Winter tyres vol 2
Discussion
rsv gone! said:
What tyre pressures are you winter-shod beemer drivers running? E90 330d M-Sport on 18 inch Sottozero non run flats.
Manual says 3.1 bar for RFs, so pretty high. That's not far off the max of 50psi of the winters.
About 2 psi higher than the summers (as recommended by manufacturer)Manual says 3.1 bar for RFs, so pretty high. That's not far off the max of 50psi of the winters.
andyps said:
Any reports of crashes after you went by? Maybe someone thought, if a Porsche can do that I'll be fine!
Not that I'm aware of. I didn't have any one try and follow me either but I won't lie, I was concentrating hard and getting ready for the opposite lock because that's the fastest I've gone in such heavy snow. I felt obliged to overtake all the other lanes 
SkinnyPete said:
Not that I'm aware of. I didn't have any one try and follow me either but I won't lie, I was concentrating hard and getting ready for the opposite lock because that's the fastest I've gone in such heavy snow. I felt obliged to overtake all the other lanes
I think it is fine once you are in the lane, the part which always worries me is crossing from black to white, very different grip levels side to side, sometimes slush between and often a height difference akin to camber. Lack of experience doesn't help but I don't want to learn the hard way! Been ok so far though. Ooooooooh! Oooooooh! Aaaaaaaaargh! Oooooooh! Oooooooh! Bliss!
Finally fitted my 16" winters in place of 17" runflats on the Clubman. The ride is like a soft cloud in comparison to the runflats.
Only problem was that I broke the locking wheel nut key whilst torquing up having fitted 2 wheels. Luckily the BMW dealer parts department is open until 5pm on Sat and also on Sun. The very helpful chap at Arden Maidstone came out and allowed me to use their master set to remove the 2 remaining locking nuts and I bought 2 extra bolts until the new lock nut arrives.
Finally fitted my 16" winters in place of 17" runflats on the Clubman. The ride is like a soft cloud in comparison to the runflats.
Only problem was that I broke the locking wheel nut key whilst torquing up having fitted 2 wheels. Luckily the BMW dealer parts department is open until 5pm on Sat and also on Sun. The very helpful chap at Arden Maidstone came out and allowed me to use their master set to remove the 2 remaining locking nuts and I bought 2 extra bolts until the new lock nut arrives.
andyps said:
I think it is fine once you are in the lane, the part which always worries me is crossing from black to white, very different grip levels side to side, sometimes slush between and often a height difference akin to camber. Lack of experience doesn't help but I don't want to learn the hard way! Been ok so far though.
Yep, I agree.Despite having winter tyres for years this is my first experience of them in snow lol. Talk about getting stuck in.
It used to be me in my Evo cruising past the queues, using lane 3. That car would pull away from standstill as if you were on tarmac. No fuss whatsoever. That was on Summers. With Winters, it would be unstoppable (which it wasn't when it came to braking).
Looking forward to trying the winters on some snow to see what the fuss is about
Looking forward to trying the winters on some snow to see what the fuss is about
We've not really had much worse than a heavy frost in North Norfolk so far this year. No bad thing as I'm trying to get one more season out of this set so they've gone below the upper wear bars.
However, it's been very wet and I had to test out the 'M' part of the M+S rating yesterday. Very difficult surface - very compacted ground under about 10mm of mud/slime/wet grass. I could barely stand on it in walking boots.
However, it's been very wet and I had to test out the 'M' part of the M+S rating yesterday. Very difficult surface - very compacted ground under about 10mm of mud/slime/wet grass. I could barely stand on it in walking boots.
Bill said:
Very glad to have all seasons on the car this morning despite living on the south coast, if everyone had them there would be no carnage at all.
Exactly. Two cars crashed into each other in a village near me this morning blocking the road for a fair bit. As it was a country road, very limited space for buses to turn around.This was on 4-5 cm of snow.
andyps said:
rallycross said:
Put it on the rear and find a part worn winter the same size to replace it with.
We have been using winter tyres for many years (in Scotland) and on front wheel drive cars we usually just run them on the front (from Nov - April). As someone who has driven thousands of miles like this I can confirm it will be fine and you wont end up in the nearest ditch (regardless of all the peoples comments on here who have never tried this).
I agree with this. Not is Scotland but I have used a FWD car with winter tyres just on the front and there are no issues provided in very low grip situations you drive on the basis of having summer tyres.We have been using winter tyres for many years (in Scotland) and on front wheel drive cars we usually just run them on the front (from Nov - April). As someone who has driven thousands of miles like this I can confirm it will be fine and you wont end up in the nearest ditch (regardless of all the peoples comments on here who have never tried this).
Saw three cars slide into each other this morning in the station car park.
And on my way to the car park, I followed a big Merc Estate down the hill that was completely out of control and unable to stop, steer or otherwise prevent the car going exactly where it wanted to.
It slid down the hill on full lock for about 100 yards along the kerb.
I, on the other hand, braked with hardly a murmur from the ABS.
This was in our convertible Mini on Pirelli Snowsport 190s (which I don't rate as highly as my Dunlops on the big car).
I'm not saying they didn't slide at all, but when you have them fitted, you often wonder if they're doing anything - until you see someone else without them try and navigate the same bit of road...
And on my way to the car park, I followed a big Merc Estate down the hill that was completely out of control and unable to stop, steer or otherwise prevent the car going exactly where it wanted to.
