[Rochdale Pioneers]

Still in my 3-er, but apart from the odd problem here and there I've been getting around OK on summer tyres. What I did do (the day) before the first lot of snow came down was bought two big bags of gravel from B&Q which sit in the back of the boot over the wheels. That helps!

Other than that are you using DTC and locking out 1st gear? See so many idiots spinning their wheels frantically clearly in 1s gear. In the month of snow we're now had I've got stuck twice - once just down my street on compacted ice, and the other time at the back entrance to my street - on compacted ice. On both occasions what got me was having to come to a stand and they try to restart. Maintaining enough momentum has been critical - I can let the engine pull itself up slippery hills in 2nd using tickover and keep going.

Sure, I've crabbed and had the back end slide out quite a few times. Always at slow speed, always very easy to catch because its RWD and a dab of wheelspin (allowed by using DTC mode) combined with a bit of opposite lock does the job every time.

[AE]

Either winter tires or park your car.
All- Season tires do not work!

[rexus300]

The problem with you british people is that you are so naive about cars and tires and drive around with summer tires in the middle of winter because you have no concern for snow. When snow comes, you complain and whine and blame the car. Get all season tires if you have an xdrive or even better get winter tires and get over it! No car even an awd with summer tires will get through 1 inch of snow. Those minis you see are FWD cars with all season tires not performance tires!

Even if you do not have snow in the UK most of the winter, performance tires are dangerous and become hard during temperatures below 10 degrees celsius so you should do yourself a favor and put decent performance all season tires and protect your car and your life. I see too many people in the UK with performance tires on their car in the winter and do not grasp that concept and expect their car to be perfect year round. This is why people in the US have all season tires on 90 percent of their cars and the other 10 percent or more will have performance summer tires and change out to winter tires.

[Rochdale Pioneers]

Originally Posted by baloo588

No car even an awd with summer tires will get through 1 inch of snow.

I've been through deeper than that on summer tyres without problems.

[rexus300]

Really? But its very tricky and dangerous though when you are going uphill or downhill and making turns.

[jaybird124]

Tires are the single most important part of the car without a doubt!

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by baloo588

The problem with you british people is that you are so naive about cars and tires and drive around with summer tires in the middle of winter because you have no concern for snow. When snow comes, you complain and whine and blame the car. Get all season tires if you have an xdrive or even better get winter tires and get over it! No car even an awd with summer tires will get through 1 inch of snow. Those minis you see are FWD cars with all season tires not performance tires!

Even if you do not have snow in the UK most of the winter, performance tires are dangerous and become hard during temperatures below 10 degrees celsius so you should do yourself a favor and put decent performance all season tires and protect your car and your life. I see too many people in the UK with performance tires on their car in the winter and do not grasp that concept and expect their car to be perfect year round. This is why people in the US have all season tires on 90 percent of their cars and the other 10 percent or more will have performance summer tires and change out to winter tires.

You are so right, and some over here will defend running a BMW on summer tyres, as if it will make it OK. We've been spoiled by a few mild winters... it's almost like "how dare a car not perform on our summer tyres".

We do need a wake up call. But there is a lot of resistance to doing the sensible thing. The "get away with it" mentality I'm afraid.

BTW, I'm running Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme tyres on a 330d touring (wagon) and the there is no comparison to trying to get around on summer tyres.

HighlandPete

[kube]

Originally Posted by pharding

Dunlop Winter Sport 3D tires work awesome in the snow here in Chicago.

Likewise -- had them on my 2008 535xi and now on my 2011 535iX (just put them on today - took delivery on 12/23). 3 years of NY snow, and the car would go through anything and up my steep driveway without missing a beat. M&S is not sufficient for real snow.

[WULFFZA]

Originally Posted by Acquarian

The new 5 series is a disaster in snow and Ice, while I see Vans, climbing hills with no difficulty, minis zooming past, and here, I am sitting in my 3 litre turbo brand new, state of the art 535 BMW 5 series,.... going absolutely nowhere when a little snowy hill appears,

Come On BMW do something about it!!

