12-18-2012, 11:26 AM | #1 |
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Suggestions for snow driving
Featured on BIMMERPOST.com Any suggestions for making driving this car in snow easier? This is my 3rd BMW (previously 318, 328d, and 120 all while living in Germany) but first snow experience with rear wheel drive. We are supposed to drive through several mountain passes over to Idaho for the holidays. I'm wondering if we should just stay home.
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12-18-2012, 11:36 AM | #2 |
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I just ordered 4 Bridgestone Blizzak WS70's for my Sportline. Some of the research i've done shows that BMW owners swear by these tires. We are supposed to get 6" tomorrow night and I should have the tires on just in time. I'll report back in...
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12-18-2012, 11:59 AM | #3 |
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You need a set of dedicated winter tires, at a minimum. All of the electronic wizardry the car is equipped is designed to make the most of the available traction. If you're on all seasons, that available traction is very minimal.
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12-18-2012, 12:22 PM | #4 | |
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in either case, a good set of snow tires will do wonders. www.tirerack.com has a wide selection of tires and wheel and tire packages.
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12-18-2012, 12:40 PM | #5 | |
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It's worth noting, by the way, that even snow tires can loose traction in snow, so always drive with due caution. |
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12-18-2012, 12:42 PM | #6 |
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225/45 R18 Cinturato P7 is what it says on the tire. Honestly no idea if thats all season or not. This was a custom order car someone decided to back out on at delivery and my husband got me for Christmas. It's a lease so I don't really want to chuck a couple grand out on tires. In Germany the car always came with two sets, summer and winter.
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12-18-2012, 01:00 PM | #7 | |
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12-18-2012, 01:09 PM | #8 |
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You need the Blizzaks mentioned earlier. It could be worse. Where I live you need the AWD model + Blizzaks - snow belt, 200 inches of the stuff.
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12-18-2012, 01:19 PM | #10 |
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Yeah, you definitely want some nice winter tires, and an all-season is no good substitute for that. I lived in Michigan for most of my driving life and owned all AWD cars in Michigan, and don't even think AWD is an appropriate substitute for good winter tires. It's certainly a nice-to-have on top of winter tires though
If you're leasing for a few years, I think it makes sense to get a set of winter tires. Even if they were only lightly used, I'm sure you can sell them off at the end. Risking sliding around and damaging your car (or worse) due to poor traction is not really worth it if you live in a winter climate. |
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12-18-2012, 01:30 PM | #11 |
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Well it snows (so I've heard anyway) about 5 days a year in Seattle but we live 40 min east just before you start toward the mountain pass. So we are supposed to get more snow than the city. We moved here from Ky in June so this is our first winter. I grew up driving in feet of snow in eastern WA and lived in Philly for ten years during all the great blizzards, but I've always had SUVs/AWD. I believe in slow and steady wins the race in winter driving.
I got the car for Christmas, maybe I'll get tires for my birthday |
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12-18-2012, 01:45 PM | #12 |
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I have my 328i on summer's and we had some snow the other day, although not huge amounts. The tip is keep momentum where possible, drive cautiously but don't pussy about and use Traction or DSC OFF to get you moving if stuck.
However, you'd better be awake and have good understanding and expectations of how the car will react!
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12-18-2012, 01:54 PM | #13 |
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Never heard it put so perfectly.
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12-18-2012, 02:09 PM | #14 |
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+1 on the dedicated winter tires. They are the single greatest enabler for winter driving, more so than AWD. I would recommend them for any car, not just RWD. You should be able to pick up a line-new set on Craigslist, relatively inexpensively.
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12-18-2012, 02:27 PM | #15 | |
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For trips through wintry conditions, I think your best bet might be a set of textile chains as found here: http://www.ecstuning.com/News/ISSE_T...SnowChains_VW/ They're basically "socks" for your car. You just slip them on when you reach the snow/ice and pull them off when you're back to wet/dry pavement. This might be a more logical approach for your specific situation. |
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12-18-2012, 02:51 PM | #16 |
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The snow chains are interesting. The video at the site you linked gives me a good idea of what they look like. That might be a better option than the tires (from a financial aspect and the likelihood of use) From a little quick research tires would be about $600.
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12-18-2012, 02:58 PM | #17 |
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Dedicated winters are a must. The breaking distances are remarkably better with winters.
The top rated on Consumer Reports is Michelin X-ice xi3 but the Blizzaks are right up there too. Took delivery of my car today and of course it snowed 5 cm plus a bunch of freezing rain. I won't be getting my Michelin's until Thursday so I'll have to baby them a bit. |
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12-18-2012, 03:59 PM | #19 | |
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12-18-2012, 04:13 PM | #20 |
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Just to add, everyone is talking about tyres. You need the wheels too assuming you guys over there have BMWs with run flats. Run flats are damaged really easily being taken on and off wheels. Get a full set of tyres and wheels and you're good to go.
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12-18-2012, 04:19 PM | #21 | |
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Most of the times, the reason someone doesn't get an xDrive is because of cost. And if the dilemma is between "Do I pay for xDriver or do I pay for winter tires?" I sure hope people choose the latter. (Of course in an ideal world everyone would have both) |
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12-18-2012, 04:47 PM | #22 |
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I live in Norway where we get a lot of snow. I have driven 4 BMWs with only rear wheel drive. This is not a problem at all with winter tires.
The best tires you can get in Norway are the Nokian Hakkepelita R. Way better than Michelin and everythinx else. Don't know if you can get them in the US. |
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