[ibarry92]

Hello guys,

I'm looking to trade my 328 x-drive in for a 335i and I don't really feel like I need x-drive since I have a Honda CR-V if the weather gets nasty. I live in MD, so snow in this region isn't too much of a big deal. I was wondering if a 335i with all seasons would handle well even when the temperature gets low outside or even when it is raining. Will I have any issues with traction? I want to gather more information before I pull the trigger and regret for switching to RWD.

I'm not planning on modding my car (maybe a JB4 in the near future), tracking, or racing. I also read that some people have issues accelerating from a stop because the traction control kicks in. Does this happen even when the car is stock and even with a JB4?

As you all can see I'm rather nervous for making a switch to RWD, since I've been driving AWD all my life. I did search the forum and found many threads that were useful and gave good information, but didn't necessarily answer me questions.

Thank you in advance.

[Dozhdbog]

I spent a week in Big Bear in my 335i with all seasons, and encountered a bit of snow and ice. It fared well, but it was nothing compared to winters in upstate NY(where I lived for a good while). If the roads are bad and the temps are below freezing, I would want winter tires.

[Ricer X]

I'd say if deep snow nor inclines are a major issue then you should be ok with rwd provided you use dedicated winter tires like Blizzaks. The issue will be the rubber on A/S starting to get hard below 38'(?) or thereabouts and that's what will cause your traction loss moreso than the RWD.

i.e. Taking a 1.5 hour road trip with the fam today and we are getting some snow this A.M. I can take the Honda Oddessey, the Honda Accord, or the Bimmer. Taking the Bimmer because it is the only one with Blizzaks.

[John 070]

Wife's cousin's husband has that setup....I wasn't sure what the advantage was except being able to leave the tires on longer into the spring/summer. Also, do not like the idea of 255's in the rear for winter....but I think it will work on a AWD.

[ENINTY]

I live in central Virginia, around Culpeper, so our weather is the same as Maryland's. I run high performance all season tires. I just got a set of Pirelli P Nero Zero All Seasons 235/40-18. Two weeks ago Friday we had a nice little snow fall and had several inches of snow on the road by the time we left Culpeper after a nice dinner. We traveled over some treated roads, and a few unplowed, winding, changing-elevation roads on the way home. The tires proved excellent in the snow. With only 800 miles on them, they had excellent traction and braking performance on fresh snow and on slushy treated roads. With the rain last week, the Pirellis are excellent in the rain too.

I think high performance all seasons are great tires for the E90 chassis. You'll lose some ultimate grip, but if you notice it on the street, you'll be driving at speeds that will get you a stint in the pokey if you get caught anyway. My commute lets me drive my car as BMW intended and I've been quite happy driving on high performance all-seasons for the past 140,000 miles.

I recently found on Tire Rack that Bridgestone now has high-performance all season run-flats that fit the E90 sport package staggered setup.

[captainaudio]

I have Non-RFT Pirelli Ultra High Performance All Seasons on my 335i. Snow is not an issue for me as when it snows the car stays in the garage. Warm weather traction excellent allthough probably not up to high performance summer tires. Cold weather and wet weather performance is very good and traction in light snow is adequate.

If you don't drive in snow and are in an area where the temperature can range from 15 degrees to 60 degrees in within a few days high performance All Seasons are IMO a good choice,

CA

[BEAR-AvHistory]

If you have something else to drive in bad weather get summer tires for the BMW. I am in NC, have a pair of 4X4's for poor days, & think you would have more days per year where summers are OK then not.

[Tom K.]

I'm in MD near DC where we average less than 12" of snow for the entire winter - the year I bought a snow blower, we had less than one inch, like this year (so far). So after nearly 10 years of doing the twice yearly changeover on my E46 sedan, I gave up & went to all seasons.

Granted, global warming has given us a higher proportion of "once in 100 year" weather events including 2 foot+ snowfalls. But since you have another vehicle, I'd opt for A/S. A further benefit is that you don't have to worry about tires when traveling north in the colder months.

Tom

[Beemw335]

I recommend winters. All season are ok..

