So obviously winter is coming and this will be the first one that I won?t have a four wheel drive truck/suv and am getting a little nervous about it. I live in Columbus, Ohio and we don?t get much snow but we do get it. Does everyone who needs them use winter tires or can you get by without them? Also, if I do get them I will probably get a set to go with my stock 18? wheels. Is that too big should I downgrade a size to 17?s. Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated as I have no knowledge of this. Thanks everyone.

 

I live in Canada and I never use to use winters until I started driving bmw's and now I don't think I will ever not use winters again. The difference the winter tires make is night and day, this is not to say that you can't get by without using winters but it does make a huge difference. I'm not sure how much snow you get in Ohio but we get quite a bit where I'm from, I do quite a bit of highway travel in the winter and I feel better with a set of winters on.

 

Thanks thats really good to know. I travel about 15 miles each way to work all highway and I am really leaning towards getting a set to be safe.

 

I drive in the winter with 17" 244 rims with Nokian RSi RF tires 225/50-17".

The difference between summer tire grip and these in winter is - huge!

 

I too can attest to the fact that the difference between winter and summer tires on my 545i is HUGE.

With the OEM Dunlops RFT on 18 inch rims - you will be able to move on dry roads - but as soon as it snows/rains - these tires lose all their traction. I mounted non-RFT Dunlop winter tires on my OEM 18 inch wheels and did just fine thru multiple snow-storms in Toronto.

 

Yea I live in New York "Queens" and we get a bit of snow and ice her, i Have my stock 18" rims with econ all weather tires i think those are good enough no? I wasn't to sure and was getting worried. anyone have any experience with the e60 in the snow in NYC? The I version not xi

 

Not me coz it still 29c in HK and its November
I hope there will be a winter in HK.

 

Every Luxury ride that I own I have winter/summer setups and fully support dual setups. The all season tire is not the best choice and people are fooled into thinking it is a good option. What people are always concerned about getting the car going in the snow but never realize the stopping side of the equation which is the most important part. My 540 came had Pilot Sport A\S tires and were OK in snow but the stopping issue had me concerned. I then switched to a dedicated winter tire and the car stopped twice as quick! Sooo much safer with winter tires. Actually in the long run, 2 setups do not cost that much more more money. You can usually recoup 1/2 your cost when you sell the car by selling the winter set and you reduce the mileage on summer tires which are usually more expensive.

 

+1

So true, but also the corner handling is important as the all around handling.

Winter tires are made for the winter and summer ones...!

PS. I see every winter some four wheel drive car rush from traffic light crashing into
cars in the next lights - and every fucking winter!

 

You will not move period with your summer sport tires on with any amount of snow on the road way. Could you get around your block, sure but not down a normal road. You'd put yourself at risk and everyone else on the road. Summer truely stands for Summer. Don't even try because you'll kick yourself in the ass with the first snow fall. You get more then enough snow in your area to easliy justify winter tires. Cheaper for a winter setup then causing an accident.

Buy a 17" set up (smaller is better for winter). Tire Rack has the Per. 210 SnowSports for $115(solid tire/use to sell for over $140) and some nice Rial rims for $129 a piece. Whole set up shipped is like $1100. Can't get any cheaper without going used and even then you may only be talking about a couple hundred bucks less and you got tires that may have 5K use already on them. Dunlop D3's are excellent also.