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[drwtsn32]

I'm looking at buying a 335i sedan with sport package. BMW's site says it does not recommend these tires for snow/ice. How bad would it really be? On top of that I am used to FWD in the winter; I have never driven RWD in the snow/ice.

Is the general recommendation to buy separate rims/tires for winter driving? Unfortunately I don't really have a way to transport these to a tire shop to have them swapped out. I guess I could try swapping them myself but I really suck when it comes to garage stuff. Guess it can't be that hard though.

[picus]

Get winters. The OEM tires *will* strand you.

[KL2DC]

Below 45F ambient temperature, the summer tires' compounds turn hard, rendering them virtually slick/slippery on both snow-covered and clear pavement.

[Ghunger]

It's kind of hard to describe how little traction you would have on ice and snow. If it's just cold outside, you'll be ok, but not great. The compounds they use in summer high performance tires is just not designed for cold temperatures and will be mostly useless on ice and snow. As to the rear wheel drive, it's not that hard to drive in the snow and the fact that the steering wheels are not additionally trying to accelerate the car is a good thing traction wise. You just have to be a bit more careful accelerating. Bottom line, if you want to drive it in the ice and snow, get winter tires and you'll be fine.

[drwtsn32]

Thanks for the info. I have heard people don't like the stock runflats.. i could possibly just swap them out with better all season tires and then not have to mess with winter rims/tires.

What about the 335i w/out sport package? Are those tires still pretty bad in the winter?

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by drwtsn32

What about the 335i w/out sport package? Are those tires still pretty bad in the winter?

Of course all-season tires will fare better than the dedicated summer tires, but even that is a compromised setup. You can't beat dedicated winter tires in areas with measurable snow fall.

[drwtsn32]

Originally Posted by KL2DC

Of course all-season tires will fare better than the dedicated summer tires, but even that is a compromised setup. You can't beat dedicated winter tires in areas with measurable snow fall.

So the non-sport package tires are all-season?

I could get separate winter tires/rims but I just don't have an easy way to transport those to a tire shop. I suppose I could just jack the car up in my garage and swap the tires myself. It's only twice a year..

[drwtsn32]

Originally Posted by drwtsn32

So the non-sport package tires are all-season?

Ok, I just confirmed this is the case on BMW's site.

The Sport Package says it also includes 8-way power seats and 3-spoke steering wheel, but those are standard options on the 335i.

At this point I think I'm just going to not get the sport package and be done with it. That way I don't have to worry about swapping wheels out twice a year.

[fueledbymetal]

For what it's worth, I believe the speed limiter is reduced to ~130mph for non-sport package cars. That would be reason enough for me to justify the hassle of swapping wheels twice a year (and it really isn't that much of a hassle).

[Joop!]

Originally Posted by fueledbymetal

For what it's worth, I believe the speed limiter is reduced to ~130mph for non-sport package cars. That would be reason enough for me to justify the hassle of swapping wheels twice a year (and it really isn't that much of a hassle).

When a BMW has got a speed limiter, it is always limited at 155 mph. There is no difference between the standard and the sport-versions (except on the sportversions of X3 and X5 the speedlimit is raised)

For what about the snow-tires. When it snows in your area you're far better of with real snow-tires. And it isn't really take a lot of time to change the wheels (about 20 minutes, twice a year don't seem much. It takes longer to order a new BMW when you slide of the road due to the winter circumstances)

[Jaws]

Originally Posted by brummelenj

When a BMW has got a speed limiter, it is always limited at 155 mph. There is no difference between the standard and the sport-versions (except on the sportversions of X3 and X5 the speedlimit is raised)

For what about the snow-tires. When it snows in your area you're far better of with real snow-tires. And it isn't really take a lot of time to change the wheels (about 20 minutes, twice a year don't seem much. It takes longer to order a new BMW when you slide of the road due to the winter circumstances)

Not true. Many BMWs for the NA market are limited at 210 kmh (130 mph).

[Joop!]

Originally Posted by Jaws

Not true. Many BMWs for the NA market are limited at 210 kmh (130 mph).

In Europe BMW's aren't usually limited less then 155 mph (250kmh), except the SUV's (X3 and X5). I didn't know this for North America. Why is the limiter set at 130 mph in North America for e.g. a non-sport model? It doesn't handle anything worse than a sport-model. Or is to get your wallets emptied more when you order a sport model over a non-sport model?

[fueledbymetal]

Originally Posted by brummelenj

In Europe BMW's aren't usually limited less then 155 mph (250kmh), except the SUV's (X3 and X5). I didn't know this for North America. Why is the limiter set at 130 mph in North America for e.g. a non-sport model? It doesn't handle anything worse than a sport-model. Or is to get your wallets emptied more when you order a sport model over a non-sport model?

