[bman5150]

I'm looking at a used 335i with the msport package, which comes with the staggered msport rims and summer tires. I test drove it in some cold weather and was surprised how well it behaved. The car is CPO so the tires are brand new OEM summer RFTs. I would like to avoid immediately having to go out and get another set of tires right after buing the car. Anyone else run these tires in the winter? I ran summer tires on my current rwd car for exactly one 4" snow....death trap!

Also might as well ask another question...if i end p getting this car my eventual plan would be to replace the summer tires with a quality set of ultra high performance all season non-RF tires. What does everyone with xdrive and msport run? Do you carry a tire nflation kit or did you just get a cheap spare and throw it in the trunk for long trips?

Thanks!

[Blubaron79]

I have the staggered set up with xDrive. I run all seasons in the winter, and summers in the summer. You do not want to drive the summer tires below 40F. The tires are made of a soft compound that becomes hard like a hockey puck in the cold. In a cold rain you can even slide in a turn.

[Braumin]

It depends what you mean by summer tires. If they are true summer tires, you won't have any traction at all. If they are all season, they will be OK. Not great, but OK. X-Drive doesn't break any laws of physics or anything. AWD and 4WD can give some drivers overconfidence in the slippery stuff which is unfortunate for them. It's great for getting off the line and through snow, but it doesn't help you stop or corner. Only your tires can help there. AWD doesn't mean you can drive 60 mph on a slippery highway.

If you get any amount of snowfall though, invest in some winter tires and rims. You won't regret it. It seems like a lot of money, but it's not. You can get a set of rims and winter run flat tires for like $1200 on TireRack. I got Dunlop WinterSport 3D tires and I am very happy with them, and we've had a pile of snow so far this winter. It saves your summer rims from the abuse of the salted roads and potholes, and of course makes your summer tires last longer.

[CombatNinja]

Bridgestone Runflats are completely useless in the snow. It doesn't matter if you have 10 wheel-drive if none of the wheels have any traction.

[Dark_Knight_335]

+100,000,000.
It's all about the shoes. X-drive is useless if you can't even gain the traction to move forward.

Don't be "that guy." Pony up for some winter wheels and tires. You'll ruin your summers, and 19"s on significant cold and snow will get you in a world of shit. Quick.

[klov335]

yup i tested summer tires at -30 and its dangerous.. nono plz

[Speedwagon]

Probably not a good idea to run summers below 35*. You will need some all season or some winter tires if it get down around freezing where you live. I read one of the post above that stated that Xdrive doesn't help in a turn that isn't true, it does help by sending power to wheels that have traction, so it is helping.

[upstatedoc]

[straightcashhomie]

using summer tires for winter.... is like turning on your ac for the winter and expecting heat.. okay not a good analogy but u get the point

[Wonka]

Originally Posted by bman5150

Also might as well ask another question...if i end p getting this car my eventual plan would be to replace the summer tires with a quality set of ultra high performance all season non-RF tires. What does everyone with xdrive and msport run? Do you carry a tire nflation kit or did you just get a cheap spare and throw it in the trunk for long trips?

Thanks!

I have the BMW Mobility Kit stored next to the toolkit. In over 3 years of ownership, thankfully I have never used it. For the summer, I have an aftermarket set of wheels with Hankook Ventus V-12 k110 tires. For winter, I use my stock 193M wheels and Blizzaks.

[morphius909]

Originally Posted by Braumin

It depends what you mean by summer tires. If they are true summer tires, you won't have any traction at all. If they are all season, they will be OK. Not great, but OK. X-Drive doesn't break any laws of physics or anything. AWD and 4WD can give some drivers overconfidence in the slippery stuff which is unfortunate for them. It's great for getting off the line and through snow, but it doesn't help you stop or corner. Only your tires can help there. AWD doesn't mean you can drive 60 mph on a slippery highway.

