[lesfinnie]

This was the weather here today and the car coped no problem with it's winter tyres on. And I had to stop on some steep hills then it just pulled away with no drama. What a change from last winter

[zltm089]

god damn!!! thats some heavy snow!

[x5m power]

can't wait to have that here with my xdrive zooooom zooom

[jimmylad]

had some snow down here in derby (bout an inch) & just got my nokian's on yesterday. I was amazed just how hard you could brake in snow without any abs lights & just how quick you can pull away.

Was trying to find the limits of the tyres in a nice open space & to be honest they were better than I expected.

Also, first time used the car without runflats & the car is transformed. I'm not actively seeking to avoid every bump & raised / sunken drain cover on the road & the car now glides along the motorway @ 70 in what now seems near silence.

[lesfinnie]

Originally Posted by jimmylad

had some snow down here in derby (bout an inch) & just got my nokian's on yesterday. I was amazed just how hard you could brake in snow without any abs lights & just how quick you can pull away.

Was trying to find the limits of the tyres in a nice open space & to be honest they were better than I expected.

Also, first time used the car without runflats & the car is transformed. I'm not actively seeking to avoid every bump & raised / sunken drain cover on the road & the car now glides along the motorway @ 70 in what now seems near silence.

I am amazed too at the contrast with the summer tyres I had on last year. I can actually brake without shitting myself that I am going to hit something

[briers]

Amazed by the wintracs, night and day difference in grip. Nothing has made it up my hill apart from a small sprinter van and a couple of foot down drivers.

Lots abandoned, 99% fwd bog standard motors. An audi doing a 180 spin unable to stop at the bottom was the highlight.

My next door neighbour has this idea that hiring a car when it's snowing is a better idea than driving his own. God knows what planet he's on, he's a bit weird. He loves his passat but the 2 cars enterprise turned up in, 1 a renault and the other a vauxhall both struggled to get up the tiniest of slopes with their shitty budget priced almost bald tyres.

[effone]

not sure of the feds would make of you taking photos whilst driving (in the snow)...

ian b

[chrislad]

Originally Posted by lesfinnie

I am amazed too at the contrast with the summer tyres I had on last year. I can actually brake without shitting myself that I am going to hit something

what brand of winters did u get mate? have u changed the rim for a smaller one?

[jonnydrama]

Recognise the area, just as you're coming of Elgin?

(I'm originally from Buckie so hopefully I'm right!!)

Good to hear they are performing well, can't wait to get mine fitted.

[lesfinnie]

Originally Posted by jonnydrama

Recognise the area, just as you're coming of Elgin?

(I'm originally from Buckie so hopefully I'm right!!)

Good to hear they are performing well, can't wait to get mine fitted.

Spot on

[lesfinnie]

Originally Posted by chrislad

what brand of winters did u get mate? have u changed the rim for a smaller one?

Avon Ice Tour and size is 225-40x18 all round I have the staggered set up for summer with 265s on the rear and 19" rims

[dbramley]

This might be a daft question but....

If we usually all have summer tyres on and drive them all year round only to suffer in the snow, what happens if you keep winter tyres on all year round?

i.e you only ever drive and buy winter ones? They can't be crap in the summer can they?

[BanziBarn]

Originally Posted by dbramley

This might be a daft question but....

If we usually all have summer tyres on and drive them all year round only to suffer in the snow, what happens if you keep winter tyres on all year round?

i.e you only ever drive and buy winter ones? They can't be crap in the summer can they?

Was thinking the same thing myself!

[Shadow]

If you run softer winter tyres in summer, they're get too hot and wear much faster, == more £££. Of course, first you need a summer, which in the UK is pretty hit and miss.

TBH I don't know why BMW UK don't insist on all-season tyres as standard fitment for UK vehicles; we only get a few days of extreme weather either way. Most of the time it feels wet and about 12deg.C Are all-seasons really THAT much of a compromise?

[the_rangdo]

They're designed to work in temps <= 7C. Above that and they'll wear out pretty quickly, plus performance vs proper summer tyres will be reduced.

Do like how quiet they are though, the car was near silent today.

[briers]

Originally Posted by dbramley

This might be a daft question but....

If we usually all have summer tyres on and drive them all year round only to suffer in the snow, what happens if you keep winter tyres on all year round?

i.e you only ever drive and buy winter ones? They can't be crap in the summer can they?

No they aren't crap in the summer. In warm temp's they do wear a lot quicker.

Ultimately, handling and stability isn't as good as a summer tyre when your pushing on. Noise might also be higher.

My brother kept his wintracs on all year round and they lasted nearly as long as his usual conti's.

Important to remember, winter tyres with low tread, e.g. < 4mm isn't going to be anywhere near as effective as new tread.

[Tunna_uk]

Its bad here as well, car was transformed compared to last year. Actually amazed at the difference. Even found myself flicking it into slides for fun

[DavS1]

I love how everybody's so quick to quote the famous "BMW's are shit in snow" statement, I think it's really cos they'd love to own one buy can't or they knew some idiot who couldn't drive who crashed one, 10years ago......

of course a RWD car with 255's on the back won't be much good......but I wouldnt say undriveable...

[Ant Man]

Originally Posted by effone

not sure of the feds would make of you taking photos whilst driving (in the snow)...

ian b

feds? As in American Police? Why would they care?

[stupot]

I fully agree how good the winter tyres are, awesome doesn’t come close. I got a set last year and am now a firm convert.

They have to be driven to believed, and I think that’s a bit of an issue for BMW.

This snow stuff is damaging BMW's reputation with 'normal' owners.

We had 2 people trade in their cars today. a 1 series owner bought a new Civic and a 3 series owner bought a CRV. The salesmen said that the reason for both changing was RWD and the snow. It caused them problems last year and they want out in case this early snow is a sign of another bad winter.

Now we know that’s an unnecessary overreaction, but if this is widespread it an issue for BMW, as someone commented earlier maybe they should fit all season tyres on the less sporty models.

[mjh93sa]

What a difference a year makes. BMW are waking up to the problems of summer tyres, but it has taken them time and the reputation of the cars has and will suffer.

Originally Posted by BMW Customer Services on 24th December 2009

Dear Mr xxxxxxxxxx

Thank you for contacting BMW Customer Information.

The reasoning for why we do not provide information regarding winter tyres for our vehicles on the UK website is that all of our vehicles are factory fitted with summer tyres as these are better suited to the UK market.

However, you are able to purchase winter tyres from your local BMW Dealership providing they have the correct tyres for you vehicle. Your nearest BMW Dealership can be found by using the dealer locator facility on our website. I have included a link to this facility for your convenience:

http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/dealerlocator/0,,___,00.html

In relation to your query regarding the information you have acquired from the BMW Germany website, I can advise you that this information is not valid for UK specification vehicles.

I trust this information is of use but please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any further assistance.

Yours sincerely
BMW UK
xxxx xxxxxxx
Customer Information Advisor
Ellesfield Avenue
Bracknell RG12 8TA
Tel: 0800 325 600
Fax: 0870 5050 206
Email: customer.information@bmw.co.uk
Website: www.bmw.co.uk

Funny that less than a year later they are offering winter tyre packages, and that they are identical to the ones sold in Germany.

[tony20009]

Dear, God. That much snow this early? I figured (wrongly, it appears) the Gulf Stream kept it temperate as it does London, even considering that Scotland's farther north. (Compare weather in north eastern Canada to London at the same parallel.)

I don't know where you are, I just thought Edinburgh and Aberdeen, being by the sea wouldn't get that kind of snow. Glasgow's inland some, but even so...just surprised...

...learn something every day...