[MEGA]

Originally Posted by xenon

Exactly my point

I fitted the winters to my wife's E87 yesterday (just in time) but haven't put any on my F10 because the winter wheel pack was £1750 and it's just too much. Ironically my wife got a lift this morning and I never thought to take her car - so her car is fully wintered-up and is sitting at home and I'm here at work with 275-wide summer tyres and now it's snowing like fcuk

Yeah, have fun with that this evening !!!

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by xenon

Exactly my point

I fitted the winters to my wife's E87 yesterday (just in time) but haven't put any on my F10 because the winter wheel pack was £1750 and it's just too much. Ironically my wife got a lift this morning and I never thought to take her car - so her car is fully wintered-up and is sitting at home and I'm here at work with 275-wide summer tyres and now it's snowing like fcuk

So the F10 comes as standard with 275's,didn't know that.

Nothing quite like a f*ck off wide tyre in the snow,drifting has a whole new meaning,and it's nothing to do with the snow!

Enjoy

[xenon]

The M-Sport does anyway - 245/45/18 front and 275/40/18 rear.

Last year it simply would not reverse up the drive which is on a moderate slope; my wife's E87 on winters breezed up with no drama whatsoever.

I was amazed at the difference - perhaps winters will become mandatory for winter months like in most parts in Europe. I was in Dusseldorf last week and the taxi driver explained that it is law to have winter tyres between October 1st and March 31st.

[MEGA]

I thought you always used to be dead against winters Ian? Or am I thinking of someone else ..

[smacg]

Like most on here, when it is actually cold, i.e. 3, 4 or below, my winters are very good. They feel solid and I can trust them. but as recently its been around 7 or 8, even up to 10 then they arent very good at all. Even in my unmapped 320d the traction control flashes on more than id like.
Oh and im running Conti TS830p's.

[xenon]

Originally Posted by MEGA

I thought you always used to be dead against winters Ian? Or am I thinking of someone else ..

Someone else, Dave. I'm a huge fan - we have them on my wifes 120d and we can share that if it gets too bad. I couldn't justify spending £800 for the E87 (steelies) and then over £1700 for the F10 too so I may have moaned in the past about the price.

[phil200tdi]

Snow Day!



May go for a play in the landrover later....

[FRG]

Becaust I'm tight, I've got some cheapo Kumho winters on the rear and some other non descript brand on the front. I'll let you know just how shite they are when I get home which I'm 99% sure will involve me walking up my street not driving.

[Dizzle]

Spotted this offer on HotUKdeals:

Goodyear Ultragrip 8 Winter tyres £121.98 delivered for 2 @Camskill with £10 per tyre Tesco fuel voucher
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/good...r-tyre-1446250

Might of of interest to those looking for winter tyres. I run ultragrip 7's and I'm impressed so far

[Axelf]

Well I bought the wheel package from bmautosport ... 359 reps 18" and came with nankang tyres... Was a dubious about them at first but they have performed ok so far, on ice and snow....

[MattOz]

Have used winters for the last 3 years and wouldn't be without them. Looking forward to having a decent drive over the weekend

[alzieboy]

As previously posted am running Goodyear Ultra GripGW3 on the E90, took the wifes Golf out early this morning as it was in the garage so i didnt have to de-ice at 4.30 am, well the Falken 452 tyres on the Golf were a revelation they were crap in the snow up here in Norfolk and gave very little traction whatsoever, so from my experience this morning the winters fitted on my
E90 have proved themselves to be well worth the added expense, now looking for another set of Alloys for the GOLF to get winter rubber fitted for the Wifes car

[335d Rocco]

I'm really pleasantly surprised at how well the winter tyres I had put on last weekend are coping with the current conditions. We've still got snow here and I've seen temps of -7 on the display and the tyres have just kept gripping the road, I haven't seen the traction control light flashing at all, I was a little bit sceptical when I got them, thinking they can't make THAT much of a difference, but I'm thoroughly convinced now. I haven't drive around flooring it everywhere, I've just driven to the conditions and been very impressed.

I'm running bridgstone blizzaks on the front, which have felt very sure footed and have got dunlop Wintersport M3 on the rear which have also felt sure footed and not been at all twitchy.

[New_m3]

This is my second year my vredestein wintrac xtremes have seen snow. After getting stuck in the snow numerous times with my summer continental sport contact 3s I decided to take the plunge and haven’t looked back.

