Snow tire question

[Arian]

Originally Posted by upallnight

Where are you going to store 4 tires if you change them on the way?

In the trunk? idk...

[Arian]

Originally Posted by racingbmwm3

235/65/17 recommended size then. Assuming you have not put a big brake kit on the car.
http://www.tirerack.com/snow/WinterT...&performance=W

I would install the winter tires the day before you leave, re-check the torque on the bolts the day you leave, then swap the 20's back the day you return or the following day. You don't need to worry about wearing your tires out in just the few hundred miles of road trip. I would just avoid driving them everyday in SoCal. A weekend once or twice a month is ok.

Either set of wheels will fill the back of the rig along with having to fold down at least one seat. Better to leave them at home and save your space and gas mileage for more necessary items.

Thank so much for the advice! Now all I need to do is find winter tires and a tote, lol

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by Arian

...I want to start talking more trips to Tahoe and snowy climates, would you guys recommend putting Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2...Also, does anyone know how the Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2 handle in non-winter conditions?

I have this tire on my X5 know in the 235/60/18 size...and I also have the X-Ice on my e38. And as far as their performance...they do surprisingly well at temps between 45°F-60°F...in fact much better than the previous generation of Michelin Arctic Alpins I had previously used. They don't hum and don't get squishy like the Arctic Alpins did.

But you shouldn't use them all year in warm ambient temps. You will burn thru the rubber since they aren't meant to be used in summer weather.

As others suggested, if you mount them prior to leaving on your trip to snow country...you should be good...then remove them when you come back...especially if temps are higher & consistently above 60°F.

Ditto in not splitting a winter tire on one axle and all seasons on another. The reaction to stopping/turning/acceleration is going to be really different...so much so that it may be very unsettling...especially when temps rise into the 60s-90s.

[racingbmwm3]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

Stationary shots with your X covered in snow isn't a good sell for winter tires

[audiophool]

Whatever you do, remember one thing: your best tires (most tread) belong on the rear, not the front. This is regardless of whether you have RWD, FWD, AWD or 4x4, whether summer, 3-season or winter tires too. The reason? You can't steer the rear, so you want the most predictable traction back there.

I've been told in the past that you can use a new pair of winters of different tread provided the carcass construction is the same. I put a pair of new LM25 on the back of a car that had LM18s and experienced no problems. Same carcass, different tread pattern.

And yes, put your winters on the day of or before your trip into the snow and cold. You'll be happy you did.

[racingbmwm3]

Rear wheel steering:

[Arian]

Where can I buy snow tires online? Is Craigslist and Ebay the only places?

[audiophool]

Originally Posted by racingbmwm3

Rear wheel steering:

Funny guy. I mean the 98% of sheeple who wouldn't know what to do when the rear end breaks away.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by Arian

Where can I buy snow tires online? Is Craigslist and Ebay the only places?

• http://www.tirerack.com/winter/index...inter%20tires&
• Car & Truck Tires, Custom Wheels, Car Rims & Truck Rims - Discount Tire
• Tires - Car & Truck Tire Services | Firestone Complete Auto Care
• Tire Coupons | Goodyear Tires

[racingbmwm3]

Originally Posted by audiophool

Funny guy. I mean the 98% of sheeple who wouldn't know what to do when the rear end breaks away.

You think the number is THAT high? I can't find real numbers doing a quick search, so I'll grossly exaggerate some here. How about 90% of passenger vehicles (excluding light trucks here) are likely FWD in the US. Modern US driver education is more about what guidelines (some people refer to these as laws) you should maybe follow while driving as opposed to actually knowing how to drive. I'm thinking maybe 5% of the people who have driven a RWD car without ABS or traction control will know what to do in a slide. That is maybe 5% of the 10% of the people who fall into that demographic.
The other 99.5% of people will either let go of the steering wheel, hit the brakes AND gas pedal (2 feet better than 1?), have a blank look on their face and do nothing, or hit the car/tree/ditch before they even realize they are out of control and then wonder what just happened while they were talking on the phone.

And for the 0.5% that do know to turn into the slide, 70% of them are driving FWD's and they've probably already done a 180 because they don't know they need to give it more gas.

and 0.01% of the RWD cars are probably practicing drifting and doing it on purpose...hehe

anyway...What Qsilver7 said. Those are all the online vendors to buy a wheel/tire package. You'll get a better deal on craiglist, but that requires more knowledge and time, at least with the online vendors you get a good price and you'll be able to bolt the wheels on without any worries about fitment, plus you can get extended hazard warranty.

Also, Bavarian Autosport sells winter wheel/tire packages, although its a little late in the season so their inventory might not be great.