[f30paul]

Hi

I've managed to get a decent set of winter steels for my f30, including Continental Winter tyres.

2 have tread of around 6mm, 2 have 4mm.

Where should I best place these tyres - it would make sense to me to put 6mm on the front where you're relying on traction for steering, but then again would the more worn tyres on the rear make turns like roundabouts and bends a little more dodgy?

I'll probably swap out the worn tyres next year, but not just yet. Was pretty lucky to find a decently priced set which included tyres that didn't need immediately replacing and TPMS valves already in place.

Probably won't get these on the car until the end of the month...

[robbiep]

I'd probably put the tyres with more grip on the fronts.

Doesn't matter so much if you can't get the power down, it's not as critical as not being able to steer out of trouble
Having said that, unless you drive like a complete numpty when conditions are terrible, 4mm tread depth on either axle on a decent set of winters won't be a problem

[Ennoch]

Several thoughts here;

Normally, manufacturers recommend putting new tyres on the back rather than the front as this will lead to relatively harmless understeer if there's a loss of grip.
Normally, I will tend to put new tyres on the front (although the last time I replaced a set of tyres not as a four was a long time ago) as I prefer to have good front end grip.

Given the BMW is RWD, do you find the rears wear any faster than the fronts? If so, I would tend to put the better tyres on the back as this way the wear will even out. 4mm is still decent tread, albeit below the recommended European change depth for winter tyres. My inclination would be to put the 6mm on the back if your car wears the rears noticeably faster, or on the fronts if you don't.

[jackstrath]

4mm on winter tyres are ready for the bin

[f30paul]

I ran an old set of Sottozeros down to near legal once and they still gripped in snow, so I'm not binning them.

I found my old 320d wore them slightly more on the rear, whether the 330e battery pack will contribute more to this I'm not sure. Either way the 4mm set will have to be changed next year. Don't think they'll wear down that fast on either front or rear!?

[Alscoob]

Originally Posted by f30paul

I ran an old set of Sottozeros down to near legal once and they still gripped in snow, so I'm not binning them.

All depends on how much snow V's how much grip you want.

If it's proper snow I agree with jackstrath if it's the odd Southern sprinkle then you'll likely be OK.

On rwd I would put the 6mm on the rear, no good having the front end grip and the arse of the car overtaking you.

[f30paul]

Cheers. Yep isn't going to be proper snow. Most I've known in York is a few inches over the last 15 years!!!

[Ennoch]

Originally Posted by jackstrath

4mm on winter tyres are ready for the bin

That's certainly the legal limit in Europe where winter tyres are required. And for deep snow on the roads I'd certainly agree. However, if you don't really get much snow (depending on where you are) they'll still give significantly more grip in the usual British dusting than summer tyres, and will still give all the benefits of improved cold weather performance. I have noticed too that some tyres have a dual compound with harder rubber under the top layer which seems to be hit at not much below 4mm. That was certainly my experience when I used to run older Conti winters. They also lost a lot of their sipes at that depth. On the other hand, the Pirelli Sottozero 3's on my Impreza hit 4mm last winter and are still working fine. That said, if it was still my primary car I would probably put new ones on for true all weather capability as they clearly aren't going to be as good as they were in deep snow.

It all depends on what conditions you're likely to find yourself in as to what point you think it's reasonable to change the tyres. I go out looking for the big dumps of snow in remote areas whereas others may just need to get to work and the shops!

[t5pilot]

Provided you have the choice (square setup), the tyres with the most tread should go on the back.

[jenshb]

Originally Posted by t5pilot

Provided you have the choice (square setup), the tyres with the most tread should go on the back.

+1

If you lose grip on the rear wheels, you lose directional stability. Try taping up the rear wheels of a Matchbox car and send it down a slope and see what happens...

[bishbosh]

Not sure if your car is x drive or not. If so bmw say the tyres with most tread should be at the back.

[Wills2]

The tyres with the deepest tread regardless of FWD/RWD or AWD should be put on the rear axle.