They only let you down in the dry warmer temperatures (+10c) where they get a bit squidgy and the traction control tends to cut in more when accelerating hard – which tells me to calm down and stop having so much fun!

[a11y]

I'm running the Falken HS439 winters in standard 225/40/18 + 255/35/18 sizes on my 330i and very happy. Average temp up here is probably somewhat lower than the majority of folk on here though.

I had winters on my previous Z4 in 225/50/16 (normal summer setup being staggered 18s) and found them ok but less than impressive. I put it down to the reduced width of the rears, hence going with the wider rears this time round. Obviously compromised in proper snow, but that's rare in the uk. I know it's not what bmw recommend but it works for me.

Out of interest, those who're less then impressed with their winters - narrower rears?

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by a11y

Out of interest, those who're less then impressed with their winters - narrower rears?

I had a staggered summer set on my 330d touring and a square winter set, both in 17" size. I found the winter set gave a better balanced chassis, neutral handling where the staggered set had a bit of understeer.

I used Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme without issues, in any winter conditions thrown at them.

Current 535i is on a square setup running Dunlop Winter Sport 3D, superb performing winter tyre. They handle the 535i power very well indeed, without traction control interference. Plus they work well in snow.

HighlandPete

[gIzzE]

I am running Winter Sport 4D's this year, best winter tyres I have ever had, amazingly good.

[New_m3]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

I had a staggered summer set on my 330d touring and a square winter set, both in 17" size. I found the winter set gave a better balanced chassis, neutral handling where the staggered set had a bit of understeer.

I used Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme without issues, in any winter conditions thrown at them.

Current 535i is on a square setup running Dunlop Winter Sport 3D, superb performing winter tyre. They handle the 535i power very well indeed, without traction control interference. Plus they work well in snow.

HighlandPete

Which did you think are better the Dunlops or Vredesteins? Did you find the traction control interfering with the Vredesteins?

I'm seeing the traction control light quite often with them just wondering if it's worthwhile trying another brand when these wear out. I'm using 245 on the front and 275 on the back.

[magic77]

Have set of Falken winters now second year on same set and totally agree as temps get closer to 10 they loose some of the performance but then thats by design to allow them to work better low down. As temps get closer to 0 the grip becomes amazing.

Commuting always early in morning and late at night it gives me that extra security blanket when if only summer 18" I would be sliding everywhere

We have about an inch of snow here so tempted to go for a drive but sensible head on got work to do

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by New_m3

Which did you think are better the Dunlops or Vredesteins? Did you find the traction control interfering with the Vredesteins?

I'm seeing the traction control light quite often with them just wondering if it's worthwhile trying another brand when these wear out. I'm using 245 on the front and 275 on the back.

Difficult to judge the 'better' tyre at the moment, need more snow for the Dunlops, but they do grip well on the worst snow type, slush. They work well in all other conditions, better than the Vred's on standing water where there was a slight tendency to aquaplane. But I'd say they are quite similar in overall performance. On either car, flooring the throttle at say 30mph on wet roads (on the straight) without any lights flashing.

The other factor, experience is on two different cars, so not a good test in itself. On the 330d the Vred's were 225 section so suited to winter driving. Dunlops are also 225 sections on the 535i.

On the M3 I'm sure the issues are far different, particularly on the wider sections. I see you'll have to modify the driving technique on any winter/cold weather tyre, but that is fair comment for winter driving anyway.

The Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D seems to be one of the best rated high performance tyres out of the current crop of winter tyres.

HighlandPete

[gangzoom]

First proper test for the winter tyres today, and have to say very impressed.
Made it to work just in time, all the main roads were rammed with traffic so decided to take to the ungritted side roads. Made it up 3 decent hills without problem, had to reverse down one of the hills because the car in front lost traction (it was a little Mazda hatchback thing), did a 180 and than started to slide towards my car with all 4 of its wheels locked

Given how well they performed tonight, happy to put up with rubbish grip in dry/warm weather....cannot wait for the drive home in the moroning

[MrPogle]

First snow for Cheshire today. I've been on Goodyear Ultragrips since the start of November and today's performance has made up for the previous 10 weeks of "why did I bother?".

Although they are theoretically better below 7 degrees, I can't feel it. Below about 3 degrees they feel much better planted and don't exhibit the nervousness and "on edge" feeling I get from the summer tyres.

Today, in actual snow, they were a revelation. In the car-park at work, 4WDs were spinning their wheels on snowy slopes that I just drove up. I was pathetically pleased with myself.