[RayYay]

I'm originally from CA so I never experienced driving in snow, until today. I have a MT 435ix with 18" performance tires and wow I was sliding all over the place, while driving very slow at 10-15mph. I couldn't brake properly and was sliding while turning at times. Note, I live in NYC and just got hit with that snowstorm last night. Even with my xdrive.

I realize it has to do with my tires. Didn't even consider all weather when I got the car...thought xdrive would be sufficient. Just curious, what type of tires do you guys use in snowy weather?

Ray
Snow driving newb

[adhrp]

I've been using the original run flats and although we haven't received copious amounts of snow, we do receive a few inches of snow as well as icy rain now and then and my car has performed just fine. It is RWD. If you get a lot of snow it is advisable to switch to winter tires or maybe very nice all seasons such as the Pirelli Cinturato P7 (non-run flat version). They have excellent snow performance ratings on TireRack.

[stormlv]

Originally Posted by RayYay

I'm originally from CA so I never experienced driving in snow, until today. I have a MT 435ix with 18" performance tires and wow I was sliding all over the place, while driving very slow at 10-15mph. I couldn't brake properly and was sliding while turning at times. Note, I live in NYC and just got hit with that snowstorm last night. Even with my xdrive.

I realize it has to do with my tires. Didn't even consider all weather when I got the car...thought xdrive would be sufficient. Just curious, what type of tires do you guys use in snowy weather?

Ray
Snow driving newb

Yep, x-drive (or any other 4 wheel drive) is never sufficient to cope in cold climate or snowy conditions.

As you might know, as soon as the temperature drops below 7C (~45F) it's recommended to switch to winter tires, as their rubber compound will remain soft at lower temperatures.

In any case, I use Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 on my car.

Stay safe!

[stormlv]

There are plenty of videos floating around but here are a few that I like:

[bri1042]

My 18" wheels with summer tires came off as soon as the temps hit 40 and stayed there. I spent most of my life driving through winter weather in front wheel drive cars with all-season tires. All-season tires can work fine, but you have to know that you will slide and prepare for it. Snow or not, as soon as the temps drop, summer tires must go. I'm pretty sure they take a huge wear hit from being driven in low temps, but I could be wrong.

I went through significant snow last year on my 17" all-seasons (my car is xDrive) and had no problem with it, but a lot of that was 20+ years of snow/ice experience (otherwise known as being careful, leaving extra room, and expecting to slide a bit). It was difficult in the snow we had to induce any sliding except during overly-hard braking done for testing purposes.

Rear-wheel drive with winter tires will, in general, work fine but be careful with hills. Lots of folk like to make light of AWD's ability to get moving in snow, but that's a pretty important thing if you have to stop on a hill. :-) I rescued two people last year who couldn't get up a somewhat steep hill that's on my way home from work. One of them was in a 128 with Blizzaks that had, until that hill, served him quite well.

Don't compromise your safety to save a few bucks on tires!

[G30 B58]

We got caught out in snow last Saturday. Our car is RWD w/ Michelin Pilot Super Sports.

I "took a knee" and parked the car. Walked to my barber and drove home with her.

No point in risking a 3 month old car trying to prove something.

edit: We have other cars to drive but like I said, the cars is just months old and too much fun to not drive it. We had an appointment for window tint that day that we had to cancel too.

[Polo08816]

I just created a thread in the Wheels/Tire section about my first time driving with winter tires.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1076288

Also posted a dash cam video:

[emtrey]

summer performance tires not good at all in snow , even moderate snow. Also, seriously slick when temps drop.

A set of winter wheels and tires (especially downsized -1) will make a major difference. I have an RWD 335i and no major issues once the snow setup is mounted. 17 inch Michelin ICE. Its just as good as my wife's G37X on all season tires.

[spuntyb]

I'm in Manhattan too, and have no problems with all season rubber on an xdrive suspension.

xDrive will help when you're pushing the accelerator, but not when braking. Even then, it only goes so far. The rubber you put down on the road is far more important. I got through last winter with the same setup without any issues.

It just takes practice. In the meantime, maybe try some winter rubber. I don't use it here in NYC (I commute to northern NJ and take about a monthly trip upstate), but I've been driving on all kinds of rubber on many different suspensions here in the NE for 20+ years, so I chalk it up to a lot of practice.

If you do go winter rubber, you'll never look back.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by Polo08816

I just created a thread in the Wheels/Tire section about my first time driving with winter tires.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1076288

Also posted a dash cam video:

Nice! Thanks!

