Anyone forced to drive in this snow weather...

[Vader M3]

needs to make sure they're aware of snow/true-winter tires. It could save your life. Check out the difference between a FWD minivan vs the "norm" out there (AWD cars/trucks on all-seasons). the difference is astounding. A friend of mine has similar tires on his E60 M5 and gets around just fine, and I had them on an M3 was well. Be safe out there!

http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticles/ID/3346/Michelin-X-Ice-Xi3-snow-tires-Just-how-good-are-they.aspx

[Jim@tirerack]

The winter tires make a huge difference on the BMW. I am not sure how you can drive in the winter without them.
If I can help let me know.

[200kclub]

Jim. I know that Summer tires in snow is pretty much asking to wreck in the winter, even though people do it. But what about summer tires (say Conti DW) on dry, salty, cold asphault? Whats the performance difference there for the summer compound?

[SwissCheeseHead]

Summer compounds are not meant to be very effective below 40F. I would avoid this if possible, regardless of the road conditions. If driven for too long in this weather, the sidewalls and tread will begin to develop cracks and could be very hazardous. This is besides the fact that you won't get any grip from them anyway.

A link from tirerack:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=220

[Jim@tirerack]

The summer performance tires loose 30% of the tires traction at 45 degrees. So even on a dry road you have lost 30 %.

[200kclub]

the summer performance tires loose 30% of the tires traction at 45 degrees. So even on a dry road you have lost 30 %.
shat.

[Vader M3]

I remember testing Conti CSC3's in 30F DRY in a modified E36 M3, and in 2nd gear the tires couldn't keep traction. And then I swapped to the Conti ExtremeWinterContacts and they gripped fine the same afternoon--couldn't break them loose in 2nd, even while trying.

[TRM]

Definitely agree. An E36 m3 with actual snow tires is a totally different animal. Worth it if you are in the climate that requires it.

[pDubs]

I had a Subaru WRX then an Audi A4 quattro before my e36 m3. The Subaru's stock wheels had bridgestone blizzak ws70 and I ran aftermarket wheels with summer tires for the nicer weather. The Audi had dunlop sp signature all seaons on the stock wheels that I ran as winter wheels and then summer tires on my BBS's. Now I have the m3 with continental all seasons that are down to 4/32 and a 1995 m3 with no traction control. It is absolutely night and day between my other cars.

[bladerealm124]

Jim. I know that Summer tires in snow is pretty much asking to wreck in the winter, even though people do it. But what about summer tires (say Conti DW) on dry, salty, cold asphault? Whats the performance difference there for the summer compound?

Fwiw I ran Dunlop z1 star specs and Yokohama s-drives through two Connecticut winters. Absolutely not drivable in the slightest bit of snow, but the performance in cold and sub-zero temps was actually surprisingly good. Much of this may be attributed to the overall great performance of these two tires in general(especially the star specs). As an example I took a few very sharp turns upwards of 70mph in sub 40 degree weather without a hint of lateral movement. Straight line traction was more noticeably compromised, easily breaking the star specs loose in a second gear roll. They also seemed to wear excessively fast which I attribute to the compound not being suitable for cold weather. Braking was likely compromised but I was never in a situation to test just how much. I was definitely surprised at both tires overall cold weather performance

[Vader M3]

I believe that. With lateral G, the tires can heat up a bit if you gradually get through the turn faster and faster, and you've got 4 tires as opposed to with acceleration. I've seen 235's all-around Conti CS3's see 1.05G (E36 M3, stock susp) around a 65mph turn in 12F weather. But under a quick/full stab of throttle they wouldn't hold 1st or 2nd gear regardless..

[ImTheDevil]

This is exactly why I'm keeping my A4 when I pick up my 540 next week.

[Vader M3]

This is exactly why I'm keeping my A4 when I pick up my 540 next week.

Well, keep that A4 because you actually want the car. I assume this is so, otherwise I would just say an extra set of wheels and snow tires for the BMW would be a lot less costly and you would have a lot more room in the garage :)

[ImTheDevil]

Heheh, that is also the case. I've had the car quite awhile and really do like it. It's been paid off for years, runs like a champ, and owes me nothing. The BMW will be the third car (my wife's Odyssey and my A4 being the primary drivers), and the 5 will be more of an evening/weekend car. No sense racking up 30 miles a day on a slog to work and home, just to leave it in the parking lot to get door dings and shat upon by birds. Having the A4 as an option when work is needed on the 5 or the Honda, and as a good car when the weather really gets sour up here in upstate NY is a good idea in my mind - with snow tires, it can all but climb a wall.

The 5 I'm going after has M parallels on it and all season tires, which aren't a great idea up here. I know the 5 has a type of traction or stability control, but as long as winter driving is the topic, how have you found yours to be in winter driving? Given a spare set of wheels and snow tires, is it pretty capable or still a little bit of a handful? I do have quite a few years of RWD experience in snow, and understand the dynamics involved.

[Vader M3]

To be honest, the E36 M3 was the wife's baby hauler for our two kids before we had to update to a 3-kids car, and even with no Traction Control she said she "never really felt like there was snow on the ground", according to her. Now with a FWD minivan with true winters the braking is the same but I think a RWD with winters accelerates better because of the weight transfer. Plus the M3 had 225s all around, which helped even further (to go narrower, that is).