[Jedimindtrix]

Pirelli Sottozerros on 16" steelies.

Very good in the low temps (-7), though very noisy when pressurised to the recommended 34psi. Also noticed MPG is better.

Though as the weather has now warmed up a bit I'm finding the tyres to be very slippery and have noticed the traction control flickering more than usual.

I can't see the frost coming back so it looks like the summers will be back on within weeks.

[Pave Dew]

I have these on my 400+ Bhp e91 335i and no problems. Square 225 40 18 all round. I run 3-5 psi higher than what's quoted on the fuel flap.

No issues and drop the psi back when the snow turns up!

Dave

Originally Posted by IanS100

I'm running a Conti TS810 winter setup on my 320d and had no problems at all. I haven't exactly been hooning around but it goes round corners on rails & solid as a rock on the motorway at speed, maybe it's just the extra power of the big engine that shows up the shortcomings. Like everyone else, I'm very much in a dilemma whether to put the summers back on but it will definitely snow if I do

[gangzoom]

Originally Posted by Hotcoupe

It might be mild at the moment (it's tropical down here ),but it could always turn,I'd hate to see those lovely wheels mullered

Dont worry Ian the wheels are safely wrapped up, I think am just looking for an exuse to stick them on the car. Sounds like the Flakens are just behaving as expected for winter tyres, will stick with them for a bit longer, just have to be less lead fotted .

[Billyray911]

It's just too mild at the moment,so my summers have had a nice coating of chemical guys wheel guard and are going back on today!

[SteveC]

Looks like a pattern emerging here. Everyone with premium winters seems to be happy, everyone with anything less, ho hum

Bear in mind there's also the psychological factor. When its really cold you take it easy and your winters feel grippy. When its warm and dry you push harder and find less grip.

Also, its unlikely that a winter tyre will grip less when its warm. Logically, any tyre is going to grip better when is compound is warm and soft. The problem with summer tyres is that below 7 degrees, the compound becomes hard and 'glassy', like a cold F1 tyre. The doesn't happen in reverse, so winters don't need freezing temperatures to perform well, but will simply wear faster when its warm....(a) because you're driving faster and (b)because the tyres are warmer and the compound therefore softer.

I think the bottom is line is that summer or winter, 300 ponies and a chassis with high mechanical grip needs a premium tyre.

[gIzzE]

Not read all the way through the posts, buy got as far as Falken and Hankook and thought I would reply.

In the German tests both of these came out really poorly, hardly doing any better than some premium summer tyres in the winter weather and getting trounced by the Dunlop, Michelin, Nokian, Continental winters.

Some of the premium winter tyres beat some of the mid range summer tyres in summer testing too.

We live in the UK, you need a decent winter that performs well as a summer too, Michelin Winter Pilot, Dunlop Wintersport etc. etc.
I used Michelin wintersports all year on my E Class estate, they outperformed the Falkens hands down.

[sohlman]

I have a set of Pirelli's 225/45/17 on 17" rims. I have the same rims with the same size continentals in summer. I have to say i think they are brilliant. When it's colder and more slippery i find that everyone else is in my way and teetering about where as my car feels rock solid. The car feels solid on the motorway and even did a couple of high speed laps around sliverstone.

When the weather is warmer there is less ultimate grip, but i love the sense of feeling they give. You can feel the tread blocks move around and it makes the car feel more alive.

This is my first winter on them. I was impressed by the feel and drive of my father cars 530d Msport last year on Vredsteins winters and that was the reason for buying mine. I have been so impressed my Wife's X3 on second hand Bridgestone Winter tyres we now have two sets of wheels and tyres for all cars in the family.

[Uk 330d]

I've dropped my car down the garage to have my winter tyres fitted to my 17" winter wheels. I've got bridgstone blizzaks for the front and dunlop Wintersport m3 on the rear, I wanted the same all round but the dunlop were the only tyres I could find in stock as nobody really carried any stock in the 255 size. Has anybody got any experience of these tyres in the winter?? Also what sort of tyre pressure should I be running at please??

[alzieboy]

Have been using 17" Goodyear Ultra GripGW3 RFT on style 158 alloys since mid December they have been good in dry and wet conditions, also on the little bit of snow we had in Norfolk in December, only driving a 318D but gave it some heavy right foot to test them out in the said conditions and they felt very secure. Kept with RFT this winter, they make for a much better ride than my Bridgestone RFT Summers, Forecast some snow next week in Norfolk with Temp dropping a fair bit.

Drive Safe

[nobby810996]

My first winter tyres year, got them a month ago so pleased the temp has finally dropped!

Anyone else wishing for snow so they can test theirs out and see if the investment was worth it?

