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[InsanePineapple]

Hi folks, I'm looking at a 335i in VA (I'm in MA) and started thinking about transportation. I read that the stock 18" Bridgestones are not very good in cold temperatures and/or snow. If I were to purchase the vehicle, I'd need to get it home somehow. I'm thinking about just driving it back, as it's only about 8.5 hours. As you guys may know, we've had a string of snow storms in the northeast. While I can probably find a day that is not snowing, I'm concerned about the tire's low temperature performance. We are probably talking about temperatures in the 20s to 30s. What do you guys think? Is the trip doable or too sketchy?

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

Summer tires in anything under 40 degrees is not a good idea. Put snow into the mix and you're asking for an accident.

[galahad05]

sketchy

The summer runflats (Bridgestone RE050A) will be hockey pucks in the 20s. You can drive---carefully---on them in the cold, but your cornering, acceleration, and most importantly stopping will be badly compromised.

[HoustonGuy]

grab some winters or chains

[fdriller9]

+1 to the above 3 posts.

Never run summers in the winter....they have the possibility of cracking in really cold temps.....not to mention they perform horribly on snow/ice. All seasons are ok for cold weather driving but if you are doing snow driving, a set of winter tires is a MUST!!

[Potty_Pants]

thought summer tires were crap below 60 degrees
and allseason tires were lacking in 40 degrees or below.

the compound of the winter tires allows them to work below 40...

my temps may be off but you get the picture... now im going to try and google the exact temps.

ppp

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by Potty_Pants

thought summer tires were crap below 60 degrees
and allseason tires were lacking in 40 degrees or below.

the compound of the winter tires allows them to work below 40...

my temps may be off but you get the picture... now im going to try and google the exact temps.

ppp

Well they wouldn't call them all season if they couldn't be used in the winter, right?

I have all seasons on my stock 159s now. Once they wear out I'll be mounting snows but for now they still have a good amount of treed left.

I also had my summer wheels on till thanksgiving. Temps were around 35 - 40 when I took them off.

[Potty_Pants]

Originally Posted by *********

Well they wouldn't call them all season if they couldn't be used in the winter, right?

I have all seasons on my stock 159s now. Once they wear out I'll be mounting snows but for now they still have a good amount of treed left.

I also had my summer wheels on till thanksgiving. Temps were around 35 - 40 when I took them off.

word !

best way to describe all season... not good not bad in all seasons

I myself have driven (unfortunately) with summer tires in NJ for 5 years or so. not wise at all. summer are much harder as the temps go down and will slip much more as well.

just recently i switched to all season... i rather have ok performance in summer and ok performance in winter. but you get the idea.

ppp

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by Potty_Pants

word !

best way to describe all season... not good not bad in all seasons

I myself have driven (unfortunately) with summer tires in NJ for 5 years or so. not wise at all. summer are much harder as the temps go down and will slip much more as well.

just recently i switched to all season... i rather have ok performance in summer and ok performance in winter. but you get the idea.

ppp

Well what I'm doing is I have 2 sets of wheels. My stock 159s wrapped in OEM all season contis....for winter driving. And a set of breytons with summers. Used in all other seasons.

This way I don't need to mount and balance tires each season. It pays off in the long run....depending on how much driving you do.

[InsanePineapple]

It certainly wouldn't be ideal, but I'm not sure how I would get snow tires on a car that's 8.5 hours away at a dealership. Also, this is my last winter in New England, I'll be moving south later this year where snow tires are not needed. So once I get the car back to MA, I plan to store the car in a garage and not drive it until it gets warmer. It seems like a waste to buy a full set of snow tires for just 2 months.

[bbbradley]

Originally Posted by morfinx

It seems like a waste to buy a full set of snow tires for just 2 months.

Do you want advice (see above comments) or justification for making a poor decision?

You will not be guaranteed certain disaster if you take the trip on the current tires, though throw in a snowstorm/ice/extreme cold and your drive will be challenging to say the least. How much risk of damage to your car are you willing to accept? If you can time the trip such that the weather looks clear and understand traction will be compromised by the low temps (and drive accordingly) you may very well be fine. A freak snow storm during the drive throw a wrench in the plans.

good luck!

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by *********

Well they wouldn't call them all season if they couldn't be used in the winter, right?

I have all seasons on my stock 159s now. Once they wear out I'll be mounting snows but for now they still have a good amount of treed left.

I also had my summer wheels on till thanksgiving. Temps were around 35 - 40 when I took them off.

They can be used in winter but why would you ? There are endless threads on this subject . Basically Tirerack and all the Magazines will tell you that All Season tires are basically "No Season" tires as they are not great in any season. Go to www.tirerack.com and watch the winter video. All Seasons lose their grip at 30-40 degrees. Summers lose it at 40-50. I wouldnt make that trip on summers.

[JuppiOne]

If there is not going to be snow, and you know for sure there will be none, then you can always drive easier and turn slower to minimize your chance of losing traction, but since you just got the car, the bigger questions is.... can you?

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by morfinx

It certainly wouldn't be ideal, but I'm not sure how I would get snow tires on a car that's 8.5 hours away at a dealership. Also, this is my last winter in New England, I'll be moving south later this year where snow tires are not needed. So once I get the car back to MA, I plan to store the car in a garage and not drive it until it gets warmer. It seems like a waste to buy a full set of snow tires for just 2 months.

