[s'M'ooth]

Having had horrendous experiences for the past 5 years in an M3 in the snow, I was wondering what the F30 is like? My car is stock, summer tyres on 16's

Anyone share an experience before I venture out this afternoon?

[derekh929]

With some of reports I have seen on the site general seems not so bad as e90 some said a lot better

[dan172]

Put some extra weight in the boot!

[Spacebug]

Don't see why F30 or E90 would make a difference, it's all about tyre size/type/condition and how delicate your right foot can be..

Maybe the power of the car might make a difference, but only in the sense that it may be harder to control the power delivery...

[derekh929]

Originally Posted by Spacebug

Don't see why F30 or E90 would make a difference, it's all about tyre size/type/condition and how delicate your right foot can be..

Maybe the power of the car might make a difference, but only in the sense that it may be harder to control the power delivery...

That what I though but seems a lot say better could be lots of other things as well as tyres but for sure 80% tyres being able to reduce throttle response would held for easing on the power better traction with suspension set up, wheel base , but agree would only make marginal difference, in last 5 year I can could on one two hands the amount of days I would have struggled with my car

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by derekh929

That what I though but seems a lot say better could be lots of other things as well as tyres but for sure 80% tyres being able to reduce throttle response would held for easing on the power better traction with suspension set up, wheel base , but agree would only make marginal difference, in last 5 year I can could on one two hands the amount of days I would have struggled with my car

My E61 was terrible in the snow. Small inclines defeated it even with sandbags in the boot. I loved having winter tyres on - runflat n all. Kept me smiling in my bmw while others struggled in summer tyres...

tbh I prefer the rwd cars basically telling you when it's not safe to drive i.e. if you can't set off, don't set off! Better than fwd or awd cars that can get you going & give you false sense of security and then be unable to stop or turn in trouble.

[Steve_M_Sport]

To avoid any problems I went out in the wife's Fiesta !

[derekh929]

Originally Posted by Steve_M_Sport

To avoid any problems I went out in the wife's Fiesta !

Yes mini for me no point in looking foolish Audi drivers will take great pride in seing you struggle

[f1swk]

I think if you have proper tyres on it will be as good as any other 2rwd car, next step up is a suitably equipped hilux or defender

[s'M'ooth]

Just went out in it to get some beers Perfect, no issues, to be fair the roads were not that bad. They were untreated on the side streets where I ventured and I was surprised how good it drove. Well happy......as I got my beer

[HighlandPete]

If you can't park the BMW in snowy conditions, another vote for winter tyres, much better safety margins.

HighlandPete

[venkata]

Originally Posted by Steve_M_Sport

To avoid any problems I went out in the wife's Fiesta !

The wife's Toyota for us! Mine stays at home safe.

[xj650t]

We have been using winter tyres on our non bmw cars for about 5 years now and it's something I would recommend everyone to do if you expect to go out in the snow. There's a video here on youtube showing you why, breaking test is the eye opener .

When we get the F30 we'll be getting winter tyres for it for 6 months of the year.

[Zero71]

I dunno. Dealer discussed this with me. It's an expensive option to leave the alloys at the dealer and uglify the car with steel wheels for the duration. Particularly as Glasgow hasn't really seen any snow in past 2 years of note. It's been cold and wet but the little snow we have had never lay.

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by zerolight

I dunno. Dealer discussed this with me. It's an expensive option to leave the alloys at the dealer and uglify the car with steel wheels for the duration. Particularly as Glasgow hasn't really seen any snow in past 2 years of note. It's been cold and wet but the little snow we have had never lay.

Err just get the tyres and swap em over - costs like 10 a tyre. Also keep an eye on eBay coz there'll be alloys on there between now and November. I or a nice deal on second hand e61 wheels or my winter tyres.

Alternatively my brother got a good deal for winters+alloys+free changeovers and storage at a BMW dealers for 1600 all in on 17s for his f11.

[Turboedv6]

Mine loves the snow...

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151210798282301

[Zero71]

I'd do that if I had a garage. Live in a flat with a cupboard barely large enough for our coats! 1600 for a couple days per year - I can't afford that.

[f1swk]

Originally Posted by ZigmundUK

Err just get the tyres and swap em over - costs like 10 a tyre. Also keep an eye on eBay coz there'll be alloys on there between now and November. I or a nice deal on second hand e61 wheels or my winter tyres.

Alternatively my brother got a good deal for winters+alloys+free changeovers and storage at a BMW dealers for 1600 all in on 17s for his f11.

that's what im going to do,keep an eye on ebay and gumtree and pick up a set,3-400 seems the going rate for a set 16/17s that will do the job for the 2 days a year

[venkata]

Originally Posted by Turboedv6

Mine loves the snow...

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151210798282301

Do you not like your car? I would never do that, especially in the snow...

[dan172]

Winter tires aren't just for snowy conditions although they work really well when it is snowy. The rubber compound is like it is to perform when temperatures are below 7 degrees C. Summer tires go hard in cold conditions and this gives less grip.

This Winter has been colder than normal. I have put Winter tires on my Wife's 1 series and they have performed brilliantly in the cold, snow, ice and even the rain. Since they have been on (mid November), the temperature has been low enough when commuting to or from work to keep them on, but for a maximum of 2 weeks, where it has been over 7 degrees C, looks like they'll be on until at least April too...

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by zerolight

I'd do that if I had a garage. Live in a flat with a cupboard barely large enough for our coats! 1600 for a couple days per year - I can't afford that.

Well that £1600 deal was with a BMW garage that stored the other set of wheels for him. That was a pretty good deal. I suspect some garages over-ordered on the rims/tyres and wanted to get customers hooked.

btw I lost my winter tyre virginity when I was still in a flat. We used our parents' shed to store the other set of tyres. Even if they didn't have enough room, I would have probably bought a little plastic storage unit and put the tyres in there in their/close friends' garden.

I'm just weighing up whether to bother with the winters for the F31, as it's a lease. I totally agree with dan172 - my experience has been even in cold or wet conditions there's so much more grip with the winters - it's safer on the curved acceleration etc. Which basically means your stopping distance is better in the winter (not just snow). I may invest in a set of 17 rims with tyres, as the stock M Sport tyres sizes are nigh impossible to get runflat winters for. The only combo I can find are continental fronts and pirelli backs for the 18 inchers.

First things first though - still need to sell 3 x 225/40R18 vredestein wintrac xtremes I used to have on my audi A3... (one got a puncture!)

[Turboedv6]

Originally Posted by venkata

Do you not like your car? I would never do that, especially in the snow...

Buzz killington