Just a note about winter tyres....

K

Kugaman1

Member
 North East Scotland
I try not to use the Z during this weather, mainly as is so low it gets totally caked in road salt/snow.

Where possible I try to use the wife’s Golf GTE and go into work on electric.

However for the past couple of days I’ve had no choice but to use the Z. I’m currently running it on 17” BMW alloys with Pirelli winter RFTs. I really wouldn’t have gone with winter RFTs but the package was a good deal so I went for it.

Have to say, wow, really impressed!! There have been several times where I’ve had to crawl up a snow covered hill at slow speed and the wheels haven’t slipped once! Not even had the traction control light on, unless I really boot it.

Anyone else singing the benefits of winter tyres?

Here’s the winters.....
81E6B65A-89ED-49EB-9E0C-895E8FCA7EC7.jpeg


Can’t wait for the spring and get back to these....have got a set of none RFT Continentals ready to go on the 326s....
1D07E648-0A11-4426-912C-68D38A3CF4FF.jpeg
 
Yes, though not on E89. I wouldn't be without a set anymore, once you've felt and seen the difference you can't go back!
 
What size are your Continental non runflats ? I'll be getting rid of the runflats in spring although they've only done 6000 miles, 255/35 rear but not sure if to risk 225/40 fronts, have read some people having rubbing problems with the 225/40s, the car is only used in the summer months and driven fairly steadily, just looking for more comfort.
 
I swap to winters around Oct, but on my van lol - Can't have anything stopping me getting to the shop/cash & carry, and so far have been very impressed. Used to put them on my XC90 in winter too, and that was unstoppable, even towing a couple of our drivers out of ditches etc in the snow. They really do make that much difference!

Mike
 
I've put Michelin winters on my E46 each winter for 3 years now - probably why we've not had any snow down here! :)
 
I have a set of none RF winters which usually go on end of November and come off end of March and have done ever since I bought the car, just over 3 years ago and this is the first year we have had any snow to try them out. I was apprehensive when I bought them, even after watching many sales videos and YouTube and I can honestly say now, they are great. As said previously if you drive to the conditions you can’t fault them.
 
HillWalker said:
What size are your Continental non runflats ? I'll be getting rid of the runflats in spring although they've only done 6000 miles, 255/35 rear but not sure if to risk 225/40 fronts, have read some people having rubbing problems with the 225/40s, the car is only used in the summer months and driven fairly steadily, just looking for more comfort.
Click to expand...

Gone for 255/35 rear and 225/40 fronts.

I cannot believe that with genuine BMW wheels, going from 35 profile to 40 profile on the fronts will cause rubbing? Surely they aren’t that close to the arch liners? I mean there’s less than an inch in overall tyre size so the top of the tyre will be less than half an inch closer to the liner.
They are exactly the same width, so I’m sure it will be fine? I hope! Will soon find out in the spring!
BD9C7983-AA59-4DB4-A783-CC7CD868E458.png
 
A quick note about “traction control” in snow. Turn it off until you are going well, the TC will not allow wheel spin so you get stuck , turning it off when you start allows you to control the slippage and get going. Of course, flooring the go pedal will not work, but a little controlled spinning does work.
 
I have them on the X6 and the last few days have shown that they really do work.
My house is on a slight slope and in this sort of weather the street is always hard packed ice.
Cars struggle to get up this slope with wheels spinning and sometimes having to take runs at it or get a push.
I leave the driveway and am able to just drive straight up the hill with no slipping and sliding at all.
A few years ago a taxi driver was stuck outside our house for 2 hours trying to get out the street. Once we were up and out of bed we gave him a shove and he was on his way.
With winter tyres though you have to remind yourself that the roads are slippy and keep the speed down even though you cant feel it.
 
Kugaman1 said:
HillWalker said:
What size are your Continental non runflats ? I'll be getting rid of the runflats in spring although they've only done 6000 miles, 255/35 rear but not sure if to risk 225/40 fronts, have read some people having rubbing problems with the 225/40s, the car is only used in the summer months and driven fairly steadily, just looking for more comfort.
Click to expand...