[300hp]

I have two cars, an SUV with all seasons and my 335i xdrive on 19" staggered summer tires. I have been conducting an experiment for the past 2 years on this set up and I have learnt a lot over that time. Here are the rules I live by:

1) most important don't use summer tires in the winter. I can do this because I have a truck that will handle anything nature throws at me in the winter.
2) if you have to for the fun of it as I do, whenever it snows and the snow is sticking to the road. Don't even bother driving the car with summer tires, you will DIE. With xdrive you can always move forward and backwards but you WILL NOT STOP. Turning is also a problem with snow on the ground.
3) under the conditions at 2) above wait till late at night, find a parking lot close by and do as many donuts as you please. Just make sure it's a park within a mile from your house and you can get there while diving below 25 mph.
4) if the road is black, i.e. The snow has been cleared or there is no snow, doesn't matter the temperature you can drive with no issues. However drive slow, below 50mph and don't take any sharp turns until the tires are warmed up.
5) exceptions to 4) don't drive the car if snow is being forecast for that day or you are going on local roads with known black ice issues.
6) chill out in the winter, there is like 9 months of sport+ DS on. Even in the winter there is like up to 30 snow days at least half of which the snow is cleared off the ground

Stay alive have fun

[joewalton]

Nokian Hakkapelitas are the winter tire to own for a BMW. It's too late in the season now, you will never find them, but next year I would highly recommend you get a set of these. I've been riding them in winters in New England and New York for 10 years on rear wheel drive cars, they are amazing, it's as if you were not even driving on snow and ice.

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by joewalton

Nokian Hakkapelitas are the winter tire to own for a BMW. It's too late in the season now, you will never find them, but next year I would highly recommend you get a set of these. I've been riding them in winters in New England and New York for 10 years on rear wheel drive cars, they are amazing, it's as if you were not even driving on snow and ice.

Would someone be able to break down the Nokian tire products into what other competitor tires they are similar too? (ie. Studless winter, performance winter, etc.)

Also, where did you purchase them from? They aren't carried by big retailers like TireRack.

[Hernandiaz11]

Originally Posted by RayYay

I'm originally from CA so I never experienced driving in snow, until today. I have a MT 435ix with 18" performance tires and wow I was sliding all over the place, while driving very slow at 10-15mph. I couldn't brake properly and was sliding while turning at times. Note, I live in NYC and just got hit with that snowstorm last night. Even with my xdrive.

I realize it has to do with my tires. Didn't even consider all weather when I got the car...thought xdrive would be sufficient. Just curious, what type of tires do you guys use in snowy weather?

Ray
Snow driving newb

Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 tires are great as well.

[bimmer_335]

Either get all season tires like Conti DWS that i used over the years or dedicated winter tires.

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by bimmer_335

Either get all season tires like Conti DWS that i used over the years or dedicated winter tires.

I had a 2008 Subaru Legacy GT with Continental DWS tires.

My 2014 335i M Sport with Michelin X-Ice Xi3 handles worlds better than AWD + snow-biased all seasons.

It's not even close.

[joewalton]

Originally Posted by Polo08816

Would someone be able to break down the Nokian tire products into what other competitor tires they are similar too? (ie. Studless winter, performance winter, etc.)

Also, where did you purchase them from? They aren't carried by big retailers like TireRack.

These would be considered studless performance winter tires though they do make studded versions if that's legal in your state.

You would need to find a local, non-big-name-commercial tire shop who will be 'in the know' on these matters and they'll sell them. An enthusiast in another forum mentioned Nokian's to me years ago, was the best advice I've ever gotten.

[Blubaron79]

Originally Posted by RayYay

I'm originally from CA so I never experienced driving in snow, until today. I have a MT 435ix with 18" performance tires and wow I was sliding all over the place, while driving very slow at 10-15mph. I couldn't brake properly and was sliding while turning at times. Note, I live in NYC and just got hit with that snowstorm last night. Even with my xdrive.

I realize it has to do with my tires. Didn't even consider all weather when I got the car...thought xdrive would be sufficient. Just curious, what type of tires do you guys use in snowy weather?

Ray
Snow driving newb

It's because you still have on your summer tires. That is Extremely dangerous. Put on a set of winter tires ASAP.

[joewalton]

Originally Posted by Blubaron79

It's because you still have on your summer tires. That is Extremely dangerous. Put on a set of winter tires ASAP.

+1

Take it from someone who found out the hard way the two rules of winter driving:

1. There is no substitute for snow tires.

2. The phrase "but I live in ________ and we barely get snow here and I have all wheel drive" is a game of Russian roulette.

I almost died because I bought in to the car companies mythology that AWD can spare you of the inconvenience of swapping out your rubber twice a year. Never again. I live in NYC metro too, every November the winter tires go on, every March the winter tires come off.

There is no technology that can replace snow tires no matter where you live or how infrequently it snows.

[Slalom]

My car came with summer performance tires (Pirelli) the manufacturer recommends changing to winter tires when temperature drops below 7c. If not the tire my develop small cracks! It is the first time that I have heard of such a thing at relatively warm temperatures.

In any event I always put winter tires on - it is simply not worth the risk. In many places it is illegal to drive without true winter tires after a set date (Austria December 1, Quebec December 15) in others places courts and insurers will presume you to be negligent if you are driving with the wrong tire for the conditions.

If you are willing to risk your life by driving with summer tires on snow and ice, fine but think about the others you could injure - pedestrians and other motorists.

From a cost perspective, if you keep a car for 6 years, and drive 18,000 miles a year, the cost of dedicated snow tires is a wash

[DrivenByE30]

I read this and immediately thought of you,
Here is an article for ya:

http://jalopnik.com/heres-why-a-lack...wrx-1677965255

[335BOY]

Originally Posted by Polo08816

I had a 2008 Subaru Legacy GT with Continental DWS tires.

My 2014 335i M Sport with Michelin X-Ice Xi3 handles worlds better than AWD + snow-biased all seasons.

It's not even close.

Great advice.