How bad is it to drive summer tires in the winter?

[Eryan36]

I have BF-G gForce Sports on right now, and no desire whatsoever to spend any more money on the car in the foreseeable future. These are max or something performance summer tires, and I've heard it's not recommended to roll on them in the winter. But how bad is it, really? :shifty

[///Montizzle]

DO NOT do it. The compound is super soft and those things turn into hockey pucks in anything under 40 deg. Blizzacks are not THAT expensive and will be well worth the money. Trust me, do not do it

[Rowan611]

Blizzacks or Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D...you'll regret if you don't; I promise.

[jmo69]

I bought 2 Blizzaks for my 328 with some "on special" alloys for $375 shipped from Tire Rack. Gettin pulled out of the ditch and body repairs would probably cost more. You might want to consider M&S tire for the fronts if you don't want snows up there.

[FishtailnZ]

True winter tires are worth their weight in gold when you get caught out in the white stuff - you won't realize just how bad those high performance tires are in those same conditions until it's too late, ESPECIALLY in a rwd car.

[UnitedBimmer]

if you like to go drifting in the snow and possibly crash your car... then you'd run those summer tires during winter time... but if you want to stay safe.. keep those tires for the summer and replace them w/ those blizzaks...

[cenotaph]

One of these days I'll have to dig up that C&D column that talked about driving a quattro TT with performance tires in snow. In short, it wasn't pretty, and the AWD basically did nothing to help.

If you don't have to drive through deep snow often, something like the Dunlop Wintersports will be fine. Also, DO NOT only get rear tires. You really do need a set of four. Especially if what you're using now is a set of performance tires.

[1/2past3CI]

One of these days I'll have to dig up that C&D column that talked about driving a quattro TT with performance tires in snow. In short, it wasn't pretty, and the AWD basically did nothing to help.

If you don't have to drive through deep snow often, something like the Dunlop Wintersports will be fine. Also, DO NOT only get rear tires. You really do need a set of four. Especially if what you're using now is a set of performance tires.

I especially agree with the part about not just the rears. I drove on some summer tires in a light dusting of snow a few winters ago. I had to jump on the brakes and it felt as though i was on a skating rink. The rears are important for traction, the fronts are important for braking and steering.

[HwyRogue]

I have to echo what others have already posted.

Passenger cars need to use winter tires - no questions. Remember that tread patterns on the tires are what keep your car on the road and you (and your passengers and other motorists on the roadways) alive.

Without proper tires your vehicle will not have the grip needed to safely maneuver the streets and highways - not to mention your stopping distance is increased immensely.

Aside from the safety aspect, if you are involved in a collision, the police will inspect your tires to ensure you are using proper tires, failing to have proper tires could result in civil liability and penal code charges....

Some of the worst offenders are people who save a few hundred bux and use all seasons year round.... I think all seasons should at best be used spring, summer, fall - on the nicer roads, but as I said earlier, I strongly urge you to get a good set of winter tires.

[HoJo]

How much snow do you get in Oaklahoma in the winter?

[Daved]

Running summer tires in the winter in snowy areas is just asking for trouble.

I run summer tires here all year aroud but it does not snow.

[WTFPENGUIN]

I ran my car in summer tires and bald rears up to tahoe during a blizzard, it was fine, dunno if I could do it now with abs delete, prolly not. If I had to drive in the snow everyday I'd prolly get different tires. Summer tires + rain = no big.

Actually driving an e36 in the rain isn't much fun period

[GGray]

You just need to put "winter air" in them...

Okay bad joke....:help

[Wildo2003]

I remember driving in damp/rainy roads with g force sports in the rear.. It hydoplaned SO easily just going in a straight line, scared the crap out of me driving anywhere.. Let's just say ASC was blinking a lot during the rainy season.. It wasn't too bad if you keep a light touch on the go pedal and drive extra careful.. I'm not baller enough to have two sets of wheels and tires for the seaons.. but then again, California isn't that bad.. It's probably a necessity in areas that snow

[WTFPENGUIN]

bimmerfest was nuts when it was raining, for some reason we were traveling around 110mph in the rain, pouring rain, like couldnt see in front of you, that was quiet scary on summer tires.

