Snow/Ice winter tires

708 messages, Last post on Nov 10, 2009 at 12:57 PM

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#621 of 708 Question by driver100 Nov 11, 2008 (2:42 pm)
Help? I have a BMW 328i Cabriolet and it isn't great in the winter. Dealer recommends 4 snow tires. I have never used 4 snow tires. Is that really necessary? Then there's 17 inch Alloy wheels, 16 inch Alloy wheels, and steel wheels with discs (cost half of the 17" alloys) I could buy a nice used car for the price of these! Another thing, would it be good to check with a tire dealer rather than BMW? What I would like to do is get 2 snows on steel rims. Replies to this message: david112 (Nov 11, 2008 3:45 pm) driver100 (Nov 11, 2008 6:41 pm) psorter (Nov 11, 2008 8:02 pm) and 7 more... kyfdx (Nov 11, 2008 4:10 pm) mz6greyghost (Nov 12, 2008 6:38 pm) driver100 (Nov 13, 2008 5:54 am)
#622 of 708 Re BMW 328i: Question [driver100] by david112 Nov 11, 2008 (3:45 pm)
Replying to: driver100 (Nov 11, 2008 2:42 pm) where do you live? definitely check with tire rack or other on line sites - keep the same rims, just switch tires off and on - Blizzaks are very good Replies to this message: driver100 (Nov 11, 2008 6:41 pm) psorter (Nov 11, 2008 8:02 pm) driver100 (Nov 12, 2008 5:40 am) and 6 more...
#623 of 708 Re: Question [driver100] by kyfdx HOST Nov 11, 2008 (4:10 pm)
Replying to: driver100 (Nov 11, 2008 2:42 pm) You definitely need 4 winter tires.. You'll be amazed at the difference. You'll actually look forward to driving in the snow! As noted, check out tirerack.com.. Your dealer is the most expensive place to buy tires/rims for a BMW.
#624 of 708 Re: Re BMW 328i: Question [david112] by driver100 Nov 11, 2008 (6:41 pm)
Replying to: david112 (Nov 11, 2008 3:45 pm) Thank you david112 and kyfdx Your suggestions sound very good, glad I asked. Oh yes, I live in Canada near Toronto. Basically, I would say it actually snows maybe 5 times during the winter where snow or ice is a problem. Work is only 20 minutes away and my wife as an all wheel drive car for trips etc. Thanks again. Replies to this message: psorter (Nov 11, 2008 8:02 pm) driver100 (Nov 12, 2008 5:40 am) kurtamaxxxguy (Nov 12, 2008 4:27 pm) and 5 more...
#625 of 708 Re: Re BMW 328i: Question [driver100] by psorter Nov 11, 2008 (8:02 pm)
Replying to: driver100 (Nov 11, 2008 6:41 pm) I had two snows, but quickly bought two more, the car just doesn't handle right with only two, you feel one end of the car grabbing and other sliding. Blizzaks are great, but they very soft and wear fast, half the tire tread is snow tire, when that wears down it becomes an all season tire (at least the one I bought was like that). During the second season I had them they turned back into all seasons and I started sliding again . The Nokia's I have now are in their 5th season and are still working great, but cost more. But nothing beat the blizzaks the first year I had them, amazing! But as you said only 5 or so days a year I really need them, if that, it snows way more then that where I live but the roads are usually plowed and salted by the time I use them. So sometimes I wonder if they are worth it. The handling is really poor with them (especially the soft blizzaks, feels like I driving on erasers) It may be cheaper just to call in sick on those few days I really need snows, or use vacation! Replies to this message: driver100 (Nov 12, 2008 5:40 am) kurtamaxxxguy (Nov 12, 2008 4:27 pm) driver100 (Nov 12, 2008 6:38 pm) and 4 more...
#626 of 708 auto socks by kurtamaxxxguy Nov 11, 2008 (8:32 pm)
for folks only facing a few days of snow, also consider auto socks as they are cheap (tirerack sells em for around $70 a set), work fine on ice and ok on anything up to moderately deep snow. Easy to put on compared to chains.
#627 of 708 4 snows by law? by ex_tdier Nov 11, 2008 (10:32 pm)
Many garages and shops are refusing to install only two snow tires due to legal liability and safety issues.
#628 of 708 Re: Re BMW 328i: Question [psorter] by driver100 Nov 12, 2008 (5:40 am)
Replying to: psorter (Nov 11, 2008 8:02 pm) It may be cheaper just to call in sick on those few days I really need snows, or use vacation! Thank you very much - this is great information. If I go ahead you have convinced me 4 snow tires are better than 2. I might just go with plan C. Another thing I don't like about changing tires is trying to get 4 tires home. Storage is $400 at the dealer. Plan B; is to buy a Suburu for the winter. Plan C: Not drive on snowy days, which will be about 5 times during the winter. Work from home those days which I can do. Use my wife's all wheel drive if we have to go out. Go to Florida in February. Just hope they don't make snow tires compulsory in my province, they just did in Quebec but their winters are much worse. Replies to this message: kurtamaxxxguy (Nov 12, 2008 4:27 pm) driver100 (Nov 12, 2008 6:38 pm) Mr_Shiftright (Nov 13, 2008 9:21 am) and 3 more...
#629 of 708 Re: Re BMW 328i: Question [driver100] by kurtamaxxxguy Nov 12, 2008 (4:27 pm)
Replying to: driver100 (Nov 12, 2008 5:40 am) AWD is no answer to bad weather if the tires don't grip. Check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPE8vL5hlFA last half of video shows a Subaru Outback sliding down the road and piling into another car. If getting a Subaru, be sure Nokians or something decent's on the wheels. The stock Yokohama or Bridgstones are weak on snow and nearly useless on ice. Replies to this message: driver100 (Nov 12, 2008 6:38 pm) Mr_Shiftright (Nov 13, 2008 9:21 am) driver100 (Nov 13, 2008 1:45 pm) and 2 more...
#630 of 708 Re: Re BMW 328i: Question [kurtamaxxxguy] by driver100 Nov 12, 2008 (6:38 pm)
Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Nov 12, 2008 4:27 pm) That video would make anyone buy snow tires. Try it at this site if you have trouble connecting; very icy conditions That was fascinating. Wonder if snow tires would have hlped that much...looked like real slippery ice and major slope! Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 13, 2008 9:21 am) driver100 (Nov 13, 2008 1:45 pm) Mr_Shiftright (Nov 13, 2008 1:59 pm) and 1 more...