked well. I do wonder if the Bridgestones might be more readily available if you ever needed to replace one after a flat? Maybe I should flip a coin?