Topic: Winter rims from tire rack.

[Hammy]

I've been looking on tire rack for winter alloy wheels, the prices there seem great and delivery estimates are less than two weeks.  I am thinking I can rely on the fact that their recommended wheels will fit my car.  Are there any brands or qualities I should look for to stand up to our harsh winters?  How have others experience been buying from tire rack?  Anything else I should keep in mind when buying wheels for winter? My plan is to use 2254517 x ice 3s on the wheels.

Thanks.

[mmret]

If you're in the GTA I think there are better options, because you get local service+install etc.

Not that TireRack is bad, far from it, but the duties and stuff basically places them at equal cost to the independent GTA shops and of course its less hassle to go local. Protectionism at work.

I've had a couple sets of Sport Edition wheels (this is TR's house brand I believe) and haven't had any issues.

EDIT: I think the situation could be nicely fixed if there was a "duty credit" that could be recovered. eg: non NAFTA item goes to TR, they have to pay the duties. If you bring it into Canada then you have to pay another duty, so its taxed twice. If TR were able to recover US duties for inventory that gets sold to Canadians then they could pass the savings on.

[Hammy]

There is a local place selling bmw replica wheels for 189 each, probably get a set of those.  They are from direct auto imports.  Anyone have an opinion on those?

Thanks. 

[quadzilla]

If you are in the GTA check out Tires23.

[Hammy]

I'm in St. John's Newfoundland.... Extremely limited options!

[mmret]

I'm in St. John's Newfoundland.... Extremely limited options!

Those rep wheels are most likely fine, but you never really know and the consequences of a wheel failure would be bad.

I would guess there's got to be some companies in the replica wheel world that are "big"....I'd be fine with one of those but how can you be sure of who made your rep? Maybe it was done in a small startup factory ... not so much in the way of QC. For obvious reasons the big replica guys won't want to advertise too much

Long story short....where you are I'd probably go with TR.

[Hammy]

They are from direct auto imports... Not sure if that is the brand or just where they come from?

[johngenx]

Not that long ago Costco only carried a few tire models and only in high volume sizes - and no wheels.  I saved TONS ($hundreds per order) by buying through TireRack in the US.  Even including shipping and local install, the savings were substantial.

The best savings came from buying a wheel/tire package then it came shipped ready to be installed at home.

Today, the Canadian market has wised up a bit (except I think for Kal-Tire, as when I get quotes from them they're always outrageously high) and the expansion of Coscto's tie business has shrunk the gap, making buying from the US a wash - most of the time.

The exceptions seem to be on exotic sizes or racing tires.

[mmret]

They are from direct auto imports... Not sure if that is the brand or just where they come from?

I think that's probably just the name of someone's distributor/reseller. Meaningless and generic.

Then again "Sport Edition" sounds almost as terrible and those are pretty good haha.

[normancw]

On my e90, I had Rial Salerno 17x8 rims from TireRack.  I did a lot of research before buying - excellent quality, hub-centric, made in Germany.  On sale at the moment for $476 for a set.  From my research on the forums, they are better quality than the Sport Edition wheels.

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&initialPartNumber=SA80729W11S&wheelMake=Rial&wheelModel=Salerno&wheelFinish=Silver+Painted&showRear=no&autoMake=BMW&autoModel=335i+Coupe&autoYear=2011&autoModClar=Sport+Package&filterFinish=All&filterSize=All&filterBrand=Rial&filterSpecial=false&filterNew=All&filterWeight=All&sort=Brand

[Railton]

I've been looking on tire rack for winter alloy wheels, the prices there seem great and delivery estimates are less than two weeks.  I am thinking I can rely on the fact that their recommended wheels will fit my car.  Are there any brands or qualities I should look for to stand up to our harsh winters?  How have others experience been buying from tire rack?  Anything else I should keep in mind when buying wheels for winter? My plan is to use 2254517 x ice 3s on the wheels.

Thanks.

Try this place.
http://performance-tires.pmctire.com/enp/

Railton

[SeaBlueS4]

On my e90, I had Rial Salerno 17x8 rims from TireRack.  I did a lot of research before buying - excellent quality, hub-centric, made in Germany.  On sale at the moment for $476 for a set.  From my research on the forums, they are better quality than the Sport Edition wheels.

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&initialPartNumber=SA80729W11S&wheelMake=Rial&wheelModel=Salerno&wheelFinish=Silver+Painted&showRear=no&autoMake=BMW&autoModel=335i+Coupe&autoYear=2011&autoModClar=Sport+Package&filterFinish=All&filterSize=All&filterBrand=Rial&filterSpecial=false&filterNew=All&filterWeight=All&sort=Brand

2nd the Rial recommendation. I bought Rial DH's for my S4 - for the same reasons mentioned above, plus they were pretty much the only (affordable) option that didn't need hub centering rings or different lug bolts.

After 3 Ottawa winters they still look brand new.

[Hammy]

Thanks, I am strongly leaning towards the rial salerno's, with shipping, exchange tax etc the set of four will be about $1,000.  Option #2 is I can get an OEM set from BMW 17" Spider spoke wheels with continental wintercontact TS 810 SSR run flats for $2,600 + tax.  Thats not TOO bad I guess for factory rims and the tires are about $350 each if bought separately.

I am thinking though if I damage an OEM rim it will be about $600 for replacement vs $200 for the Rial.  Also if I get the Rials I can put whatever winter tire I want on, which will probably be an X-Ice.

Thoughts???

[sailor723]

We've had Tirerack winter rims on the 328 and the ML for the last 3 winters. They seem to be holding up just fine. I couldn't tell you what brand they are if my life depended on it. I just picked the cheapest rim that I didn't mind the look of. 

[Great_Big_Abyss]

My brother is moving from Houston to NB in January, and he wants to install winter tires and rims before he leaves.  The tires we can find easily enough, but we're having a bugger of a time finding 18" steel winter wheels in the states.  We tried tirerack.com, 1010tires.com, Costco.com, NOTHING. 

Anyone know where we can find 18" steel wheels for a 2012 Durango Crew in the states?

[dkaz]

Costco has winter alloys available.

[tooscoops]

will 17"s clear the brakes? tried that route? surprised you can't find 18s

[Hammy]

Costco has winter alloys available.

I read a couple reviews and they weren't great on the costco rims but they are much less expensive than shipping in the rial salernos.  Maybe I will try them, since it's costco if worse comes to worse I can bring them back.

[Hammy]

No screw that I'm going with the rial salernos, now just to choose black or silver.  Black would be more unique I think.

[Hammy]

I'm going with the rial salerno anthracite with Michelin X Ice 3 from Costco which will have $70 off per set starting October 7.   Think I will order the wheels tomorrow, they will show up just before the X Ice sale and my new setup will be ready to go for November.  It's about $2000 for the complete set which is not that bad for some really nice rims and tires that should last me 3 or 4 winters.