I feel dumber after reading this.

[Touring]

Using summer tyres in the winter its like running with flippers in the snow.

[rexus300]

Exactly, why risk your life with getting away with summer tires. Its exactly what Touring is saying with his analogy of wearing flippers in the winter and slipping and fracturing your legs or arm. Its so unacceptable to do this and end up losing control of a 50k plus BMW and hurting yourself and damaging your car and hurting someone else. That mentality is downright pathetic. Get decent all season if you get some snow in the winter and that way you are not risking. As Highland Pete is doing with winter tires, you can do that if you rather have total control in snow. I would agree with him 100%. Stop blaming the car and smart up a bit.

[Amleto63]

Even aiming your head and triggering a five shots revolver loaded with a single cartdrige you have 80% probability to survive. Good luck!

[AndyMK]

To be honest, I've been impressed with the performance in the Snow. Easily pulling away when front drives were stuck, and managing to get into my road this year when last year in my 1er I struggled.

I did try get winter tyres, but just about impossible to get them, on back order at the dealer and no one can get the right size with RFT without a huge lead time........

I do aim to get them when I can, but the F10 was impressive in the snow with the summer tyres on, so with winter boots on it's gonna be awesome

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by AndyMK

To be honest, I've been impressed with the performance in the Snow.

.....

I do aim to get them when I can, but the F10 was impressive in the snow with the summer tyres on, so with winter boots on it's gonna be awesome

To be fair I know we may feel a BMW can get around on summer tyres in the snow, but it is nothing like a winter tyre. I know what many BMW's are like on summer tyres, been there, we get away with it on some types of snow and ice. 'But' and to me the 'big but', all snow is not equal, there are conditions where there is no grip, no braking and absolutely no control. Try a winter tyre (back to back if possible) on the same surface and the car is transformed.

HighlandPete

[ipso_facto]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

'But' and to me the 'big but', all snow is not equal ...

I am hearing you Highland Pete. This is known as the "Jennifer Lopez" condition

[Touring]

I was out now comparing the traction of my F11 with my daughters VW Polo which is front wheel drive. Her winter tires are one year old and in good shape. When it was flat the F11 was alittle quicker starting from standstill, but when we startet in a steep hill the traction of the F11 was alot better.

I made a litte video of it, but was not that good because it was dark. If it is any interest I can upload it to youtube.

[kube]

So last night I got to play a little. 6" of snow (and falling), so I took my 535iX with 18" Dunlop SP3 Winter Sports on it to a parking lot down the road. Car was amazing in the snow - tough to compare, but I think it handled better than my 535xi/stick. Cut through the snow like butter, able to turn with very little slippage at medium speeds. On my trip over the Berkshires tonight, hit lots of drifts on the highway, and again, car handled like a champ. My son's friend has a front-wheel drive Honda with new sneakers, and he couldn't make it up the drive when the first inch of snow fell -- the BMW had no issues whatsoever.

Message? If you drive in areas with some snow, invest in a second set of rims and snow tires (the cost to mount/remount are recovered pretty quickly), and if you get LOTS of snow or live in areas that aren't flat, AWD is key. My two cents.

[bmedude]

My F10 rwd bmw with the OEM good year RFT's(18 inch) was decent in very LIGHT snow. They SUCKED in heavy snow though. All seasons on a RWD car in the snow is a big NO NO. GO out and get yourself some Blizzacks or Winter 3D's

[jensputzier]

Originally Posted by Touring

Making it a front wheel drive....

Whenever I want a front wheel drive car, I drive in reverse

[Robin_NL]

Originally Posted by kube

Message? If you drive in areas with some snow, invest in a second set of rims and snow tires (the cost to mount/remount are recovered pretty quickly), and if you get LOTS of snow or live in areas that aren't flat, AWD is key. My two cents.

Best post of the year 2011 so far(even if it has been posted december 27th last year).

[bluetooth]

Originally Posted by pharding

Dunlop Winter Sport 3D tires work awesome in the snow here in Chicago.

+1
I use the same in Bucharest on 17" - work perfectly