Winter in All Season Tires, no X Drive... Anyone?

pdude · 10-31-2009, 10:02 AM

Is there anyone out there that will drive through winter in All Season Tires?
I just need to get through 1 season... Any good experiences?

DaRickSta81 · 10-31-2009, 10:19 AM

I wouldn't recommend it... I had 4 blizzaks and still had difficulties when it came down hard.... but Windsor is a bit milder with the snow...

I would say get something, even CT Nordics or used snow tires/rims... for the small investment, the payback in your safety is totally worth it!

Mr&Mrs323i · 10-31-2009, 10:19 AM

Winters in your region have historically more snow than the left coast so I would not even try driving in the snow with all seasons. If you do, bring some snow shovels because you're going to need it. Been there, done that.

public1 · 10-31-2009, 10:38 AM

not a great idea. The all seasons already aren't that great for dry and summer conditions, but for winter they're even worse. you will not be able to get anywhere at all without having to have someone infront of you at all times to shovel our way through haha. Tried it here for less than 1cm of snow and let me say it was good and scary times haha.

jasonintoronto · 10-31-2009, 10:46 AM

i highly discourage driving in snow with all seasons.

trickydisco · 10-31-2009, 11:19 AM

no way dude...and if by all-season you mean the factory runflats...then you've got a deathwish.

aspiring335 · 10-31-2009, 12:19 PM

Seems like this question gets asked about once every two weeks, minimum...

Yes, if you want to drive any car safely in a real Canadian winter, you need proper winter tires. The answer would be the same whether you had a rwd E9x a fwd VW Golf, a Land Rover, or any other car or SUV.

bdahlg68 · 10-31-2009, 02:04 PM

3 Detroit winters in an E90 330i with no issues on the 17" all seasons. It's not that big of a deal, but I also had access to an X3 in the extreme cases and I have a short commute.

pdude · 10-31-2009, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaRickSta81

I wouldn't recommend it... I had 4 blizzaks and still had difficulties when it came down hard.... but Windsor is a bit milder with the snow...

I would say get something, even CT Nordics or used snow tires/rims... for the small investment, the payback in your safety is totally worth it!

I've got winter wheels (my stock 16's), so all I would need it is a set of tires, which I think I can do in US for about $600 from TR.
I just asked, because I have a few guys in the office that do winters in all season, this is in Detroit, so a bit milder winters then TO or Montreal.

w2 · 10-31-2009, 09:14 PM

Winter tires are kind of like seatbelts or airbags. You might be able to get away without them, but when the time comes where they will save your life, you won't get enough advance warning to install them. They do more than just help you get going in snow: they also help you stop and steer.

Also remember that every km you drive on your winter tires is one more km that your (probably more expensive) all-season or summer tires are going to last; over the long run, it may actually be cheaper to buy a set of winter tires, even if you never need them to avoid an accident.

joleel7 · 10-31-2009, 09:27 PM

if you own the car go get the winter rubber or you can also resell your winter rubber better safe then sorry.

ctgazer · 11-01-2009, 10:32 AM

Your best and worst friend is momentum if you run A/S...
If you have a driveway that's an incline, you won't get up with 1cm of snow...
Ask me how I know..

pokerface · 11-01-2009, 11:09 AM

maybe consider it another way instead:

if you expect to drive 100k kms, and each set of tires last you say 50k kms, then you can allocate for one set of winters and one set of summers (or all seasons) instead of buying two sets of all seasons ....

KkSc · 11-01-2009, 12:52 PM

hahha..i did that..but thing is i never drove it..lol...well..i would recommend winter tires for sure, also you are talking about non-Xdrive too...

AW09E92 · 11-01-2009, 01:52 PM

Last winter, I had my e46 325i with brand new all seasons (non runflats) and I only had one issue on a 30 deg. incline. I was driving my car all weekdays and most weekends with pretty much no issues. I also have about a 20 deg. on my driveway and didn't have an issue at all.

With that said, my other friend with a e46 325i had issues last winter with his new all seasons and same with my friend with his e90 323i.

This year I plan to buy winter tires just because I plan to keep my car for at least 2 sets of tires worth of wear so might as well get the winters. The only real extra money you're spending is the extra set of rims for your winter setup. The only issue is finding a place to store it.

pdude · 11-02-2009, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctgazer

Your best and worst friend is momentum if you run A/S...
If you have a driveway that's an incline, you won't get up with 1cm of snow...
Ask me how I know..

