Just experienced SNOW w/ Conti summer tires!
Thread Starter
Contributors
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,987
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
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.
Senior Members
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 596
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From: Near Vancouver
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.
Contributors
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: New York, New York
My Ride: See my signature
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.
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,186
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From: UK
My Ride: Jan 2006 E63 650i Sport
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Options:
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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Mods:
Spacers 5mm front & 15mm rear
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Wheels:
20" Alpina Softline (Classic) with Dunlop Sport Maxx non-RFT (255/35/20 & 285/30/20)
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...
Contributors
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,186
Likes: 2
From: UK
My Ride: Jan 2006 E63 650i Sport
.
Options:
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.
.
Mods:
Spacers 5mm front & 15mm rear
.
Wheels:
20" Alpina Softline (Classic) with Dunlop Sport Maxx non-RFT (255/35/20 & 285/30/20)
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
Senior Members
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 801
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From: Pikes Peak- Colorado
My Ride: BMW 535xi
Model Year: 2008
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...
