[bkrM3]

Originally Posted by gary88

I ran 225/40/18 Blizzak LM60s last winter. There wasn't anything it couldn't handle, and Chicago winters aren't exactly gentle. Unplowed hills, stop and go traffic in a blizzard, ice, no problem.



I've driven FWD and AWD with all-seasons in snow a lot, and RWD with snow tires beats them both by miles.

THAT is a DAMN fine picture.

[BMW_Belgier]

I do have to say something here:

1. For use in winter (and i mean a real winter with snow and stuff) you will NEED snow tires. The difference between all season and snow tires is huge! This apllies to RWD and AWD! You don't brake and corner better with AWD!

2. Maybe i had some bad luck with my RWD 130i. It was really not fun at all to drive here! I do live in Switzerland so... mountain roads, ice and lots of snow... I changed to a AWD! I will probably never own a RWD again...

[VMRWheels]

Get a set of aftermarket wheels that you can use for summer tires and use your stock wheels as a winter set or vice versa. If you're considering purchasing another set of wheels, shoot me a PM

[orangedawg]

Try Continental Winter Extreme Contact (or something like that, the exact name escapes me). I've got a 328xi with 205/60/16 Conti's on it (a little higher profile to get a bit more clearance over the snow). I also have a A4 with Blizzaks. Now, I was truly expecting the A4 would kick the xi in the snow. However, those Conti Winter tires are amazing. Cheaper than Blizzaks, and I swear that they are the better tire. The XI held it's own against my A4 and in my definitely unscientific seat of the pants opinion, the Conti's are the better tire for ice and snow. It plowed through snow quite deep that was pushing my bumper (which is all scraped up now) and scraping the undercarriage (I get a bit of deep snow where I live). You can't go wrong with either tire, but when I need new snows, getting the Conti's again without regrets.

[dom_cmh]

Go with a beater. I have a 02 Mountaineer (aka Explorer) and it's great to have. Not only for the winter months but also any time it rains you can keep your baby clean and in the garage (assuming you have one). It's also nice for days you need to haul a bunch of people or get something from Home Depot! It also makes you love your car every time you get in it after driving the beater. This happens to me mostly in March or April when I drive it for the first time after a long winter of napping!

[Wires]

Originally Posted by e60oholic

Had the same issue with all my cars, 528, 545 and now the 335i (all RWD). Snow tires went on all of them!! Car is a beast in the snow, drove way better than my moms X5 with all seasons. Living in Buffalo we get swamped, if your going for snows get Blizzak Ws-70's or Nokian Hakkapeliitta R thats what I have now

I have Blizzak's now, but had Hakkapeliitta's before. I vote for the Hak's. Those thing would stick like glue.

I had a RWD v8 Mustang, and with the Hak's, you could peel away from lights on ice. Those things were amazing. Handling was pretty sloppy due to the tread of the tires, but no snow issues.

[John 070]

Why does anybody buy a/s tires? Savings? Performance? What?

4 snows are required if you want to drive a BMW in the winter. I have them. But I also have another car to drive. a) the car has minimal ground clearance--I was ok in 9", but it can snow a lot more than that b) the salt takes a serious toll on the vehicle over time

I get it, if you lease, who cares. If you want to keep your car forever, it's not good to expose it to winters where the roads are salted.

[gds52]

how about all season tires and polyurethane snow chains like this if needed ?

[Sara]

snow tires

[E90Company]

Originally Posted by Sara504

snow tires

+1. It's only a 3 series OP

[Sara]

Originally Posted by E90Company

+1. It's only a 3 series OP

Set of blizzaks and he's good to go

[kdbryce]

i'm actually getting pretty scared. never had a rwd car in the snow before

even with snow tires i might be too scared to drive my car most days.

[E90Company]

Originally Posted by Sara504

Set of blizzaks and he's good to go