alanme123

Hey guys,

I usually don't have to drive this car when i go on ski trips up to big bear, but I am wondering how does this car (rwd) do in snow? I have 19s right now on conti dws.

I haven't driven in snow since moving down from Canada few years back so if someone can give me some info/ experience on this that will be great!

Thanks!

telemakhos

I assume that you only drove FWD or AWD in Canada. RWD is rather poor in the winter even with winter tires. I drove RWD for many years in the snow and managed but I would not drive into any mountains with it.

YYZ-E55

RWD is no problem in snow with proper snow tires. On the DWS you're a hazard to everyone around you!

alanme123

Yes I only drove awd/fwd in canada.

Laws here sometimes, depending on the snow conditions, say that I need snow chains mandatory. They have check points that will actually turn me away. If I use snow chains on the dws would that help? Or would I be better off getting some blizzaks WITH snow chains?

I do not know how snow chains work with winter/all season tires as I never used them.

SolidGranite

Did it for years in a C55 and E550 in the Chicago area. Blizzaks make a tremendous difference which I used on the C55. My E550 had all-seasons which is more than fine as well. Although, if you're going to be in the mountains ALL bets are off. I wouldn't even try it without snow tires and smaller rims.

Jeffy

+1

With the stock tires you will have a hard time even getting up a slight incline. With RWD you will need good snow tires all the way around. And according to local laws, you may need to also carry/use chains.

thenew3

It depends on the driver and vehicle and road conditions.

I used to do 50k miles a year in new england. A good deal of that in winter snowy weather in a RWD BMW with snow tires. I had no trouble doing my 100+ mile one way daily commute while other 4x4/awd vehicles were stuck in a ditch.

Key is to drive smart. Don't think having 4x4 or AWD makes you immune to the laws of physics.
A smart driver in a RWD vehicle with proper snow tires can do better than a not so smart driver in a 4x4/awd vehicle.

alanme123

So from what I am seeing, I should use my stock 18 rims and put on some blizzaks or some good snow tires into those?

Would I still need to carry snow chains if I have these snowtires?
If I put chains will it make the snow tires less effective? I am not familiar with these snow stuff. Sorry for all the questions. Just don't want to be stupid and get into an accident.

pdjv

Yes - and for a very long time in many different cars. Had Michelin Pilot-Sport Alpin's on my 2004 E500, and Haakapelittas on my 1995 E320 with no problems driving on snowy/snow-packed roads.

Good winter tires and a set of radial tire chains should get you anywhere you need to go. If you're in an area where there's lots of packed snow/ice, get tires that accept studs (but watch local laws as many places restrict or outright ban the use of studded tires).

I'm not a big fan of Blizzaks (or any Bridgestone for that matter). There are other options out there (and TireRack's selection for your car is fairly weak) Michelin Pilot Sport PA3 would be my choice - a good set of Haakapelittas would be even better.

If RWD was so bad in the snow, no one would have survived winter driving in the '20s, '30s, '40s, '50s.... You just need to pay attention and drive carefully.

MA-E320

I use General Altimax in my '98 E320 RWD and it plows through snow. Drive with common sense and you will not have problems!

mikemargolis

I live in New England, and pretty soon will switch to my winter tires, which are 17" rims with Blizzaks, all four wheels.

Note I said 17", not 18, 19 or 20. You want lots of rubber between the pothole and the rim. Winter road conditions are not the time for low profile, "don't I look cool" wheels and tires.

Let me say this simply:

All wheel drive is all wheel GO, not all wheel STOP.

Sure there may be times when you are on ice and only one wheel could grip and drive while the others spin, but in 35+ years of winter driving, that is really rare.

Put on great snow tires and chains if they tell you to, and follow the logical rules of snow driving:

Start gently
Stop gently
Leave a LOT of room between you and the cars around you
Learn the basics of skid control such as steering into the slide
Go slow. Really slow.
Don't be stupid

With that in mind, you'll be fine.

Now that having been said, you seem to be talking about some very possibly hazardous conditions. Why not hire a driver?

SolidGranite

For extra peace of mind, you could also throw some salt bags in the trunk for better grip.

Mbenz260e

All good advice and I agree rwd properly prepared with snow tires and sensible driving should be fine. I am not in a snowy region but when we do get snow people seem to not be sensible and wipe out alot. Most of the times it seems over confident drivers trying to push their AWD/4WDs. Never stayed overseas extensively but noticed in Germany hardly ever see 4matics and people seem to still get around in the snow...

PeterUbers

I heard solidgranite that your winter rims disappeared... i bet whoever has them has good winter traction...LOL

alanme123

Thanks for all the advice guys. I just want to point out that this is just for casual ski trip days. It is not for anything intense!!! Most likely the main roads to the ski resorts would be well maintained, but I just wanted to make sure because you cannot be too safe on snow.

I think I will get a set of alpines, if they make it in 245/40/18s and 265/35/18s. If not, the blizzak LM60s are very cheap now since they are going to be discontinued. I will also carry a cheaper set of chains (not thule ksummits) just in case. How does this sound?

SolidGranite

LOL! F that guy.

BenzV12

Your post reminded me one of the latest TOP GEAR USA episode , throwing some bags into the trunk of Ford F350 to moniker one of the program hosts when testing how far can you go with a full tank

Back to to the topic, I have also read at the forums that if you drive sanely in your RWD car you can have a chance of not being stranded otherwise 4x4 ,AWD cars are not immune to what snow is brewing up for them

Firestopper0383

I wouldn't try scaling a mountain with a RWD MB. I do own one and have had it since 2010. Drove in snow(up to about 5" with ice) just fine as long as you take it easy and don't do anything stupid.

LearnedHand

I totally agree. Back in the day, all we had were RWD. I remember having to change to winter tires by the time December rolled in.

alanme123

Anybody have winter tires for the 245/40/18 and 265/35/18? The only ones I can find is blizzack LM60s that are retty much discontinued. Michelin PAs dont run in those sizes for four tires... any suggestions?

Newzchspy

I've run just about everything over the years in Northern Il and southern Wisc., the best are probably the Nokian Hakepelittas R........

telemakhos

Yes, you can easily find Nokian Hakka R and the brand new Hakka R2 in the 245/40/18. I have the older Hakka R on my car.

http://www.nokiantyres.com/tyre?id=3...+R2&group=1.01

Petej

Bridgestone Blizzaks on all my cars since they came out and they just flat out work. I've run the LM22's and the WS-60/70 on a variety of vehicles (RWD/FWD/AWD) and they all have worked incredibly well. For those of us that live in climates that get snow, and more importantly ice, my take on it is this...You have to drive on tires all year long, you may as well drive on the right ones at the right time of year...

ImInPA

I had an E350 Bluetec RWD. It had 17" wheels. I put a set of Michelin X-Ice and had no issues at all getting around in the white stuff.

Arrie

With winter tires forget the staggered "looks" tire setup. For better grip you need narrower tire so get the 245/40R 18 all around.

For the tire brand you want to get Nokian tires and to make RWD car grip as well as FWD car in the snow throw 150 lbs weight in your trunk for the snow months.