Oem RFT's in the winter?

[junkyard dogg]

Hey guys,

I just got a 335is last month and it's got the factory rft's. Will these work in the winter and/or light snow? Or must they be swapped out? If so, I don't understand why bmw would install tires that need to be swapped out every year.

[Nikojt]

Hey guys, I just got a 335is last month and it's got the factory rft's. Will these work in the winter and/or light snow? Or must they be swapped out? If so, I don't understand why bmw would install tires that need to be swapped out every year.

It would be advised that you swap for snow tires especially since your car is RWD only. RFTs can work in the snow, but they aren't gonna work well… especially with all the extra power at the rear.

[Critter7r]

The issue is not the fact that the tires are runflat, the issue is whether or not the tires are rated for snow. Every tire maker makes runflat tires of the all-season and snow-tire variety that will work to varying degrees of 'good in the snow'.

If you have high-performance runflat tires, then yes, I'd get some snow tires to swap onto the car, because driving high-performance rubber in the snow is a lot like rock climbing with dress shoes. If the car has all-season tires, then you have to decide if an all-season is good enough, or if you want an all-out snow tire.

As to why BMW would fit tires to a car that can't be driven in the snow ... ???? ... It's a high performance car, why wouldn't they? All-season and snow tires compromise the handling of the vehicle. Swapping to snow tires is something people should do if they live in snowy climates anyhow. I'm sure there are plenty of people in southern California that are happy that their BMW came equipped with performance tires.

[Nikojt]

The issue is not the fact that the tires are runflat, the issue is whether or not the tires are rated for snow. Every tire maker makes runflat tires of the all-season and snow-tire variety that will work to varying degrees of 'good in the snow'. If you have high-performance runflat tires, then yes, I'd get some snow tires to swap onto the car, because driving high-performance rubber in the snow is a lot like rock climbing with dress shoes. If the car has all-season tires, then you have to decide if an all-season is good enough, or if you want an all-out snow tire. As to why BMW would fit tires to a car that can't be driven in the snow ... ???? ... It's a high performance car, why wouldn't they? All-season and snow tires compromise the handling of the vehicle. Swapping to snow tires is something people should do if they live in snowy climates anyhow. I'm sure there are plenty of people in southern California that are happy that their BMW came equipped with performance tires.

^ this; thank you. Was too early to reply in length for me. Haha

[junkyard dogg]

The issue is not the fact that the tires are runflat, the issue is whether or not the tires are rated for snow. Every tire maker makes runflat tires of the all-season and snow-tire variety that will work to varying degrees of 'good in the snow'. If you have high-performance runflat tires, then yes, I'd get some snow tires to swap onto the car, because driving high-performance rubber in the snow is a lot like rock climbing with dress shoes. If the car has all-season tires, then you have to decide if an all-season is good enough, or if you want an all-out snow tire. As to why BMW would fit tires to a car that can't be driven in the snow ... ???? ... It's a high performance car, why wouldn't they? All-season and snow tires compromise the handling of the vehicle. Swapping to snow tires is something people should do if they live in snowy climates anyhow. I'm sure there are plenty of people in southern California that are happy that their BMW came equipped with performance tires.

Makes sense. Will the high performance rft's be ok in colder temperatures? I don't plan on driving in the snow unless I really have to. I have lots of public transportation options where I live.

[Rudolph320i]

they will operate, but be pretty hard due to the temperature so grip will become an issue, especially in cold rain.

[Critter7r]

Makes sense. Will the high performance rft's be ok in colder temperatures? I don't plan on driving in the snow unless I really have to. I have lots of public transportation options where I live.

And if you "really have to", you won't be able to. Hi-perf runflats are really bad in any sort of snow, and pretty much suck for traction in anything below 45-50 degrees, especially a wet 45 degrees.

If by "be ok in colder temperatures" you mean "hold air and support the weight of the vehicle", then yes. :) If you need to drive in anything below 45-50, or on cold, wet roads or in any amount of snow, then no.

