C's Bimmer

not put winter tires on their E60 and still find it driveable in snowy/winter conditions? I am on the verge of buying some Blizzaks from TireRack for $1000, but am thinking I'd rather spend this money on something like the M Aero Kit from Tony (Quad_M) instead, or some other mods. I have the bridgestone 18" RFT's and have the xi model, so I have the AWD already working for me.

Any thoughts?

C's Bimmer

Oh, and yes I'm looking for you to convince me I can get away with not buying these, but I also don't want my wife and family driving in a car that's going to fishtail into oncoming traffic either...

Ray Hull

Where are you? You'd never make it in Albany or points west without them. If on the Island, maybe, as long as you have a second car. Otherwise, look for something less expensive and extreme. Those tires are very noisy and purpose built. You will trade away much of your handling/speed.

I love my old Semperits, but haven't seen them in US lately. See if you can find them. Speed rated 17" were about $600 mounted 3 years ago, when 17s were rare snow tires.

Cheers,
Ray Hull

nickolas_g

I am going to resort to the Jeep for those days I cannot do without Starbucks and have the 530 sit quite. I have had very few days that the roads were just that bad.

ExGMan

On Long Island, I don't think you'd need to get anything very dramatic...North of Albany, you'd probably use the Blizzaks more frequently. My thinking is that I would not want to take my 2007 530xi out onto the snowy roads around Boston. If there's anything substantial, everyone stays home for a day or two, takes the MBTA for another day or two, and then gets the car out later.

FWIW, a Boston Chapter CCA member has four Style 122s (I think) with the OEM Conti All-Seasons with 4K miles on them for sale for $1,000 (obo). <_<

Member545

Snow tires grip better on ice and stay flexible at low temps as well. I love my Dunlop Winter Sport M3's. I highly recommend them.

C's Bimmer

This is interesting stuff. Thanks to all that replied with advice.

You see, I have a Durango too, which I would use for the really "bad" days. But I'm thinking that we rarely get frequent storms down here. Sure, we get 1 or 2 bad doozers that last a few days, but nothing constant. Nothing like Albany or Boston/New England.

The other thing for me is that I want to get 19's for summer, so I'm thinking it can't hurt to have winter tires on the 18's. Plus, I would be bummed if I learned that after spending money on these tires and I didn't need them, I could have done other stuff. But then again, you never know until you try, right?

I guess I'm just trying to convince myself that my money could be spent elsewhere (other mods), but based on what you guys said, maybe I'll get them. Plus, since I have the AWD version, I might as well use it for what it's made for right? Why have the thing sit in my garage all winter, just because of a little snow. Hell, I see Audi's out all the time, powering through snow like it's nothing. I want to show them who's boss!

Oh, and I decided on the Blizzaks. I was thinking of the Dunlop M3's, but the folks at TireRack convinced me otherwise.

C's Bimmer

That's just the thing. Jersey doesn't get that bad either. But you have the standard 530i with the same tires as I have, except I have the front wheels working for me too. But you're right, for the really bad days/storms, the car will stay in and the truck will come out.

Hmmm...choices, choices...

Jeffs

I second that....my Dunlop M3's work amazing in NE snowstorms, I can even move through 9 inches of snow. Gonna put them on in the next week or so. Hey Member545, we have the same car (black/blac, 545, 6-spd, bluetooth).....hehehe

katheikia

Im in south jrsey 10 miles east of philadelphia and I drove my 550 last year without snow tires. It wasnt great but it wasnt awful either. For the really bad days I use my 93 jeep cherokee. They are predicting a mild winter this year, so you could probablly get another year without the snow tires. I say go for the
M-Aero kit, its incredible