It slid down the hill on full lock for about 100 yards along the kerb.
I, on the other hand, braked with hardly a murmur from the ABS.
This was in our convertible Mini on Pirelli Snowsport 190s (which I don't rate as highly as my Dunlops on the big car).
I'm not saying they didn't slide at all, but when you have them fitted, you often wonder if they're doing anything - until you see someone else without them try and navigate the same bit of road...
Same here, driving my wife's Golf with winters last week in the snow and ice and it felt fine. Only noticed the difference when other cars were all over the place hanging on until they regained some grip.
Ultimately didn't do much good though as the roads were gridlocked with people getting stuck and minor bumps. Well worth the money in my mind.
Ultimately didn't do much good though as the roads were gridlocked with people getting stuck and minor bumps. Well worth the money in my mind.
First time using winters in the snow on a heavy, RWD barge.
I have to say, having used winters/all seasons on FWD cars in the past I was a little disappointed. No skidding, nor loss of traction but I was aware I was driving on snow - longer braking distance even from slow speed and with the ABS going, TC kicking in when my throttle input was less than delicate. And not on cheap winters either - Sottozero 3's.
But I think driving FWD derv's with good winter rubber in the past has spoiled me. I'm still a convert. I reckon that on thicker snow where you don't get that compressed tyre-track layer a couple of mm above the road surface it'll be a different story. I always had traction, and it's a relatively powerful (if something the far side of 200bhp fits that definition?) shed. Pulling away in second pretty well eliminated the TC light (I'd normally turn it off anyway) and in a vehicle that is inherently poorly designed for snow I'm going to have to make some adjustments to my driving style.
Thought I'd post something other than 'winter tyres are great,' for balance before the summer toting brigade point out that they made it about quite happily themselves. Winters have their limitations, but I wouldn't have made it out of my street in control without them so despite my perhaps misguided expectations I'm still happy with the outcome. And looking forward to any more back country snow lanes I can find.
I have to say, having used winters/all seasons on FWD cars in the past I was a little disappointed. No skidding, nor loss of traction but I was aware I was driving on snow - longer braking distance even from slow speed and with the ABS going, TC kicking in when my throttle input was less than delicate. And not on cheap winters either - Sottozero 3's.
But I think driving FWD derv's with good winter rubber in the past has spoiled me. I'm still a convert. I reckon that on thicker snow where you don't get that compressed tyre-track layer a couple of mm above the road surface it'll be a different story. I always had traction, and it's a relatively powerful (if something the far side of 200bhp fits that definition?) shed. Pulling away in second pretty well eliminated the TC light (I'd normally turn it off anyway) and in a vehicle that is inherently poorly designed for snow I'm going to have to make some adjustments to my driving style.
Thought I'd post something other than 'winter tyres are great,' for balance before the summer toting brigade point out that they made it about quite happily themselves. Winters have their limitations, but I wouldn't have made it out of my street in control without them so despite my perhaps misguided expectations I'm still happy with the outcome. And looking forward to any more back country snow lanes I can find.
andyps said:
Any reports of crashes after you went by? Maybe someone thought, if a Porsche can do that I'll be fine!
I actually had this about 4 years ago during the really bad snow in early 2010. I was in my E90 3 series with winter tyres fitted and going to work about 4 am through thick snow along the A56 from Accrington towards Manchester. Came down to the roundabout at winfields in Haslingden when two lads in a 3 convertible came onto the roundabout behind me from the direction of the McDonald's...
They tried to follow me ... Last I saw was spinning headlights and the car smashing into the central reservation in my rear view mirror ..
I did I have to admit chuckle a little
Edited by Earthdweller on Tuesday 10th February 19:58
I have an interesting dilemma: What to do when you think you want to opt out of winter tyres?
I've moved to SE England. Yes, I *can* tell the difference but it's marginal on most days in this part of the UK. I used to drive 15,000 miles per year around the Midlands and Wales. I now drive about 5,000-7,000 pa around Cams/Beds/Herts.
I'm very glad I bought my winter tyres because they've saved well over their purchase price in not being stranded in the year when I bought them (2012). But I don't have spare wheels and frankly the swapping around isn't worth the extra hassle any more. At least, I think not- I might change my mind if we get a bad winter again!
In the long run I might swap to All-Seasons or to a more wet-weather biased tyre like a Uniroyal Rainsport. I have some snowsocks for those very rare days I might really need them.
So I think I might leave the winter tyres on and wait until the winter tyres wear out... but clearly their performance will be worse as the summer months approach. I'm not sure I can be arsed selling 2nd hand tyres on Scumtree.
Time to think...
I've moved to SE England. Yes, I *can* tell the difference but it's marginal on most days in this part of the UK. I used to drive 15,000 miles per year around the Midlands and Wales. I now drive about 5,000-7,000 pa around Cams/Beds/Herts.
I'm very glad I bought my winter tyres because they've saved well over their purchase price in not being stranded in the year when I bought them (2012). But I don't have spare wheels and frankly the swapping around isn't worth the extra hassle any more. At least, I think not- I might change my mind if we get a bad winter again!
In the long run I might swap to All-Seasons or to a more wet-weather biased tyre like a Uniroyal Rainsport. I have some snowsocks for those very rare days I might really need them.
So I think I might leave the winter tyres on and wait until the winter tyres wear out... but clearly their performance will be worse as the summer months approach. I'm not sure I can be arsed selling 2nd hand tyres on Scumtree.
Time to think...
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