[f30paul]

Thanks for all the responses. The car is square set as not x drive, so I will place the 6mm tread on the rear and keep an eye on the wear on the front. With previous experience I expect them to last until next year then change them for next winter.

Next decision is when to put them on. Thinking end of October when temperatures usually dip in the commuting hours...

[muffking]

Rear.
If you put the ones with 4mm on the back of a RWD car then you'll be replacing them sooner. Putting the ones with 6mm on the rear will allow you to even them out.

Either way 4mm on winters is still going to be miles better than the same tread on regular tyres as the rubber is very different.

[R0B]

Originally Posted by f30paul

Thanks for all the responses. The car is square set as not x drive, so I will place the 6mm tread on the rear and keep an eye on the wear on the front. With previous experience I expect them to last until next year then change them for next winter.

Next decision is when to put them on. Thinking end of October when temperatures usually dip in the commuting hours...

Wait until it really bites. Easy to forget that winter is so much later than it used to be.

[RichardJS]

Like someone else recommended, I replaced mine when they were down to 4mm - what's the point in having winter tyres that are no good in snow?! But if you really want to hang on to them, put the worn ones on the back so that at least you can brake OK and also the front ones will compact the snow ready for the rear ones to roll on to. And then replace the rear ones in a year's time. The 6mm ones may last for some time on the front, in my experience.

[Somebloke]

Originally Posted by f30paul

Next decision is when to put them on. Thinking end of October when temperatures usually dip in the commuting hours...

I put them on mid-December.

[djcowlin]

The Germans use the principle of O-O (Oktober to Ostern, i.e. Easter), but their climate is a bit harsher than ours. I'd wait until mid-December and leave them on until late March.

[Ennoch]

Originally Posted by djcowlin

The Germans use the principle of O-O (Oktober to Ostern, i.e. Easter), but their climate is a bit harsher than ours. I'd wait until mid-December and leave them on until late March.

I think it depends on where you are and also what your summer tyres are too; I found Eagle F1's were actually reasonable in the cold/wet (obviously they'd have been an utter liability on black ice or snow) yet Yoko Advan V105's were awful as soon as the temperatures dropped below 8c-ish and the roads got greasy. My experience over the last few days is that the Bridgestone S001's follow this same pattern. As a result I suspect I may have the winters on before the end of this month given most of my driving at the moment is early morning to make the most of the daylight. The last few years my winters have gone on early to mid November and then come off late April as you still get frosts in the glens at that time of the year.

[BBri89]

I tend to do November to March for my winters. Usually between 8/4 to 7/5 months split of summer/winter tyres across the year.

In the South East UK so often a good few degrees warmer than northern England and Scotland.

I found the winter tyres significantly worse in wet summer than the old Goodyear Eagle F1 asym, and current Michelin PS4S. But below 10 degrees they came back against the Goodyear's, and 5 degrees and damp or wet they were easily better.
Yet to experience the real cold with the Michelin's, but at 6-10 degrees and damp/greasy they are better than the Goodyear's but probably below 6 they'll struggle, the winters are designed just for that.

[djcowlin]

Originally Posted by Ennoch

I think it depends on where you are and also what your summer tyres are too; I found Eagle F1's were actually reasonable in the cold/wet (obviously they'd have been an utter liability on black ice or snow) yet Yoko Advan V105's were awful as soon as the temperatures dropped below 8c-ish and the roads got greasy. My experience over the last few days is that the Bridgestone S001's follow this same pattern. As a result I suspect I may have the winters on before the end of this month given most of my driving at the moment is early morning to make the most of the daylight. The last few years my winters have gone on early to mid November and then come off late April as you still get frosts in the glens at that time of the year.

Sure, but I noticed that the OP is from York, as am I

[f30paul]

I tend to put them on when commuting temperatures are hovering around 7-8 degrees, so early in the morning and later at night. So I will probably wait out until the end of the month.

It's a good feeling as well when the proper alloys are stored safely away - an be a little more adventurous approaching kerbs with steels!!