My wife's 2014 R57 convertible S has 'less than ideal' performance in the snow. No doubt due to the low-profile run-flats.

What're the recommended tires for mid-Atlantic snow conditions? I'm thinking we'd get a second set (tires and rims) and swap them on 'for the winter'. Which is challenging given the random nature of our 'winter' around here, but that's a different discussion. I could, potentially, swap them around with a few days notice as I have another vehicle in which I could transport them (and an inside place to store them properly).

Anyway, which tires and rims are recommended? What, specifically, won't work? I gather the S brake calipers are an issue?

 

Neither low-profile nor runflat makes for poor snow performance. Tread and compound design do.

S brakes are too large for most 15" wheels to fit on the front.

You have many choices explained by many threads here. TireRack.com is a very good place to see options in both tires and wheels for your car. I would do 205/55-16 Continental WinterContact TS830P Contiseal 91H performance snow tires on 16" black steel wheels without tire pressure sensors shipped to your door for around $812.

 

Yes, many threads here. Some accurate, some not, hard to know sometimes. This post was of the most help (among the many).

Right, I wouldn't have expected any 15" to fit over the S calipers. Wife ixnay'd the steelies. R83 16" fit. Don't have much love for Conti tires. Went with some LM60 runflats. We'll see how it goes.

No doubt spending $800 on winter tires will be the lucky rabbit's foot that wards off any more snow this season....

 

$800 for R83's with sensors and LM60 RFTs mounted and balanced is one heck of a deal.

 

Oh, I'm not done spending yet, that was just the rubber. The R83's were $300 and the sensors another $200, iirc.

I'll post a total and pix when it's done.

 

Sounds like a blizzard is in order then.

 

Ok, here's a before and after set of pix with the R83's on the 2014 R57 Convertible S. Guy from ASAP tire came and installed them on-site, took about an hour and a half. Installed with the TireRack TPMS kit.

I took it for a quick spin and they drove fine. Noticed right away there was less road impact compared to the 205/45/17's (which I expected). Didn't notice any other immediate differences in handling. TPMS didn't emit any errors, at least not any I noticed on the console during my quick test drive.

I'll try to take a more 'spirited' test drive over the weekend.

Meanwhile, for anyone searching, yes R83 16" alloy wheels and 195/55/16 Blizzak LMF60 tires fit fine on a 2014 Convertible S that previously wore 205/41/17 tires.

 

Well, damn, ASAP no longer services our area. I was looking to have them slap the summer tires back on the Mini this week.

For the Cayenne it's easy, as that can carry it's own monstrously large tires.