Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

Winter Tyre’s

All X3 (G01) discussions go here.
Hilly10
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2021 9:26 pm

Winter Tyre’s

Post by Hilly10 » Fri Nov 26, 2021 8:21 am

Hi guys as anyone expierenced snow ice etc in the U.K. while on the standard fit Pirelli P Zeros. I do not do many miles and really don’t want the expense if the car will run ok in U.K. winters. PS we live in Staffordshire
2021 G01 X3 2.0d M Sport in Sophisto Grey
1974 TR6 in Mimosa Yellow

Online
sapphireblack
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 1629
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:30 am
Location: Kent, garden of England

Winter Tyre’s

Post by sapphireblack » Fri Nov 26, 2021 8:53 am

Summer tyres are usually fine in winter, they're getting milder too. A lot depends on what vehicle you have, big 315 section rears are like snowboards in the white stuff, which is thankfully uncommon in recent years, so generally i would suggest you'll be OK in anything other than severe snowfall.

That said i have winters for peace of mind and perceived safety increase. But If funds are tight, safe driving in inclement conditions is unlikely to present a problem
Last edited by sapphireblack on Fri Nov 26, 2021 9:57 am, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
X5Sport
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 18520
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2010 4:09 pm
Location: Planet X6......

Winter Tyre’s

Post by X5Sport » Fri Nov 26, 2021 9:31 am

I agree. I’ve had a winter set since 2010 and have only really needed them just once in all that time. Our recent winters just haven’t been that bad. As above, it’s the big w15 and above section tyres that skate. Winter tyres are very good and make the car more predictable in snow, with a slight improvement in ice.

That being said, in this country it depends upon how much further north (so more likely to get bad weather due to higher elevations) you are.

I did see recently that there is a national shortage of both gritter drivers and road salt (which stops corrosion), so this season might be more testing than of late. :D
:ant: Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.

Wayfarer
Member
Member
Posts: 247
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2018 7:07 pm

Winter Tyre’s

Post by Wayfarer » Fri Nov 26, 2021 1:26 pm

Fitted my winter wheels on Monday, probably won't need them, but as I bought them when I bought the x5, it would be tempting fate not to, so I always fit them for the winter months.
We are in the Derbyshire Peak District and have been for over 20 years, interestingly, the only times we have had bad snow, is when we haven't had a 4 wheel drive in the household, and spent many hours digging out company rear wheel drive BMW or Mercedes estate cars with standard rubber on!

User avatar
X5Sport
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 18520
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2010 4:09 pm
Location: Planet X6......

Winter Tyre’s

Post by X5Sport » Fri Nov 26, 2021 2:06 pm

RWD BMW and snow are a phrase to be avoided by the faint of heart!! We're under a snow warning this weekend and I suspect the E46 will be grounded for bad behaviour :P
:ant: Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.

Wayfarer
Member
Member
Posts: 247
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2018 7:07 pm

Winter Tyre’s

Post by Wayfarer » Fri Nov 26, 2021 2:14 pm

I thought a rear wheel drive BMW 3 series estate was the worst car ever in the snow, until I had a Mercedes C class estate!! That was almost impossible to get uphill unless you could get a lot of momentum going
(Apparently both are much better on winter tyres.)

Hilly10
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2021 9:26 pm

Winter Tyre’s

Post by Hilly10 » Fri Nov 26, 2021 2:53 pm

We are in sunny southern Spain till next week so hopefully we will miss the bad weather this weekend. We had a GLC till last April and never had a problem even in the heavy snow we had in 2020, but that car had Pirelli Scorpion all seasons fitted.
2021 G01 X3 2.0d M Sport in Sophisto Grey
1974 TR6 in Mimosa Yellow

Online
Leslie
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 1276
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2018 10:58 am

Winter Tyre’s

Post by Leslie » Fri Nov 26, 2021 3:23 pm

X5Sport wrote: Fri Nov 26, 2021 2:06 pm RWD BMW and snow are a phrase to be avoided by the faint of heart!! We're under a snow warning this weekend and I suspect the E46 will be grounded for bad behaviour :P
I had winters on my old 330d and it made the car very capable indeed , what I found though is with 2wd a hill start is usually where you find the limits of 2wd , our drive out is very steep and has a bend half way up and a speed bump on the bend , if you had no speed built up before that bend you were beat :driving:
The annoying peaky nature of our FWD focus petrol engine and winter/all season tyres made it no better getting up the drive either and it was very easily stranded.

Does the x3 come with all season type tyres like it used to ? if so you won't need anything more :D

Hilly10
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2021 9:26 pm

Winter Tyre’s

Post by Hilly10 » Fri Nov 26, 2021 3:43 pm

Leslie wrote: Fri Nov 26, 2021 3:23 pm
X5Sport wrote: Fri Nov 26, 2021 2:06 pm RWD BMW and snow are a phrase to be avoided by the faint of heart!! We're under a snow warning this weekend and I suspect the E46 will be grounded for bad behaviour :P
I had winters on my old 330d and it made the car very capable indeed , what I found though is with 2wd a hill start is usually where you find the limits of 2wd , our drive out is very steep and has a bend half way up and a speed bump on the bend , if you had no speed built up before that bend you were beat :driving:
The annoying peaky nature of our FWD focus petrol engine and winter/all season tyres made it no better getting up the drive either and it was very easily stranded.

Does the x3 come with all season type tyres like it used to ? if so you won't need anything more :D
My X3 came with Pirelli P Zeros so no
2021 G01 X3 2.0d M Sport in Sophisto Grey
1974 TR6 in Mimosa Yellow

Online
Leslie
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 1276
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2018 10:58 am

Winter Tyre’s

Post by Leslie » Fri Nov 26, 2021 5:00 pm

Given your limited mileage it isn't worth changing for maybe a few days a year ,sure one of the next few years is likely to be bad but who knows which one 4wd will help and main roads will be gritted plus you can only get as far as the Que of stuck drivers in front of you who won't have winters or 4wd if the going gets really tough :driving:
I know the last time it was bad over here in NI , lorries got stuck on every entrance /exit to the city on the hills and virtually closed it down and people had to just abandon their cars but that was a good 10 years ago now :driving:

Hilly10
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2021 9:26 pm

Winter Tyre’s

Post by Hilly10 » Fri Nov 26, 2021 8:27 pm

Not gonna use my other car, I know that
E9034840-A3FA-4409-8528-A7283CA0296B.jpeg
E9034840-A3FA-4409-8528-A7283CA0296B.jpeg (200.77 KiB) Viewed 12365 times
2021 G01 X3 2.0d M Sport in Sophisto Grey
1974 TR6 in Mimosa Yellow

Online
Leslie
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 1276
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2018 10:58 am

Winter Tyre’s

Post by Leslie » Fri Nov 26, 2021 9:07 pm

Older cars ran on natural rubber and had far more sips in the tread than modern high performance rubber much like modern winter tyres so would be better suited lol but it's far to nice to use with salt about :driving: Looks like it hasn't seen any puddles for a while lol minty mint :thumbsup:

Hilly10
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2021 9:26 pm

Winter Tyre’s

Post by Hilly10 » Fri Nov 26, 2021 9:16 pm

It’s just to trigger happy at the rear when that straight 6 kicks in, in short it’s a bit of a handful when it’s wet :rofl:
2021 G01 X3 2.0d M Sport in Sophisto Grey
1974 TR6 in Mimosa Yellow

Online
Leslie
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 1276
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2018 10:58 am

Winter Tyre’s

Post by Leslie » Fri Nov 26, 2021 10:29 pm

Hilly10 wrote: Fri Nov 26, 2021 9:16 pm It’s just to trigger happy at the rear when that straight 6 kicks in, in short it’s a bit of a handful when it’s wet :rofl:
no driver aids maybe not even a seatbelt :D
:driving: :driving: :driving:

User avatar
StuBeeDoo
Member
Member
Posts: 804
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2014 7:05 pm
Location: Gateshead, Tyneside

Winter Tyre’s

Post by StuBeeDoo » Fri Nov 26, 2021 10:58 pm

Leslie wrote: Fri Nov 26, 2021 9:07 pmOlder cars ran on natural rubber and had far more sips in the tread than modern high performance rubber much like modern winter tyres ............
IIRC the Dunlop SP Sport tyres I had fitted to my Avenger estate in '76-ish were actually "M+S".
October 2012 build X3 30d SE, Bluewater.  Now with Webasto sunroof and paddle-shift   8)
Image

Post Reply