BMW M3 Forum (E90 E92)

BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Go Back   M3Post - BMW M3 Forum > E90/E92 M3 Technical Topics > Wheels + Tires Sponsored by The Tire Rack
  TireRack

KEEP M3POST ALIVE BY DOING YOUR TIRERACK SHOPPING FROM THIS BANNER LINK!
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      06-14-2019, 09:44 AM   #1
Merlin_83
Merlin
Merlin_83's Avatar
United_States
471
Rep
730
Posts

Drives: 2012 BMW M3 6MT w/ZCP
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: United States

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2012 BMW M3 ZCP  [0.00]
2008 BMW 335i  [0.00]
2008 BMW 335xi  [0.00]
Summer Tires - Close call with cold weather

Greetings,

I'll try to keep the reader's attention and condense this as best possible. Normally I keep my M3 parked here in Oregon late October to end of April. The rain and general crap conditions make it less fun to drive during the winter months here. Towards the end of her hibernation though I was 'itching' to get out and drive for the first time in a while.

It was late April and the weather forecast was no rain, but cold and I thought I was good to go. I left my house and checked the temperature reading of the car dash console, 42 degrees F. OK, should be fine - right? I get 4 miles from my house and I glance again at the temperature read-out. Right away I knew something was not right. The temperature had dropped to 33-31 degrees F, I stuck my hand out the window and it felt remarkably cold. I was driving back roads to work so not on freeways, my average speed is 35 MPH when I drive back roads.

The headlights shining down the road started to make it look like a field of brilliant shiny diamonds and crystals. I knew right away that was frost or worst black ice so I reduced my speed right away. Creeping along at 20-25 MPH made it seem less scary knowing I was now driving on ice crystals. I was approaching a busy intersection and thought maybe because of it being used more the ice and frost would be melted from tire and road friction. I pulled out onto the high traveled road and slowly accelerated right away things were not right. The car fishtailed big time, so much that I was turned perpendicular to the road. Scared the shit out of me, all the anti-skid, warning lights and audible alerts were going off in the symphony, struggling to alert the me to stop what I was doing. I kind of panicked as I now could tell the entire road was basically a sheet of ice.

The road is two lanes in either direction and while it was very early in the morning there was still enough cars that I worried about other drivers losing control themselves. I decided to return home immediately and switch cars, the outdoor temp reading was 31 degrees F, I slowly moved along while feeling the car be very slippery on the road. I was totally freaked out and with any amount of throttle the rear tires would spin so I tried to drive smooth and well below 25 MPH. I worried hills or areas where I would need to ‘climb’, what if I couldn't get home? I was prepared to park the car and call a flatbed trailer. But I kept going and just then saw a car coming from the opposite direction swerve and spin 180 degrees around. Thankfully the other car did not cross into my lanes and the driver quickly recovered and regained control to move the car there from the middle of the road and onto their side. I made it home and tucked the M3 back into the garage. I went in the house to grab the other set of keys and told my wife what happened, she said I was lucky to have made it home as she just heard the weather called for some sections around the county to have black ice.

Lesson learned – NEVER shall I underestimate the warnings they tell you about summer rated performance tires and cold weather driving conditions.

Cheers,
Merlin

Drive Safe and Be Careful out there guys
__________________


2012 E92 M3 ZCP | 2008 E90 335xi | 2008 E90 335i |
Appreciate 4
      06-14-2019, 09:52 AM   #2
kring
Second Lieutenant
United_States
323
Rep
233
Posts

Drives: ‘19 M550i Dinan S1, 340i
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Connecticut

iTrader: (0)

Oh yeah, simply put - Summer tires ARE LIFE THREATENING below 40 degrees. I've had similar and it's why I decided to never purchase summer tires again (I live in Northeast US) all seasons are much better components, you loose a little performance in the summer but the safety factor for season changes is worth it for mine & family safety as well as simply the cost of even a minor accident.

Going through what you did myself; I recovered, no harm, no damage - it changed my mind instantly. the crazy part is you don't realize that with the slightest frost, summer tires turn into sleds, the acceleration traction is minor, the issue is around a turn, the car will just slide sideways off the road... and if you tap the brakes you go into slide mode which ABS compounds the problem because it thinks you have at least 10% traction...

It's like ice skating with dress shoes...
Appreciate 1
      06-14-2019, 09:55 AM   #3
G35POPPEDMYCHERRY
Banned
G35POPPEDMYCHERRY's Avatar
No_Country
4992
Rep
4,139
Posts

Drives: F80
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Philadelphia

iTrader: (1)

i drive with the summers in the winter. But I live in the good ole brine state of USA. Where salt brine rains from the sky...


If u dare to do as I; never take the car out if you think you will encounter ice or any precipation . The cars already struggles to grip even in the heat
Appreciate 0
      06-14-2019, 10:03 AM   #4
ferizzo
Private First Class
83
Rep
124
Posts

Drives: 2016 BMW 550xi M-Sport
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: CT

iTrader: (0)

been there done that. Scariest drive home was a 1 mile trip from office in an Acura TL type-S with summers in a flurry with a half inch of snow on the ground. Car was slipping and sliding everywhere. This was in Atlanta like 10 years back. Got home ok but was white knuckle driving at 5-15mph in stop and go traffic!

