[arya328xi]

I'm trying to figure out if all-seasons are good enough in conjunction with my xDrive or not and I'm reading a lot of speculation and nothing from people who have tried it.

So, Albertans specifically, have you braved a winter with xDrive and all-seasons? Is it a reasonable proposition? Or should I suck it up and get a winter set?

[Jricci]

I done it in Toronto np

[Yvette]

i have winters on stock, all season on my summer wheels.
only reason i bought all season was because i left my winter setup at my parent's house. I had to go through winter in vancouver and didnt want to get another winter tires.
all season is perfectly fine

[BRAISKI]

Once I drove with my summer tires in winter and there was snow on the ground unexpectedly, it was terrible. Maybe not as bad as having it on a 2wd.

For sure all season will be better in winter than with summers, but the fact is that all season tires have different compound compared to winter tires.

I think AWD with winter tires is just awesome, its like a tank on the snow and esp since in AB you're allowed to have studs! If your #1 problem is paying for it then there is some conflict of interest between driving a BMW and being cheap on tires, so just suck it up, you wont regret it. I personally would never cheap out on safety.

The thing is there are plenty of areas in Canada where you may not need it badly as some other places.

[arya328xi]

Originally Posted by BRAISKI

Once I drove with my summer tires in winter and there was snow on the ground unexpectedly, it was terrible. Maybe not as bad as having it on a 2wd.

For sure all season will be better in winter than with summers, but the fact is that all season tires have different compound compared to winter tires.

I think AWD with winter tires is just awesome, its like a tank on the snow and esp since in AB you're allowed to have studs! If your #1 problem is paying for it then there is some conflict of interest between driving a BMW and being cheap on tires, so just suck it up, you wont regret it. I personally would never cheap out on safety.

The thing is there are plenty of areas in Canada where you may not need it badly as some other places.

Yeah I appreciate that, but I just dropped more than a grand on winter tires for an S4 I no longer have and I don't live in the country side or anything. Also I live in a condo with no garage level storage so dealing with wheels and tires is a huge pain in the ass.

I'm just wondering if all-seasons are good enough with the AWD.

[BRAISKI]

Originally Posted by arya328xi

Yeah I appreciate that, but I just dropped more than a grand on winter tires for an S4 I no longer have and I don't live in the country side or anything. Also I live in a condo with no garage level storage so dealing with wheels and tires is a huge pain in the ass.

I'm just wondering if all-seasons are good enough with the AWD.

You should have kept the winter tires from the S4.

I know what you mean I live in a codo too but have a storage room so I put my season wheel/tires there and I used to live in a house. Storage can be a challenge for sure.

[Inzane]

Originally Posted by arya328xi

I'm just wondering if all-seasons are good enough with the AWD.

"Good enough" is a matter of degree.

Unless you're extremely budget strapped I see no reason not to get winter tires in Alberta. They are low hanging fruit and a proven benefit for all types of vehicles. I actually hope our province eventually mandates them similar to what Quebec has done.

[Kyter]

I used all-seasons for the last two winters -- Didn't have any issues (This is in Toronto)

[Thrakos]

You're in Edmonton.. get a whack of snow... yes, they are good enough if you plan on leaving it parked in the garage. If, however, you plan on traveling the roads, do yourself, and the other drivers on the road, a favour and get winters.

Tons of barely used tires on kijiji.. right along cheap rims :-)

[BMWWW]

I always say the following to threads like this.
If you can avoid driving when snow hits, you'll be fine. But here's the mentality I personally subscribe to and voice on the subject:
All it takes is ONE rear end because you were unable to stop, to cost you more than the cost of a set of snow tires. Nevermind the dollar-value you place on your health and well-being.

That's all there really is to it.


Additional: stopping in winter is all about physics. I flunked out in grade 12 physics, but I think the lighter car on the best winter tires will stop shorter than a heavier car/shitty tires. Lots of shitboxes out there in winter with winter tires. Food for thought.

[Andy M]

In Toronto: all-seasons are probably ok because you can get around via TTC or GO Train if there's a ton of snow. Plus Toronto salts the roads so much you're not driving on ice.

@arya328xi is in Edmonton. I lived in Edmonton for most of my life and I drove my 335xi for two winters before moving to Toronto. You definitely want winters. Even with my performance winter tires, I found I would lose control in some residential areas in Edmonton. In Toronto they salt the place so much the snow is practically gone. In Edmonton you're always driving on a layer of ice and snow, especially in residential areas where they just compact the snow instead of remove (e.g. Riverbend...seriously highest taxes in all of Edmonton, no snow removal!) Torontonians have never seen winter driving like Edmontonians!! (where do you think I learned how to drift??? It's like a survival skill in Edmonton winters!)

Also, remember that all wheel drive just prevents you from spinning out. That's good for going. For stopping you need friction: get winters (it's softer rubber so it sticks better).

Btw, remember too for the cost: you'll use your summer tires half the time, your winters for the other half. The wear is still 12 months a year regardless. Instead of replacing your tires more often, you'll take twice as long (but you'll be paying twice for tires initially). Cost pretty much works out to the same (except you'll need rims for the wheels...but you can get aftermarket rims for winter)

[E90Brad]

I used the contipros that came with the vehicle for half a winter season on a 335xi. Several trips up and down the qe2. I found them really crappy, especially in slushy weather, found that it pushed the vehicle around a lot and braking was severely effected.

Got a set of blizzaks for the next winter and have never had a problem with them.

[DMOS]

I just moved from Edmonton. I have an xi. All Seasons (otherwise known as "no seasons") won't help you stop on the ice at each and every intersection. All the monster trucks people drive have mudders on, and they polish up the ice as they take off in 4x4 with a cloud of diesel smoke. Give yourself a chance and buy some proper winters. As mentioned above it'll make your other tires last longer.

Plus your ski season will be restricted to November and May only if you want to get to any of the fun places worth driving to.

[Thrakos]

Originally Posted by BMWWW

Additional: stopping in winter is all about physics. I flunked out in grade 12 physics, but I think the lighter car on the best winter tires will stop shorter than a heavier car/shitty tires. Lots of shitboxes out there in winter with winter tires. Food for thought.

3 words to give you food for thought: coefficient of friction

[Rossland]

I just installed a set of Conti Extreme Contact all seasons, and I will use them year round. We live in the county in S Ontario with lots of snow and ice in the winter.