snow tires.

lemming · 02-01-2011, 06:16 PM

work pretty well.

i am still unsure about the ability of DSC or DTC but the snow tires really allowed for a minimum of drama with compacted snow on the road surface plus a layer of 2-3 inches on top of that.

and the terrain is rather hilly.

some rat bastard decided that a good place to put traffic lights is where hills are steep. the car slipped a little bit but the snow tires dug in and eventually got me going at least as well as FWDers on all seasons.

all in all, though, driving today was like cross country skiing in a 3600lb pig with a limited ability to stop quickly.

JST · 02-01-2011, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemming

work pretty well.

i am still unsure about the ability of DSC or DTC but the snow tires really allowed for a minimum of drama with compacted snow on the road surface plus a layer of 2-3 inches on top of that.

and the terrain is rather hilly.

some rat bastard decided that a good place to put traffic lights is where hills are steep. the car slipped a little bit but the snow tires dug in and eventually got me going at least as well as FWDers on all seasons.

all in all, though, driving today was like cross country skiing in a 3600lb pig with a limited ability to stop quickly.

Which snow tires are you on?

My Wintersport M3s have lost most of their ability to dig the car out from a standing start in the snow after three (?) seasons, despite having plenty of tread depth left. I'd get new ones right now, but for the fact that I don't know whether I've have this car next winter.

Nick M3 · 02-01-2011, 07:09 PM

Honestly, I tested the Wintersport M3s (with 2 seasons of my Mom driving them) back to back versus the Continental DWS all-seasons. The DWSes with similar mileage (but less age) were no different. Same car, same storm.

Really disappointing.

John V · 02-01-2011, 07:20 PM

The Wintersport M3s give up too much snow / ice traction in the name of feeling "sporty." After driving Marisa's car the past two winters on Blizzak LM-22s, I'm thinking it's worth giving up sportiness for a couple months to have proper snow traction.

lemming · 02-01-2011, 07:21 PM

Blizzak ws60s.

Really flexy sidewalls but nasty snow bite. I got these because my LM22s of yore lacked snow bite so I went low-po this time around.

lemming · 02-01-2011, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John V

The Wintersport M3s give up too much snow / ice traction in the name of feeling "sporty." After driving Marisa's car the past two winters on Blizzak LM-22s, I'm thinking it's worth giving up sportiness for a couple months to have proper snow traction.

I must have been typing while you wrote this.

So true.

And yes, it's worth giving up the sportiness.

Nick M3 · 02-01-2011, 07:31 PM

I'm using (quite old) WS-50s on the E30, and I would love to see what the new generation of real snows will do.

lemming · 02-01-2011, 07:36 PM

I think they sell ws70s now, but the ws60 is plenty good for me.

I wouldn't have tried to drive home today otherwise.

I'm pretty convinced with a limited slip unit and modern non sporty snows I'd never go awd again.

equ · 02-01-2011, 07:53 PM

The m3's were my first snow tires, in '04 on my 330Ci zhp, and at a narrow 205, they really did quite well, driven not that aggressively. I think they were sucky on wet, but pretty ok on snow/slush. Far from an all-season, I'd say, but memory is suspect. I went from those to 3D's, which I preferred. Probably the blizzak lm's are great, I've just never scored a set. Hard to believe the conti DWS is such a holy grail though, its predecessor conti extreme contact was crap in call conditions d, w or s.

Sharp11 · 02-02-2011, 12:13 AM

I'm into my 6th season on my Blizzaks - They still have a good deal of visible tread, but they lack the bite they used to have (I've never driven them through as much snow as we've had this season though).

My car is hampered by deep snow, but otherwise is quite a lot of fun to drive in the white stuff - it just seems to do what you want it to.

02-01-2011, 06:16 PM	#1
lemming Western Anomaly Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: White Orca Posts: 16,630	snow tires. work pretty well. i am still unsure about the ability of DSC or DTC but the snow tires really allowed for a minimum of drama with compacted snow on the road surface plus a layer of 2-3 inches on top of that. and the terrain is rather hilly. some rat bastard decided that a good place to put traffic lights is where hills are steep. the car slipped a little bit but the snow tires dug in and eventually got me going at least as well as FWDers on all seasons. all in all, though, driving today was like cross country skiing in a 3600lb pig with a limited ability to stop quickly. __________________

02-01-2011, 07:09 PM	#3
Nick M3 Relic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 12,468	Honestly, I tested the Wintersport M3s (with 2 seasons of my Mom driving them) back to back versus the Continental DWS all-seasons. The DWSes with similar mileage (but less age) were no different. Same car, same storm. Really disappointing. __________________ 2011 M3 2006 Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison 2004 X5 3.0i 6MT 1995 M3 S50B32 1990 325is 1989 M3 S54B32 Hers: 1989 325iX 1996 911 Turbo

02-01-2011, 07:21 PM	#5
lemming Western Anomaly Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: White Orca Posts: 16,630	Blizzak ws60s. Really flexy sidewalls but nasty snow bite. I got these because my LM22s of yore lacked snow bite so I went low-po this time around. __________________

02-01-2011, 07:31 PM	#7
Nick M3 Relic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 12,468	I'm using (quite old) WS-50s on the E30, and I would love to see what the new generation of real snows will do. __________________ 2011 M3 2006 Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison 2004 X5 3.0i 6MT 1995 M3 S50B32 1990 325is 1989 M3 S54B32 Hers: 1989 325iX 1996 911 Turbo

02-01-2011, 07:36 PM	#8
lemming Western Anomaly Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: White Orca Posts: 16,630	I think they sell ws70s now, but the ws60 is plenty good for me. I wouldn't have tried to drive home today otherwise. I'm pretty convinced with a limited slip unit and modern non sporty snows I'd never go awd again. __________________

02-01-2011, 07:20 PM	#4
John V No more BMWs Join Date: Apr 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8 Location: Glenwood, MD Posts: 14,753	The Wintersport M3s give up too much snow / ice traction in the name of feeling "sporty." After driving Marisa's car the past two winters on Blizzak LM-22s, I'm thinking it's worth giving up sportiness for a couple months to have proper snow traction.

02-01-2011, 07:53 PM	#9
equ Alphanumeric Join Date: Aug 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: 981S, 340i Posts: 9,585	The m3's were my first snow tires, in '04 on my 330Ci zhp, and at a narrow 205, they really did quite well, driven not that aggressively. I think they were sucky on wet, but pretty ok on snow/slush. Far from an all-season, I'd say, but memory is suspect. I went from those to 3D's, which I preferred. Probably the blizzak lm's are great, I've just never scored a set. Hard to believe the conti DWS is such a holy grail though, its predecessor conti extreme contact was crap in call conditions d, w or s.

02-02-2011, 12:13 AM	#10
Sharp11 Vicarious Twitterer Join Date: May 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: 06 330 cic ZHP Location: CT Posts: 7,566	I'm into my 6th season on my Blizzaks - They still have a good deal of visible tread, but they lack the bite they used to have (I've never driven them through as much snow as we've had this season though). My car is hampered by deep snow, but otherwise is quite a lot of fun to drive in the white stuff - it just seems to do what you want it to.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Snow tires	wdc330i	Car Talk	19	02-06-2010 06:00 PM
Snow Tires	blee	Car Talk	37	04-27-2008 11:07 PM
snow tires in the snow.	lemming	Car Talk	15	12-07-2005 06:24 PM