M5/M6 owners. How do your cars perform in the winter(tyres)

[smokey145]

Do you all put winter tyres on? Essential? Are these things manageable in snowy/icy conditions?

[ecain63]

Nope, without winter tread the SMG makes the E60/1 M5 unusable in the white stuff. I had a shot at it last year in my E61 and despite my experience as a snow and ice driving instructor i had a really hard time making progress in the snow. The problem is the aggressive ON/OFF clutch action that is just too harsh to maintain traction. Couple that with RWD and wide tyres and you are going nowhere very sideways. Its hard on the clutch too. Given the space im sure you could have a blast skating round in it though.

My advice: Buy a fwd banger and use that in the winter.

[smokey145]

This might sound stupid but winter tyres make that much difference?

Thanks for the advice

[driver67]

With winter tyres on, you will breeze by 4x4's with normal tyres on.

[smokey145]

mick take??

[driver67]

Not at all. Have a look here :-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siping_(rubber)

Winter tyres are all about the sipes. Amazing grip on snow and driving a rear wheel drive car is a breeze.

You will have no problem. Make sure you do all 4 though.

[smokey145]

driver67 said:

Not at all. Have a look here :-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siping_(rubber)

Winter tyres are all about the sipes. Amazing grip on snow and driving a rear wheel drive car is a breeze.

You will have no problem. Make sure you do all 4 though.

excellent, thank you.

[Quinten]

Last year I was basically fcked with my car on summers... this year I have invested into winters and hope I can now make it out of the estate without nearby neighbours pushing me up the slope

[phelix]

smokey145 said:

mick take??

Another vote for not at all a mick take. I had winter tyres on my 535d and got up a snowy hill effortlessly from a standing start that 4x4s couldn't do with a running start. Give me winter tyres on a RWD car over summer tyres on an AWD car every time.

[izz4mc]

Put winter tyres on our 5 series last yr. Ours has the 19 inch wheel option (275 width at the back which I assume is similar to the m5?) and it made a huge difference. Could drive around confidently in the snow whereas it was pretty much undrivable with summer tyres.

[Philrose]

Might as well leave the car at home when the slippery stuff comes down. 3 out of our 4 of our BMWs have got winter tyres fitted this year.

[jm doc]

Does anyone know if it's alright to put winter tyres on M6 19" wheels, handbook says should use 18" wheels. It's a fairly expensive business if you have to buy wheels as well as tyres for the winter.

[whoami]

driver67 said:

With winter tyres on, you will breeze by 4x4's with normal tyres on.

[danjp]

Its fine to put winter tyres on the OEM 19"s - I have them on at the moment. The only issue is that your only option is Pirelli Sotto Zeros in the right sizes, and they are eye-wateringly expensive new. I have a set on my M6 that I am just about to PX - I'd sell them if I could face get them unmounted again (only just got them put on last week!).

[jm doc]

danjp said:

Its fine to put winter tyres on the OEM 19"s - I have them on at the moment. The only issue is that your only option is Pirelli Sotto Zeros in the right sizes, and they are eye-wateringly expensive new. I have a set on my M6 that I am just about to PX - I'd sell them if I could face get them unmounted again (only just got them put on last week!).

So were they any good? And why do BMW recommend 18" wheels anyone?

[phelix]

18s mean narrower tyres which are better in the wet/ice/snow. The slightly taller sidewall is no bad thing either.

[jm doc]

phelix said:

18s mean narrower tyres which are better in the wet/ice/snow. The slightly taller sidewall is no bad thing either.

Thanks, that would make sense, I was concerned in case there were any technical isssues like differential or clutch

[TVR newbie]

What winter tyres do people recommend for the M5 E60? i live on a slight incline so don't fancy having the M5 wrapped up in the garage over Xmas if i can help it (although i do have the wife's R32 which is AWD)so may get it some winter boots

Cheers all

[B19TOY]

danjp said:

I'd sell them if I could face get them unmounted again (only just got them put on last week!).

I would be interested if you did.

[Zod]

smokey145 said:

mick take??

No. I drove one for five winters with winter tyres and it did exactly as others have said. It coped with snow in the UK and in the Alps and I only needed to use chains on a couple of occasions in deep, fresh snow.