RWD + Winter/Snow = ??

crazyd75 · 09-07-2007, 07:51 PM

Hey guys,
I live in Wisconsin and I'm planning on trading my STi soon for a new 335i or 135i. My only concern so far is the car in the winter. I won't have a winter beater, so I'll be forced to drive the BMW. Since I currently own an AWD car, snow/ice is not a problem for me, but going to a RWD car with 300hp might prove a bit hard/dangerous. Are you guys just getting winter wheels/tires on? How does the car perform on snow/icy roads with stock tires?

Any suggestions/comments will be appreciated.

-crazyd

drexplode · 09-07-2007, 08:01 PM

Hey Dude - i had the same question before i ordered my 335 coupe. I suggest reading a lot of tirerack reviews under the winter tire section, and read specifically BMW owners. After I read a plethora of those, and talking to people i decided to go for my first RWD car.

I also ordered snow shoes

New set of wheels and tires; 215/50-17 Blizzak WS-50.

Dont forget that the 50/50 weight distribution will definitely help, traction control, and ABS.

No worries... If you lived in the mountain area (i.e. colorado); i would suggest the XI version.

khafner · 09-07-2007, 08:15 PM

while I only have the 330i I think the same applies. I have two all wheel drive vehicles jeeps) and a 40 ft hill on my property. I am only using the 330i in winter. I would not drive it with all season tires - too easy to overpower but 4 good snow tires will get you most everywhere - I even go up and down my hill with no problem. (I get over 200 inches of snow a year).

saosinned · 09-07-2007, 09:50 PM

Just get the right tires and you're fine. I have a 325i now that RWD and I've never even come close to losing control in chicago in the past 3 years with my all seasons. The sport tires on the 335 are terrible in the snow and you will NEED to get different tires for the winter months, but the RWD isn't bad at all, much better handling than the (admittedly cheap) previous FWD car I had.

Nyulak · 09-07-2007, 11:36 PM

Do NOT ever use summer tires in the snow. The temperature that the rubber turns plastic is too high and will result in no traction when the temperature drops. Buy a dedicated set of wheels and snow tires for the winter. Modulate the throttle (it's not a switch) and ensure you have plenty of time to accelerate and decelerate. I've already gone through a terrible Ohio winter last year in my 335i without any problems. With my winter wheel and tire setup, I was capable of driving with confidence.

Still, having the right equipment does not preclude additional caution during inclement weather.

crazyd75 · 09-08-2007, 10:40 AM

Thanks for all the advice guys.

-crazyd

f30er · 09-08-2007, 01:53 PM

Haha, what Nyulak said! Unfortunately, I wasn't so smart as he was....I drove around this past winter in Ohio with the summer tires on my car. Very very very very very bad idea! I've already set some money aside for this winter in case I move up north again so I can buy a rim/tire package off tirerack....This car has 0 (zero) traction in the snow with the summer tires and is a nightmare to drive....doesn't help that this was also the first time I ever drove in snow but o well, it was a good learning experience......

TurboFan · 09-09-2007, 09:22 AM

The 3-series with snow tires is amazing in the snow. No worries.

The 3-series with summer tires is a nightmare in the snow. Worries!

The 3-series with all-season is so-so in the snow. Worry.

Carnage · 09-09-2007, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboFan

The 3-series with snow tires is amazing in the snow. No worries.

The 3-series with summer tires is a nightmare in the snow. Worries!

The 3-series with all-season is so-so in the snow. Worry.

that's a good way to put it....

kpcoupe · 09-09-2007, 10:15 AM

dont get the sport package. that what i did and i get away with it, altho i really miss those seats

crazyd75 · 09-14-2007, 03:49 PM

Has anyone considered the AWD models? Would there be a high power loss in choosing the 335xi instead of the 335i ?

TurboFan · 09-14-2007, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyd75

Has anyone considered the AWD models? Would there be a high power loss in choosing the 335xi instead of the 335i ?

Search that, it's been beaten to DEATH,

, but the short answer is no, your butt dyno will never know the difference. While it does run quicker to 60 than the RWD i, per BMW, most would say the 1/4 mile is a toss-up.

