Just mounted up some snow tires for the first time in too long, and as luck would have it a storm dropped some snow on top of the slush we have, right as we headed out to go somewhere.
5 minutes in to our trip, the Accord rounding a corner in front of me spun into the median, blocking my lane. I casually steered around her and smiled the whole way to the store.
I'm right there with you. Of course, they're not so necessary down here in the Mid-Atlantic.
Still, there's something to be said for always having the right equipment for the task. Then saving a pimpy set of wheels with summer rubber once the snow is gone.
My supposedly terrible in the snow BMW goes along just fine on Dunlop Graspics, and just a little bit of help from the ASC system. Its more fun with it switched off, but SWMBO isn't too keen on that
It's been pretty slippery with the blowing snow getting packed into black ice, but I just giggle at the slipping cars as I motor past in the MINI on Blizzacks. We run snow/ice tires on all our vehicles. It's safer and keeps my good wheels in the garage during salt season.
What does SWMBO stand for? I haven't driven my 328i in the snow but rear wheel drive isn't automatically terrible in the snow. It's just that front and all wheel drive is better. It's especially true for people that live in snow areas and still drive like idiots during winter.
My 325i with (unfortunately) only all-season tires did just fine in about three inches of packed snow and a little ice. No problems with stopping and going, just a little understeer in tighter low speed areas like the neighborhood. Your 328 shouldn't be much different, especially with snow tires.
Started using snow tires about 7 or 8 years ago. Will never go back to "no seasons"
I have all seasons on my CRX and it is literally unstoppable. That thing will go anywhere.
People always say its all about weight in the snow, but I think they're all crazy. You only need enough weight to keep the tire contacting the ground firmly. After that, the more weight you add, the harder it is to get it moving.
An object at rest wants to stay at rest. I think the light little CRX just has the perfect weight for the grip given. I can only imagine how beast it would be with snow tires, but I havent needed them yet.
Mr_Clutch42 wrote: What does SWMBO stand for? I haven't driven my 328i in the snow but rear wheel drive isn't automatically terrible in the snow. It's just that front and all wheel drive is better. It's especially true for people that live in snow areas and still drive like idiots during winter.
She Who Must Be Obeyed
Driving the FRS around in a nice fresh foot of snow today.Blizzacks for me!
No way you would be doing that with no-seasons.
totes mcgotes hon wrote: My 325i with (unfortunately) only all-season tires did just fine in about three inches of packed snow and a little ice. No problems with stopping and going, just a little understeer in tighter low speed areas like the neighborhood. Your 328 shouldn't be much different, especially with snow tires.
I drove my old 318ti with star Specs home in a blizzard once. No traction control, just one of the last Non-M cars to have a factory LSD. Made it all the way home to get stuck trying to get into my driveway. at that point the m-technic front bumper was more snow plow than aerodynamic aid.
It was fun to drive in the snow that way too. I could accelerate, turn, and stop just fine, it's just that any amount of throttle would immediately put the car at an angle to it's intended direction. I was going down the road just fine, just at a 45 degree angle.
That said, I just picked up some Snow tyres today for my Disco (thanks Chris!) and I will see how well they do once I get them on monday
Desmond wrote: I have all seasons on my CRX and it is literally unstoppable. That thing will go anywhere. People always say its all about weight in the snow, but I think they're all crazy. You only need enough weight to keep the tire contacting the ground firmly. After that, the more weight you add, the harder it is to get it moving. An object at rest wants to stay at rest. I think the light little CRX just has the perfect weight for the grip given. I can only imagine how beast it would be with snow tires, but I havent needed them yet.
I have snows on my CRX. It is fantastic!
Mr_Clutch42 wrote: What does SWMBO stand for? I haven't driven my 328i in the snow but rear wheel drive isn't automatically terrible in the snow. It's just that front and all wheel drive is better. It's especially true for people that live in snow areas and still drive like idiots during winter.
FWD and AWD aren't better, they are just different.
Mr_Clutch42 wrote: ...I haven't driven my 328i in the snow but rear wheel drive isn't automatically terrible in the snow. It's just that front and all wheel drive is better. ...
Did you know that FWD has the best traction going backwards? I had a Saturn once it was bad in the snow because it didn't weigh enough. It would ride up on the snow then break through in a bucking motion. The only thing I could do was add sand bags to the passenger foot-well. Give me my Mustang with weight in the trunk and I will pass everything but a Dually in the snow.
bastomatic wrote: 5 minutes in to our trip, the Accord rounding a corner in front of me spun into the median, blocking my lane. I casually steered around her and smiled the whole way to the store.
What, you didn't stop and help her?
I am a lifetime believer in dedicated snow tires. I've had real good luck with the Blizzaks and Winterforce.
I pulled a young girl out of a ditch once, she got sucked in by slush on the side of the road. She was in the car, cop sat on the other side of the road.
Once I got her out I suggested snow tires.
"Oh, I don't need them, I've got all-seasons"
Cop just shrugged and laughed.
I love some of the folks around here who are running the original equipment all seasons on their AWD vehicles with 80,000 miles on them. When I suggest snow tires I'll invariably get "Oh. I don't need snow tires, I have four wheel drive". OR, they'll wonder aloud "How do you ever get through snow in your little car?" ( a MINI on Blizzacks).
Anyone who says that all seasons are good enough, have never used real snow tires. I used to think the same thing about all seasons until I bought a set of cheap Canadian Tire Nordics about 12 years ago. Now all of our winter use vehicles have them on dedicated winter rims.
One season on winter/snow tires and you will never go back. Don't talk to me about "all seasons" on my KJ.
NGTD wrote: Anyone who says that all seasons are good enough, have never used real snow tires. I used to think the same thing about all seasons until I bought a set of cheap Canadian Tire Nordics about 12 years ago. Now all of our winter use vehicles have them on dedicated winter rims.
This deserves repeating, even though the All Seasons people will not listen anyway
gjz30075 wrote:bastomatic wrote: 5 minutes in to our trip, the Accord rounding a corner in front of me spun into the median, blocking my lane. I casually steered around her and smiled the whole way to the store.What, you didn't stop and help her?
Yeah, I should have mentioned that! She was in no need of help, just bumped the median a bit and came to rest across a lane. She reversed and was fine.
no seasons are a joke. I have to thank getting into rallycross to prompt me to buy snow tires, then once I actually used them in snow opposed to dirt there was no turning back. I now look forward to enough snow to shut everything down and search out untreated and unplowed roads and trails.
This year, Gerneral ArticMax's on a Saturn Vue fwd, manual 5 speed along with traction control and ABS.
A wonderful combination of snow/ice grip, high ground clearance and a generally underpowered vehicle make for easy winter travel.
I like the Generals much better than last years Firestone Winterforces.
I ran 165mm width Continental snows on my Miata and it was a tank even with open diff. Made lots of AWD equipped vehicles look stupid.
My Civic has 185mm width Michelin X-Ices and has proven unstoppable this winter.
Now get this. Our Prius on low rolling resistance all-seasons has had no troubles... It's still getting snow tires next year.
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