[vexith]

With snowy temperatures rapidly approaching, i am beginning to become slightly concerned with the health of my car! This is going to be my first winter with my 320D and i haven't even bought winter wheels! I hope i'm not making a catastrophic mistake here. :\

Anyways, i was looking for some tips and advice on how i can properly take care of my car during the winter period. The cold winds are rising

[Sparky68]

You live in the Southern half of the UK, you may see 3 or 4 bad snow days during the whole winter and no more rain than usual. I went through every winter on normal tyres since i passed my test 20 odd years ago.

Dont panic, its the UK not Siberia!

[DuckySpud]

Depends on where you live, I couldn't get my car off my estate last year for around 2 weeks due to the snow. However my street never gets cleared at all.

I've ordered some winter tyres last night due to my fear of being stranded again. Also because when I looked outside I saw this....

[SO8]

I have winter tyres but the tread is down to almost 4mm ... going to cost me next year I feel ... the effectiveness from new has been reduced noticeably with less tread ... but they will have to do this year.

[Josh1a1h]

Never in my life have I had winters... but i live in central london. Snow rarely settles... and if it does, the gritters are out immediately after... But if i was in the country... I would definitely invest

[J Dub]

Kind of in the same place regarding winter tyres, I don't have any and never had, I walked to work half a dozen times last year and lucky enough I would 2 miles away. The only time I may really need them would be around Christmas maybe when I go to the North East, yet just never been able to justify the cost for the sake a few days to be honest.

[Russbmw]

I value my car too much to drive it if the snow is really that bad.

When it snows significantly, I tend to work from home anyway - not because I'm overly fussed about driving in snow (although I must admit, I don't especially want to mash my new wheels on a snow hidden kerb or something), but because there are way too many dickheads that don't know how to drive in such conditions - particularly the mum's in the 4x4's, who think that because they're in a 4 wheel drive, they have infinite traction and can drive normally.

I had considered some winter wheels, but storage for (as Sparky says) the remaining 360 days of the year is a ballache - and as mentioned, cost for that short time.

I'd just as sooner take a nice wintery walk to the station 20 mins away and get the train to work if absolutely necessary.

[DMH-01]

It's all well and good having winter tyres on but that won't stop someone power sliding into you etc.

The majority of other road users won't have winters on.

[Russbmw]

Originally Posted by DMH-01

It's all well and good having winter tyres on but that won't stop someone power sliding into you etc.

The majority of other road users won't have winters on.

Exactly.

[IanS100]

Originally Posted by DMH-01

It's all well and good having winter tyres on but that won't stop someone power sliding into you etc.

The majority of other road users won't have winters on.

Following the crowd really isn't a good reason for sticking to summer tyres, there is indisputable evidence that 'reputable' winter tyres are much safer in cold weather. My life, and that of my family, is worth considerably more than the few £100 I'd save by leaving summer tyres on. Over the life of my car I reckon the additional cost is likely to be less than £300 and a little inconvenience!

Snow isn't the deciding factor for winter rubber, it's temperatures below 7 degrees and I think we'll all have those for the next few months.

[E92Dan]

Winter tyres aren't just for snow, they are also for icy roads. Mine are on for 4 months of the year and are well worth it for me

[Russbmw]

The point that DMH was making, and which I agree with, is that you can have the best winter tyres in the world, but it won't make a jot of difference to your safety or anyone elses you're sharing your car with, if some dopey mare in a Quashqai skids and slams straight into your car at a junction.

[E92Dan]

True you can't stop that happening, but you can avoid having your own crash!

[Russbmw]

I've got some snow socks I've not used yet!

[DMH-01]

Originally Posted by IanS100

Following the crowd really isn't a good reason for sticking to summer tyres, there is indisputable evidence that 'reputable' winter tyres are much safer in cold weather. My life, and that of my family, is worth considerably more than the few £100 I'd save by leaving summer tyres on. Over the life of my car I reckon the additional cost is likely to be less than £300 and a little inconvenience!

Snow isn't the deciding factor for winter rubber, it's temperatures below 7 degrees and I think we'll all have those for the next few months.

You've missed my point.

I wasn't saying to follow the crowd or questioning the benefits of winter tyres. I've had winter tyres for the majority of my cars.

More that running winter tyres doesn't suddenly make you immune from the dangers of bad/icy weather.

Originally Posted by Russbmw

The point that DMH was making, and which I agree with, is that you can have the best winter tyres in the world, but it won't make a jot of difference to your safety or anyone elses you're sharing your car with, if some dopey mare in a Quashqai skids and slams straight into your car at a junction.

My point was this. Thanks

[E92Dan]

Your correct, winter tyres will not suddenly make you immune to the weather, but they will help you Go, Steer and most importantly Stop. I haven't seen any snow yet, but I have already felt the difference having the correct tyres can make

[blues n twos]

This is my first year running winter wheel and tyre set up.

My rational was fairly simple. I have just bought some new 313's and the cost of replacing just one of them due to a tail slide and kerb mash would be more than my total winter set up (£620)

I have some steep hills coming into and out of my village and the last three years we have been hit hard with snow and I live just west of London

All the cars that have been abandoned at the bottom of these hills have been rear wheel drive auto's. The last thing I want is to have to leave/abandon my car on some godforsaken country lane

So I'm hoping the winters will at least reduce the risk of that happening and the thought of all that salt on my new shiny 313's was giving me sleepless nights anyway lol

Jon

[danzo_m]

Since I passed my driving test at 17 im now 25 and until I brought my 335I I always stuck to summer tyres through winter as I had the attitude oh i'll never need them, there a waste of time.

I have just put some brand new Vredestein Wintrac Extreme tyres on the rear and Bridgestone Blizzak LM32 on the front and the grip level as it dropped to -1 on Monday was brilliant and I definately will now stick to using winter tyres in winter and summer tyres in summer.

Bring on the SNOW!!