[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Trialskings

Are you going to Poland? You should have told us already......oh, hang on

Indeed I am! Right across the middle of Germany too... Autobahn all the way!

For Xmas!

On winter tyres (which are better than summers)

In a xdrive car (which is of course better than sdrive)

And using diesel (which is better than petrol)

Any other repetitive points I've forgotten?

[Trialskings]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Indeed I am! Right across the middle of Germany too... Autobahn all the way!

For Xmas!

On winter tyres (which are better than summers)

In a xdrive car (which is of course better than sdrive)

And using diesel (which is better than petrol)

Any other repetitive points I've forgotten?

A man after my own heart.

[Tengocity]

On the last 2 company cars i had I used the winter tyres that i paid for myself.

I got 4 winters use out if them so didn't mind that I paid for them. Comes down to how important it is to you. I know that folk may not be too bothered about them for getting to work, but I also used them for skiing in the alps, up in Scotland and other places where winter tyres are mandatory. (Is that better @Trialskings?)

[sweels]

Originally Posted by Steve_M_Sport

I thought BMW fitted all weather tyres rather than Summer tyres ?

They might be available as a factory fit option in the usa or Canada, although if they are I think the speed limiter is also changed (to 130mph IIRC) assuming the all weather tyres are speed rated to v or lower (I know that a v-rated tyre is rated at 149mph but I think that there has to be some headroom above the factory limited speed to whatever the car is supplied on by the factory.

Incidentally, I think if the car is not limited to the speed rating of the tyres it has on it you are supposed to put a big sticker on the dash telling you not to exceed the tyre limit. Bit pointless but i did read that somewhere and it might be relevant to anyone driving across Germany this winter...

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Steve_M_Sport

I thought BMW fitted all weather tyres rather than Summer tyres ?

No they're all high performance summer tyres, on M Sport and large wheels at least.

Years ago I believe there was no such thing, I think all cars used to have all season tyres, although that is before I started driving 15 years ago so don't quote me on this!

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by sweels

They might be available as a factory fit option in the usa or Canada, although if they are I think the speed limiter is also changed (to 130mph IIRC) assuming the all weather tyres are speed rated to v or lower (I know that a v-rated tyre is rated at 149mph but I think that there has to be some headroom above the factory limited speed to whatever the car is supplied on by the factory.

Incidentally, I think if the car is not limited to the speed rating of the tyres it has on it you are supposed to put a big sticker on the dash telling you not to exceed the tyre limit. Bit pointless but i did read that somewhere and it might be relevant to anyone driving across Germany this winter...

No reason why you can't have a high speed rating on winter tyres, never mind all season ones.

The vredestein wintrac extremes I had for the Z4 were V rated and am sure that my Pirelli sottozeros are similarly rated.

[SkyJawa]

Theres quite a few winter tyres now that are V rated.

[pmgreenwood]

[QUOTE=Chris Peacock;16943967]I would have to fund the wheels tyres myself

There is the mistaken immpression in this country that winter tyres cost.

My experiance is that the wear on summer tyres used in winter is horrific and to get best tyre wear rates one needs to use the right tyres for the temperature. Most parts of the UK have at least three months were the temperature is below 7 degrees C on average most years. As long as you do not go over the top the alloy winter tyre specification, my experiance is over time they at least break even before placing any value on the extra safety and transportaion obtained.or

[Chris Peacock]

I don't pay for the tyres on my vehicle but I would have to pay for winter tyres/wheels out of my pocket...it's all on cost and there is no financial justification in my circumstances.

I completely get the benefit of winter tyres and have challenged my business that they are required to no avail, it's just not seen as a requirement.

My Directors argument is that we have circa 12 BMW's in our fleet and no one has had any significant issues through the winter months in the last 5 years and the best part of 1m miles covered.

As for the horrific wear rate of using summer tyres through winter months, my first set of tyres achieved 42k miles on the front and 50k on the rear, not too shabby but any counts.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Chris Peacock

I don't pay for the tyres on my vehicle but I would have to pay for winter tyres/wheels out of my pocket...it's all on cost and there is no financial justification in my circumstances.

