E92 M3 in the winter
Discussion
My first winter with the M3 is now approaching. I'm debating on leaving it in the garage and getting another car or potentially I can get away with winter tyres for 1.2k. What's everyone's thoughts on winter tyres? They make much of a difference on the M3?
The other thing is you never know in the UK what winter we're going to get... when I had my previous RWD cars though they were useless in anything slightly icey and snowy. My garage on a slope doesn't help matters!!
Although I must say so far the M3 has given me more confidence in wet and damp conditions than any other RWD I've driven.
The other thing is you never know in the UK what winter we're going to get... when I had my previous RWD cars though they were useless in anything slightly icey and snowy. My garage on a slope doesn't help matters!!
Although I must say so far the M3 has given me more confidence in wet and damp conditions than any other RWD I've driven.
I actually have a set of OEM wheels to sell - they are 18's with Michelin Alpin and will fit E90, E92 and E93. Cost about £1,900 I recall.
I ordered when it snowed late November a couple of years ago and they took nearly 8 weeks to arrive. In the end I had them on the car for less than two months and didn't do a lot of miles. Then I bought my M5 in the spring and they have been in the corner of the garage for 18 months.
I'll definitely be dusting them off and putting them up for sale this winter, but if anyone is interested, drop me a PM.
I ordered when it snowed late November a couple of years ago and they took nearly 8 weeks to arrive. In the end I had them on the car for less than two months and didn't do a lot of miles. Then I bought my M5 in the spring and they have been in the corner of the garage for 18 months.
I'll definitely be dusting them off and putting them up for sale this winter, but if anyone is interested, drop me a PM.
What are the consequences of using winter tyres when the temperatures are still above the recommended 7degC ?
Are they noisier?
Do they wear faster?
Is there reduced grip at speed on a dry road?
Is there reduced grip at speed on a wet road?
We can't change the tyres every time the temperature changes, so let's assume that the well-organised motorist puts on the winters on October 1st and takes them off on March 1st. Obviously he will hit periods when the temperature is in the teens.
Are they noisier?
Do they wear faster?
Is there reduced grip at speed on a dry road?
Is there reduced grip at speed on a wet road?
We can't change the tyres every time the temperature changes, so let's assume that the well-organised motorist puts on the winters on October 1st and takes them off on March 1st. Obviously he will hit periods when the temperature is in the teens.
Patrick Bateman said:
A good winter tyre isn't generally as good at preventing aquaplaning as a good summer tyre. (I'm not talking about when it's 2 degrees and wet here)
Interesting.....find that hard to believe though given the tread patterns.Have a look at this video after 4.30 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgsgWQ4C1d0&nor...
Any evidence to back up your theory ? Genuinely interested not looking for an argument like some people on here!
Locknut said:
What are the consequences of using winter tyres when the temperatures are still above the recommended 7degC ?
Are they noisier?
Do they wear faster?
Is there reduced grip at speed on a dry road?
Is there reduced grip at speed on a wet road?
We can't change the tyres every time the temperature changes, so let's assume that the well-organised motorist puts on the winters on October 1st and takes them off on March 1st. Obviously he will hit periods when the temperature is in the teens.
I only used my winters when the snow was about, otherwise I felt that summer tyres always gave better feel than winters.Are they noisier?
Do they wear faster?
Is there reduced grip at speed on a dry road?
Is there reduced grip at speed on a wet road?
We can't change the tyres every time the temperature changes, so let's assume that the well-organised motorist puts on the winters on October 1st and takes them off on March 1st. Obviously he will hit periods when the temperature is in the teens.
The winters were definitely noisier.
In the dry, the summer tyres certainly gripped better than winters. The winters felt like they crabbed across the road a bit when pushed really hard and would make the DSC light flash without much provocation.
In torrential rain with standing water they felt much better than summer tyres.
On snow, they are night and day different to summer tyres and worth getting just for that.
Vredestein Wintracs are fantastic in heavy rain/ standing water - better than any summer tyres I've experienced. On a really warn day in a powerful rwd car you need to be careful as grip is compromised, although I have just run a set of winter tyres for 12 months on my Octavia diesel without any problems, although on the nicest days I tended to use the Boxster and so only used it on miserable days or when I needed extra seats/ practicality. On all 3 rwd cars I've fitted winter tyres to the wear has actually been better than summer tyres and mpg even slightly better than during the summer months, despite the lower ambient temperature.
I've got winter tyres ready for the 730d again this year. This says it all really:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STaximkaQxo&lis...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STaximkaQxo&lis...
Love winter tyres and wheels. Can go anywhere on them, even with SMG. Used my Vredstein Wintrac's on my old M3 and they now go on the CSL for 6 months of the year.
Added benefit that you don't worry about curbing or nicking wheels etc
Also got a Skoda runabout with 14" wheels, tyres are dead cheap and I've just ordered some Avon Ice Tourings that will stay on all year round.
Added benefit that you don't worry about curbing or nicking wheels etc
Also got a Skoda runabout with 14" wheels, tyres are dead cheap and I've just ordered some Avon Ice Tourings that will stay on all year round.
///Mike said:
I have never run winter tyres despite the fact that I would like to. I just can't justify the cost for 3 snow days a year when I can work from home. All the other days when its cold and slippy I just drive to the conditions knowing I am on summer tyres.
But there's no real money lost overall, just an up front investment required.Wheels and winter tyres will always re-sell on ebay when you sell the car. They hold on to most of their value.
And it saves summer tyre wear anyway as well as avoiding damaging expensive wheels (or the whole car if you slide it), and avoids worrying about it.
Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff