Winter Driving in Tennessee

I'm in Knoxville, TN and drive to Nashville a lot. We have mild winters, typically. Snow is somewhat of a rare occurance and, when we get it, it is slushy due to our climate. Everyone freaks out at the first snowflake and not many people have winter driving experience.

Anyone in Tennessee on this forum who can advise? I have the E90 with the 18" 162s and Bridgestone runflats and the wife has all season P6000s. How bad do I need a winter set for each, if at all? We are new to this and loving it!

I live near Nashville and have an 03 330i SP with 17" Michelin Pilot Sport PS2s. My wife's Ford Focus ZX4 ST has Pirelli P6000 all seasons.

In general we don't get enough snow to warrant dedicated winter tires. In fact you can get by with summer tires if you can take alternate transportation maybe a few days a year. Some years you don't even need that. Infrequently we'll get a fair amount of snow, but it's unpredictable.

However it depends on how far you drive and the business criticality. If you're on I-40 around Cookeville and it suddenly begins snowing, and you only have 18" summer tires, you're in bad shape. OTOH the chance of that happening without warning is fairly small.

To some degree it's a gamble. In most cases you can get by with summer tires.

It definitely doesn't make sense to have dedicated winter tires.

Ultra high performance all seasons are another possibility, but I tried the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S on two different cars and didn't like the feel. Especially on a sport or performance package BMW, they really dulled the car's fine reflexes.

Don't even try to drive on any significant amount of ice or snow with summer tires. If there's just a trace, or some slush in your driveway and melting slush on the roads with clear tire paths, you're probably OK if very careful. But anything beyond that and don't risk it. Summer tires have no siping cuts in the tread blocks, so have very poor snow/ice traction, plus the rubber compound isn't optimized for that.

Thanks, joema. That helps. I will definitely NOT worry about the wife's car. I'm thinking I will get a winter set since I don't like to gamble. Also, it will mean my runflats will last longer.

Coming down from Crossville on I-40 can be scary in the winter!

If you get winter tires, get a "performance"-oriented version like the Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3, not a studless ice/snow tire like a Bridgestone WS-50.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....inter+Sport+M3

Those sound good. I'm guessing I can go 17" with those instead of staying with 18".

Originally Posted by TIE-Fighter

Those sound good. I'm guessing I can go 17" with those instead of staying with 18".

You'll have to buy some 17" wheels too.

I also reside in Knoxville. I have a feeling this winter maybe a bad one.

Originally Posted by TIE-Fighter

Thanks, joema. That helps. I will definitely NOT worry about the wife's car. I'm thinking I will get a winter set since I don't like to gamble. Also, it will mean my runflats will last longer.

Coming down from Crossville on I-40 can be scary in the winter!

I don't know if I'd get a pure winter tire in your case, since snow is such a rare occurance and winter tires wear much faster than all-season tires. I'd just get some all seasons for the winter weather you will encounter.

That's a good question ..i am taking off for upstate ny tonight. They have a chance of some snow...i have the 330 with sport package...will i run into trouble with those tires?

I guess what i'm asking is will i be able to get by on those tires i have expierence driving in wintery conditions.. but i am not sure of these tires with this car...

thanks

Originally Posted by Sean

You'll have to buy some 17" wheels too.

I also reside in Knoxville. I have a feeling this winter maybe a bad one.

I think we are due for a bad one, especially with our football season this year.