Could be the worse car ever in the snow....

[MastaMind]

Gotta say it....

worst not worse.

[Haywood]

I had my first experience yesterday here in the No. VA. We got our first snow storm -- all of the 3 inches. My house and garage is at the bottom of a hill. Took off the traction control and spun all the way up the driveway fish tailing all over the place. They never plow our side streets where I live so I was going sideways down the street! Since it was early and nobody on the road yet, it was fun. I even live in a circle so the donuts I was doing was a blast!

BTW, I grew up in Long Island and I know how to drive in the snow. But, yeah, it's one of the worst cars I've driven in the snow. My last car was a Crossfire SRT-6 with summer tires and it was fine in the snow. And that had a more powerful engine!

[ad78]

they are terrible, i dont intent to drive the 1er. yesterday here in MD there is a winter storm so called. i started the car, in less than 20mph the car dance like crazy lol

we have a prius and loaded with toyo G02+ observe and they are running 2 yrs in a row every winter. man im like the king of the road

[ChrisK]

There is nothing wrong with the car in snow people. It's the run-flat summer tires. Unless you had the same run flats another car, any comparison is worthless.

[Yearofthe1]

Blizzaks all around on mine and I couldn't have had a better time in the empty parking lots last nite. I think the best I got was a full two-and-a-half 360's. But when it was time to go home, I couldn't have felt safer.

BTW, forget snow, the summer RFT's aren't even supposed to be driven in TEMPS less than 40^F. If you put those tires on a Subie you probably wouldn't fare much better. Blizzaks FTW!

[TakeOne]

Originally Posted by ad78

they are terrible, i dont intent to drive the 1er. yesterday here in MD there is a winter storm so called. i started the car, in less than 20mph the car dance like crazy lol

I love how MDabout this white stuff. It takes 3/4 of the news. HOLY SH!T, what is this white stuff coming down. What part of central md you from?

Back on topic... Yes i found out the 1 is not the best for snow... however either is a light weight rear wheel S2000 with bald tires

[AchtungF80]

The 128i convert I saw this morning was most likely still on OEM tires and he did not look like he was having any problems...but he also was driving pretty damn cautiously.

[cagekicker]

snow! what is that???

[Mic]

Dude what would you do here ??

1er + Winter tire nothing stop me ...

[Addict...Nah Im A Junkie!]

^ I would move

[pit1]

Originally Posted by ChrisK

There is nothing wrong with the car in snow people. It's the run-flat summer tires. Unless you had the same run flats another car, any comparison is worthless.

+5,000

OP!!! To be honest...I can't believe you even CONSIDERED driving this car in OREGON on SUMMER TIRES...common now, would you shovel your driveway in slick running shoes?!?!?!

I was just about to post how INCREDIBLE this car is in the snow and ice. I grew up in Philly and took every opportunity to trek out in the snow. I've always driven AWD cars on A/S tires (325IX, A4, 330XI) I threw on a set of Dunlop SP M3 and this car MUST use some form of black magic. NOVA got its first SNOW STORM I was passing spinning sedans and SUVs. The car never hesitated on icy inclines, braking and lateral traction were...yes I'll say it...FAR better than my 330xi with All-seasons. DSC is incredible at putting down all 300 torques in a controlled manner. DTC will quickly get you out of a bind while staying completely in control.

I took out an E90 330XI with RFT Summers. It was a sled!!!! Wouldn't you consider any X-drive vehicle a suitable snow car? Yes...but ONLY with the right tires.

Don't scare people with your false accusations of poor winter handling. It's not the car, it's your tires...and it could be you? people here in NOVA are notorious for running on useless summer tires, endangering others, and increasing TRAFFIC PROBLEMS

[j1gzca]

Originally Posted by Mic

Dude what would you do here ??

1er + Winter tire nothing stop me ...

Damn, that's a lot of snow!

Is that the olympic stadium in Montreal (2nd pic)?

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by alpnwhite96

awd with summer tires isn't going to be good in the snow either.

So very true. I've been caught in the snow with the summer tires still on my WRX before. It can be downright scary at times.

[bman6074]

I can never understand why people think that performance summer tires will be good in the snow. I have heard people say "but there so big they should be like a truck tire" It baffles me that people don't take the time to learn what the tire they have on there car is designed for. Not just that the tire is summer or winter but that they are different types of rubber compound. THe compound makes a huge difference in how the tire reacts in cold or hot temperatures. Take a performance summer rated tire out in the blistering cold with dry pavement (no snow) and it will not perform like it does in the summer on dry pavment.
Just a little food for thought.

[Mutilator]

So how far south do you guys use winter tires? I'm in central NC and we had our first snow last week of 6" and my car stayed parked for 2 days... wasn't going to risk a 3 month old $40K+ car on summer run flats.

Obviously we don't know what a real winter is but we do spend a lot of time below freezing and have quite a few cold rainy days with the occasional snow or ice storm thrown in so I'm wondering if I should consider getting a set of winter tires/wheels for the colder months and then throw the run flats back on come spring. Seems like the stock tires become somewhat of a safety issue once it gets cold & wet out.

[jotapeh]

RFTs, summer or winter, are inadequate. I can get by with the winter RFTs that I bought out of stupidity/ignorance, but it requires 100% attentiveness and you'd better not park in a snow drift or let the heat of your tires melt a nice icy patch below you...

I would kill for the tires I threw on my Civic last year. They crunched snow like a demon.

[0002s]

Originally Posted by jose100fires

Gotta say it....

Ok, I know the 135 is a sports car, it wasn't made for the snow, why am I driving it in the snow, and so on....

BUT COME ON! I got stuck in 1/4 inch of snow, stock tires, on FLAT GROUND!
(snowed on the way to work in Portland, Or)

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? My father's Corvette was better in the snow!

Wouldn't trade the car for anything - except my X3 when it snows, which by the way (with snow tires) is great in the snow.

Don't bother flaming me - I know......

It drives fine with snow tires.

[KeithLM]

The summer run flats worked fairly well for me in the ice today. I was pleasantly surprised.

[pit1]

Originally Posted by Mutilator

So how far south do you guys use winter tires? I'm in central NC and we had our first snow last week of 6" and my car stayed parked for 2 days... wasn't going to risk a 3 month old $40K+ car on summer run flats.

We only get two or three days of winter weather in NOVA, but there's only ONE plow down here so one inch will cripple us. I decided to get Snows once it got near freezing. Traction with the summers, even in the dry, I felt was a safety risk. As for cost, over the course of a few years, you'll make a large portion of your money back by not running expensive summer rubber all year round. Swap them out yourself and there's no maintenance costs either.

[spudw]

The OP didn't say it was 'summer' tires. He said they were 'stock' tires, which could be all seasons.

That said, I would fully expect the 1er to be fine in the snow with a proper set of winters. Jose, could you please clarify what specification of tire came as stock on your car?

It shouldn't be news to anyone that even a Hummer would have trouble in the snow on a summer compound and tread pattern.

[Mic]

Originally Posted by j1gzca

Damn, that's a lot of snow!

Is that the olympic stadium in Montreal (2nd pic)?

Yep !

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by AlienDNA

Ha! Not even close to the worst car in the snow. Try a '64 Corvair.

Touch the gas and it spins.
Hit the brakes and it spins.
Get out to try and catch your breath and accidentally lean against the car and it spins.

Of course, the decade-plus old bald tires might have had something to do with it...

Actually, my '65 monza 'vert (redesigned suspension from '64) wasn't too bad once I mounted Pirelli Invernos ... although the rear end activity certainly held one's attention.
Tom