On the flip side, driving with winters in nice weather also sucks and can be dangerous. not like summers in winter dangerous but no bueno either!
Appreciate 0
      06-15-2019, 08:31 AM   #5
oolas3
Captain
387
Rep
876
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: May 2015
Location: United States

iTrader: (0)

In addition to being dangerous in winter, anything under 50 degrees and you lose performance and they feel like rocks. Just not enjoyable even if the weather is otherwise clear. The flip side of it is modern summer tires are amazing at the intended temperature.
Appreciate 0
      06-15-2019, 08:59 AM   #6
wdb
dances with roads
wdb's Avatar
4673
Rep
4,090
Posts

Drives: '07 E86, '02 996, '95 Seven
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: the perimeter

iTrader: (4)

Glad it was just a learning experience and not worse. But to be honest it sounds as though the conditions were such that nothing short of full winter tires would have been of much use.

I occasionally take my summer-tired toy out in the wintertime, just to keep its juices flowing. I drive like a granny though when I do it! And I don't go out when the temperature is below freezing. Even so the grip from the tires is immensely diminished, but on dry roads the car will go where it's pointed -- at those granny speeds.
Appreciate 0
      06-15-2019, 10:31 AM   #7
jkoral
Lieutenant Colonel
United_States
1016
Rep
1,960
Posts

Drives: 2017 M2 LBB 6MT
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: MA

iTrader: (7)

I've been using summer and winter tires on BMWs for 20+ years. I leave my summers on until around early December. Lots of cold mornings in the 20s where I have to tip toe on the clover leafs. But I drive the freeways to work. If the forecast calls for any real accumulation, I'll work from home or put on the snows before work. I think the earliest I've ever mounted winters was Thanksgiving. The latest was between Christmas and New Years. Always take them off in April.
Appreciate 0
      06-15-2019, 11:00 AM   #8
MmmmmM2
Colonel
MmmmmM2's Avatar
2578
Rep
2,423
Posts

Drives: 2021 M2C
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Claremont, CA

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2016 Mazda CX-5  [0.00]
2021 BMW M2C  [0.00]
I'm glad I live in SoCal where this is never an issue. BTW, love your M3!
Appreciate 0
      06-15-2019, 11:37 AM   #9
The Libertine
Major
The Libertine's Avatar
United_States
1231
Rep
1,221
Posts

Drives: 2021 Porsche Macan
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: South East, MA

iTrader: (0)

Thank you for posting. This should serve as a PSA for those who think they can run summer tires except for when it snows.
Appreciate 0
      06-16-2019, 08:31 AM   #10
wdb
dances with roads
wdb's Avatar
4673
Rep
4,090
Posts

Drives: '07 E86, '02 996, '95 Seven
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: the perimeter

iTrader: (4)

Quote:
Originally Posted by jkoral View Post
I've been using summer and winter tires on BMWs for 20+ years. I leave my summers on until around early December. Lots of cold mornings in the 20s where I have to tip toe on the clover leafs. But I drive the freeways to work. If the forecast calls for any real accumulation, I'll work from home or put on the snows before work. I think the earliest I've ever mounted winters was Thanksgiving. The latest was between Christmas and New Years. Always take them off in April.
When I was running two sets of tires I used Thanksgiving and Tax Day as my approximate swap dates. Worked pretty well.
Appreciate 0
      06-16-2019, 02:07 PM   #11
pbonsalb
Lieutenant General
5179
Rep
10,557
Posts

Drives: 18 F90 M5, 99 E36 M3 Turbo
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: New England

iTrader: (4)

I am in NH and have 2 sets of wheels for our 3 BMWs. Sometimes I rush to get summers on one of the fun cars and then can’t drive it for a day or two due to unexpected early spring bad weather. The reverse has happened in late fall when I still have summers on.

The only all season I would consider are Michelin PS AS3 or 4 if there is now a 4. They perform at the level of some summer tires. I might put them on my wife’s car but not on my M3s.
Appreciate 0
      06-16-2019, 05:07 PM   #12
m3jala
Captain
544
Rep
765
Posts

Drives: Jet Black 2013 BMW M3
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Tysons Corner, VA

iTrader: (0)

Had to slide through an intersection once on a car I bought I didn't realize had summers.

Went out for a coffee break, all clean, looked outside a little bit of snow falling said better get back. Couldn't make it up a small incline.

What's funny (other than immense luck not crashing) is that there was a tire shop right across the street from where I got stuck.

I second the opinion on the as3+. Not good as a tire for Chicago winters but I was passing suvs stuck with crappy sears tires when the first snow hit in my old 330.
Appreciate 0
      06-21-2019, 02:41 PM   #13
nycplumber
Major
682
Rep
1,221
Posts

Drives: slow
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: nyc

iTrader: (0)

FWIW Michelin PS4S are pretty amazing until it's below 30 degrees. While in a massive puddle I can floor it from a stand still and hook up and go no problem. Solid subframe mounts definitely help too
Appreciate 1
Merlin_83471.00
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:52 PM.




m3post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST