Are bridgestone potenza re050a any good in snow?
Discussion
As per the subject, are bridgestone potenza re050a (run flat) any good in the snow/cold weather?
By snow I mean, light covering, slushy salt broken snow. Not the type you would find in a field.
Thinking of garaging the car for 8 weeks during the worst snow period here, because I can't seem to find winter tyres in 255/19/35, and buying a new set of wheels and tyres just for 8 weeks isn't an option as I have a crap 2nd car with winter tyres on already.
Thanks,
By snow I mean, light covering, slushy salt broken snow. Not the type you would find in a field.
Thinking of garaging the car for 8 weeks during the worst snow period here, because I can't seem to find winter tyres in 255/19/35, and buying a new set of wheels and tyres just for 8 weeks isn't an option as I have a crap 2nd car with winter tyres on already.
Thanks,
Had them on my 335d. Terrible in the rain, alarming in the snow or ice, even at pedestrian speeds. It's the RFTs fault, more so than RWD or width IMO. Have same size in non-RFT on my CSL and had in same width on previous E46s without the same degree of issues. They have a tendency to bubble in the sidewalls if they hit potholes too
Hmm, as I suspected, as I've just read a tyre review website with 60+ reviews about how "crap" the tyres are. Have to say, very hard, tram lining, bumpy, but grippy in the dry.
Looking to swap the wheels to 19" CSL which are 9.5" on the back (265 I believe), so will wait until they wear out, then swap with new tyres (non run flat) and carry a space saver.
Looks like it's the garage for it then, until the snow passes.
Looking to swap the wheels to 19" CSL which are 9.5" on the back (265 I believe), so will wait until they wear out, then swap with new tyres (non run flat) and carry a space saver.
Looks like it's the garage for it then, until the snow passes.
stuart-b said:
Hmm, as I suspected, as I've just read a tyre review website with 60+ reviews about how "crap" the tyres are. Have to say, very hard, tram lining, bumpy, but grippy in the dry.
Looking to swap the wheels to 19" CSL which are 9.5" on the back (265 I believe), so will wait until they wear out, then swap with new tyres (non run flat) and carry a space saver.
Looks like it's the garage for it then, until the snow passes.
Yep, CSLs are 9.5" on the rear, but I'm actually running 255 on them fine. Will go to 265 Michelin Supersports nextLooking to swap the wheels to 19" CSL which are 9.5" on the back (265 I believe), so will wait until they wear out, then swap with new tyres (non run flat) and carry a space saver.
Looks like it's the garage for it then, until the snow passes.
Front CSLs are 9.0" running 235, but many "CSL" wheels are actually Comp wheels which are 8.5" fronts. Rears the same size Comp or CSL
Leins said:
Yep, CSLs are 9.5" on the rear, but I'm actually running 255 on them fine. Will go to 265 Michelin Supersports next
Front CSLs are 9.0" running 235, but many "CSL" wheels are actually Comp wheels which are 8.5" fronts. Rears the same size Comp or CSL
Ok - I think the ones I want to get are 9" on the front too, not sure yet. Won't be happening until Spring 2013, unless I can source some in Germany.Front CSLs are 9.0" running 235, but many "CSL" wheels are actually Comp wheels which are 8.5" fronts. Rears the same size Comp or CSL
As long as the tyre selection is good - I'm Ok with it. I was worried that going even wider, would start to get very expensive, but I don't think anything is worse than £355 per tyre at the rear (with a discount!).
stuart-b said:
Ok - I think the ones I want to get are 9" on the front too, not sure yet. Won't be happening until Spring 2013, unless I can source some in Germany.
As long as the tyre selection is good - I'm Ok with it. I was worried that going even wider, would start to get very expensive, but I don't think anything is worse than £355 per tyre at the rear (with a discount!).
Yeah, the last set of rears I bought for the 335d were cheapest from Kwik-fit nearly 3 years ago but not too much less than that. Live in Ireland now and can get full set of Michelin PSS for the CSL for about €1250 (235/265), which equates to about £1000As long as the tyre selection is good - I'm Ok with it. I was worried that going even wider, would start to get very expensive, but I don't think anything is worse than £355 per tyre at the rear (with a discount!).
