LiamGTR Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Just starting to factor in prices for everything before I commit to a purchase. My FWD DC5 coped easy the past 2 years with "all-season" Falken ZE912's, but am I going to have to put money aside for some winter specific tyres? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 I'd say depends where you live. I've had my car 5 years now without winter tyres. Even through the harsh winters. Worst case my car was parked for a week but that's because it was under 2 feet of snow. Lol. So long as you have decent tyres it'll cope with a few inches. But if you live/work in the sticks yes get winters as the roads aren't cleared/gritted as normal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiamGTR Posted August 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Nah I live in South Shields and commute to work and Uni via dual carriageways all the way into Newcastle City Centre. I know tyres aren't super expensive but it's just nice to know it's not an absolute must (my first RWD car). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunk1 Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 (edited) My previous 02 330 vert auto was utterly useless on summer tyres, trying to stop at the bottom of a hill near me was interesting to say the least and it wasn't that steep The worst conditions are ice or compacted snow, fresh snow actually isn't too bad to drive on. Winter tyres can make a massive difference from videos i've seen, not just getting going but helping you turn and stop, don't be tempted to only fit them on the rear, i know people who have done this and its not a good idea, have a look on youtube. I have a 4x4 for everyday use so my latest 330 wont have to be used in dodgy conditions, if i did i think i'd invest in spare set of wheels with winter tyres fitted. Edited August 1, 2014 by dunk1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BmEagle Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 (edited) Whoops. Left phone unlocked in pocket. Doh. Edited August 1, 2014 by BmEagle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Judge_ Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 No - I believe I'm the only person in the South who wasted money on them .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TriggerFish Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Ive got them, bit not used then in the snow. They made a big difference for the better in then cold and wet. I'll buy them again when thru wear down for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunk1 Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 They are soft compound and designed for use in low temps, not just on ice or snow Rich_D 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TriggerFish Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 7deg abd below isn't it? They felt better though B0B 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjn Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Use them every winter. One set has lasted me 3 winters so far, and they'll be good for this winter, and maybe next winter. They've picked up a few kerbing marks, but nothing serious, and better for that to happen on the 17s rather than the 18s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Judge_ Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Ready for this winter: Shabaza 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiamGTR Posted August 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Ready for this winter: It was your post/pic that got me thinking about this whole topic. The_Judge_ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Judge_ Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Well there is no doubt they make a difference and I've had winter tyres on my last E46's. I used to own a CLK320 of a similar age - its a much more 'planted' car and I never had so much of an issue in the snow. The beemers however are more slidey at the rear (ooer) and the tyres do make a big difference, which you really feel in the snow. I drove to work once in my car without them, it was quite an experience and not one I felt my wife was ready to try so I decided to get winter tyres. I often visit the folks in Birmingham too and it would be a nightmare if I got stuck there. The other advantage as mentioned above is you only use each set about 6 months a year so they last a lot longer. However, re: my first comment, we hardly got any snow down here last winter so I felt a bit of an idiot having bought them for my current car. Its one of those things, I'm not happy I spent all my money on the set, but I am happy I have them - if that makes sense ... (!) If you do go down this road, its worth getting spare wheels, and having a go at replacing them yourself. I have a torque wrench so have problems doing this. Alternates to the wheelpod are wheel stands or just keeping them dry and out of damp conditions somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiamGTR Posted August 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 So they're like car insurance, you wish you didn't pay for it until you need it. The_Judge_ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim27 Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 As already pointed out, winter tyres are different both in terms of rubber compound as well as tread. They're designed to flex at lower temperatures (sub 7 degrees) where more regular tyres would still be quite firm. The tread depth is a big big factor though - winter tyres begin life with far deeper tread depth than regular tyres. This is why you see part-worn winter tyres up for sale with 5mm on - at 5mm they're all but goosed and useless in snow. Before my E46 I owned a front-wheel drive Peugeot 307 D-Turbo. Front wheel drive, heavy old diesel engine sat over the front wheels. I live on a hill too, and every year when it snowed I was NEVER able to get the Pug up the hill (not until I bought snowsocks for the front wheels). I then bought my E46 330ci in autumn 2012 and in November 2012 I needed to replace the tyres. I put brand new Nankang NS-2s on front and back. I rate these tyres hugely - others don't. That's a very different conversation and the subject of a few different (and heated) threads/debates (use the search button to look for the words Nankang by Jim27 and you'll see what I mean!). The new tyres were fitted just a few weeks before the snow arrived. To my amazement, the rear wheel drive E46 trudged up the hill through fresh snow and compacted snow alike, the likes of which would have (and in previous years had) seen the Pug slide sideways off the road and end up in someone's garden hedgerow (quite embarrassing, that, I can tell you...). My conclusion? The fresh, 7+mm deep tread on the new tyres made all the difference. Last