[Bender1012]

I've lived in MA for over 20 years, but this will be my first winter owning my own car. I was wondering if I need to put on winter tires if my car has xDrive. It currently has all-season tires on it.

[Arustik1]

Yes you should bother with winter tires.

-D

[3erdriver]

i don't have a 3er with x drive but have had both an a4 & x3 with all wheel drive and with snow's they are unstoppable (and stoppable as shown above). that said the x3 was cooler with rear bias (a4 was front) to have a little fun.
between that advantage, you get to split miles so you overall tireS will last longer as you don't put as many on one set but instead on 2. if you can afford to have another set and a place to store them go for it!

[froz_v]

I have a 328xi and I have gone thru 2 winters in Toronto w/o using winters at all. The stock All-seasons worked fine for me

[Apogee]

while your awd is excellent its also good to put winter tires on...all season work as well

[3erdriver]

you'll be fine if the question is "will i make it" yea you probably will. if you want short stopping, good acceleration, good handling etc. you want snows.

you said you hadn't had a car in 20 year, have you driven? it might be beneficial if you've not driven in the snow much too.

[Rustler]

If you're not on the gas, awd isn't helping you. Braking is arguably the single most important safety feature on a car, and you're not on the gas when braking.

In terms of safety, you'd be better off not checking the all wheel drive option box and allocating that dough to snow tires than trying to get away with all season tires on your awd year round.

If there is one thing on your car to prioritize above all others, it's tires. They're the only part that's ALWAYS in play.

[TL]

To be on the safe side I always have a dedicated winter setup for my Xi and switch it late Nov or early Dec

[Bender1012]

Originally Posted by Arustik1

Yes you should bother with winter tires.

-D

First of all, that test is sponsored by a website that sells tires; I'm not flat out saying their test is rigged, but it certainly would be in their best interest to try to get people buying as many different kinds of tires as possible. Secondly, that's hardly real-world conditions, only the very extreme. I'm not looking to go zooming around icy, unplowed backroads all winter.

Originally Posted by jimH6

you'll be fine if the question is "will i make it" yea you probably will. if you want short stopping, good acceleration, good handling etc. you want snows.

you said you hadn't had a car in 20 year, have you driven? it might be beneficial if you've not driven in the snow much too.

I am pretty much just trying to "make it". I've driven in the snow plenty, just in my parents' hulky SUVs, and never had a problem. The only time something happened was in this weird slushy stuff with light snow on top, and I lost control and careened into some shrubery right outside my house.

[Arustik1]

Originally Posted by Bender1012

First of all, that test is sponsored by a website that sells tires; I'm not flat out saying their test is rigged, but it certainly would be in their best interest to try to get people buying as many different kinds of tires as possible. Secondly, that's hardly real-world conditions, only the very extreme. I'm not looking to go zooming around icy, unplowed backroads all winter.

10 MPH isn't zooming when you hit black ice (all over the road in the winter) and need to get on the brakes or take a turn.

-D

[Travishksar]

19" summer tires on XI during winters in MA
works for me

[MassBimmer]

Originally Posted by Travishksar

19" summer tires on XI during winters in MA
works for me

Aaaannnd you're an idiot

OP, if you have all seasons, winter tires aren't mandatory, I'm sure they help though. All cars I've ever owned (5) have had all season tires with FWD or AWD. I've never had an issue.

[hmmcolor]

My Audi with all-seasons was better than my 335i is with winters... but that only means that the Audi would have been a monster with winter tires.

Left all-seasons on my girlfriend's 325i and it does okay, as long as the ground is flat. An xi will be passable, but would obviously be better and safer with winters.

[lucius]

I had Bridgestone WS-70's on my E36 and it ran awesome!
I plan on doing the same to my car this winter.

[pwhipple06]

To be honest...you could probably get away with just all-seasons...but you will be unstoppable with snow tires. If you have the money there are no excuses because you could transform your car into a winter conquering beast.

[cb4]

I went with winter performance tires (Michelin pa3) for nov-march, And summer max performance when spring hits. Best of both worlds and beats the snot out of no seasons.

[E36graduate]

New England driver here......20+ years driving, 12+ years with BMW's and an Audi....always used all season tires year round with no problems. In fact my B6 S4 had balding summer tires on it and it drove through 8"+ unplowed streets....that was quite the tank.

My e46 M3 was okay in snow...however didn't venture out in snow storms. My E46 328i was fine with all seasons and put about 200,000 miles on her. My e36 323is was fine with all seasons, another 200,000 miles and many winters.

My e90 335xi seems to handle fine in snow and ice conditions.

The key is knowing how to drive......when not to stop and when to start to put on brakes slowly......