Leins said:
Yeah, the last set of rears I bought for the 335d were cheapest from Kwik-fit nearly 3 years ago but not too much less than that. Live in Ireland now and can get full set of Michelin PSS for the CSL for about €1250 (235/265), which equates to about £1000
Ok- thanks. Had a bit of an 'experience' at the weekend. Went to a lake nearby, had to go 'offroad' which was quite amusing (a bit of grass/mud which wasn't really muddy, very hard). Must have been 15 degree incline, possibly 18, and could barely get back up. So I don't have much faith in the snow. The car is also so low (comparatively speaking), that I can't go down any non-tarmac roads either. Bit of a pain. I can see the benefit of the X6!!! (hides) 
t in snowy conditions.Interested to hear that people don't like them, I have RE050As on my E46 and think they're actually pretty good, though admittedly they are slightly less impressive in the wet.
My findings could well be down to 205/55R16 size, though, perhaps the bar is set somewhat higher in wider, lower-profile setups.
My findings could well be down to 205/55R16 size, though, perhaps the bar is set somewhat higher in wider, lower-profile setups.
McSam said:
Interested to hear that people don't like them, I have RE050As on my E46 and think they're actually pretty good, though admittedly they are slightly less impressive in the wet.
My findings could well be down to 205/55R16 size, though, perhaps the bar is set somewhat higher in wider, lower-profile setups.
Are they RFTs?My findings could well be down to 205/55R16 size, though, perhaps the bar is set somewhat higher in wider, lower-profile setups.
McSam said:
Interested to hear that people don't like them, I have RE050As on my E46 and think they're actually pretty good, though admittedly they are slightly less impressive in the wet.
My findings could well be down to 205/55R16 size, though, perhaps the bar is set somewhat higher in wider, lower-profile setups.
I don't think they make R16 run flats. R19/35 profile RFs are bone shaking. However the reason I tolerate them is I feel safer at high speeds on the motorways. However, that makes up around 0.1% of my annual journey, and only when I visit Munich and can't help myself.My findings could well be down to 205/55R16 size, though, perhaps the bar is set somewhat higher in wider, lower-profile setups.
We can get quite a lot of snow here, and down to -20c. You're supposed to carry chains too. My Astra with winter tyres is much better suited! Don't think I'll even risk it.
stuart-b said:
I don't think they make R16 run flats. R19/35 profile RFs are bone shaking. However the reason I tolerate them is I feel safer at high speeds on the motorways. However, that makes up around 0.1% of my annual journey, and only when I visit Munich and can't help myself.
We can get quite a lot of snow here, and down to -20c. You're supposed to carry chains too. My Astra with winter tyres is much better suited! Don't think I'll even risk it.
Actually, you can get 16 RFTs, as fitted to more basic spec E90s, amongst other models. But I don't recall any E46s coming with them, although some models (like the M3s) do have tyre sensorsWe can get quite a lot of snow here, and down to -20c. You're supposed to carry chains too. My Astra with winter tyres is much better suited! Don't think I'll even risk it.
stuart-b said:
McSam said:
Interested to hear that people don't like them, I have RE050As on my E46 and think they're actually pretty good, though admittedly they are slightly less impressive in the wet.
My findings could well be down to 205/55R16 size, though, perhaps the bar is set somewhat higher in wider, lower-profile setups.
I don't think they make R16 run flats. R19/35 profile RFs are bone shaking. However the reason I tolerate them is I feel safer at high speeds on the motorways. However, that makes up around 0.1% of my annual journey, and only when I visit Munich and can't help myself.My findings could well be down to 205/55R16 size, though, perhaps the bar is set somewhat higher in wider, lower-profile setups.
We can get quite a lot of snow here, and down to -20c. You're supposed to carry chains too. My Astra with winter tyres is much better suited! Don't think I'll even risk it.
. Doesn't surprise me about the ride, but I was more wondering about people saying they don't actually perform that well either!Trevor450 said:
No. I had severe problems in my Subaru and had to resort to getting some winter tyres. They go rock hard like plastic when it gets cold.
I found they were not quite as good as the Goodyear F1s, but I had no real trouble getting around in the Impreza in the snow. Unlike the BMW which I could not even get off the drive.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff