Scandic24

+1000
I'm living in a part of the world where we have snowy winter roads from late november until march. Here it's mandated by law to have M S tires whenever there's "winter conditions".
A pretty unnecessary law because it would be absolutely crazy to hit the roads here without proper winter tires. The difference is HUGE!
A word of warning: Getting a 4x4 beater isn't going to help much, sure you'll get traction enough to start off, but you will still have no traction at all when you have to stop the vehicle.
You will, without a doubt, end up in an accident or better, only slide off the road.

My advice is: Get a set of nordic M+S tires or take the bus.

Merry Christmas

dayvboyc

thanks for all the advice

attached is a picture one of my friends took yesterday of a not so lucky 5 driver

new pants?

Ricracing

Yes, I understand you. Maybe M/S tires in the future?

I drive as usual in "D" but now and then the DTC (Dynamic Traction Control - former DST) is needed.
One short push at the DSC buttom activates it.

PS. About the pic above. What is cheaper - that or a set of nice winters?

dayvboyc

Ric, I work for the insurance company so in truth that is cheaper!

mooney058

even if you break your head or cause an injury to your spouse/friend/child?

higher

I am in UK also and there is a big debate about winter tyres here. Insurance companies actually penalise, some folks for fitting winter tyres !! can you believe it ? Honestly, though it is rare.

Usually in UK winters are cold /wet with 3-7 degress in day and 2 or -5 evening. This last three years we had snow and -8 or -10 even minus 20 degrees. Government stopped gritting roads - to conserve supplies...! for what ? bad weather..unbelievable.

At the moment I won't even go out in my E61 on summer tyres (no chance). Thinking about snow chains or boots and maybe winter tyres for an old Passatt that we run. That way we have fully equired winter car.

Now, I am not worried about myself driving in winter, but others are driving like it's mid-summer and that is scary !! Because two cars going 30mph,hit each other that's like driving into a brick-wall at 60mph.

One question, can you mix summer and winter tyres ? Winter on rear wheels summer on front ? Sound like a bad idea, but curious. Or for some real fun mix then diagonally...Ha !

E60Sim

For your safety and the others on the road - buy some wintertires.

The difference is HUGE.

jmemahoney

Like I said, winter tyres make a massive difference (I went out today in my wife's A4 (2WD) with Micheline Alpines on compacted snow and ice. Great grip, even under braking. But I understand your predicament - it's a company car and why should you shell out for tyres that they should pay for?

It might take a few years but it seems this year there is a slight shift in the UK attitude to winter tyres. BMW have started offering the winter wheel/tyre package (£1,400) and Kwik Fit have started to offer a winter tyre swap/storage scheme for fleets. Insurance companies should start offering discounts (Churchill have a section on their site recommending the use of M&S tyres bit no mention of a discount...).

Theo

+1

Don't forget to take into account that the only definitive costs you'll incur will be the changing/balancing of the winter wheels. You'll be able to sell your winter set for around the new price next winter when supply is low again and demand high.

So the only way you're funding the lease company i that their tires don't wear while your set is mounted... big deal while you and your family can drive safely.

wickster

I invested in a set of Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme's last febuary, I had them on the car for a month before I put my summer tyres back on, so I really didn't notice a differance other then a few times in slushy conditions. I put the tyres back on at the end of november, (about a week before the snow, I got lucky for a change) What a differance, my 530 was a nightmare the previous year, but this year its not got stuck once, it passes front wheel drive cars struggling up hills without braking a sweat. Ive had snow tyres before on my golf when I lived in Pennsylvania and they went anywhere, so I knew the benefits. But I didn't expect them to make such a differance as they have.
As someone said earlier, you can sell them the following year and get your money back.

Get some.....