[Uk 330d]

[quote=nobby810996;13296456]My first winter tyres year, got them a month ago so pleased the temp has finally dropped!

Anyone else wishing for snow so they can test theirs out and see if the investment was worth it?[/

I'm also using winter tyres for the 1st time, just had my wheels fitted today. I don't want any snow, just a good frost, we had a couple of frosty mornings the other week and the rear of the car was very twitchy, and that was taking it easy. I'll be happy if the winter tyres improve on that.

[nobby810996]

[quote=Uk 330d]

Originally Posted by nobby810996

My first winter tyres year, got them a month ago so pleased the temp has finally dropped!

Anyone else wishing for snow so they can test theirs out and see if the investment was worth it?[/

I'm also using winter tyres for the 1st time, just had my wheels fitted today. I don't want any snow, just a good frost, we had a couple of frosty mornings the other week and the rear of the car was very twitchy, and that was taking it easy. I'll be happy if the winter tyres improve on that.

Mine was the same a couple of months ago, but last week at 11C the winters were twitchy too. We'll find out if the winters are any good tomorrow night!

[MEGA]

The winters are awesome in snow.

my own little review from 3 years ago, with GOOD winters fitted, driving on over an inch of compacted ice:

[Uk 330d]

thanks MEGA, good to see the real difference they make. are you in a manual or an auto?? I'm suspecting its a manual as I heard you mention 1st gear. I'm thinking an auto will be a bit harder to get going on snow/ice, would that be right??

I've got a feeling I'll be finding out in the next day or 2

[MEGA]

That was manual: I now drive an auto though.

Worst case stick it into M mode and pull away in 2nd, the car probably won't let you select 3rd but 2nd will be fine. Net step above that is pressing the DTC button of course.

If tey are proper winter tyres and not budget ones then you'll be fine! I've got no concerns at all about running the 335d this week

[Uk 330d]

I've got bridgstone blizzak on the front and dunlop Wintersport m3 on the rear, hoping they serve me well

[sa12]

I've had Michelin Pilot Alpin on my 320d Msport since November. They're more a cold/freezing weather tyre as opposed to a 'snow' tyre and as such, I believe they are ideal for UK winters.

I've driven on them through freshly laid snow as well as frost/ice and slush whilst crossing over the North Yorkshire Moors in late November 2012 and felt confident with the handling of the car. Not sure how well they will cope with deep snow, but am not too concerned from my experience with them so far....

The temperature has varied from around -6C to +15C since I've had them on and they seem to grip fine without any drama. There is a big increase in grip (over my summer Conti-sport 2's) in temps below 5C in dry or damp conditions.

[parapaul]

Mine are going on tomorrow - confirmed forecast of snow and freezing this week.

They'll only be on until it warms up agin though.

[MEGA]

Originally Posted by parapaul

Mine are going on tomorrow - confirmed forecast of snow and freezing this week.

They'll only be on until it warms up agin though.

In a way I don't blame you: It's been a pain driving the winters when it was warmer, far less grip and feel through the wheel.

However, the flip side is - it's 2 hours or so of effort to get them swapped over for me. Added to that I store my alloys on the 2nd floor! 4 wheels down the stairs and another 4 up makes sure that I only do the job when I absolutely have to!!!

[xenon]

Makes me laugh to continually read about how people are coping taming their > 300bhp monsters in the snow. What in the name of fcuk has that got to do with anything? A Daewoo Matiz is quite capable of spinning its wheels in snow if you give it too much throttle as is every other car on the road. So what does the ultimate output have to do with anything? Just use less throttle, surely? It's not hard to do...

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by xenon

Makes me laugh to continually read about how people are coping taming their > 300bhp monsters in the snow. What in the name of fcuk has that got to do with anything? A Daewoo Matiz is quite capable of spinning its wheels in snow if you give it too much throttle as is every other car on the road. So what does the ultimate output have to do with anything? Just use less throttle, surely? It's not hard to do...

Quick flick of the DTC button,start in 2nd not first,gentle push of the loud pedal,and off you go,it's no different in a 318i/D or a 335i/D.

Are you on winters Ian?

Feel free to claim the Fifth

[xenon]

Originally Posted by Hotcoupe

Quick flick of the DTC button,start in 2nd not first,gentle push of the loud pedal,and off you go,it's no different in a 318i/D or a 335i/D.

Are you on winters Ian?

Feel free to claim the Fifth

Exactly my point

I fitted the winters to my wife's E87 yesterday (just in time) but haven't put any on my F10 because the winter wheel pack was £1750 and it's just too much. Ironically my wife got a lift this morning and I never thought to take her car - so her car is fully wintered-up and is sitting at home and I'm here at work with 275-wide summer tyres and now it's snowing like fcuk