Don't get me wrong, the vehicle will likely move and turn in cold weather, but the traction of hi-perf tires has been shown to be reduced significantly in cold temps.

[junkyard dogg]

And if you "really have to", you won't be able to. Hi-perf runflats are really bad in any sort of snow, and pretty much suck for traction in anything below 45-50 degrees, especially a wet 45 degrees. If by "be ok in colder temperatures" you mean "hold air and support the weight of the vehicle", then yes. :) If you need to drive in anything below 45-50, or on cold, wet roads or in any amount of snow, then no. Don't get me wrong, the vehicle will likely move and turn in cold weather, but the traction of hi-perf tires has been shown to be reduced significantly in cold temps.

I'll most likely never "have" to drive since I live in the nyc area so I have tons of public transportation options.

My original plan was to keep the rft's until something happens to one of them and then I would replace all of them with non rft all seasons. But the temps are starting to drop so I guess I'll have to switch them pretty soon. Bummer. I was planning to spend that money to upgrade the horrible base speakers smh. I think I caught the mod bug.

[GatorM]

I live in the CT burbs of NYC and have an 07 335 coupe. I wouldn't venture out into even a dusting of snow with the original RFTs, and especially not anything that might create ice (like when the snow melts then refreezes). The RFTs sucked so badly that I replaced them with Michelin Pilots and a flat-fix kit. I have a set of Blizzaks on cheapo rims I bought for the winter; I just swap them. It drives quite well with snows.

[junkyard dogg]

Ok im convinved. Im gonna switch them out once the temps hit 40. Gonna go with Continental DWS cause I don't have space for another set of wheels/tires.

[Critter7r]

I live in the CT burbs of NYC and have an 07 335 coupe. I wouldn't venture out into even a dusting of snow with the original RFTs, and especially not anything that might create ice (like when the snow melts then refreezes). The RFTs sucked so badly that I replaced them with Michelin Pilots and a flat-fix kit. I have a set of Blizzaks on cheapo rims I bought for the winter; I just swap them. It drives quite well with snows.

Just to try to drive this point home one last time : tires don't suck in the snow just because they are RunFlat tires. Some RunFlat tires suck in the snow because they have a tread that is not designed to be run in anything except warm temeratures. This is no different from non-RunFlat tires.

RunFlat snow tires work just as well in the snow as non-RunFlat snow tires.

The RunFlat designation itself isn't what is causing these tires to suck in the snow, it is the fact that the tires in question are RunFlat tires that happen to be designed for warmer temps, i.e. not snow tires.

And I hope that you chose the MXM4 version of the Pilot Sport tires. The PSs that are not 4 season tires really suck in winter.

[GatorM]

Just to try to drive this point home one last time : tires don't suck in the snow just because they are RunFlat tires. Some RunFlat tires suck in the snow because they have a tread that is not designed to be run in anything except warm temeratures. This is no different from non-RunFlat tires.

RunFlat snow tires work just as well in the snow as non-RunFlat snow tires.

The RunFlat designation itself isn't what is causing these tires to suck in the snow, it is the fact that the tires in question are RunFlat tires that happen to be designed for warmer temps, i.e. not snow tires.

And I hope that you chose the MXM4 version of the Pilot Sport tires. The PSs that are not 4 season tires really suck in winter.

:confused

RFTs suck in all conditions because they're RFTs. That's why I replaced them. And why I use non-RFT snow tires, too.

I don't use 4 season tires because they're suboptimal in all 4 seasons.

[Critter7r]

Be that as it may, I think some ITT were confusing RunFlat tires with high-performance tires, and they aren't necessarily one and the same.

[Chris212]

Oem flats suck butt in snow and cold rain.. In Florida they are great in rainy season... If you plan to drive fall to spring swap tires tires if in cold environment past that mass transit is how I met wifey