220i M Sport / Winter tyres
Discussion
My 220i is currently sat with its run flats in about 10 inches of snow on my hilly, icy road. I have not moved it for 4 days. So... just looking for opinions on winter tyres and tyre hotels. BMW's online store offer either the 16" BMW steel wheel 12 or the 17" BMW turbine styling 381 - any opinions on either of them?
Thanks!
Thanks!
d_a_n1979 said:
Check Mr WinterWheels too
But I'm an advocate of winter tyres; not just for the snowy weather but also for the cold and wet temps that we DO get every year etc
If you're in a position to get some and use them; go for it
Thank you for your thoughts and the Mr WinterWheels tip! But I'm an advocate of winter tyres; not just for the snowy weather but also for the cold and wet temps that we DO get every year etc
If you're in a position to get some and use them; go for it
I don't mind a few days stranded (during lockdown it doesn't make a huge difference) but with more snow forecast I need to consider an alternative
Winter tyres are not just for snow. I use water tyre and they are effective below 7 degree C. The type compound stays flexible in low tempresure meaning in wet/ice/snow and cold your stopping distance is reduced. The is true for any car 4 or 2 wheel drive the stopping distance will be the same. If you want more traction to get going you will need 4 wheel drive and in deeper snow, snow tyres with spike might be needed.
Ive had my tyres on since xmas and found in amusing recently when a guy in an Audi Quattro could not keep up with my BMW 320D ( 2 wheel drive) on a trip to St Andrews to assist my 80 year old parents with a broken boiler. I am just happy that it feels a lot safer.
Ive had my tyres on since xmas and found in amusing recently when a guy in an Audi Quattro could not keep up with my BMW 320D ( 2 wheel drive) on a trip to St Andrews to assist my 80 year old parents with a broken boiler. I am just happy that it feels a lot safer.
I have a set of style 411 which I bought new and used for a F20 125d - email me if interested - I haven’t used them in a few years and have been meaning to offload.
I’ve always used winters for the last 10-11 years and wouldn’t go without them. Snow events become a non-issue and you wonder what all the fuss is about.
I’ve always used winters for the last 10-11 years and wouldn’t go without them. Snow events become a non-issue and you wonder what all the fuss is about.
I'm on my second set of winter tyres on a 340i xdrive.
The first were Bridgestone Blizzaks which was the recommended tyre from BMW Switzerland. Here each year they do a deal in September for a wheel / tyre set.
The Bridgestones were horrific on snow. They got reasonable traction going straight but the car understeered like crazy on tight turns. The only way of getting round a hairpin on the local passes was to switch traction off, get the car to start turning in and then boot the back round. It might sound like good fun but in a snow storm at 2 in the morning after a long days work with a big drop off the side it was anything but. I also was slower than a fiat panda.
When they wore out I asked the BMW dealer for a set of non run-flats and were provided some Continentals. The difference is night and day. Before I had consigned the car to the 'useless in the snow' category. With the Continentals it's not far off my old Subarus (traction off is best but it now holds its line).
I drive a lot in snow (it was -25 degrees this morning and there has been snow on the ground for the last 6 weeks) so it's snow-focused winter tyres that matter. If you just want a cold-weather tyre obviously other priorities might be more important. Studded tyres aren't an option here. I never use chains and as I have winter tyres / AWD don't have to.
I have a theory that the Bridgestones could have been badly stored by the original BMW dealer as I can't imagine Bridgestone would make such a bad tyre. It had it's BMW agency taken off it since I bought the original tyres and I now have a good local dealer.
I run the smallest set of wheels that I can and the BMW dealer swaps them over and stores them.
The first were Bridgestone Blizzaks which was the recommended tyre from BMW Switzerland. Here each year they do a deal in September for a wheel / tyre set.
The Bridgestones were horrific on snow. They got reasonable traction going straight but the car understeered like crazy on tight turns. The only way of getting round a hairpin on the local passes was to switch traction off, get the car to start turning in and then boot the back round. It might sound like good fun but in a snow storm at 2 in the morning after a long days work with a big drop off the side it was anything but. I also was slower than a fiat panda.
When they wore out I asked the BMW dealer for a set of non run-flats and were provided some Continentals. The difference is night and day. Before I had consigned the car to the 'useless in the snow' category. With the Continentals it's not far off my old Subarus (traction off is best but it now holds its line).
I drive a lot in snow (it was -25 degrees this morning and there has been snow on the ground for the last 6 weeks) so it's snow-focused winter tyres that matter. If you just want a cold-weather tyre obviously other priorities might be more important. Studded tyres aren't an option here. I never use chains and as I have winter tyres / AWD don't have to.
I have a theory that the Bridgestones could have been badly stored by the original BMW dealer as I can't imagine Bridgestone would make such a bad tyre. It had it's BMW agency taken off it since I bought the original tyres and I now have a good local dealer.
I run the smallest set of wheels that I can and the BMW dealer swaps them over and stores them.
I use Goodyear ultrgrip winter tyres on my 440i (and the wifes S3), they have consistently been top of the pile in tyres tests. cold weather and wet grip is excellent and in snow they are unstoppable.
Wheels were bought from Tyreleader (around £400 for 18 x 8) and tyres from Camskill (around £400 for 225/40/18). £300 cheaper than buying sets complete. Wouldn’t be without them from. November to March.
Dave
Wheels were bought from Tyreleader (around £400 for 18 x 8) and tyres from Camskill (around £400 for 225/40/18). £300 cheaper than buying sets complete. Wouldn’t be without them from. November to March.
Dave
I'm also running the Goodyear Ultragrips on my 535d on 17s (smallest wheel size i can fit). Surprisingly quiet for a winter tyre. I was out an about in Harrogate and the surrounding areas last week as well when they had a decent amount of the white stuff and had no problems at all, very impressed.
as others have said, they provide benefits outside the usual couple of centimetres of snow we get each year too.
as others have said, they provide benefits outside the usual couple of centimetres of snow we get each year too.
Before you commit it might be worth checking the plate inside the driver's door to see if 16s would work, because your M-Sport may have bigger front brakes that need 17s.
But winter tyres are well worth having on any RWD BMW!
I bought an E91 in February 2018 that had Bridgestone Blizzaks fitted and it was amazingly good when the Beast from the East arrived - although I did have to find another set of wheels with summer tyres a few months later.
I replaced it with an E90 in March 2019 that came on summers but also with a 2nd set of wheels with Hankook winters - it looks like I may get to test them soon.
But winter tyres are well worth having on any RWD BMW!
I bought an E91 in February 2018 that had Bridgestone Blizzaks fitted and it was amazingly good when the Beast from the East arrived - although I did have to find another set of wheels with summer tyres a few months later.
I replaced it with an E90 in March 2019 that came on summers but also with a 2nd set of wheels with Hankook winters - it looks like I may get to test them soon.
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