[Kxm9976]

Hello,

I am in the market for an F10, most likely with M sport package. My preference is to get an X-Drive since I live in western NY, USA. I do see some RWD F10s in the market. How does the RWD handle in snow with snow tires? have an XI E60, which handles great in the snow, but I may be willing to go with an RWD, if the handling in snow is not much different. Plus , with M sport package I will get the sport suspension with RWD.

Thank you

[Qsilver7]

If you get dedicated winter tires that are designed for the type of winter weather you get in your area...you should be fine. I've been using dedicated winter tires (since 2003) on multiple RWD BMWs (e32/e34/e38/e39)...and they have all performed better than expected in some of the worst conditions over the decades.

If you mount four dedicated winter tires on a RWD vehicle (that are correct for the conditions)...they will out perform all season tires mounted on an AWD vehicle. There are many videos on youtube that will give good examples of this.

But there's still nothing like having an AWD vehicle mounted with four dedicated winter tires when the ice & snow flies and the temperatures drop and the winds blow.

[ChiNorm]

I live in Chicago, a serious snow market. Almost every single F10 or similar model on a BMW dealer lot here is Xdrive, so we know how the dealers feel about this subject. The few RWD models all seem to be brought in from another state.

I knew someone with a RWD 3 series who ran snow tires in the winter, it was still a handful and very twitchy. If I only own one car in this climate, it's going to be AWD.

Good luck.

[Trian]

I know I am going to age myself right now, but I lived in the worst winter weather and I doubt anybody knew what AWD was at that time. AWD is better than RWD for traction in bad weather, but RWD is still great in winter if you have good winter tires period.

[lsturbointeg]

I've driven my RWD in mild snow conditions on all season tires but traction was not the best. No problem tho if I'm just driving like 25-35 mph around town

[Unspec]

As the old saying goes, it's two wheel go but all wheel stop. AWD will not improve turning or stopping over RWD cars, it just makes accelerating a lot more stable. This is a very important thing to keep in mind when driving an AWD car. A lot of people forget and go way too fast for a turn and slam into a barrier because AWD can't save you from a slippery turn.

[Qsilver7]

Help with braking, cornering, as well as acceleration...is the reason for dedicated winter tires...regardless if AWD or RWD. As mentioned in my previous post...a RWD mounted with 4 dedicated winter tires will outperform an AWD with all seasons. Running an AWD with summer or all seasons mounted...puts the AWD system at a disadvantage because it can't overcome the reduced capabilities those tires suffer when ambient temps are below 45° F.

The winter tires will allow the RWD to accelerate, corner, and brake much better than all seasons mounted on an AWD version of the car especially when the ambient temps start dropping below 45° F.

Examples:

Acceleration Tests of summer vs all season vs winter tires





Cornering Test: summer vs all season vs winter





Braking Test: summer vs all season vs winter

[Kxm9976]

Thank you all for your input!

[KaiDiener]

Hi,

I can confirm most of what has been written above: I live in Switzerland and my RWD F11 does not appreciate snow at all. If I had the choice again, I would definitely go for xDrive.

Best,
Kai

[3002 tii]

RWD and snows work fine for the most part, and I actually find the drive to be more enjoyable. The only time you see it’s limits is going up steep hills in deep snow.

[jfed]

I run a f10 with a 6MT rear wheel drive and winters. No issues in the snow.

[wihaM5]

Originally Posted by Kxm9976

Hello,

I am in the market for an F10, most likely with M sport package. My preference is to get an X-Drive since I live in western NY, USA. I do see some RWD F10s in the market. How does the RWD handle in snow with snow tires? have an XI E60, which handles great in the snow, but I may be willing to go with an RWD, if the handling in snow is not much different. Plus , with M sport package I will get the sport suspension with RWD.

Thank you

Hey friend I use to live in a town called fredonia NY a little college town south of buffalo. I've always had rwd BMWs e49 and 335i. I had the e49 in Colorado and brought it skiing and all through the mountains my opinion and what I'm doing this year with my f10 550i rwd is getting studded tires your allowed to run them in Ohio November through April and I believe the same applies to NY state with 4 of them you will have a safe winter. And you can still take the tc off and have a little fun. Good luck

[bake]

I have had my RWD F10 for 8 years now in the NYC/Long Island area. Our winters are moderate, but I have always daily driven my F10 with Bridgestone Blizzaks in the winter, and as long as we are not talking 6+ inches of snow, the car has performed well. Obviously AWD with dedicated snow tires would be better, but it is a compromise I was not willing to make for the other 3 seasons when I much prefer the driving dynamics of the RWD variant.

[UnusualDonut]

Probably a pretty stupid question. Are winter tyres that much better than all weather? Just bought a 520d rwd. I see plenty about in the snow when it hits. But knowing how lazy people are, do they actually change tyres?

[UnusualDonut]

Also I've had people telling me when the snow hits to turn off traction control. Is that the norm?

[Trian]

Originally Posted by UnusualDonut

Probably a pretty stupid question. Are winter tyres that much better than all weather? Just bought a 520d rwd. I see plenty about in the snow when it hits. But knowing how lazy people are, do they actually change tyres?

Winter tires are that much better in the snow!

[ChiNorm]

Originally Posted by Trian

Winter tires are that much better in the snow!

+1. True dat.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by UnusualDonut

…Are winter tyres that much better than all weather? Just bought a 520d rwd. …

If you will be driving in ambient temperatures that are consistently below 45° F (7° C)…then yes, dedicated winter tires will perform better than all season tires. Not just in snow…but in dry/wet/cold/snow/ice/sleet/freezing rain/etc. The rubber compound hardens when ambient temps stay below the aforementioned ambient temps…thus not only is acceleration decreased…but handling and cornering are also affected.

There are tons of videos on YouTube that you can watch that shows empirical data…not just opinion on how dedicated winter tires and all season tires perform in winter conditions.

Originally Posted by UnusualDonut

Also I've had people telling me when the snow hits to turn off traction control. Is that the norm?

No…that is NOT the norm…but more of a distortion/misinterpretation of a recommendation in the owners manual. In normal slippery winter conditions, you want traction control to help prevent fish-tailing by cutting engine throttle (much quicker than you can do by lifting off the accelerator) or to brake a wheel that has lost traction to regain control of the car.

Traction control should be turned off when in DEEP snow and you can’t get anywhere due to the traction control system either reducing engine throttle and ABS braking preventing you from moving forward.

Sometimes wheel spinning can get you moving…like if you are on a slippery incline. If you have DSC (traction control on) in this situation…if the wheels are spinning…ABS braking will kick in to stop the wheel spin…and engine throttle will also kick in to help regain traction. These two things combined can keep you from advancing up a slippery incline. Where as if you can keep the engine going and the wheels spinning…you might be able to eventually make it up the incline.

[Bbb34]

I've gotten rid of mine while ago - but RWD is just fine in the snow.

I had 6+ great years with it, avid skier, live in area with lots of snow 5 months a year - never once delayed the trip.


Common sense, caution, and great winter tires and it's fine
(yes AWD is even better - NO DOUBT)


Old thread: https://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1076595