Using Summer Tyres throughout Winter

[Frankie169]

Recently picked up my Z4 and looking at the whole tyre subject on the forum.

I was going to buy some winter tyres/wheels on sale here but fell through due to logistics etc.

I am now looking at putting a full set of Goodyear Eagle F1s on as the car currently runs mega cheap tyres so first priority is replace those with the Eagles.

I don’t intend using the car in the snow, sleet etc as it’s my second car ( use my repmodile for that) so question is, does anyone else in the forum use summer tyres all year round? And if so what’s the best compromise or are Eagles ok for winter ie just wet roads 10 degrees temp etc.

 

[bmwaddict]

I use Eagle F1s throughout the winter, great all rounder especially good in the wet. Crap in snow, although maybe that is the car!

 

[Silverzedtom]

I use summer tyres all year round. It can get a little hairy in standing water but I’d put that down to the width of my wheels (8.5 and 9.5) before putting too much blame on the tyres. I only use the car in the evenings and at the weekend so personally can’t justify it.

If I had storage for a set of winter wheels I’d 100% get a set of winter rubber, but that would only be to keep my current wheels salt free.

I’m using Vredstein Ultrac Vorti's and would highly reccomend them for dry grip, noise and so on... much better than the RF bridgestones that bmw fit but then anything non run flat would be better.

 

[srhutch]

I use summer tyres all year round. It can get a little hairy in standing water but I’d put that down to the width of my wheels (8.5 and 9.5) before putting too much blame on the tyres. I only use the car in the evenings and at the weekend so personally can’t justify it.

If I had storage for a set of winter wheels I’d 100% get a set of winter rubber, but that would only be to keep my current wheels salt free.

I’m using Vredstein Ultrac Vorti's and would highly reccomend them for dry grip, noise and so on... much better than the RF bridgestones that bmw fit but then anything non run flat would be better.

You really need winters where you live if we get any snow. Not a single piece of level ground in Crowborough

 

[rally-chris]

Have you considered all season tyres instead? If I was going to use any BMW through the winter I'd be putting on a set of these to use all year round rather than have the hassle of storing and swapping tyres/wheels.

Chris

 

[Silverzedtom]

You really need winters where you live if we get any snow. Not a single piece of level ground in Crowborough

I agree, luckily the girlfirend’s Beat up old Micra is on snow duty. I wouldn’t fancy taking the zed out in snow even with winters It would make a good snow plough though

 

[mmm-five]

I used to use the MC all year round on PS2s and then SuperSports.

Did about 25k miles a year on them, for 5 years, in all weathers, and never got stuck...although I didn’t leave the house if it was standing snow.

Have all season Michelin CrossClimates on the current diesel daily...but I wouldn’t put them on the MC for normal use as I think they’d last about 1,000 miles

Got around ‘fine’ during this...

 

[Jembo]

it’s stopping & avoidance you’ll really notice the difference rather than acting like a sledge.

Also a good excuse to examine the tyres for nails, damage & poorboys the inside properly... if your Zed isn’t a garage Queen.

 

[BMWZ4MC]

I have GY Eagle F1s on my RS4. I managed to skid half a mile down a snow covered hill on Exmoor last winter before slithering to an undignified halt in the gutter, unable to go back up and not able to continue down with any control over the car. Whilst I was waiting for my mate to rescue me, a Discovery slid past me with all four wheels locked. My mate was happily able to drive up and down snow and ice covered hills in his Subaru Forester shod with winter tyres holding the wheel in one hand and a coffee in the other...

 

[buzyg]

I have MPS Sports on all year round. Need to get them warm in the winter, but once warm they work just fine.

I have been out a few times on Dartmoor, when it has been frozen. They are scary useless, bum Puckering things in such conditions.

 

[ERX]

I think you're better off with summer tyres, even in winter. You only really need winter tyres if it snows. Of course, be careful if it is icy though

 

[Mr Tidy]

I bought a set of winters in 2015 for my E46 and fitted them every November for 3 years. Until I sold it this March we never really had any bad weather. Maybe less than 5 degrees but no snow or ice.

Then I picked up an E91 to replace it and the Beast from the East arrived! I couldn't believe how good it was in that based on previous RWD experiences in snow - but then it was on winters!

Which meant in May I had to find a set of summers for it. :lol:

Anyway after that experience I'll just keep fitting winters every year all the time I run an RWD car.

But if the weather is like that my Z4 just gets a rest - no point tempting fate!

 

[Jembo]

I bought a set of winters in 2015 for my E46 and fitted them every November for 3 years. Until I sold it this March we never really had any bad weather. Maybe less than 5 degrees but no snow or ice.

Then I picked up an E91 to replace it and the Beast from the East arrived! I couldn't believe how good it was in that based on previous RWD experiences in snow - but then it was on winters!

Which meant in May I had to find a set of summers for it. :lol:

Anyway after that experience I'll just keep fitting winters every year all the time I run an RWD car.

But if the weather is like that my Z4 just gets a rest - no point tempting fate!

+1 ... mine will hibernate for 4-6 months

 

[Mr Tidy]

I bought a set of winters in 2015 for my E46 and fitted them every November for 3 years. Until I sold it this March we never really had any bad weather. Maybe less than 5 degrees but no snow or ice.

Then I picked up an E91 to replace it and the Beast from the East arrived! I couldn't believe how good it was in that based on previous RWD experiences in snow - but then it was on winters!

Which meant in May I had to find a set of summers for it. :lol:

Anyway after that experience I'll just keep fitting winters every year all the time I run an RWD car.

But if the weather is like that my Z4 just gets a rest - no point tempting fate!

+1 ... mine will hibernate for 4-6 months

Well mine doesn't actually hibernate (after all my RFL is "only" Band K, not Band M - sadly) but I only take it out on the good days!

 

[RickRob]

Back to the original question. If you're not going to drive the Zed in snow and sleet, and given that you live in a warmer part of the UK, I don't understand why you would even think about winter tyres. I'd save the cash and spend it on petrol when it's dry and sunny!

 

[Zed Baron]

I got caught out in the snow in mine a couple of years ago and it was a nightmare, the neighbours ended up pushing me up the street! So now it lives in the garage and doesn't stick its nose out until the weather is better. For the price of some winter tyres/wheels I bought a 1.0 Toyota and it is fantastic in the snow, really surprised me, pennies to insure and 0 RFL. Ive just replaced the Pirellis on my Z4 with F1 Eagle's as they have a better rating in the wet... so far so good

 

[domsz4]

never personally had any issues in the snow. used to do a leicester to liverpool dash every weekend for ages through all sorts of s**t. but tbf missed most of the snow this year. just need to slow down from 80 to 70 on the A50 roundabouts and watch out a bit more for morons

 

[NickDE]

I run Goodyear F1's in the summer, and Dunlop Wintersports in the winter. It's not about snow and ice, it's about having good grip on cold damp roads.

 

[eyup]

Winter tyres are a must in my opinion. I will never go back to using summer tyres in winter.

 

[Jembo]

Back to the original question. If you're not going to drive the Zed in snow and sleet, and given that you live in a warmer part of the UK, I don't understand why you would even think about winter tyres. I'd save the cash and spend it on petrol when it's dry and sunny!

The reason is both other cars go into Europe regularly over winter.

In many EU countries it’s the law between October to March - if it snows OR is icy & you have an accident without M&S labelled tyres, don’t expect to get your car back easily or anytime soon... as well as the ensuing issues you’ll have with the Rozzers