Your logic is flawed dude. You are going to go through at least two sets of tires in the life of the car so why not make one of them winters? They will last a long time and your summers will last longer as they will be in the garage all winter. Its Law in Quebec and should be in Toronto. Don't understand the logic behind summers and all season.

[Fisch]

Originally Posted by morfinx

It certainly wouldn't be ideal, but I'm not sure how I would get snow tires on a car that's 8.5 hours away at a dealership. Also, this is my last winter in New England, I'll be moving south later this year where snow tires are not needed. So once I get the car back to MA, I plan to store the car in a garage and not drive it until it gets warmer. It seems like a waste to buy a full set of snow tires for just 2 months.

You will be okay driving in low temps. It's definitely not ideal temps for the tire so just don't push it through corners or enjoy tailgating the person in front of you. Snow on the other hand don't even try it! Check the forecast and be absolutely sure it's not going to snow (small flurries are okay, but if it starts to stick don't drive). Even if it recently snowed I'd give them a good amount of time to get all the slick spots on the road cleared up.

I took my car out for a spin around the block when it was snowing here to see how the summer tires performed in the snow and there was only a light dusting on the road. So light I could still see the yellow line on the roadway. ABS was kicking on during normal stops, traction control going crazy up small hills. Definitely if you were going to stay in the NE I would get snow tires. If you want to get by these last few winter months before you move somewhere warmer then definitely don't drive in the snow, drive a different car, ride with someone else, etc...

[bkrM3]

Originally Posted by morfinx

Hi folks, I'm looking at a 335i in VA (I'm in MA) and started thinking about transportation. I read that the stock 18" Bridgestones are not very good in cold temperatures and/or snow. If I were to purchase the vehicle, I'd need to get it home somehow. I'm thinking about just driving it back, as it's only about 8.5 hours. As you guys may know, we've had a string of snow storms in the northeast. While I can probably find a day that is not snowing, I'm concerned about the tire's low temperature performance. We are probably talking about temperatures in the 20s to 30s. What do you guys think? Is the trip doable or too sketchy?

I'd just watch the weather and make sure everything is clear and salted before you try that drive. If it's not actually snowing and the roads arent soaked, you should be able to make the trip ok on the summers if you drive cautiously.

The key is not to drive like a moron.

If you try that road trip a) when its snowing, b) with a chance of ice or c) with very wet, cold roads on summer tires, you're taking a huge risk.

I'd wait till the weather cooperates for a couple days, get the car to MA and have a set of snow tires there waiting for it (unless you have alternate transportation!).

[Fisch]

Originally Posted by Leaker

Your logic is flawed dude. You are going to go through at least two sets of tires in the life of the car so why not make one of them winters? They will last a long time and your summers will last longer as they will be in the garage all winter. Its Law in Quebec and should be in Toronto. Don't understand the logic behind summers and all season.

Sounds like he is storing the car until winter is over and moving to somewhere like California/Florida where summer tires would be okay year round. In that case it seems pointless to put winter tires on for the one time the car will ever see cold weather with him as the owner. As long as there is no snow for his trip and he's not driving it like he stole it back to MA then he will be okay until he pulls the car out of the garage in the spring and moves somewhere warm.

[dre_2ooo]

It can be done.

I bought a '93 RX-7 in Maryland and drove it back here in January once on Falken Azenis... got stuck in a hotel parking lot with .75" of snow! Luckily my friend was with to help push me. On the cold, dry roads, watch yourself and keep the DSC on. Turbo+RWD = tailhappy w/o proper tires.

[bbbradley]

Originally Posted by dre_2ooo

I bought a '93 RX-7 in Maryland and drove it back here in January once on Falken Azenis...

A fantastic dry, warm weather tire based on the 3 sets I burned through in the Miata. I think avoiding snow with them would be prudent as you noticed.

[InsanePineapple]

Originally Posted by Fisch

Sounds like he is storing the car until winter is over and moving to somewhere like California/Florida where summer tires would be okay year round. In that case it seems pointless to put winter tires on for the one time the car will ever see cold weather with him as the owner. As long as there is no snow for his trip and he's not driving it like he stole it back to MA then he will be okay until he pulls the car out of the garage in the spring and moves somewhere warm.

Texas, actually But you are exactly right. I'm really only worried about making this trip. I got a bit spooked when I read the reviews on tire rack on the Bridgestones. People made it seem like you are certain to crash if you drive with them at below 40 degrees.

[dre_2ooo]

Originally Posted by bbbradley

A fantastic dry, warm weather tire based on the 3 sets I burned through in the Miata. I think avoiding snow with them would be prudent as you noticed.

Yeah I was VERY lucky that there was actually no precipitation on my trip back. I flew out there last minute ($$) when I knew the weather would be clear for the drive back.

[anerbe]

Originally Posted by morfinx

Texas, actually But you are exactly right. I'm really only worried about making this trip. I got a bit spooked when I read the reviews on tire rack on the Bridgestones. People made it seem like you are certain to crash if you drive with them at below 40 degrees.

Drive VERY carefully with the summers on. If there's any chance of snow, do not drive it. Summer tires are very dangerous in snow/ice. VERY.

For the amount of money/headache of buying snow tires/wheels/etc... use a transport company to ship the car. This way, there's very little chance of damaging the car, especially with all the snow in the east.