year I bought a pair of snow tyres dirt cheap with 8+mm tread on but never bothered fitting them. I'm getting down to about 2-3mm on my tyres now so will probably end up putting a new set of four Nankangs on again in Autumn/early winter, so hopefully I'll be ok again this year because of that too. Now, a quick word re. snowsocks. They were brilliant on my Peugeot. They SHOULD fit the E46 rear wheels too (just a "get you home up the hill" solution, really). However I tried them and found the sport suspension so low on the E46 that I couldn't physically get the snowsocks over the rear wheels properly because there's so little arch clearance. On the Pug she sat a fair bit higher and had plenty of room under the arches, but not the E46. For that reason I'll probably do again this year what I did last year - stick the snowsocks in the boot and put my trolleyjack in there too. Bit of extra weight over the rear axle plus if I DO get stuck on a hill I can always return to flat ground, lift the rear enough with the trolley jack to get the snowsocks on and get home that way. If you have the cash and storage space, then I'd say go for winter tyres. If not then I wouldn't bother. Worse case you have to abandon your car and walk. It'll still be there when the roads are cleared. I guess it also depends on where you drive etc. My boot kit in winter includes trolley jack, snowsocks, sleeping bag, walking boots, warm clothes, food/drink, torch, etc. because I drive all over the show attending client meetings so can end up in the middle of nowhere and I'd feel a right d**k (spiritually speaking) if I got stuck and ended up on the BBC news as a soundbite about a schmuck who froze to death in his rear wheel drive BMW after driving out when it was already snowing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B0B Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 I have had E46's for ten years now and for nine of them I didn't use winter tyres and managed perfectly fine. Last year I bought some winter tyres and fitted them to 16 inch rims and they felt great, that said we didn't really have much of a winter last year but for me I think they are worth having. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuBeeDoo Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 I've never owned winter tyres until I bought the E46. In 9 years of E30 ownership the only time I really struggled in winter were the two bad winters, '11/'12 and '12/'13. and even then there were only 2 days the car didn't move (when I couldn't get the garage door open for drifted snow). I had to dig myself out a few times, but I suspect I would have had to even with winters on because this was where snow was over a foot deep. Winter '13/'14 (the winter that never was) I had a full set of virtually new winter tyres for the E46 and never bothered putting them on. I could count the number of frosts we had here on the fingers of one hand. Had there been snow forecast, I would have put them on. This year, I will be fitting them, because the rims they're on are getting refurbed sometime in the next couple of months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coop Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 i've always made-do without, just stick a couple of dead bodies in the boot. that really does help, my old e36 got up a steep icy bank with a load of heavy crap in the boot. The_Judge_ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bungers Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 Depends on how much & what type of driving you do IMO. I've had a set of winter wheels & tyres for the last 2 winters as I live 150 miles away from work. Driving that far on summer tyres with your arse twitching isn't fun, the confidence cold weather tyres give you when it's frosty/icy/snowy etc is amazing - the purchase is balanced by the fact I don't get paid if I don't go to work so they're a worthwhile investment for me. I need to find a set of 18's now though as the 44's I've got don't fit over my 8 pots Rich_D 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete320i Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 I've purchased some spare rims so I can use winter tyres, didn't bother when I had my lexus is200 but I was young and nieve then, with a family now I need to make sure I can get around 24/7 in my eyes winter tyres will help bungers and StuBeeDoo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich_D Posted August 5, 2014 Report Share Posted August 5, 2014 (edited) I'd say depends where you live. This For main roads, you will not have a problem, they are all gritted and if you drive accordingly you'll be fine unless there is heavy snow. I live in a place with lots of country roads & hills, which are not gritted so I have a set of winter wheels with winter tyres for if/when the snow comes and I need them. Edited August 5, 2014 by Rich_D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiamGTR Posted August 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2014 I think I've had one winter with what I'd class as 'heavy snow' and luckily had a FWD '03 Celica so that was fine. Nice to know the winter tyres aren't a necessity because the way people go I'm about BMW's is that once a mm of snow comes.. A BMW simply won't move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuBeeDoo Posted August 5, 2014 Report Share Posted August 5, 2014 Nice to know the winter tyres aren't a necessity because the way people go I'm about BMW's is that once a mm of snow comes.. A BMW simply won't move. Tell me about it! During the first bad winter recently, I had snow drifted against my garage door, with the car inside. When I told my boss I was snowed in his immediate response was "Serves you right for driving a BMW - they're s**te in anything other than dry weather!". After I asked him to think again about exactly what I'd said I spent the day digging through the drift and turned-up for work in the car the next day, by which time even more snow had fallen. Pr1ck! Just exactly why is it that people who have no experience of BMWs think they are dangerous in wet/icy/slushy/snowy conditions? Do Jaguar, Mercedes, etc, etc drivers get the same stupid, ill-informed comments? CharlE46 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 Depends where you live and how crap a driver you are If you're in the sticks and it snows a lot then you're better off with them than without. If you live where I do there's never any snow so nothing to worry about! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuBeeDoo Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 ..........turned-up for work in the car the next day, by which time even more snow had fallen.......... I should have added that back then I didn't have winter tyres. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