Funny you guys mention the driveway... sometimes my Odyssey can't make it up the driveway. I guess our incline is pretty steep, good for snow/rain runoff, not so much for driving up into the garage. I see where this is going...

ctgazer · 11-02-2009, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdude

Funny you guys mention the driveway... sometimes my Odyssey can't make it up the driveway. I guess our incline is pretty steep, good for snow/rain runoff, not so much for driving up into the garage. I see where this is going...

also, once the temp dips below 7c, the rubber compound becomes harder in A/s and summer tires, thus making it harder for you to grip the road.

snow tires arent just for snow/ice conditions. they really help on cold days. imagine when its -15c below with -15c windchill...i dont really see the a/s tires providing much grip...

02themax · 11-02-2009, 10:27 PM

haha, good luck!

pdude · 11-03-2009, 07:04 AM

OK... a followup question.
Considering I do not want RFT, what are some of the solutions you guys have for the emergencies? Are sealants enough to get me home? Will BMW Road Side Assistance help? or am I dead in the water with a flat?

ctgazer · 11-03-2009, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdude

OK... a followup question.
Considering I do not want RFT, what are some of the solutions you guys have for the emergencies? Are sealants enough to get me home? Will BMW Road Side Assistance help? or am I dead in the water with a flat?

if you are in toronto, you are always within reach of a cab, or the ttc or a bus. bmw roadside will tow you even if you do not have RFT's mounted. ive been there, done that.

if you decide to go outta town, best bet to carry a spare wheel/tire of some sort, so you can at least limp to the nearest garage/gas station/somewhere warm

shag · 11-03-2009, 08:30 PM

Dude. Sell the i and get an xDrive car.

Wheel gap is the new Black!

pdude · 11-04-2009, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shag

Dude. Sell the i and get an xDrive car.

Wheel gap is the new Black!

LOL... No worries, I have a wheel gap...
162s with no Sport Pack... I think I can stick my whole head in there...