09-07-2007, 07:51 PM	#1
crazyd75 New Member 3 Rep 14 Posts Drives: 04 STi Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Midwest iTrader: (0)	RWD + Winter/Snow = ?? Hey guys, I live in Wisconsin and I'm planning on trading my STi soon for a new 335i or 135i. My only concern so far is the car in the winter. I won't have a winter beater, so I'll be forced to drive the BMW. Since I currently own an AWD car, snow/ice is not a problem for me, but going to a RWD car with 300hp might prove a bit hard/dangerous. Are you guys just getting winter wheels/tires on? How does the car perform on snow/icy roads with stock tires? Any suggestions/comments will be appreciated. -crazyd
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09-07-2007, 08:01 PM	#2
drexplode Brigadier General 1779 Rep 3,061 Posts Drives: G26 i4x Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Walled Lake Michigan iTrader: (17)	Hey Dude - i had the same question before i ordered my 335 coupe. I suggest reading a lot of tirerack reviews under the winter tire section, and read specifically BMW owners. After I read a plethora of those, and talking to people i decided to go for my first RWD car. I also ordered snow shoes New set of wheels and tires; 215/50-17 Blizzak WS-50. Dont forget that the 50/50 weight distribution will definitely help, traction control, and ABS. No worries... If you lived in the mountain area (i.e. colorado); i would suggest the XI version.
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09-07-2007, 08:15 PM	#3
khafner Private First Class 6 Rep 123 Posts Drives: e90 330i Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: fulton, ny iTrader: (0)	winter driving while I only have the 330i I think the same applies. I have two all wheel drive vehicles jeeps) and a 40 ft hill on my property. I am only using the 330i in winter. I would not drive it with all season tires - too easy to overpower but 4 good snow tires will get you most everywhere - I even go up and down my hill with no problem. (I get over 200 inches of snow a year).
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09-07-2007, 09:50 PM	#4
saosinned Second Lieutenant 6 Rep 226 Posts Drives: 2004 325i (e92 335 ordered) Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	Just get the right tires and you're fine. I have a 325i now that RWD and I've never even come close to losing control in chicago in the past 3 years with my all seasons. The sport tires on the 335 are terrible in the snow and you will NEED to get different tires for the winter months, but the RWD isn't bad at all, much better handling than the (admittedly cheap) previous FWD car I had. __________________ (Ordered 6/22/07) 335i coupe / Titanium Silver / Coral Red / Gray Poplar / Sport Package / Navigation / Heated Seats / iPod
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09-07-2007, 11:36 PM	#5
Nyulak Captain 29 Rep 957 Posts Drives: 2022 X3 M40i Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SheffVill, OH iTrader: (4) Garage List 2009 BMW 535xi [10.00]	Do NOT ever use summer tires in the snow. The temperature that the rubber turns plastic is too high and will result in no traction when the temperature drops. Buy a dedicated set of wheels and snow tires for the winter. Modulate the throttle (it's not a switch) and ensure you have plenty of time to accelerate and decelerate. I've already gone through a terrible Ohio winter last year in my 335i without any problems. With my winter wheel and tire setup, I was capable of driving with confidence. Still, having the right equipment does not preclude additional caution during inclement weather.
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09-08-2007, 10:40 AM	#6
crazyd75 New Member 3 Rep 14 Posts Drives: 04 STi Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Midwest iTrader: (0)	Thanks for all the advice guys. -crazyd
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09-08-2007, 01:53 PM	#7
f30er Captain 126 Rep 993 Posts Drives: F85 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: OTP iTrader: (6) Garage List 2014 Jaguar F-Type R [0.00] 2016 GMC Yukon XL [0.00] 2018 BMW X5M [0.00]	Haha, what Nyulak said! Unfortunately, I wasn't so smart as he was....I drove around this past winter in Ohio with the summer tires on my car. Very very very very very bad idea! I've already set some money aside for this winter in case I move up north again so I can buy a rim/tire package off tirerack....This car has 0 (zero) traction in the snow with the summer tires and is a nightmare to drive....doesn't help that this was also the first time I ever drove in snow but o well, it was a good learning experience......
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09-09-2007, 09:22 AM	#8
TurboFan Ski bum 317 Rep 6,198 Posts Drives: sideways Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Knee deep in the pow iTrader: (8)	The 3-series with snow tires is amazing in the snow. No worries. The 3-series with summer tires is a nightmare in the snow. Worries! The 3-series with all-season is so-so in the snow. Worry.
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09-09-2007, 10:15 AM	#10
kpcoupe Captain 37 Rep 778 Posts Drives: 328i Coupe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Illinois iTrader: (0)	dont get the sport package. that what i did and i get away with it, altho i really miss those seats __________________
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09-14-2007, 03:49 PM	#11
crazyd75 New Member 3 Rep 14 Posts Drives: 04 STi Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Midwest iTrader: (0)	AWD perhaps? Has anyone considered the AWD models? Would there be a high power loss in choosing the 335xi instead of the 335i ?
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