[wjbender]

How do the 19" wheels with all season tires do in typical New Jersey winter driving. Do I need to get dedicated wheels and tires, or can I get by? Like to hear from some NJ or NY metro drivers. Thanks

[Bbb34]

Sure you can "get by" lots of people do it, but it's not really right thing to do.

Just think, you could hurt someone and potentially ruin your and other people lives, over what, saving 1K. In my opinion is not worth it, plus you're really not saving money, since you extend the life of your all season if you buy set of winters.
Winter tires are needed, especially where you live, it's really that simple.

[n3985]

You can easily get by since our roads are cleaned within hours, just don't drive during a snow storm.

[S4CH]

I've done both -

On old 2008 535i (RWD) I used to switch to winter tires and it was perfect even in the worst storms. Main issue was a twitchy rear end (but that was also fun at times!)

On my current car I used the stock tires last winter and they were just fine during / after the one big storm we had. As a test, I even tried braking hard and as long as you are somewhat cautious, there shouldn't be issues. Main difference will be the breaking distance which will be shorter with winter tires.

Last winter I only had 7K or 8K miles on the tires. This year, I'll be closer to 19K or 20K, so I am not sure if it will be much worse.

[bake]

If you have a rear wheel drive, I think there is no other way than to go with dedicated winter tires. I have heard others argue about the need for them with X-Drive, but I can't comment on that from personal experience. My RWD F10 is my daily car and I have had zero issues getting through a few inches of snow and slush with my 19" Bridgestone Blizzak tires. I have them mounted on stock 19" M Sport wheels (I sold my staggered set and got a square set) and I run 20" wheels with summer performance tires during the other 3 seasons. This works best for me.

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by bake

If you have a rear wheel drive, I think there is no other way than to go with dedicated winter tires. I have heard others argue about the need for them with X-Drive, but I can't comment on that from personal experience.

One of them was likely me, arguing for winter tires that is.

AWD cars still need to stop and turn in the snow. Without added grip winter compound provides AWD advantage is completely taken away. I'm speaking from experience as we own both, RWD and AWD vehicles. Both of our them have dedicated sets for winter, both were at one point "test driven" with all season/summer performance tires during winter conditions. We can argue this for a very long time, but experiencing the difference between the two sets is really an eye opener, xDrive or not.

With AWD you can "get away" with all season tires, sure. Similarly you could also get away without regularly servicing your brakes or ignoring worn thread on your "dry weather" tires on any car, until (hopefully not) you aren't getting away with it and it's too late.

The cost difference is dedicated set of rims and one time installation fee, so I don't get why people take the chance?

[Alcenos]

I always though about getting winter tires for my RWD E60 but I never bothered. If you know how to drive in the snow and to avoid those who don't, then it is not so bad. With the xDrive and all season tires on my F10, I have not had any issues at all. Again, a lot depends on your winter driving skills (the main roads also get cleared pretty quick).

[E30toF30]

Regardless if you have x drive or not, your a/s are going to start getting progressively harder once the temp is at 44 degrees F or less. And at 44 degrees it is already too hard to perform properly.

You might get by without it, until that time you dont.

Xdrive might give you a bit more grip in the cold or snow. But will do absolutely nothing to help when braking. How often are accidents happening in the snow/cold because of the inability for the car to stop in time? And in the case you are on winters yet still sliding into the guy on front of you, the winter tires could be the only reason you are actually able to control the car just enough enough to avoid plowing into him. On a/s you are going nowhere but straight into the guy.

Rwd with winters will outperform Xdrive on a/s tires ten fold!

[Walt White Coupe]

And at 44 degrees it is already too hard to perform properly.

While there is no question that is true for "summer tires" it is not the case for "all season" tires. They call them "All Season" for a reason.

[Boulder Bill]

All seasons handle, as the name suggests, summer and winter fine. They should do more than just get you by and ideally be more than adequate.

But, they really aren't a comparable to a dedicated performance tire in the summer for handling, feel and, well . . . performance.

Similarly, compared to snow tires, all seasons will always be lacking.

All seasons are your one-quiver tire.

If you don't want the hassles of having two sets of wheels (costs really aren't that great), than all seasons are fine. But they are most certainly a compromise all year long.

[gulfstream69xr7]

Been living in NJ most of my life, and had five BMW's in the last bunch of years. Never has any special tires. Never had a problem.

[Boulder Bill]

Originally Posted by gulfstream69xr7

Been living in NJ most of my life, and had five BMW's in the last bunch of years. Never has any special tires. Never had a problem.

I can't address the NJ for life component of your post for lack of first hand experience living in your part of the country.

But, if you have never driven performance summer tires, or even snow tires in all of that time in the Garden State, it would seem you lack first hand experience with regard to the topic of this post.

Just saying. . . .

[Attila7]

I used to drive all season tires on front wheel drive cars in Montreal and Toronto 10-20 years ago - when there was more snow - and was fine, just had to drive carefully sometimes.

Then I got my E39 540 and used summer performance and winter performance tires in last 10 years and this setup was more sure-footed in rain and snow than the FWD A/S setup.

I now have 535 Xdrive and the winter performance tires will be put on Nov 15 - peace of mind and all that.

[Pimpsy]

Originally Posted by Boulder Bill

I can't address the NJ for life component of your post for lack of first hand experience living in your part of the country.

But, if you have never driven performance summer tires, or even snow tires in all of that time in the Garden State, it would seem you lack first hand experience with regard to the topic of this post.

Just saying. . . .

Actually, the topic is how well 19" A/S hold up in NJ winters.
"How do the 19" wheels with all season tires do in typical New Jersey winter driving. Do I need to get dedicated wheels and tires, or can I get by?"
Just saying...

Answer: you can get by, winter tires are not required. 99% of cars on the road on the road in NJ run all season tires. Winter tires will always perform better, but A/S tires are designed to perform adequately during winter, hence the name "All Season". And no, they don't freeze at 44 degrees.

Almost all NJ roads are cleared and salted virtually immediately. It's uncanny really. In certain areas it probably makes more sense to get the extra grip, but it's the exception.

That said, the luxury of having both a summer and winter set of rims+tires is quite nice. It just isn't a necessity.

[gulfstream69xr7]

Originally Posted by AlanM

Actually, the topic is how well 19" A/S hold up in NJ winters.
"How do the 19" wheels with all season tires do in typical New Jersey winter driving. Do I need to get dedicated wheels and tires, or can I get by?"
Just saying...

Answer: you can get by, winter tires are not required. 99% of cars on the road on the road in NJ run all season tires. Winter tires will always perform better, but A/S tires are designed to perform adequately during winter, hence the name "All Season". And no, they don't freeze at 44 degrees.

Almost all NJ roads are cleared and salted virtually immediately. It's uncanny really. In certain areas it probably makes more sense to get the extra grip, but it's the exception.

That said, the luxury of having both a summer and winter set of rims+tires is quite nice. It just isn't a necessity.

Exactly.

I've been driving in NJ for 35 years. Yes, back in the 870's we had cars with snow tires. I haven't had snow tires on a car in NJ since I bought my first Honda in 1989. I've owned five BMW's in the last ten years. Driven every single one of them here in NJ, in the snow. Not once have I had anything on them other than all season radials.
You simply don't need them here.

[Trian]

I have done both all seasons and snow tires. The all seasons will usually work perfectly fine but the winter tires will work better.