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[kdbryce]

This will be my first time driving a RWD car through the winter

I do most of my driving in upstate NY and we often get a good amount of snow.

i haven't bought winter tires/wheels and just plan on putting the stock msport wheels with all season tires back on this weekend

anyways, does anyone go through the winter with their stock wheels/tires? is it terrible?

I know someone with a land rover lr4 that they aren't using and i could take that, but i don't want to be making two car payments if i don't absolutely need to.

edit: I also have msport so my car has what apparently isn't LSD, but both wheels spin during burnouts (noob) - if that makes a difference

[galahad05]

I think if you're careful, you'll be okay.

I have a buddy with a 2009 M3. He runs the stock-size Michelin PS2 all-seasons, and he does okay. He avoids driving in direct snow/slush if he can though.

NOTE: if you have to tackle any sizable or long hills, all bets are off.
And for heaven's sake make sure your all-seasons have lots of tread.

[bmw246]

join the club...Chicago, last winer-jeep wrangler [=

[Dark_Knight_335]

Blizzak tires and common sense.

[atown88]

Our winters in Washington might not be as bad as they are in NY, but we do get some pretty bad days. This will be my first season with 19" Michelin Pilot All Seasons, so hopefully it'll be as bearable as the last time. Driving is decent on snow, I try to completely avoid ice. I learned recently that you're better off with DSC and DTC completely off, especially when trudging up a hill.

[MasterWang]

I've driven both a 350z and my 335i in the snow.
Both had all season tires and were terrible in the winter IMO.
Wouldn't risk it.
heres an interesting video

[Braumin]

My e46 325i was terrible with the "all season" tires. I put on a set of X-Ice Xi2 tires and it was amazing.

RWD is fine. The car has DSC and DTC so you won't get into trouble. Glad to see you already got winter tires though.

[abhishriv]

would be smarter to get a set of winters

[will bleich]

Originally Posted by kbryce

This will be my first time driving a RWD car through the winter

I do most of my driving in upstate NY and we often get a good amount of snow.

i haven't bought winter tires/wheels and just plan on putting the stock msport wheels with all season tires back on this weekend

anyways, does anyone go through the winter with their stock wheels/tires? is it terrible?

I know someone with a land rover lr4 that they aren't using and i could take that, but i don't want to be making two car payments if i don't absolutely need to.

edit: I also have msport so my car has LSD - if that makes a difference

my mom used to get her bimmers stuck all the time, thats why i went and got an xi so i dont have to worry about it as much

[e92oholic]

Dude dont put your life in jeopardy. Get a set of snow tires. Very easy to find a used set on criagslist. I would NEVER drive a BMW with all seasons ever again. I tried that one winter bad idea.... Hit a patch of ice, jumped the curb and ended up between 2 trees somehow. Pick up a set of blizzaks new and put them on stock wheels its not worth the risk.

Heres some examples

http://albany.craigslist.org/pts/3379971792.html
http://albany.craigslist.org/pts/3359108981.html

try and buy his
http://albany.craigslist.org/cto/3337411031.html

[JS82]

Get some winter tires!

[Philz BMW]

Buy an SUV. Drive it when it snows.

[ken1137]

+1, snow tires. I would invest in some good snows based on your location. I went with performance snows this year since we expect a lighter Winter. That said, the Farmers Almanac was wrong last year and I had Winter non-performance tires and driving on dry pavement sucked.

[Richurd]

Originally Posted by kbryce

This will be my first time driving a RWD car through the winter

I do most of my driving in upstate NY and we often get a good amount of snow.

i haven't bought winter tires/wheels and just plan on putting the stock msport wheels with all season tires back on this weekend

anyways, does anyone go through the winter with their stock wheels/tires? is it terrible?

I know someone with a land rover lr4 that they aren't using and i could take that, but i don't want to be making two car payments if i don't absolutely need to.

edit: I also have msport so my car has LSD - if that makes a difference

Having Msport don't mean you have a real LSD. You don't have the locking diff but you have an electronic controlled one. Only real LSD is aftermarket.
I tried driving with the OEM tires in the snow, it is not worth it. And I have a quaife LSD.

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by Richurd

Having Msport don't mean you have a real LSD. You don't have the locking diff but you have an electronic controlled one. Only real LSD is aftermarket.
I tried driving with the OEM tires in the snow, it is not worth it. And I have a quaife LSD.

An real LSD is a mixed blessing in the snow. You will initially have better traction, so it is somewhat less likely that you will get stuck. But the downside is that once you are moving along, if you exceed the available traction BOTH tires will spin, and you will lose directional control. With an open diff only one wheel will spin so you still have one rudder in the water, so to speak. BTDT with e30s and e28s.

Volvo had the BEST winter driving solution in the late 940s, an autolocking diff. If one wheel spun the diff locked solid, but only up to ~20mph, when it would automatically unlock. So you could get going, but not lose directional control.

As to the OP - don't be stupid man, get snow tires! Remember, in most cases snow tires are cheaper than your insurance deductible.

[///M3NACE]

buy a E30 325ix. Many are cheaper than set of wheels and brand new tires for winter....

[fatgrandma]

Stock wheels will be ok, but I would change the tires to snow tires. All season tires are shit. Not good for winter and not good for summer. Useless.

[Kolyan2k]

I find it much easier to drive with LSD in snow......

And just like everyone said, you don't have LSD and you need winter tires.....even if there is no snow. Electronic LSD is standard on all 3s now I believe

Electronics do incredible job, but you still need traction of snow tires

[Reznick]

Originally Posted by Dark_Knight_335

Blizzak tires and common sense.

I'm in upstate NY same as the OP. I've always had RWD cars and have gone with just all seasons, but good snow tires are the way to go.

[Bimmerlover76]

Originally Posted by Philz BMW

Buy an SUV. Drive it when it snows.

I agree with this. How much would the payments be for the LS4? I'm putting my 335i in the garage while I use my Focus for the winter (it's an old beater and I'm sure it's better in the snow).

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by galahad05

I think if you're careful, you'll be okay.

I have a buddy with a 2009 M3. He runs the stock-size Michelin PS2 all-seasons, and he does okay. He avoids driving in direct snow/slush if he can though.

NOTE: if you have to tackle any sizable or long hills, all bets are off.
And for heaven's sake make sure your all-seasons have lots of tread.

Okay? are you kidding. There are all kinds of videos proving winter tires stop WAY shorter than all season tires on snow AND cold pavement. You are going to go through two (at least ) sets of tires in the life of your car so why not make one of them winter so you don't put people around you at risk.

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by fatgrandma

Stock wheels will be ok, but I would change the tires to snow tires. All season tires are shit. Not good for winter and not good for summer. Useless.

EXACTLY!!