rwd snow performance

parafrog · 03-14-2006, 11:07 AM

i know i've posted on this before but it never ceases to amaze me how well this car does in the snow (yeah, climbing) with some good snow tires. no awd and this car dominates. italy, austria, geramany...whatever, the alps the dolomites...the car plows uphill through 5 inches of fresh powder with total confidence. pics from my latest ski trip to austria. the car was beautiful through the pass with snow, and the roads were not the greatest. right up to our hotel. one pic is looking back at the border into italy (pontebba) on the road through the promolo pass. i love this car! enough words, check the pics. i love this car!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bimmerista · 03-14-2006, 11:12 AM

Great pics.

I have to agree with you, and coming from Montreal Quebec, our winters are pretty scary, lots of ice, snow, ice and snow, slush, whatever.

Of course I must emphasise that the car does not perform better than AWD. The disadvantage is starting from standing stop; my old A4 was simply in a different class on that metric. But with this exception (which of course would also apply to any frontie), the e90 is surprisingly good in winter. And this coming from someone used to AWD in winter.

Gitta · 03-14-2006, 11:17 AM

What snow tires are you running?

parafrog · 03-14-2006, 11:24 AM

yes bimmerista, awd gives and even greater advantage. i'm on that cusp of the globe where i could go either way on the drivetrain (awd/rwd), but ended up going rwd because i will probably move to an overall warmer area year-round. i'm running kumho tires. they didn't have the blizzaks or the dunlops here when i purchased so i went with the best they had at the time. i'm very happy.

Bimmerista · 03-14-2006, 11:26 AM

Dunlop M3 DSST SnowSports, 225.45.17

canuck2 · 03-14-2006, 11:56 AM

Super sweet pics and nice ride. The ability to get to all those great mountain locations - simply awesome !

In that first pic were you able to simply back out of your parking spot without removing any of the snow ??

Mr. BMW · 03-14-2006, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parafrog

i know i've posted on this before but it never ceases to amaze me how well this car does in the snow (yeah, climbing) with some good snow tires. no awd and this car dominates. italy, austria, geramany...whatever, the alps the dolomites...the car plows uphill through 5 inches of fresh powder with total confidence. pics from my latest ski trip to austria. the car was beautiful through the pass with snow, and the roads were not the greatest. right up to our hotel. one pic is looking back at the border into italy (pontebba) on the road through the promolo pass. i love this car! enough words, check the pics. i love this car!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you have a second set of sport wheels or do you just use the same wheels for both your summer and winter tires? Also, what size are your snow tires?

parafrog · 03-14-2006, 12:56 PM

i run the same set of wheels and just put the snows on for winter. i'm thinking of getting some CSL wheels to run in summer time. the front snow tires are the same size as the spt pkge tires , but the rear are not as as wide, i think one size more narrow. everything else is the same.

ScotyH · 03-14-2006, 01:52 PM

My 330i does not compare to my lowered RSX. Both have winter tires.

After a big dump of snow, my 330i got stuck in front of my house....twice. The RSX just plowed through. I knew the BMW wouldn't be as good but I didn't think it would be this bad.

I love my BMW, but it makes a better ski than a car in deeper snow.

RGRAY · 03-14-2006, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScotyH

...After a big dump of snow, my 330i got stuck in front of my house....twice... I knew the BMW wouldn't be as good but I didn't think it would be this bad..I love my BMW, but it makes a better ski than a car in deeper snow.

Thanks for your honest response.

SO many people say the 330i is GREAT in snow.

That's why I got the 330xi (12 inches of snow and all weather tires).

Mr. BMW · 03-14-2006, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScotyH

My 330i does not compare to my lowered RSX. Both have winter tires.

After a big dump of snow, my 330i got stuck in front of my house....twice. The RSX just plowed through. I knew the BMW wouldn't be as good but I didn't think it would be this bad.

I love my BMW, but it makes a better ski than a car in deeper snow.

Tire brand and size makes a big difference. I have an X5 with new all-season tires with a pretty aggressive tread and it’s horrendous in the snow! My old 328IS with skinny snow tires was 10 times better. That car only had rear traction control, not like the new system we have today.

parafrog · 03-16-2006, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RGRAY

Thanks for your honest response.

SO many people say the 330i is GREAT in snow.

