Cruise Control Disconnecting?

[weiln12]

All,
Last week I had winter tires put on the wife's 135i in preparation for winter. Went with Blizzak WS80's which I've run previously on my E90 with no issues. This weekend was a round trip from SLC to Idaho Falls and back, about 3 hours each way.

I noticed under hard acceleration the traction control would kick in, which never happened with my E90. I have seen a few other posts that also spoke about this, and I guess it's either a 1 series thing or the N54 is really that much more powerful than the N52 I had in my E90. Either way, this is a weird situation since the car is definitely not losing traction.

The other issue we had this weekend for the first time is the cruise control will disengage. It's not a traction control disengage, TC doesn't kick in at all and I can re-engage it without having to reset it. It just seems like something is disengaging the Cruise Control, and the timing would indicate it has something to do with the winter tires.

Has anyone had these experiences and is there anything to do about it?

[NVHoo]

Have someone follow you to see if the brake lights are coming on

[MightyMouseTech]

I bet it happens when you are going around a corner. It is a quick blip in the stability control. To much yaw and the cruise control will cut out. The tires will have enough tread/sidewall flex to engage the stability control without the tires even slipping.

Happens to me fairly often if I have the winters on and it is not below freezing. Below freezing, the tire sidewalls get much stiffer and it happens much less.

The WS80 have a VERY soft tread compound, and sidewalls. They will be easy to get the traction control light on, and the stability control to engage. Again, the warmer the temps, the worse this will be. Were you driving in above freezing temps?

Also, the 135 has a hell of a lot more torque than your 325 did, go very easy on the throttle.

This is why I run intermediate tires this time of year. Too warm for winters, too cold for summers.

[weiln12]

MightyMouseTech - I assumed that if it was TC then it would trigger an alert and not allow me to re-engage the CC immediately, I'd have to manually reset it. You're right about the WS80 though, they are very soft. Which is fantastic on the crappy ice we end up on in Idaho/Wyoming. It was warm out, and I know I put them on early but with trips planned through the Rockies and such, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

What shocks me are the people I see around the SLC area that run Blizzaks year-round...that seems insane.

[MightyMouseTech]

Happens to me every single time I hit a specific bump between Ottawa and Montreal, with cruise on, with the winter tires on. Just have to hit resume and keeps on going. Can feel the car yaw after the bump.

[Kgolf31]

Yea I ran IceXi3s on my car before and have TC issues even on my 128.

However the CC seems odd. Do you have a manual? I'm thinking perhaps the clutch switch might be shifting or something causing the CC to disengage

[pc83]

Same thing happens to me with my General Altimax Arctic tires. I agree with the concept of the sidewall being a lot less stiff than the summer tire causing the TC computer to think the wheels slipping but it must be extremely sensitive as it happens in a straight line to me.

I also get this problem in 6th gear on the highway when trying to accelerate at speed, so I pretty much have to drive with the DTC partially disabled (press the button not hold it down) or the TC will cut power under any moderate acceleration. It's a huge problem when trying to make any overtaking move and power cuts out.

[weiln12]

Nope, not a manual. I guess these cars just have REALLY sensitive TC! It's not the end of the world by any means, it only happened to me twice in 3 hours. My wife said it happened more frequently for her, but she's a bit more erratic than I am.

It happens to me on straights too, but out West here in Utah/Idaho/Wyoming the speed limit is 80 which is still possible as there's no snow/ice on the ground. Seems to happen more frequently the faster you go too, and on bad roads (UTAH!) which would make sense.

Thanks for everyone's feedback and I'm glad to hear it's just a winter tire situation and nothing wrong.