Question on Winter Tires (Germany)
 

Hello all.

Anyone from Germany or around and with a X3 (or X5?) that can give me some hints about winter tires?

I'm from Portugal, and over there we don't change the tires - there's no snow, and there's rain almost all year (or used to, not it's way dryer), so we just get one set of generic all season tires for the whole year.

In Germany, and through my employee's leasing contract, I'm entitled to a set of winter tires, so my questions are related to what am I expecting from them, or what would you advise me to demand them.

Q1: In Germany one has to change the tires in winter time. As far as I know, until end of this year, the change wasn't mandatory, though if one would have an accident, the tires would be a factor when deciding who's guilty. From next year, the tire change is mandatory. Is this correct?

Q2: When is the right time to change the tires? Is there a common date/month? Is it when it gets cold enough? And then when to change back?

Q3: I have the standard rims and tires - Rims 112 with 235/something R17. What is the expected set of tires for winter? In some 3 and 5 series, I saw that they change to steel rims in winter. Is it the same with the X3? Will I get a awfull set of steel rims? And what size are they supposed to be? Smaller?


Please share your experiences with the European's Winter. Last year we decided to stay home whenever some snow were falling, because I never have drive in snow, and my Opel Astra is not "prepared" for it. This year I wanna have some fun with the X3 :)))

Q1: In Germany one has to change the tires in winter time. As far as I know, until end of this year, the change wasn't mandatory, though if one would have an accident, the tires would be a factor when deciding who's guilty. From next year, the tire change is mandatory. Is this correct?

Can't help.

Q2: When is the right time to change the tires? Is there a common date/month? Is it when it gets cold enough? And then when to change back?

Watch the weather reports, when rain starts to become snow or temps start to really drop near freezing, it's time.

Q3: I have the standard rims and tires - Rims 112 with 235/something R17. What is the expected set of tires for winter? In some 3 and 5 series, I saw that they change to steel rims in winter. Is it the same with the X3? Will I get a awfull set of steel rims? And what size are they supposed to be? Smaller?

You should usually pick up another set of rims you don't mind "rubbing". The idea is, if your vehicle slides and rubs a curb or something you don't want to damage a really nice rim. I'm not sure what is used to treat the highways in Germany but in the US salt can destroy a wheels finish.

Keep the 17" rims, put on some Nokian's, I just purchased a set and wow, they are quite impressive!!

Q2 - I switch to winter tires the first time I see snow forecasted. Usually I wind up doing the switch in my garage the night before the day they say it's going to snow. Around southeastern PA it's usually late December and my target date to switch back to summers is March 15th. However, as you're in Germany, my point is that if I lived 70 miles north, I'd probably switch in early December and back again in early April. Each region is a little different...ask the people you work with and keep an eye on the forecast.

Q3: 235/55-17 is the standard size. Right in the owner's manual BMW lists 215/60-17 as an alternate size, and as it's narrower it would work better in the snow. However, there's no snow tires that I see that are readily available in that size. I'm thinking of going with the standard 235/55-17 size, since there's plenty of selection in that size and it doesn't seem that wide for a 4000 lb AWD car.

You are correct that Germany has new standards about winter tires. They must be winter or all season (during winter months). Not sure what month they must be changed out, I can ask my neighbor. My 06' X3 has the OEM Scorpions and I have driven it all over Germany, Austria, and Switzerland during the winter snow without any problem.

The problem you run into in Germany is that many times the Autobahns are clear and dry and the side streets will have snow. So if you are like me and drive 115-120mph on the Autobahn, winters tires just won't cut it. Hope it helps.

Now there's a interesting piece of information. The winter tires are more dangerous and/or force to drive slower than the regular ones? How bad are they? How fast would you recommend ? Because 120mph (180KM/h) is the "cruising" speed of my 2.0d X3 ;)

We want to go back to Portugal during Christmas/new year to take the old car back. Last year it was real snowy at the Pyrinees and France, but almost summer from spain down. Should I keep the current tires?

They sell H-rated snow tires that are good up to 130 mph and V-rated snow tires that are good up to 150 mph. Although they won't be as sticky on dry roads as all season tires, they can certainly handle high speeds.