[sfgearhead]

i tried to run summer tires during the winter once. first snowfall i went right off the road, up the curb and needed a $100 tow to get it back on the road. luckily i didn't bend/break anything.

i just bought a set of used winter tires and wheels for $200. check craigslist and find something used if you're on a budget. good tires are money well spent.

[97m3john]

I tried to move my car frm one garage to another in the winter with so3's, car wouldn't move at all in 1 inch of snow.

[galahad05]

I'll be getting a winter tire/wheel combo for my 335 come October or November. Probably Dunlop 3Ds.

Even my Toyota front-driver has problems with the snow here, on all-seasons. A 300 lb-foot rear-driver? No way am I taking a chance.

[Brad5161]

Running summer tires in the winter in snowy areas is just asking for trouble.

I run summer tires here all year aroud but it does not snow.

I run summer tires on my Z3 Coupe and Miata. I don't drive either when there's a chance of snow.

[robtech]

forget the snow...summer tires are horrible in the rain...at the end of this last winter i was running goodyear eagle f1 gs-d3 on all for corners of my last car...started raining while i was at work...im on the freeway in fifth gear, anytime i touched the gas my ass end would start sliding...granted i did have a 2way lsd in a 2000lbs car which im sure didnt help

[Eryan36]

We don't get much snow here, it just gets cold. Thanks for the advice, guys, I'ma look into some winter tires.

[dapopa9]

I run high performance summer Michelin Pilot Sport 2's all winter long they are great. However I am in San Diego ;)

[gspdbill]

We don't get much snow here, it just gets cold. Thanks for the advice, guys, I'ma look into some winter tires.
It isn't just the snow, it's the cold too. The compound of summer tires are designed for the heat and doesn't perform well at all in freezing or near freezing temps. And heaven forbid you add rain to that mix and you'll be in trouble. It gets cold enough in Tulsa to spring for the colder weather tires.

[dchec]

Bottom line to OP... get winter tires. I believe some of the first posters would be scolding you in person like a 6 year old kid if they could. lol...

[Eryan36]

Haha, probably so.

[Greglatta]

I'll help you out, I live in washington I have a 99 M3 with the same exact tires, I was on my way home from work sitting at a stoplight, it was cold and didnt look nice out, I still had about 15 minutes from being home, 30 seconds later I was still at the light now first in line to make my left, next thing ya know huge hail storm they werent big or damaging it was just alot of them, I forgot asc was on and tried to take off from the light which was a slight uphill into the intersection. I killed the car because asc tried to stop wheelspin at 3k rpm... I turned off asc rode the clutch started moving rear tires had no traction, fishtailed a bit for into the intersection.

The road then goes downhill for about 200 feet to a very steep uphill with curbs on both sides but with wide shoulders, I start getting very VERY loose on the rearend, it slides out one way, catch it back on track, about mid way up it slides out, slam the wheels to lock whips around the other way couldnt control it, slam on the brakes wasn't working! heading toward the curb couldn't do much! angle my tires toward it so I dont crack the rim. My right front goes up and over the curb into some fresh beauty bark about 5 inches down. I try to put her into reverse and ease her back onto the road spin a bunch, finally get traction and im up, i go to inspect the wheel for a short bit. No damage! : D I was a happy man, but the next day I went out and bought some dunlops

So, if your area is prone to wild weather have a set of winter tires ready the geforce sports wont cut it

[AlaskaBimmer]

A few years back I put my summer tires on my 95 318i and we had a last hurrah snow and I nearly creamed a few parked cars as I slid down the hill backwards in front of my house. I backed down the hill, parked the car and walked to work. I lived about a mile from work at that time. Now if I get the studded tires off early I can drive my blizzak shod beater 320i... I'll be using studs on the M3 and driving the beater 320i after fresh snows and really snowy days. My wife just drives an AWD honda CRV...