10-31-2009, 10:02 AM	#1
pdude Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 210 Posts Drives: 2013 128i - Prem/MSport/AT Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Windsor iTrader: (0)	Winter in All Season Tires, no X Drive... Anyone? Is there anyone out there that will drive through winter in All Season Tires? I just need to get through 1 season... Any good experiences?
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10-31-2009, 10:19 AM	#2
DaRickSta81 Second Lieutenant 22 Rep 219 Posts Drives: 2009 328xi Coupe Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (4) Garage List 2009 328xi, e92 [10.00] 2006 325i, e90 [0.00]	I wouldn't recommend it... I had 4 blizzaks and still had difficulties when it came down hard.... but Windsor is a bit milder with the snow... I would say get something, even CT Nordics or used snow tires/rims... for the small investment, the payback in your safety is totally worth it!
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10-31-2009, 10:19 AM	#3
Mr&Mrs323i Lieutenant 20 Rep 555 Posts Drives: 2007 323i TiAg Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Canada iTrader: (1)	Winters in your region have historically more snow than the left coast so I would not even try driving in the snow with all seasons. If you do, bring some snow shovels because you're going to need it. Been there, done that.
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10-31-2009, 10:38 AM	#4
public1 new 2 Rep 58 Posts Drives: 06 e90 AW "sadly gone" Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	not a great idea. The all seasons already aren't that great for dry and summer conditions, but for winter they're even worse. you will not be able to get anywhere at all without having to have someone infront of you at all times to shovel our way through haha. Tried it here for less than 1cm of snow and let me say it was good and scary times haha.
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10-31-2009, 10:46 AM	#5
jasonintoronto Captain 39 Rep 703 Posts Drives: 2007 335i coupe (sold) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: toronto iTrader: (0)	i highly discourage driving in snow with all seasons. __________________ 2007 Porsche Carrera 4 2007 BMW 335i Coupe (SOLD)
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10-31-2009, 11:19 AM	#6
trickydisco First Lieutenant 7 Rep 331 Posts Drives: e90 330i Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: downtown toronto iTrader: (0)	no way dude...and if by all-season you mean the factory runflats...then you've got a deathwish. __________________ Barrington 2006 330i sedan TiAg 1998 Porsche 911 C2S 1969 Firebird
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10-31-2009, 12:19 PM	#7
aspiring335 Lieutenant Colonel 95 Rep 1,614 Posts Drives: 2019 G05 40i Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Seems like this question gets asked about once every two weeks, minimum... Yes, if you want to drive any car safely in a real Canadian winter, you need proper winter tires. The answer would be the same whether you had a rwd E9x a fwd VW Golf, a Land Rover, or any other car or SUV. __________________ 2019 G05 40i (premium excellence, m-sport, 2VR), Tesla Model S 100D, Nissan Leaf SL Volvo XC90 T8, Subaru Outback, E84 X1 28i, E91 328i xdrive, 6MT, VW Touareg TDI, E90 330i, E46 325iT, MINI Cooper S (all retired)
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10-31-2009, 02:04 PM	#8
bdahlg68 Private 2 Rep 64 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canton, MI iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 X3 3.0 [0.00] 2006 E90 330i [0.00]	3 Detroit winters in an E90 330i with no issues on the 17" all seasons. It's not that big of a deal, but I also had access to an X3 in the extreme cases and I have a short commute.
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10-31-2009, 09:14 PM	#10
w2 Private First Class 1 Rep 143 Posts Drives: 335i coupe Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0)	Winter tires are kind of like seatbelts or airbags. You might be able to get away without them, but when the time comes where they will save your life, you won't get enough advance warning to install them. They do more than just help you get going in snow: they also help you stop and steer. Also remember that every km you drive on your winter tires is one more km that your (probably more expensive) all-season or summer tires are going to last; over the long run, it may actually be cheaper to buy a set of winter tires, even if you never need them to avoid an accident.
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10-31-2009, 09:27 PM	#11
joleel7 Private First Class 4 Rep 122 Posts Drives: 2014 F30 328i Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	if you own the car go get the winter rubber or you can also resell your winter rubber better safe then sorry.
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11-01-2009, 10:32 AM	#12
ctgazer Major General 385 Rep 7,952 Posts Drives: a dilapidated ride Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: canada eh! iTrader: (10) Garage List 2006 e90 [0.00]	Your best and worst friend is momentum if you run A/S... If you have a driveway that's an incline, you won't get up with 1cm of snow... Ask me how I know.. __________________
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11-01-2009, 11:09 AM	#13
pokerface Colonel 433 Rep 2,527 Posts Drives: F25 X3 N20 / F80 ZCP Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	maybe consider it another way instead: if you expect to drive 100k kms, and each set of tires last you say 50k kms, then you can allocate for one set of winters and one set of summers (or all seasons) instead of buying two sets of all seasons ....
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11-01-2009, 12:52 PM	#14
KkSc Major General 173 Rep 6,223 Posts Drives: 13'FR-S/15' F80 M3 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: North Vancouver, BC iTrader: (10)	hahha..i did that..but thing is i never drove it..lol...well..i would recommend winter tires for sure, also you are talking about non-Xdrive too... __________________ 2006 E90 Alpine White 330i - Retired 2015 F80 Alpine White M3
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11-01-2009, 01:52 PM	#15
AW09E92 Private 7 Rep 57 Posts Drives: 2009 AW E92 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: GTA iTrader: (0)	Last winter, I had my e46 325i with brand new all seasons (non runflats) and I only had one issue on a 30 deg. incline. I was driving my car all weekdays and most weekends with pretty much no issues. I also have about a 20 deg. on my driveway and didn't have an issue at all. With that said, my other friend with a e46 325i had issues last winter with his new all seasons and same with my friend with his e90 323i. This year I plan to buy winter tires just because I plan to keep my car for at least 2 sets of tires worth of wear so might as well get the winters. The only real extra money you're spending is the extra set of rims for your winter setup. The only issue is finding a place to store it.
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11-02-2009, 10:27 PM	#18
02themax Captain 28 Rep 946 Posts Drives: E90 335i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Calgary, AB iTrader: (6)	haha, good luck! __________________ E90 335i Sport Package - Logic 7 Sound w/ipod - Bluetooth - Comfort Access - PDC - 19" M3 Reps 275/30 235/35 - Blacklines - 10mil spacers rear, 5mil spacers front - BMW Alarm
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11-03-2009, 07:04 AM	#19
pdude Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 210 Posts Drives: 2013 128i - Prem/MSport/AT Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Windsor iTrader: (0)	OK... a followup question. Considering I do not want RFT, what are some of the solutions you guys have for the emergencies? Are sealants enough to get me home? Will BMW Road Side Assistance help? or am I dead in the water with a flat?
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11-03-2009, 08:30 PM	#21
shag pullin a boat 37 Rep 479 Posts Drives: 2021 X3 M40i Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Dude. Sell the i and get an xDrive car. Wheel gap is the new Black! __________________ 2021 X3 M40i, Phytonic/Cognac Past: 2017 330i xDrive Touring M Sport, EBII, Dinan 2014 328d xDrive Touring M Sport, BSM/CR.
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