That's why I got the 330xi (12 inches of snow and all weather tires).

the 330i IS great in snow, but only up to a certain amount. my car wouldn't have a prayer in 12 inches of fresh snow (great pic by the way). i just wanted to make the point that you can have some damned good mobility in snow with the 330i if you have some good snow tires. they are not a cure-all and they won't beat an awd with somewhat decent tires. everyone gets so defensive on this topic. it's all good.

03-14-2006, 11:07 AM	#1
parafrog Private 2 Rep 99 Posts Drives: 2006 330i BlkSaph Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern Italy iTrader: (0)	rwd snow performance i know i've posted on this before but it never ceases to amaze me how well this car does in the snow (yeah, climbing) with some good snow tires. no awd and this car dominates. italy, austria, geramany...whatever, the alps the dolomites...the car plows uphill through 5 inches of fresh powder with total confidence. pics from my latest ski trip to austria. the car was beautiful through the pass with snow, and the roads were not the greatest. right up to our hotel. one pic is looking back at the border into italy (pontebba) on the road through the promolo pass. i love this car! enough words, check the pics. i love this car!!!!!!!!!!!! Attached Images
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03-14-2006, 11:12 AM	#2
Bimmerista Major General 82 Rep 5,732 Posts Drives: superstock Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada iTrader: (0)	Great pics. I have to agree with you, and coming from Montreal Quebec, our winters are pretty scary, lots of ice, snow, ice and snow, slush, whatever. Of course I must emphasise that the car does not perform better than AWD. The disadvantage is starting from standing stop; my old A4 was simply in a different class on that metric. But with this exception (which of course would also apply to any frontie), the e90 is surprisingly good in winter. And this coming from someone used to AWD in winter.
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03-14-2006, 11:17 AM	#3
Gitta Kelly's 330i 11 Rep 413 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: E PA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i (current ... [0.00] 2006 330i (new) [0.00] 2006 330i (interior) [0.00]	What snow tires are you running? __________________ '06 330ix \| 6MT \| TS-BDL-BW \| ZSP \| ZPP \| heated seats \|... mods \| cf splitters painted TiAg \| spoiler \| blacklines \| short shift knob \| cf trim \| *** winter setup: 17" ASA JH3 & Dunlop WinterSport M3 DSST * . '01 325xi \| auto \| TS-GDL-BW \| ZPP \| heated seats \|........... mods** \| spoiler \| mudguards \| blackout grills \| clear lights \| halo projector headlights \|
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03-14-2006, 11:24 AM	#4
parafrog Private 2 Rep 99 Posts Drives: 2006 330i BlkSaph Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern Italy iTrader: (0)	yes bimmerista, awd gives and even greater advantage. i'm on that cusp of the globe where i could go either way on the drivetrain (awd/rwd), but ended up going rwd because i will probably move to an overall warmer area year-round. i'm running kumho tires. they didn't have the blizzaks or the dunlops here when i purchased so i went with the best they had at the time. i'm very happy.
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03-14-2006, 11:26 AM	#5
Bimmerista Major General 82 Rep 5,732 Posts Drives: superstock Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada iTrader: (0)	Dunlop M3 DSST SnowSports, 225.45.17
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03-14-2006, 11:56 AM	#6
canuck2 Enlisted Member 1 Rep 47 Posts Drives: '015 F15 35ixDrive Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 325xi [0.00] 1988 325ix [0.00]	Super sweet pics and nice ride. The ability to get to all those great mountain locations - simply awesome ! In that first pic were you able to simply back out of your parking spot without removing any of the snow ??
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03-14-2006, 12:56 PM	#8
parafrog Private 2 Rep 99 Posts Drives: 2006 330i BlkSaph Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern Italy iTrader: (0)	i run the same set of wheels and just put the snows on for winter. i'm thinking of getting some CSL wheels to run in summer time. the front snow tires are the same size as the spt pkge tires , but the rear are not as as wide, i think one size more narrow. everything else is the same.
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03-14-2006, 01:52 PM	#9
ScotyH Bimmer me up 19 Rep 340 Posts Drives: 08 M3, 2010 GTR Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Edmonton,AB iTrader: (0)	My 330i does not compare to my lowered RSX. Both have winter tires. After a big dump of snow, my 330i got stuck in front of my house....twice. The RSX just plowed through. I knew the BMW wouldn't be as good but I didn't think it would be this bad. I love my BMW, but it makes a better ski than a car in deeper snow.
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