do you need winter tires in Vancouver?

[cks0213]

Hi there fellow 1addicts!
I'm moving to Vancouver from Edmonton, where there is a lot of snow.
I purchased the RunFlat Winter tires last season because I wasn't very confident enough driving my RWD 1er with all seasons tires in Edmonton winters. I didn't know I would be moving back then, so I was gonne put these on sale, but just wondering if I will need these in Vancouver at all?
I was thinking just all season for the whole year.
Thanks!

[Yuzi]

you only need you winter tires for 1-2 weeks i believe

[MrRoboto]

Winter tires are not just for snow. Be concerned with the temperature of the area and the operating range of your tires.

[Lester]

You don't need winter tires, but be prepared to take the bus during the cold snaps. Winter tires do not protect you from all the other idiots on the road who drive in the winter without proper tires. My 135 was parked for about 4 weeks in total over the last winter.

The 1 series is not a great winter car in climates where the snow is wet and you get thawing/freezing cycles. It is too low to the ground, and with its' flat bottom - you can start scraping the bottom of the car over any small frozen snow bumps.

[warmtoes]

I had them for last winter as I use it as a DD and my summer tires turned to bricks at the end of October when the temperature got around 3 to 5 degrees so the answer is yes if you plan to drive it this winter.

[5354]

You can try to run the all seasons for the entire year but we had a major snowfall last year. Probably one of the worst that I can remember. I took the bus for the first time in 15 years. If the weather is similiar this year you wont be going very far with the all seasons.

[NeueKlasse]

All-season tires are useless below 7 degrees celsius... snow is the least of your concerns, ice is the real killer. Get a set of winter tires, even if you get a cheap set it's better than any all-season compound you'll find on the market.

[vanbmw]

I vote for the winter tires. I use my car as a daily driver and I am sure I could not have done it without my winter tires. The snow out here is MUCH different then Edmonton. Most of Edmonton snow is that dry, crunchy snow. They get more ice and much colder. Vancouver gets wet, slush and ice. Add in all the hills and fewer sand trucks and you get some fun driving. You won't NEED snow tires for many days...maybe a week or two. However, there will be lots of days that we get some mixed rain/snow or slush and you will be glad you have the snows. If you have a front drive car, all seasons are fine. A 300hp rear drive car...I think snows.

[touareg]

+1 on having snows tires in Vancouver. Temps will be too cold for summers, there will be patches of black ice from the condensation overnight (there always is some of it at both ends of my block), and the snow removal isn't great...

...I was westbound on 41st last winter in my old A4 on all-season, just past Granville and in the curb lane. Suddenly the curb lane turned from no snow to a thin layer of packed down, wet icy snow. It was hard to spot because the layer of snow started just after the road went downhill. There were tons of cars in the other lane on the left and parked cars on the right...it was sh*t scary.

[cks0213]

looks like I'll be keeping these winter tires!
Thanks for your inputs guys!
and soon there will be another 128i joining the GVA!

[White1]

It depends on what youre comfortable with, i got flamed last winter for not using winter rubber on my 1er, im in Saskatchewan, and my car did fine without them, mind you in 17 yrs of driving with exception of a Sunfire all ive ever driven was RWD cars, and up until the last 5 yrs or so not all that many ppl used, or seemed to care about winter rubber.
Ask around and you can make your decision based on what you feel after youre done.
Plus if you already own em you might as well use em, unless the hassle for getting them installed and uninstalled is a little much for 2 weeks of winter in Van.

[Bringinthewolf]

No winter tires here.
I drove my 1'er with the summer tires in temperatures as low as -12 last winter with no problems at all but I didn't drive hard in these extreme cold conditions.
Now snow is another story and I can't offer an opinion as the 1'er stayed nice and warm in the garage on snow days and the Mini came out to play.

[Yuzi]

exactly like all the above mention. It really depends how much u gonna drive ur 1er. My 1er is my weekend car so I dun need any. But I do have winter tires ready for my daily ride

[aerobod]

Originally Posted by White1

It depends on what youre comfortable with, i got flamed last winter for not using winter rubber on my 1er, im in Saskatchewan, and my car did fine without them, mind you in 17 yrs of driving with exception of a Sunfire all ive ever driven was RWD cars, and up until the last 5 yrs or so not all that many ppl used, or seemed to care about winter rubber.
Ask around and you can make your decision based on what you feel after youre done.
Plus if you already own em you might as well use em, unless the hassle for getting them installed and uninstalled is a little much for 2 weeks of winter in Van.

Your 128i without sport package comes with all-season tyres in Canada (probably Goodyear Eagle LS). All sport package cars come with summer tyres. All seasons are inferior in winter compared with winter tyres but will get you around, especially as it is pretty flat where you live, on the other hand summer tyres are completely dangerous in winter conditions.