Sponsored by The Tire Rack

[MCoupeInsanity]

1. Snow tires or you're needlessly asking for trouble. Don't think it over, just do it.

2. M-Sport does not have an LSD.

[shapptastic]

+1 on snow tires. I don't even live in a real winter climate(nyc metro) and its made enough of a difference that I will run them on any vehicle if temps get below 40.

[straightcashhomie]

its snowing/slushing here in philly tomorrow! first day with RWD and snow tires! ill report back in this thread.

[chenx15]

First. winter tires there is no ifs or buts about it. second driving an RWD is an advantage in winter because your mind set will be different. you never overestimate your capabilities because you know that your car can not handle it. your awareness of your surroundings will be much better and you will be a more conservative driver. i had an xdrive with winter tires on and felt like a tank but i have to say i was a bit careless. when i had my rwd 335i with winter tires here in canada. the first thing that comes to my mind is rwd and winter driving is all about being conservative

[AcExSpades]

I rode it out last year with winter tires. It wasn't that bad since there wasn't much snow, but nonetheless...

This time I equipped myself with an AWD vehicle and a winter setup so I'm good to go.

I would definitely buy winter tires(not all-season) if I was in your position. Blizzaks FTW!

[boris]

I got away with running all seasons in the winter for the last few years with my STi.

Now with the 335i, buying Winter Tires/Wheels was the first thing I did.

[Dozhdbog]

Creepy.

[Dozhdbog]

LOL... Red China? Did you fall out of a time portal from the 60's?

[galahad05]

What the hell????
Who and what is that rant all about, and why should I care?

[Efthreeoh]

So just a few points:

BMWs are designed and (some) built in Germany, where last time I checked, it snows a lot, so I'd bet having RWD is not that big of an issue and the BMW engineers keep in mind that they have to get to work when it snows...

Second BMWs are designed with near 50/50 weight balance, which is ideal for snow driving as the car will behave neutral in low traction situations, rather than want to swap ends like a heavily-biased front or rear weighted car will.

Third, it's been my experience that a RWD BMW with winter tires is all but unstoppable in snow (if there's not so much of it that it is above the vehicles ground clearance).

Get yourself a set of winter tires on separate wheels and swap when the season changes.

[reeltime]

I live in MA and we usually get a ton a snow. Last winter we had this one freak blizzard type storm and my 330i made it back home, but even without an accumulation of snow on the ground, I was slipping and sliding. I didn't have snow tires though.

With snow tires you should be fine.

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

So just a few points:

BMWs are designed and (some) built in Germany, where last time I checked, it snows a lot, so I'd bet having RWD is not that big of an issue and the BMW engineers keep in mind that they have to get to work when it snows...

Second BMWs are designed with near 50/50 weight balance, which is ideal for snow driving as the car will behave neutral in low traction situations, rather than want to swap ends like a heavily-biased front or rear weighted car will.

Third, it's been my experience that a RWD BMW with winter tires is all but unstoppable in snow (if there's not so much of it that it is above the vehicles ground clearance).

Get yourself a set of winter tires on separate wheels and swap when the season changes.

Barely Moves in Winter

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by Dozhdbog

Creepy.

+1

Originally Posted by Dozhdbog

LOL... Red China? Did you fall out of a time portal from the 60's?

Originally Posted by galahad05

What the hell????
Who and what is that rant all about, and why should I care?

Originally Posted by 335BBS

Barely Moves in Winter

lol

X-drive rules the snow. I have no winter worries. Run the OEM all season run flats and never have traction issues and I live on a hill.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

X-drive rules the snow. I have no winter worries. Run the OEM all season run flats and never have traction issues and I live on a hill.

thats very interesting considering whats sad above....that AWD does not help you corner or brake, so in reality you might (but probably not) just acelerate faster

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

AWD does not help you corner or brake, so in reality you might (but probably not) just acelerate faster

Huh? Whatchu smokin? And can I have some. My AWD certainly helps me corner better, climb hills better and accelerate better on slippery stuff.

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

Huh? Whatchu smokin? And can I have some. My AWD certainly helps me corner better, climb hills better and accelerate better on slippery stuff.

With all season (no season really) tires? Have you not watched the tirerack video. You are endangering others around you. Doesnt cost you any more as you are just buying your second set of tires now. Compared to winter tires A/S are dangerous in the winter. Its a fact.

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

Huh? Whatchu smokin? And can I have some. My AWD certainly helps me corner better, climb hills better and accelerate better on slippery stuff.

Stop faster?

[Kolyan2k]

here is a test btw

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/....jsp?&ttid=103

RWD BMW with winter tires was better in all tests vs AWD Cayenne with AS tires..... acceleration was the same, kinda proves that AWD with AS tires is useless. PS. I dont doubt that it can climb the hills better, thats where AWD would have an edge even with AS

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

here is a test btw

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/....jsp?&ttid=103

RWD BMW with winter tires was better in all tests vs AWD Cayenne with AS tires..... acceleration was the same, kinda proves that AWD with AS tires is useless. PS. I dont doubt that it can climb the hills better, thats where AWD would have an edge even with AS

Thanks for posting that KOLYAN. most people don't get it. Winter tires are LAW in Quebec, Canada.

[The X Men]

Originally Posted by 335BBS

Thanks for posting that KOLYAN. most people don't get it. Winter tires are LAW in Quebec, Canada.

And if I ever move to Canada, I will keep that in mind.
You telling Americans they need snow tires is like people from Alaska giving you Canadians shit about driving in the winter with no snow chain.

[Kolyan2k]

^ there is no law in USA because people are too stupid, thats why you see so many accidents w/ fatal results during winter storms. It can all be easily avoided.

Quite a lot of people here go with AS tires because they are broke as fucks due to their BMW purchase. It make no sense to buy BMW and dramatically decrease your performance and safety during summer and winter.....365 days a year.

[The X Men]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

^ there is no law in USA because people are too stupid, thats why you see so many accidents w/ fatal results during winter storms. It can all be easily avoided.

Quite a lot of people here go with AS tires because they are broke as fucks due to their BMW purchase. It make no sense to buy BMW and dramatically decrease your performance and safety during summer and winter.....365 days a year.

There is no law here in the US because its not needed. Most accidents in the winter are from people who is stupid enough to buy a RWD car and drive it in the snow without winter tires. I have been driving AWD cars or SUV with AS tires for 20 years and never had a problem with any Boston winter. As far as performance and safety, RWD do not perform better than AWD in everyday driving, unless you track your car, 99% of the drivers cannot tell the difference. As far as safety, AWD is a great safety feature in the snow, rain or any type of slippery consition.