Loving the 4wd in snow!!

[gliding serpent]

First snow of the year, so for some fun I avoided the main roads (plowed and salt) and took the back roads to work this AM. Ice covered by a thin layer of snow on a nice twisty back road. I have stock all-season Continental ContiProContact 17 tires. The car handled beautifully, and was a blast with stability and traction control off too. Breaking distance was miserable however. I was planning on getting winters and steel rims anyway, probably 16's (suggestions welcome). I may have done some donuts in the empty parking lot when I arrived at work. :)

Reminds me why I chose the xi. Smiles all year round.

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/4601/donutsinsnow.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/100/donutsinsnow.jpg/)

[thatguyn8]

16's might be less expensive for a winter setup but 17's will be easier to sell down the road as 335i and 335d can't run 16s (and can only run certain 17s.) If that's not a concern to you - that is, if you plan on keeping the car long enough to wear out the tires - then the 16s probably are less expensive.

[gpb]

Breaking distance was miserable however. I was planning on getting winters and steel rims anyway

Good idea on the winter tires; braking ability has nothing to do with how many of your wheels are connected to the motor. You wouldn't want to break something 'cuz you couldn't brake in time. :D

(and strictly speaking, 4WD and AWD are slightly different things with their individual pro's and con's... just sayin...)

[cochise325]

Snows make a huge difference. I would go with 16s and go with a narrower width than summer tires. Would not get steel wheels, they are heavy, rust (yuk), and you can find some decent prices on alloy wheels at tirerack. They will help you get a nice winter tire and wheel package all mounted, balanced, and delivered to your door.

Enjoy and please don't run into a n y t h i n g ! ! !:redspot

[smc850ci]

Good idea on the winter tires; braking ability has nothing to do with how many of your wheels are connected to the motor. You wouldn't want to break something 'cuz you couldn't brake in time.

Ha, ha, ha :lol

I see that so often!

Next up: Your, you're & there, their and they're!

[gliding serpent]

Snows make a huge difference. I would go with 16s and go with a narrower width than summer tires. Would not get steel wheels, they are heavy, rust (yuk), and you can find some decent prices on alloy wheels at tirerack. They will help you get a nice winter tire and wheel package all mounted, balanced, and delivered to your door.

On the other hand, all black cars end up looking like crap in the winter, so why not just save the money, get some 16's, and pop on steel rims. Alloys get chewed up with all the salt we have around here. So do steel rims... but I can sleep easy knowing that.


Enjoy and please don't run into a n y t h i n g ! ! !:redspot

There go my plans for next weekend then...

[cochise325]

On the other hand, all black cars end up looking like crap in the winter, so why not just save the money, get some 16's, and pop on steel rims. Alloys get chewed up with all the salt we have around here. So do steel rims... but I can sleep easy knowing that.

I had a set of Borbet Type E (5 spoke, made in Germany) alloys that I used for 15 winters. They still look great (see pic). Just recently sold them to a 1994 530i owner in CT. These came from Tirerack. I used them on my 1995 525i with ASC + T.

[gliding serpent]

I followed Cochise's advice and I got my new wheels and rims a few weeks back. 205/55 16 Continental extreme winter contact tires and some painted alloys at a great price. Canadian Tire. Better price than competitors with free installation and balance.

Non run flats and 16's do indeed soften the ride, but at a cost to the locked down feel of stock 17 all seasons. Grip and breaking are impressive in the snow however, which are my priority. Put to great use already!

http://imageshack.us/a/img441/5366/imagelrmu.jpg

[cochise325]

i followed cochise's advice and i got my new wheels and rims a few weeks back. 205/55 16 continental extreme winter contact tires and some painted alloys at a great price. Canadian tire. Better price than competitors with free installation and balance.

Non run flats and 16's do indeed soften the ride, but at a cost to the locked down feel of stock 17 all seasons. Grip and breaking are impressive in the snow however, which are my priority. Put to great use already!



sweet!