Winter tyres (and wheels)

TitanTim said:
BMWs winter wheels for the E89 are 17s non staggered but be prepared to drop your trousers and be spanked for around 1700 quid plus the sensors. I think the sensors can be swapped over which will cost for the dealer to do it. I think the new sensors came in after March 2014. Theres always aftermarket alloys but then you will need the sensors which are around the 200 quid mark so ot still gets expensive. Reason why my M135i is stuck in the garage now until spring, its pretty annoying although I could take the chance and use the car and if it snows then it snows but the stress of trying to drive a rear wheel drive car with 320bhp on summer tyres I'm not even going to go there. Next time I will be looking at a BMW XDrive model or Audi Quattro.

You could just swap the summer tyres for winters if you don't mind the faff.

Tim.
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I also have a 110k miles freelander that I've run for 6 years. I've used Pirelli Scorpian P Zeros on that for the last couple of sets and got 29k miles out of each set. Much better than the bridgestones it came with. Last year they dragged me up the 1 in 8 track to the office in 6" snow when no-one else beyond the first 10 feet until the guys with the grown up 4x4s arrived.

All I'm looking for here is to get that of performance margin. If thats what it costs I'd feel happier but poorer. We got nearly £2k more trade in on the series 1 convertible than expected. Swings and all that…..
 
A Quattro or X drive have good traction to get the mass moving in very slippy conditions but the stopping power is identical - usually it's an inability to stop that causes the damage!
 
I thought about a set for my 35iS but have just bought a set for my diesel Smart :) £845 new was a bit better than the £1800 for the BMW ones - especially given I prefer to use the Smart on salted horrid potholed roads !

I just have to get all 4 wheels and tyres in my Smart later otherwise it is 2 trips to the dealer !

In some ways I will miss driving the Z4 if it snows as the looks you get in a rear wheel drive car are really funny. I took my Z4M out in snow and to say it turned heads that I was using it was an understatement. People think you are totally mad (but I guess given the opportunities for others to slide into you it is a fair assessment!)
 
ronk said:
A Quattro or X drive have good traction to get the mass moving in very slippy conditions but the stopping power is identical - usually it's an inability to stop that causes the damage!
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Yes this is a widely used statement, however I was taught to use the engine to slow the vehicle in cold conditions and your brakes to stop, so having engine braking on four wheels is going to be better than two. That said a four wheel drive with winter tyres is the best bet to start and stop.

This new TPMS, don't like it and I would certainly factor it in if I chose the M235i
 
TitanTim said:
You could just swap the summer tyres for winters if you don't mind the faff...
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.. and cost for fitting and balancing, and it doesn't do the tyres much good. You still have to store and transport the unfitted tyres, and DIYT is impossible unless you are a tyre fitter. In my experience it's a poor option.
 
When the M135i is due for replacement will be looking at the 320d xDrive Touring and pondering whether to fit all season tyres from the off, I've been really pleased with them on the Z3 and never felt they've been a compromise. Will be interested to see how an xDrive fares in the snow etc on the standard tyres. I'm often thinking my M135i on its Michelin Pilot Supersports is a complete waste of time and money for half the year. Would really like something with all year round capability.

Tim.
 
If they have them in the appropriate size, a few years back I did a trip around Europe and found out at the last minute that I needed winter tyres for driving in Germany (they had just made it law, not a recommendation).

Not having the money for a set of Pirelli Sottozeros or whatever they're called, I very cautiously opted for a set of Falken EuroWinter HS439s - as they were one of the few non-premium and non-dodgy brands offering a complete set of tyres for my staggered fitment 3-series.

I was very impressed with them. They are certainly a summer-biased tyre, but offered reasonable grip in the snow and cold. Never had an issue with them.
 
I have a post May 14 car which is fitted with these sensors. BMW do not have stock so I bought them from TPMS Warehouse and had them fitted locally. Monitoring system works fine on winter run flats.
 
sars said:
ronk said:
A Quattro or X drive have good traction to get the mass moving in very slippy conditions but the stopping power is identical - usually it's an inability to stop that causes the damage!
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Yes this is a widely used statement, however I was taught to use the engine to slow the vehicle in cold conditions and your brakes to stop, so having engine braking on four wheels is going to be better than two. That said a four wheel drive with winter tyres is the best bet to start and stop.i
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Engine braking is a help certainly but it's no substitute! My wife's quattro is auto and she has to be reminded to use the gearstick on the snow.
 
TitanTim said:
----Would really like something with all year round capability.
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If I had to go to one car - it would definitely be an Audi - Quattro of course. Probably an S3, just because her ladyship wants a smaller car than her current A4 3.0 Tdi Quattro.

I know several have knocked the Audi but as an all round car it's hard to beat. Especially when it's slippy. I've also found the service in the audi dealership (newcastle) to be very good. All in all I can't find anything to bellyache about!
 
ronk said:
TitanTim said:
----Would really like something with all year round capability.
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If I had to go to one car - it would definitely be an Audi - Quattro of course. Probably an S3, just because her ladyship wants a smaller car than her current A4 3.0 Tdi Quattro.

I know several have knocked the Audi but as an all round car it's hard to beat. Especially when it's slippy. I've also found the service in the audi dealership (newcastle) to be very good. All in all I can't find anything to bellyache about!
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The Audi certainly appeals Ronk, its just my BMW dealer is a few doors from where I live which is handy for me and I've had a couple of A3s but they've always felt lacklustre compared to BMW.

Tim.
 
TitanTim said:
The Audi certainly appeals Ronk, its just my BMW dealer is a few doors from where I live which is handy for me and I've had a couple of A3s but they've always felt lacklustre compared to BMW.
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It's the overall package that our Audi provides.

My wife wants a smaller car now and is not exactly anti S3

That's more nippy than my 3.0 E89 !
 
ronk said:
TitanTim said:
The Audi certainly appeals Ronk, its just my BMW dealer is a few doors from where I live which is handy for me and I've had a couple of A3s but they've always felt lacklustre compared to BMW.
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It's the overall package that our Audi provides.

My wife wants a smaller car now and is not exactly anti S3

That's more nippy than my 3.0 E89 !
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The S3 is very quick but then so is my M135i :evil: just that it goes nowhere in the winter :cry:

Tim.
 
Although my wife drove to work in a Volvo 740 for years + bad conditions + a hilly area + no winter tyres, she now won't contemplate a non 4wd. I think it's an age thing !
 
For those interested, here's what the BMW TPMS sensors with valves looks like (Hopefully getting them fitted to my winter wheels tomorrow- £60 including balance at my local tyre fitter, BMW wanted £136!)

 
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