Gone for 255/35 rear and 225/40 fronts.

I cannot believe that with genuine BMW wheels, going from 35 profile to 40 profile on the fronts will cause rubbing? Surely they aren’t that close to the arch liners? I mean there’s less than an inch in overall tyre size so the top of the tyre will be less than half an inch closer to the liner.
They are exactly the same width, so I’m sure it will be fine? I hope! Will soon find out in the spring!
BD9C7983-AA59-4DB4-A783-CC7CD868E458.png
Click to expand...

Thanks for that Kugaman1, that's some very good information do let's us know when you've fitted them on your opinion of the ride quality etc,I'm now even more tempted to go for those sizes.
What version of Continental's have you gone for ? thanks.
 
Hi Hillwalker.

I went for continental sport contact 5.

Normally I would go for something a bit more mid range like Kumho or Nexen etc, but I got offered these Contis locally at an amazing price so I went for them.

Had lots of Contis on new cars, like the S3, Golf GTI, Kuga, etc and been really impressed with them in all conditions.
 
Kugaman1 said:
I try not to use the Z during this weather, mainly as is so low it gets totally caked in road salt/snow.

Where possible I try to use the wife’s Golf GTE and go into work on electric.

However for the past couple of days I’ve had no choice but to use the Z. I’m currently running it on 17” BMW alloys with Pirelli winter RFTs. I really wouldn’t have gone with winter RFTs but the package was a good deal so I went for it.

Have to say, wow, really impressed!! There have been several times where I’ve had to crawl up a snow covered hill at slow speed and the wheels haven’t slipped once! Not even had the traction control light on, unless I really boot it.

Anyone else singing the benefits of winter tyres?

Here’s the winters.....
81E6B65A-89ED-49EB-9E0C-895E8FCA7EC7.jpeg


Can’t wait for the spring and get back to these....have got a set of none RFT Continentals ready to go on the 326s....
1D07E648-0A11-4426-912C-68D38A3CF4FF.jpeg
Click to expand...
Nope, not seen real snow in Devon for years now.....
 
I have used winter tyres for six years now.
They work very well in slippy conditions.

On the daily workhorse I've gone for a set of Michelin cross climate. Saves the aggro of seasonal changes. So far very impressed.
 
philiph said:
I have used winter tyres for six years now.
They work very well in slippy conditions.

On the daily workhorse I've gone for a set of Michelin cross climate. Saves the aggro of seasonal changes. So far very impressed.
Click to expand...

Same here, not been out in any terrible weather to put them to the test yet :driving:
Rob
 
Ive fitted them to a variety of cars since the bad winter of 2010 and even though snow has been as a scarce as a scare thing down here the benefits are still obvious when temperatures drop and the roads are wet and greasy. Generally I've bought a set of wheels with good tyres on them, the last set of 18" BMW wheels in perfect condition with equally good two year old tyres cost me £400 and they are fitted to my 535d. I had the dealer fit them when I went to collect the car so I havnt driven it on its original 19" and Im a bit worried that the 18" will ruin me due to good ride comfort and probably lower noise. Interestingly in the past Ive taken about a 10% hit on fuel use with the winters but the 535d is turning in around 41mpg with them fitted so not sure if they just work better on this car than the previous ones. I would rather have runflat winters on an E89 any day of the week if the alternative was standard radial summer tyres.
Keith
 
ronk said:
huytonman wrote: ↑Fri Jan 19, 2018 6:18 pm Interestingly in the past Ive taken about a 10% hit on fuel use with the winters.......

Could this not just be due to the cold weather?
Click to expand...

I suspect it might be - I've never noticed any difference with my E46 that has had winters on it for the last 3.

Mind you down here it hasn't got seriously cold for any length of time thankfully.
 
The winter tyres have higher levels of adhesion, makes them stickier so harder to rotate so more fuel.at least thats my theory!
 
I’ve got 18” runflat Pirelli Sottozero on our 335xd as winter rubber replacing the standard 19” Bridgestone runflats - can’t say I notice and significant change comfort/ride so rest easy :thumbsup:
 
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