All Season Tires or New Wheels/Snow Tires?

[RedDvl33]

Hey Fest!

Well I just got my first bimmer. She's a 07 530i Spt/Prm Pkg. So much fun to drive!

I was just curious if yall recommended getting some good all-season tires, or shelling out a bunch more money for a second set of wheels/tires for snow. I live in West Texas so we dont USUALLY get pounded with snow, but there is always that rare occasion.

[beethoveen]

Save the money on winter boots. For the one snow storm you may get just stay home that day since no one can get out on the streets anyway. Hey, what's the point in being the only one going to work in a snowstorm if no one else can get it? Furthermore, even if you've got winters, I'm sure 99.5% of the others driving your roads won't and they'll be more of a threat to you than anything else especially given the unfamiliarity of driving in snow.

[Fahrer]

Summer tires are good down to about 40F. It doesn't matter if the road is snowy, wet or dry. I chose to go with the standard setup so i have all season tires and leave them on all year. If you hav summer tires ( sport) and you are considering an additional set, I would go with the winter tires rather than all season. Just make sure you change back before it gets too warm the winter tires wear quickly when it is hot outside.

[Kzang]

save the money on winter boots. For the one snow storm you may get just stay home that day since no one can get out on the streets anyway. Hey, what's the point in being the only one going to work in a snowstorm if no one else can get it? Furthermore, even if you've got winters, i'm sure 99.5% of the others driving your roads won't and they'll be more of a threat to you than anything else especially given the unfamiliarity of driving in snow.

+1

[bimmercontrol]

unless you plan to take trips up north stick with the performance summer tires. all season tires are meant for places with fairly mild snowy winters, winter tires for harsh winters (though of course they outperform in all sorts of cold weather and snow). you dont have either so go with the summer tires :thumbup:

[RedDvl33]

Thanks for the advice guys. I will definitely get some all seasons cause it regularly gets into the teens/single digits during the winter.

I'm pretty sold on the Bridgestone Potenza RE960 AS Pole Positions. What do ya think?

[merklebob]

you'll find that the current tire will bi good enough. just drive conseritively[sp] during those times. i live in seattle and was in texas for a while. i would never buy winter tires for both locations. my 650 with wide sptire did quite well in the snow in seattle. [but its not awd but bmw have a lot of weight on the rear wheels ]

[italia4]

I don't know I've driven through a snowy winter in performance tires on my 330. Driving in the snow was awefull, but I managed. If money isn't too much of a conern, your best option is to get a seperate set of winter tires and rims. All season tires will not perform as well as summer performance tires (in warmer weather of course).

I plan to bear through the winter again (driving much slower) in the performance tires on my 550. If it snows I'll work from home or have a coworker pick me up, but I'm cheap. ;-)

[z06bigbird]

960s or Michelin Sport Plus a/s; and/or manhole covers in trunk.

[Mysticblue325i]

No need for snow tires in your climate. I live in NC, and we only get the occasional snow event as well. Maybe only 2-4 times a season. HOWEVER, what some don't acknowledge is that in our climates, ICE is the BIG concern. We get teens and single digits often enough to warrant concern, especially when it has rained the day before. You can't see the ice, but your car sure does feel it. But like what was already posted, temps below around 40F also benefit from all seasons even when dry. All seasons have also come a long way in the last few years. The better all season will have a much more comfortable and less noisy ride as well. Check out Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus, Conti's new DWS and Pirelli Nero All Seasons at Tire Rack, as they've done some pretty recent testing.

[KarlDL]

All season = no season, say the performance folks, and they're 70% correct. I would not consider anything other than touring - to - summer high performance tires in West Texas. Up north here, snows for winter are worthwhile. I can't comment on my 528 since I bought it only 4 weeks ago, but I went from "no season" tires to separate summer and winter tires on my Saab 9-5 Aero and the difference was substantial, particularly in winter. With the Goodyear Ice Grips, I never had any of the curb-denting wheel experiences that I suffered with the "all season" tires. The Michelin Pilot Exaltos excelled in the warmer months. I will either keep the Goodyears from my Saab and run them on the Bimmer this winter or get new tires and wheels from Tire Rack for it.

[RedDvl33]

No need for snow tires in your climate. I live in NC, and we only get the occasional snow event as well. Maybe only 2-4 times a season. HOWEVER, what some don't acknowledge is that in our climates, ICE is the BIG concern. We get teens and single digits often enough to warrant concern, especially when it has rained the day before. You can't see the ice, but your car sure does feel it. But like what was already posted, temps below around 40F also benefit from all seasons even when dry. All seasons have also come a long way in the last few years. The better all season will have a much more comfortable and less noisy ride as well. Check out Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus, Conti's new DWS and Pirelli Nero All Seasons at Tire Rack, as they've done some pretty recent testing.

I totally agree with you so far. It's going to be quite a transformation changing from my 4 wheel drive 4runner to a 2 wheel drive bimmer. That ice should be interesting!

Plus, do you really notice the difference between good conditions in the All Season compared to the Summers? Granted you aren't drag racing grandma out of the stop light;)