It's because the tires supplied with the non-sports package cars are not rated for speeds in excess of 130 (or thereabouts). So, I guess BMW NA does it to cover their @sses since people are so "sue happy" here.

[KL2DC]

Correct, non ZSP cars are limited to 130mph

drwtsn32: Its true on the E92, the sport suspension and steering wheel is standard. The ZSP netts you the wheels and sport seats along with the 155mph setting but at $1k its a great value

[Bimmerista]

Originally Posted by drwtsn32

Ok, I just confirmed this is the case on BMW's site.

The Sport Package says it also includes 8-way power seats and 3-spoke steering wheel, but those are standard options on the 335i.

At this point I think I'm just going to not get the sport package and be done with it. That way I don't have to worry about swapping wheels out twice a year.

My BMW is also the first RWD car I have driven. Believe me, all seasons will not help you in winter if you live in an area of ice/snow/slush.

No matter what you do get dedicated winter tires, especially for a RWD.

I have sports package on my car and I got dedicated mag/winter tire combo, that I easily switch out/into each season. With the winters, the car performs like a FWD car. The one noticeable diff. is that when it does slip, the car slips from side to side, bcs the rear goes, whereas fronties tend not to weave as much bcs it is the fronts that slip. Going up a steep hill with lots of fresh powder snow may be more challenging in a RWD than a frontie bcs the RWD will tend to have the front plow into the snow rather than pull the car (as fronties do), but how often will that happen?

I am very comfortable with my RWD sports pacakge in winter now that I drove through one season of winter (and my previous car was an Audi AWD)

[bavarian19]

Originally Posted by KL2DC

Correct, non ZSP cars are limited to 130mph

drwtsn32: Its true on the E92, the sport suspension and steering wheel is standard. The ZSP netts you the wheels and sport seats along with the 155mph setting but at $1k its a great value

Part of the reason is that the All Season tires are not rated for higher speeds (If I recall correctly).

For the number of times I am driving faster than 100mph, I doubt I will make it much higher than 130 (even though I do have summer tires on right now)

[dkizerian]

I've driven in the snow for 15 winters in a ton of different cars, and honestly my 325 sport package car is the worst car I've ever driven in the snow. I got a set of 16"s and 205/60/16 blizzaks and it's now one of the best handling cars in the snow.

last winter I had a 325xi on all season tires as a loaner during a snow storm, and honestly my 325 with the snow tires was substanially better.

YMMV, this will very greatly with your driving style, the temperatures your city sees, and the snowfall you have to deal with...

[bavarian19]

You can also order the sports package, and just replace the tires with all season performance tires...


IMO, the sports package is a must... Just for the seats alone. The seats are MUCH more supportive and adjustable than non-sports seats. In the sedan, the steering wheel is also noticeable different for the two cars... sport being more round, thick and has the thumbrests...

[bavarian19]

Originally Posted by dkizerian

I've driven in the snow for 15 winters in a ton of different cars, and honestly my 325 sport package car is the worst car I've ever driven in the snow.

If your riding on summer tires in the snow, it doesnt matter what car it is... It will drive like crap (that is if you can even get out of the driveway). Summer tires are exactly that... You can not safely drive on them in the snow...

[Taittinger]

I have driven in the winter the last three years with Bridgestone 040s which are ultra-performance summer tires. They do get hard in the cold but not enough to be dangerous if driven carefully. Traction control helps. I have also driven them in light snow/dusting without undue difficulty. Anything more, I park it and work from home until the streets are plowed. Once I was forced to drive in over two inches of snow and managed only about 5-10 mph. Luckily I did not have far to go.

Winters here are not too bad, usually from 20-35F.

Oh, and my first car was a 5.0L Mustang with a live axle and no traction control so I suppose I learned some of the dynamics of RWD in bad weather through some real world driving; if you have never driven RWD, I would be extra careful. All steering input is exaggerated in inclement weather conditions.

[drwtsn32]

LOL... I rarely drive over 100mph. So I wouldn't care at all about the 130mph limit on the non-sports pkg version of the car.

But...I hear what you guys are saying. Maybe I should just get rims and winter tires. But I have no easy way to get those to the shop so they can switch them out (no truck/SUV to haul them over).

[fueledbymetal]

Originally Posted by drwtsn32

But I have no easy way to get those to the shop so they can switch them out (no truck/SUV to haul them over).

You could transport them in your car, just put each into a platic trash bag to keep your car clean. You can fit 1 in the trunk, 2 in the back seat & 1 in the passenger seat