I completely get the benefit of winter tyres and have challenged my business that they are required to no avail, it's just not seen as a requirement.

My Directors argument is that we have circa 12 BMW's in our fleet and no one has had any significant issues through the winter months in the last 5 years and the best part of 1m miles covered.

As for the horrific wear rate of using summer tyres through winter months, my first set of tyres achieved 42k miles on the front and 50k on the rear, not too shabby but any counts.

How did you manage 50k on the rears?!

Mine are going to last half that!

[JD6]

Originally Posted by teaston

How did you manage 50k on the rears?!

Mine are going to last half that!

70 fewer bhp helps

[Ross_T_Boss]

Originally Posted by Chris Peacock

As for the horrific wear rate of using summer tyres through winter months, my first set of tyres achieved 42k miles on the front and 50k on the rear, not too shabby but any counts.

That is pretty impressive! You must be sensible on roundabouts...

I'm fitting winters on Weds or Sat. I find most of the winter there's not really much benefit, winters much better in the wet sub 5C and summers much better in the dry above freezing. Summers are fine in the dry cold weather as long as you work them hard... I guess the wet keeps them cold enough that the winter compounds really shine through.

That said I've only ever had cheap winters so I'm interested to see how the Pirelli's handle milder weather - I'm banking on them being much better than cheap winter rubber in which case I'll be fully converted.

I don't buy the "if it's too dangerous to drive on summers then it's too dangerous to drive" - bloody ignorance - may as well say slick tyres are suitable for road use and if it rains then it's to dangerous to drive anyway...

[teaston]

Originally Posted by JD6

70 fewer bhp helps

What engine does he have?

[SkyJawa]

320d

[BucksDan]

Saturday was change over day for me and 5c on the way to Cambridge this morning. And all over the radio this morning - "it's going to be a mild winter this year..."

Michelin Pilot Alpin Sport PA4

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by BucksDan

Saturday was change over day for me and 5c on the way to Cambridge this morning. And all over the radio this morning - "it's going to be a mild winter this year..."

Michelin Pilot Alpin Sport PA4

Nice looking GT.

As if the weather people get it right.

Admittedly it is mild at moment for Mid November.

Cambridge can be mild one moment and seriously cold the next, depends on the Russian weather and if it blows in from the Steppes.

Or you get it straight down from Norway.

[BucksDan]

Thanks.

I know what you mean about Cambridge. It definitely has a different climate pattern to where I live.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by BucksDan

Thanks.

I know what you mean about Cambridge. It definitely has a different climate pattern to where I live.

Lived there for a while and got used to its 'micro' climate due to flatness.

We have similar here with the likes of Cannock and places in Staffs, it can really dump snow at times and be clear elsewhere and it is last to be cleared.

[djcowlin]

Originally Posted by BucksDan

Saturday was change over day for me and 5c on the way to Cambridge this morning. And all over the radio this morning - "it's going to be a mild winter this year..."

Michelin Pilot Alpin Sport PA4

Nice wheels - as fitted to my Luxury...

[sweels]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

No reason why you can't have a high speed rating on winter tyres, never mind all season ones.

The vredestein wintrac extremes I had for the Z4 were V rated and am sure that my Pirelli sottozeros are similarly rated.

Yes, that was my point, and mine are v rated too, but nevertheless this is lower than the car's top speed in 'euro spec'. My point was that in the usa even if they are on (v rated) tyres, some cars that would be 155mph limited in Europe are restricted to a lower speed for the usa market, but seemingly when supplied on tyres designed for more extreme weather (and so far,I've not found a winter tyre that will fit mine that is rated higher than v 😕

[BucksDan]

Originally Posted by djcowlin

Nice wheels - as fitted to my Luxury...

Yep, luxury line wheels refurbed in anthracite grey. Not sure how easy they will be to clean looking at the gaps between the spokes and the clearance with the brakes...

[djcowlin]

Originally Posted by BucksDan

Yep, luxury line wheels refurbed in anthracite grey. Not sure how easy they will be to clean looking at the gaps between the spokes and the clearance with the brakes...

Quite therapeutic to clean with a cloth and plenty of time to spare.