Snow Tires v All Weather Tires

wrighterjw10 · 12-14-2006, 03:01 PM

I really dont have much tire experience in my life. I've been shopping for snow tires lately as I live in PA and winters we tend to get snow.

Right now I have the Conti's that came on my car and their obviously warm weather performance tires.

I need to buy new tires for the winter in my 2002 330ci sport, but would it be reasonable for me to instead buy all weather tires?

I believe snow tires would be better in the snow, but i'm really looking for opinions about how 330 owners feel about the car's handling in snow, as I have never had a rear wheel drive car in the snow. I'm positive it'll be tough if I dont get new tires, but hwo much better will snow tires be than all weather tires?

Any advice/opinions would be helpful as I really dont know much about tires and dont wanna get ran for tons of money at the place I buy tires.

StylGryCi · 12-14-2006, 03:29 PM

Road and track just did an article on this last month. Their tests showed that "All Season" tires perform worse than both performance and snow tires in almost all conditions. They concluded that all season tires were not worth the investment. The test was only done on a few tire models though.

I would buy winter (Michelin Alpin's) for your stock wheels, and use them as an excuse to get a wheel and tire package for the warmer months.

wrighterjw10 · 12-14-2006, 03:45 PM

Thanks for the feedback!

Jim Clark · 12-18-2006, 08:28 AM

A/S tires are no more expensive than summer or winter tires. The best A/S for snow are ContiExtremes. With DSC, you can probably get by on Extremes for PA winters. They are good in other conditions as well. They will not be as good as a high performance summer tire in the warm weather dry or wet but for most people they are just fine.

ME46Fan · 12-18-2006, 10:17 AM

I used conti extreme's for the past 3 years on my MX-6 and have been through several major snowfalls with them. They are indeed very good in the snow (for all-seasons) and will get the job done, especially on plowed roads. However you will need still need to go slow and drive very carefully, because they are still not as good as real snowtires. I also wouldn't take the car up into the mountains either, they are really just intended for wintery conditions on plowed relatively flat roads. I think snowy mountains would be a bit much for a rwd car even with dsc.

12-14-2006, 03:01 PM	#1
wrighterjw10 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Palmyra (Hershey), PA Posts: 466 My Ride: 2002 330ci View My Garage	Snow Tires v All Weather Tires I really dont have much tire experience in my life. I've been shopping for snow tires lately as I live in PA and winters we tend to get snow. Right now I have the Conti's that came on my car and their obviously warm weather performance tires. I need to buy new tires for the winter in my 2002 330ci sport, but would it be reasonable for me to instead buy all weather tires? I believe snow tires would be better in the snow, but i'm really looking for opinions about how 330 owners feel about the car's handling in snow, as I have never had a rear wheel drive car in the snow. I'm positive it'll be tough if I dont get new tires, but hwo much better will snow tires be than all weather tires? Any advice/opinions would be helpful as I really dont know much about tires and dont wanna get ran for tons of money at the place I buy tires.

12-14-2006, 03:29 PM	#2
StylGryCi Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: King of Prussia, PA Posts: 516 My Ride: looks fast but isn't View My Garage	Road and track just did an article on this last month. Their tests showed that "All Season" tires perform worse than both performance and snow tires in almost all conditions. They concluded that all season tires were not worth the investment. The test was only done on a few tire models though. I would buy winter (Michelin Alpin's) for your stock wheels, and use them as an excuse to get a wheel and tire package for the warmer months. __________________ *back on stock 17s, so sad.

12-18-2006, 08:28 AM	#4
Jim Clark Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern VA Posts: 577 My Ride: 2001 330Cic View My Garage	A/S tires are no more expensive than summer or winter tires. The best A/S for snow are ContiExtremes. With DSC, you can probably get by on Extremes for PA winters. They are good in other conditions as well. They will not be as good as a high performance summer tire in the warm weather dry or wet but for most people they are just fine. __________________ Jim 2001 330Cic, Oxford Green Met, Sand, Step, Premium, Sports

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12-14-2006, 03:45 PM	#3
wrighterjw10 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Palmyra (Hershey), PA Posts: 466 My Ride: 2002 330ci View My Garage	Thanks for the feedback!

12-18-2006, 10:17 AM	#5
ME46Fan Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Stamford, Ct Posts: 16 My Ride: 325ci View My Garage	I used conti extreme's for the past 3 years on my MX-6 and have been through several major snowfalls with them. They are indeed very good in the snow (for all-seasons) and will get the job done, especially on plowed roads. However you will need still need to go slow and drive very carefully, because they are still not as good as real snowtires. I also wouldn't take the car up into the mountains either, they are really just intended for wintery conditions on plowed relatively flat roads. I think snowy mountains would be a bit much for a rwd car even with dsc.