Winter Tyres....yes or no?
Discussion
Hi all,
I have a 2007 BMW 320d E90 which I bought in February so this year will be its first full winter. Also this is my first ever owning a bmw, my question is how bad (or not) are they in snow? Looking around winter tyres are pretty expensive. I have the 18" MV4 wheels on it, current tyres are not run flats.
Heres my situation...I live very near main road which normally gets cleared of snow and only journey will be to work on the dual carriageway, the real snow problems I foresee is the estate where I work which rarely gets cleared of snow.
So my question is do I need winter tyres? Do they make a big difference? Will the DTC and DSC help or not if I don't?
Any advice much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
I have a 2007 BMW 320d E90 which I bought in February so this year will be its first full winter. Also this is my first ever owning a bmw, my question is how bad (or not) are they in snow? Looking around winter tyres are pretty expensive. I have the 18" MV4 wheels on it, current tyres are not run flats.
Heres my situation...I live very near main road which normally gets cleared of snow and only journey will be to work on the dual carriageway, the real snow problems I foresee is the estate where I work which rarely gets cleared of snow.
So my question is do I need winter tyres? Do they make a big difference? Will the DTC and DSC help or not if I don't?
Any advice much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Don't think that you only benefit from them when it's snowed. They're designed specifically to cope with sub-zero temperatures as well as all the other side-effects such as slush, rain etc.
They make a huge difference. However, the budget brands are only marginally better than brand new premium summer tyres so choose wisely.
They make a huge difference. However, the budget brands are only marginally better than brand new premium summer tyres so choose wisely.
Definite "yes" from me. For the last couple of years my E91 335d has been useless in the snow, couldn't even get over the camber of the road. Although it was lots of fund sliding around empty roads, it was also downright scary on any roads with compacted snow and hard things to hit like parked cars and lamp posts. The 255 wide rear tyres just didn't have any grip.
I've just ordered a set of 18" Vredstein Wintracs for £600 from MyTyres; I'm intending to use them from the end of October until March, they'll pay for themselves pretty quickly in terms of reduced wear on the PS2s.
Cheers,
Pete
I've just ordered a set of 18" Vredstein Wintracs for £600 from MyTyres; I'm intending to use them from the end of October until March, they'll pay for themselves pretty quickly in terms of reduced wear on the PS2s.
Cheers,
Pete
Frances The Mute said:
Don't think that you only benefit from them when it's snowed. They're designed specifically to cope with sub-zero temperatures as well as all the other side-effects such as slush, rain etc.
This. Actually they're designed for temps under 7C IIRC. Totally worth it and don't forget you can always use 17" steelies (or whatever BMW recommend), doesn't have to be 18".They made a massive difference for me and made driving in snow the most fun I've had in a car. Yes, it's an extra expense but you'll be resting the summer tyres while the other set are on so effectively you're not really adding that much expense save the extra wheels and hassle of putting them on/off.
BTW, in snow your rear-wheel drive BMW will go *nowhere* without them. Unless you have a back up plan for getting to work or don't need to go on those days then you need them.
Yeah, 7C is the figure mooted but it's balls if you think about it. It's not like a switch where suddenly summer tyres fall off the road at that temperature. Although, Wanli's do this at anthing below 15C...
Fact is that near zero and below, the rubber in summer tyres will toughen up quite quickly partly due to the lack of natural rubber in them, funnily enough.
The winter equivalents have a higher concentration of natural rubber as well as a revised glass transition temperature which means they remain far more pliable at lower temperatures as well as having a dedicated tread pattern design to help key into poor road surfaces and wider tread grooves to help pack in snow to gain extra traction when those conditions arise.
They're a very worthwhile buy and can make all the difference between having a near miss and ruining your day/NCB.
Fact is that near zero and below, the rubber in summer tyres will toughen up quite quickly partly due to the lack of natural rubber in them, funnily enough.
The winter equivalents have a higher concentration of natural rubber as well as a revised glass transition temperature which means they remain far more pliable at lower temperatures as well as having a dedicated tread pattern design to help key into poor road surfaces and wider tread grooves to help pack in snow to gain extra traction when those conditions arise.
They're a very worthwhile buy and can make all the difference between having a near miss and ruining your day/NCB.
Frances The Mute said:
Yeah, 7C is the figure mooted but it's balls if you think about it.
The change would be gradual, and I think 7C is where they are probably equal in performance. Anything lower and the winters are better than summers and anything higher the reverse - but a gradual change.If any BMW-owning PHers who want to fit winter tyres are in the Essex/Suffolk area, I've got a set of 16" E46 wheels (also fit E36, may fit others too!) which I would benefit from having the space back. They're not perfect, but very acceptable; the 'standard' SE wheel - seven broad spokes.
Collect 'em and push £50 into my grubby mitts and they're yours
Collect 'em and push £50 into my grubby mitts and they're yours
Collected mine from BMW last Saturday ready to go on my E91 335D, probably in November. I was told BMW have about 260 sets in stock for the 3 series. I was offered 4 different styles for the 335d - i chose the "284" style.
They were expensive but when you factor in that a full set of summer rubber is about £1k the "alloys" aren't that much!
Last year I bought a set of winters for my wifes Abarth 500 and they were on for 5 months (Nov - Mar) and in that time i think there were only a hand full of days the car was used in conditions above 10 degreesC.
The grip in wet, slush, cold and snow was incredible. I will never run any car in the UK over winter without them. Wear was no worse than summer tyres on the abarth so the only "cost" is the hassle of swapping and storing the tyres/wheels. (I will get upfront cost for the second wheels back come resale)
They were expensive but when you factor in that a full set of summer rubber is about £1k the "alloys" aren't that much!
Last year I bought a set of winters for my wifes Abarth 500 and they were on for 5 months (Nov - Mar) and in that time i think there were only a hand full of days the car was used in conditions above 10 degreesC.
The grip in wet, slush, cold and snow was incredible. I will never run any car in the UK over winter without them. Wear was no worse than summer tyres on the abarth so the only "cost" is the hassle of swapping and storing the tyres/wheels. (I will get upfront cost for the second wheels back come resale)
Edited by Ruxpin on Wednesday 14th September 17:07
Definitely. They make a huge difference in most conditions. I am a complete convert.
No good to OP but if anyone has a E60/61 and is looking to save some money on a set of winter tyres and wheels I have a set of genuine MV 2 18 alloys with 245.40.18 winter Goodyear Ultragrip winter runflats. As new. Covered less than 800 miles - 8mm + all round, wheels indistiguishable from new. They won't fit my new F11
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200648041292?ssPageName=STRK:ME...
PS they give much better ride than normal run flats (softer construction) and car looks much better than on 17s or skinnies.
No good to OP but if anyone has a E60/61 and is looking to save some money on a set of winter tyres and wheels I have a set of genuine MV 2 18 alloys with 245.40.18 winter Goodyear Ultragrip winter runflats. As new. Covered less than 800 miles - 8mm + all round, wheels indistiguishable from new. They won't fit my new F11
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200648041292?ssPageName=STRK:ME...
PS they give much better ride than normal run flats (softer construction) and car looks much better than on 17s or skinnies.
Edited by drmark on Wednesday 14th September 20:30
As my 540 is no longer used for commuting I won't be getting a set of winters for it, however if I was keeping it then I would do. My Golf has a set and my Skoda will be getting a set too. If I am not on client site I am generally not 1. Billing or 2. Selling work. It doesn't take long away to justify the cost of a set of tyres.
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