All season tires- thinking the unthinkable?
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Chicago area
12 ML63, 13 GL450
All season tires- thinking the unthinkable?
As I await my October build E55, I am thinking about winter tire strategy. On my 540i, I used to change between summer and winter tires but just went to all seasons year round to avoid the hassle factor. Has anyone done this with their E55? I have heard and read that some all seasons actually handle pretty close to summer tires. Is this BS? Flame me if you will but I am just asking. The brake dust takes days to come off my hand!
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From: Chicago, IL
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jj,
I would strongly recommend getting dedicated winter tires. I had all seasons on my previous '02 E55 AMG... and to make a long story short, went to winter tires in January. All seasons aren't as bad as summer tires, but they are a far cry from winter tires. I'm not sure where you live, but Chicago winters require a snow tire if you commute daily and actually have a commute of 10+ miles.
Just my $.02
-m
I would strongly recommend getting dedicated winter tires. I had all seasons on my previous '02 E55 AMG... and to make a long story short, went to winter tires in January. All seasons aren't as bad as summer tires, but they are a far cry from winter tires. I'm not sure where you live, but Chicago winters require a snow tire if you commute daily and actually have a commute of 10+ miles.
Just my $.02
-m
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 31
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From: Chicago area
12 ML63, 13 GL450
Marcus,
I am in the Chicago area too. What makes this a difficult choice is that I usually take the train when there is bad weather so there is only a 2 mile drive or so. I am most worried about the handling compromise as I think I can get by on the snow traction issue. Also, winter tires are just so soft that I feel like I am just not enjoying the car for 3 months or so.
I am in the Chicago area too. What makes this a difficult choice is that I usually take the train when there is bad weather so there is only a 2 mile drive or so. I am most worried about the handling compromise as I think I can get by on the snow traction issue. Also, winter tires are just so soft that I feel like I am just not enjoying the car for 3 months or so.
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From: Boston, MA
2001 BMW M5
Get the winter and summer tires. The car has too much torque to make due on dry pavement with A/S and would be uncontrollable in the snow with them. By using both tires you are maximizing your tire adhesion for the conditions.
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From: Wisconsin
2004 E55 tectite grey/charcoal
I agree with those above. Get dedicated winter and summer tires. With all season tires you are compromising the ride and handling all year. Better to spend a little more money and have tires that suit the purpose.
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From: Chicago, IL
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jj,
I don't think you are giving the winter tires their due credit! I had the Dunlop M2s and I sacrificed very little handling, relatively speaking. Not all winter tires are created equal. I tried living with all seasons, and if you remember last year we had a couple bad snow storms in January - I took a turn one day and went over a small bank of snow left by a plow and all of a sudden my car was going forward and not the way the wheel was turned. Fortunately I was able to control it but after that point I just got sick of having to deal with those situations and went with dedicated snows. I really didn't think they were bad at all, and in the snow you could almost swear you had AWD... which isn't easy to say for a RWD car with 400ft/lbs of torque.
-m
I don't think you are giving the winter tires their due credit! I had the Dunlop M2s and I sacrificed very little handling, relatively speaking. Not all winter tires are created equal. I tried living with all seasons, and if you remember last year we had a couple bad snow storms in January - I took a turn one day and went over a small bank of snow left by a plow and all of a sudden my car was going forward and not the way the wheel was turned. Fortunately I was able to control it but after that point I just got sick of having to deal with those situations and went with dedicated snows. I really didn't think they were bad at all, and in the snow you could almost swear you had AWD... which isn't easy to say for a RWD car with 400ft/lbs of torque.
-m
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From: NJ
2005 E55
Originally Posted by jjparkusa
Thanks everyone. I have been convinced. Winter tires, it is.
I had dedicated snows on OE BMW rims for my 2001 540 sport. They were the only way to get that car going in more than 1/4 inch of snow. I decided that the E55 costs way too much, and has way too much torque, to risk smashing up in the winter. Keep in mind that it is not just your own driving you need to worry about when the weather gets bad.
So, rather than spend about $2,000 for wheels and snow tires and hope it works, I leased a cheap 2004 Grand Cherokee Laredo. $500 down (including first month payment) and $279 per month including all taxes and costs. More costly than dedicated snow tires, but I have peace of mind. And another car to take into the city or wherever I don't want to take the Benz.
If getting a cheap truck isn't an option, then at least get good dedicated snow tires.
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