As for accelerating from a stop, just press the dtc button once and youre good to go.
From a
328xi to a 335i. Haha a bjg power difference, enjoy

[roundle]

If you have the space, and some extra cash, I'd go with dedicated snows and dedicated summers. If you have to go with an A/S, these have been getting great reviews for many years:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....ort+A%2FS+Plus

A number of people actually buy these in warm climes, where A/S tires are not required, due to the very high wear rating (500). Also, a large number of people are repeat buyers. Always a good sign...

[M3Duo]

I think you will do well, just get winter tires..enjoy your next ride

[CamelBiscuit]

They say in motorcycle's always dress for the crash. Winters are much better than all weathers in the snow and sub freezing. You can go with all weathers but it is not going to be cool if you get caught out in it with your pants down. Then you will wish you bought snows.

[Kolyan2k]

all-seasons are fine for cold temp., not for snow.

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory

If you have something else to drive in bad weather get summer tires for the BMW. I am in NC, have a pair of 4X4's for poor days, & think you would have more days per year where summers are OK then not.

I agree. I'll never understand All Season tires. Winter and summer tires...doesnt cost any more as you are going to go through at least 2 sets of tires in the life of your car. Traction control is always kicking in with my winters so A/S would be same. I drove awd for almost 20 years , switched to 335 rwd and can't wait to go back. If you are ever in snow you will miss AWD.

[bimmer_335]

I drove RWD for years in Boston and then in Pittsburgh where snow/winter is not as extreme. I switched from summer to Continental DWS primarily due to the rain we get in 'Burgh and I dont see me going back to summer tires. On the days it snowed 1-2" my tires were sticking... even on inclines. For MD weather, you would be totally fine with RWD & all-season tire set up.

here's the write up i did on DWS.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=422905

[Ricer X]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

all-seasons are fine for cold temp., not for snow.

Not to be argumentative, but this is exactly wrong. The major benefit of winter tires over A/S is the lower temp at which the rubber compound begins to freeze.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by Ricer X

Not to be argumentative, but this is exactly wrong. The major benefit of winter tires over A/S is the lower temp at which the rubber compound begins to freeze.

lol.....you must be smoking something.....that shit ain't good for u

all-season tires have much wider temp range and are just fine in 20s. the reason why they are not good for snow is because the compound is all-season and thread pattern is also all-season.

[ndog14]

I would never try to drive a RWD car in the snow with all-seasons, especially if it has 300 torq at the low end of the rpm as the 335 does. If you're gonna try to drive it at all in the snow get a set of dedicated winter tires. Stick with the CRV in the inclement weather.

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by Ricer X

Not to be argumentative, but this is exactly wrong. The major benefit of winter tires over A/S is the lower temp at which the rubber compound begins to freeze.

Dude, Kolyan is right. Winter and Summer tires..only way to go and it doesnt cost any more over 4 years!!!

[cgpublic]

Picking the right tire strategy in the Northeast is a tough call. I've been clad in Blizzaks since the first week or so of December, but the most snow we've had this season fell in October, not mention that most days have been in the 40s.

That said, A/S and a RWD 335 during the winter is not a good mix. You could be fine 999 times out of 1,000, then tap the accelerator a bit too hard one night and find yourself in a ditch.

You will be fine with less than 10K on your A/S; after that, you'll be praying the temps don't fall beneath 30.

On the other hand, A/S and a 335/328xi or a 328i will be OK, but nowhere near as good as winters once temps are below 40.

[chromisdesigns]

I have all-seasons on my 335i now, but only because I live in CA and don't want to have to turn back at the slightest hint of winter weather.

When I lived in DC and commuted daily to Annapolis (and HAD to be there every day in winter no matter what), I ran winter tires on my E36 M3, and often passed SUV's stuck on the side of the road on RT 50 in bad weather. All seasons wouldn't have done the trick, IMHO.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by Ricer X

Not to be argumentative, but this is exactly wrong. The major benefit of winter tires over A/S is the lower temp at which the rubber compound begins to freeze.

I think I know what he's saying....summers are not good for anything <= 37F. Say you want to take your car out, it's dry as a **(&*&^)'s p&*^*^*^( in the desert, but it's 15F. You cannot take your car out for a spin on summers (many a fool has tried). But, if your car had a/s, you can take it out. But in deep snow, the a/s will not be optimal for it.