If you get any amount of snowfall though, invest in some winter tires and rims. You won't regret it. It seems like a lot of money, but it's not. You can get a set of rims and winter run flat tires for like $1200 on TireRack. I got Dunlop WinterSport 3D tires and I am very happy with them, and we've had a pile of snow so far this winter. It saves your summer rims from the abuse of the salted roads and potholes, and of course makes your summer tires last longer.

+1

[The X Men]

About the only thing worst in the snow than X-drive with summer tires is RWD with summer tires. Even RWD BMW with all seasons are not that good in the snow, I have seen them get stuck in the slightest hill. If you plan to drive in the snow at all and you do want to spend the extra money for X-drive, then you need to buy a set of snow tires.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by CombatNinja

Bridgestone Runflats are completely useless in the snow. It doesn't matter if you have 10 wheel-drive if none of the wheels have any traction.

Absolute nonsense!

Check out the 4 Bridgestone Blizzak RFTs for starters.

Tom

[gunsekun]

you dont wanna risk a 40k car just to save some money by not investing in a $1000 winter llantas

[pits200]

Trust me, you don't want to drive with summers even with an xi. I have x-drive and have mich ss summers and Mich alpine p3 winters(I forget) and its hard in the northeast (Pittsburgh) to know when to make the change since november can be warm or snowy. I left mine on till the beginning of december and we got a dusting of snow. I took the car 500 feet to an empty parking lot and it's insane how easily the tires broke traction, anything more than feathering the throttle and I was sliding. I changed the tires that weekend.

Please don't endanger yourself and others on the road by thinking you can get away with summers. Spend $900 on cheap rims and tires from tire rack since you'll probably have this car for a few years and you'll definitely get your moneys worth.

[Kolyan2k]

in snow summer tires are useless, in low temps...say 30s, it would probably depend on which summer tires you have. i am 100% against summer tires in winter, but i was surprised how good my Hankook V12s were in 30s (on dry road of cause)

[ragingclue]

Don't do it. Just get dedicated winters. If you end up hitting the snow with the summers (although I wouldn't recommend it for a second), get out after a bit and feel the surface of your tires. Rock hard and slippery as hell, along with the fact that the snow has now packed itself into all your tread, creating a tire with a completely smooth surface. That's not ideal.

Don't forget you still have to be able to stop and x-drive does nothing to help that.

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by Blubaron79

I have the staggered set up with xDrive. I run all seasons in the winter, and summers in the summer. You do not want to drive the summer tires below 40F. The tires are made of a soft compound that becomes hard like a hockey puck in the cold. In a cold rain you can even slide in a turn.

Why would you do that? Why not dedicated winters in the winter? Makes NO sense whatsoever. From 25 MPH a car on all season takes about 25' longer to stop than same car on dedicated winters.Have fun sliding through an intersection . Thats a FACT.
Ultra high performance all season? That makes no sense too.

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by pits200

Trust me, you don't want to drive with summers even with an xi. I have x-drive and have mich ss summers and Mich alpine p3 winters(I forget) and its hard in the northeast (Pittsburgh) to know when to make the change since november can be warm or snowy. I left mine on till the beginning of december and we got a dusting of snow. I took the car 500 feet to an empty parking lot and it's insane how easily the tires broke traction, anything more than feathering the throttle and I was sliding. I changed the tires that weekend.

Please don't endanger yourself and others on the road by thinking you can get away with summers. Spend $900 on cheap rims and tires from tire rack since you'll probably have this car for a few years and you'll definitely get your moneys worth.

Well said. You will go through two sets of tires in the life of your car so why not do it properly? Ever notice how many SUVs you see off the road.....theyre on All Season.

[smallseafishie]

You'll have more tread wear on your new summer tires in cold weather too...

[The X Men]

Originally Posted by 335BBS

Ever notice how many SUVs you see off the road.....theyre on All Season.

I agree, if you dont know how to drive in the snow, RWD with snow is a better choice, its idiot proof.

[ragingclue]

Originally Posted by The X Men

RWD with snow is a better choice, its idiot proof.

I'd hardly call it idiot proof, but yeah....