What do you use in the winter?

[e30 4cyl]

You may also want to look into the michelin x-ice.  I have been running them the past few seasons and they are just as good if not better than the blizzaks.

[Cobra Jet]

Since you are a young "starter" driver, I will say this - snow tires do not and will not make you "invinceable" on the roads during the winter months - please drive safely and with common sense.  

I've heard so many stories (and seen over the years) of folks who think just because they have snow tires, they can still drive as if the pavement is dry - only to find out after hitting another vehicle, embankment, wall, structure, etc that snow tires are only as effective as the driver, driver's experience, driver's abilities to CONTROL a vehicle and common sense...

Weigh down the rear of the vehicle, depressure the rear tires by at least 5 lbs (still safe enough for daily driving), use your lower gears for better traction and DON'T pop the clutch or start from a stop quickly if snow is under the vehicle.  Always be aware of your surroundings and STAY A SAFE DISTANCE from the vehicle in front of you when snow IS on the ground...  nothing is worse than being 2 ft from the vehicle in front of you when THAT driver looses control or YOU have to stop (and your vehicle is NOT stopping).  I've seen it too many times here in NJ during snowfall, driver's still tailgating, driver's not leaving enough stopping room, idiots driving fast, fishtailing from a stop, etc etc etc...

Just be safe - snow tires can be an effective tool if used properly, they are not a solution.

[Birdman16]

Yeah I know.  Check out my new thread "wrecked" in the exterior section and post if you can.  I don't feel invincible even with sticky tires on my car in the summer (Kuhmo Exta SPT).  I actually just had my first accident and learned that wet leaves are just as slippery as ice.  Hit a patch going way under limit and still lost the tail end. I almost saved it but the leaves turned to pavement and the car got shot into a stone slab wall.  It took out 10-12 feet of the wall and car is ruined from bumper down.  (Lights, turn sigs, reflectors, trim, airdams, fog lights.  Found a front end though. Wish me luck.

So Cobra Jet, thank you for your safe tips, but they were a few hours too late.

[Birdman16]

Good stuff, probably will go with blizzaks because I need something good for the winter before the car goes back on the road.

Also, I can't wait to take skid school on the twenty eight..... nacht.

Although I can't wait to show up all of the little punks who spin the cars...lol

[Voluted]

I have used mich. x-ice on the RX-8 for a couple seasons and they proved to be a great tire on snow but only decent on ice. The last couple seasons I have been using blizzaks on the 540i and they are absolutely amazing. My only complaint is that they don't last very long at all (significantly less than others). Last season i had hakkapeliitta's on the 318i and they handled very well but they were extremely loud and it made me feel like i was driving a jeep when there was no snow on the road.

Right now there are Pirelli winter carving tires on the 540i and something called "infinity winter hero" on the 318. The 318 will see a lot of highway abuse this winter so i was looking for something cheap because they will probably wear down fast. So far they handle really well in the shitty ice rain/mild snow conditions we have here now. I would compare them to the blizzaks for stopping power but they are lacking in acceleration grip.

In the snow i think you're biggest concern should be braking distance. 9/10 accidents i see every year here involve people hitting something because they couldn't stop in time on their shitty all season tires. It can be really fun to drive in the snow once you get used to it, you'll see .

[xwill112x]

It can be really fun to drive in the snow once you get used to it, you'll see .

what are you talking about??! my e30 is fun to drive ALL THE TIME

[Colorado M42]

We use studded snows here in Colorado.  I have them on a separate set of rims so I can go back and forth easily in my garage.

[Boosted E30]

im in canada and we have some pretty awsome winter storms i would use yoko ice gaurds or conti viking contack 3 or hankoooks all very good tires for the price but really its up to you and how thick your wallet is

[Spec 2]

And they are well worth it if you don't live in some pansy-assed place like Oregon.

Hey!  I live here, damnit! Actually for the two years I've been here, Oregon is pretty nice.

Great to see this thread pop up.  I measured the winter rims last night and have to go searching for winter tires today.  The summer performance tires are starting to slip and slide in the rain here. While it's fun as hell hitting tight corners, I should probably stabalize myself before the icey cold roads come.

Good to ehar someone say Blizzaks are on sale at tirerack.  I'm going there now!

[Birdman16]

Hey, anyone know what the measurements on the original wheels are.  I'm looking for the info now, but can't find it.

[Birdman16]

what are you talking about??! my e30 is fun to drive ALL THE TIME

Second the motion.

[Boosted E30]

origonal wheels are 14x6 1/5 or 14x7 not sure but one of them is right

[Birdman16]

Found it out.  195/65/14 is what was on the car.  Will look for that size, but I don't think Blizzaks are available in that size.  I have 215/45/17's on the car now (Alpina Kopi's).  Can't wait to learn how the extra sidewall hurts the overall driving experience.

[Birdman16]

What have you guys seen or have used using a 195/65/14 configuration.  No bigger than 205 and keeping the tire around the 65 area.  All I can find are Goodyear Ultra Ice, but they aren't that great...  I'm looking for something less than 100 dollars because I'm low on cash from the crash...

[ducatipaso]

And they are well worth it if you don't live in some pansy-assed place like Oregon.

Ironically there are a shit-tonne of drivers here in Portland that put on the studs in Oct and leave em on til April. Pisses me off to no end... noisy, ruins the roads... pansies.

I've never needed anything more than an A/S or M/S here.