Just experienced SNOW w/ Conti summer tires!
04-07-2009, 09:55 PM
#1
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My Ride: 2008 Alpine White 550i Sport, Cream Beige Interior, 6-Sp Manual - retired 9/2011
Well, it snowed about an inch tonight....the icy, pellet-type stuff, and I was at work with my 19" summer tires with 172's. Needless to say I got to experience just how inept Conti summer tires are in the white stuff.
I didn't expect much, but I expected a lot better than what I got. I was literally sitting on a level area in the work parking lot, spinning my tires and going NOWHERE! DTC and DTC totally off...and I couldn't move an inch. Once I got moving, the DTC/DSC really saved my ass, because the car was fishtailing like crazy without it.
I am amazed that I even got out of the lot from work at all...had to back down and get some momentum to get up the hill. My pucker-factor was never so high.
Luckily the roads cleared a few miles from work, but I never was so scared driving home. I really missed my 3D Wintersports, which came off weeks ago. I should have known that it always snows once in April up here. 
I didn't expect much, but I expected a lot better than what I got. I was literally sitting on a level area in the work parking lot, spinning my tires and going NOWHERE! DTC and DTC totally off...and I couldn't move an inch. Once I got moving, the DTC/DSC really saved my ass, because the car was fishtailing like crazy without it.
I am amazed that I even got out of the lot from work at all...had to back down and get some momentum to get up the hill. My pucker-factor was never so high.
Luckily the roads cleared a few miles from work, but I never was so scared driving home. I really missed my 3D Wintersports, which came off weeks ago. I should have known that it always snows once in April up here.
04-07-2009, 10:07 PM
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My Ride: 2006 Titanium Silver 550i, with all the bells and whistles!!
Glad to hear you made it home! I am always worried about the guy behind me in the 4000 pound SUV not being able to stop.
I am still rolling on my Conti-winters....but I have thought about switching.
I am still rolling on my Conti-winters....but I have thought about switching.
04-08-2009, 01:55 AM
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Glad to hea you are OK. Driving in the snow with the Conti summer tires is really taking your life in your hands. I suppose that next year, your winters will stay on until the end of April.
04-08-2009, 02:09 AM
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My Ride: Jan 2006 E63 650i Sport
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I think a lot of us fall into that trap around this time of the year. A similar thing happen to me in Germany some years ago in my 3er E46; I found myself in the middle of a snow shower on summer tyres doing around 30mph/50kph... on a DERESTRICTED AUTOBAHN 
Pleased to hear you got back in one piece -- fingers crossed for no more snow...
Pleased to hear you got back in one piece -- fingers crossed for no more snow...
04-08-2009, 03:18 AM
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Glad to hear you made it home safe Dave. This has been my fear as well since I put my 128's back on a couple of weeks ago.
All in the name of looking good
All in the name of looking good
04-08-2009, 03:25 AM
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My Ride: Jan 2006 E63 650i Sport
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Sport version (includes: sport-seats, sport-suspension, M-Sport steering wheel, Anthracite headliner, Shaddow Line), Saphire Black, Black Dakota Leather, Anthracite Maple Wood trim, Steptronic Auto, Xenons, NAV-Professional with Voice Control, TV, CD-Changer, Bluetooth, Logic7, Head-up Display, Comfort Access, Seat Heating front, Auto Dimming & Folding Mirrors, Extended Auto Air Conditioning, PDC.
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Originally Posted by providenceleaf' post='840258' date='Apr 8 2009, 01:18 PM
Glad to hear you made it home safe Dave. This has been my fear as well since I put my 128's back on a couple of weeks ago.
All in the name of looking good
All in the name of looking good
If you're going to struggle in the snow, struggle in style
04-08-2009, 04:55 AM
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Doc - It wasn't those tires that gave you trouble. You were only a few days back from the islands and my guess is you experienced a "mid-west snow mental blocking" event and just forgot how to drive in the snow...
