I recently bought a 325i e90 and am wondering whether I need snow tires in DC area. Are all-seasons good enough or should I get snows?
I recently bought a 325i e90 and am wondering whether I need snow tires in DC area. Are all-seasons good enough or should I get snows?
You can argue it either way. We do not get a lot of snow in the DC area, but when we do it can be hard to get around. I am from the school that you use snow tires in the winter and if you are going to do that I'd suggest dedicate winter wheels. Snows ill be better but not you can get away with all seasons.
I put snow tires on... granted, my current summer tires aren't "all season", but in the past, I have found that snow tires make a world of difference. Just my $.02
2000 323i
1997 M3
it was a beautiful day... the sun beat down
I had the radio on, I was drivin'...
Hard to say. I've driven on all-seasons in this area for YEARS and never had much of an issue. I just didn't go out if it was snowing really bad. I finally bought a set of Vredestein snow tires and love them. When it snows around here, most everything shuts down so you don't really need to go out.Originally Posted by soulman68
Our temps tend to melt stuff during the day and re-freeze over night making for awful driving conditions. If you are used to driving in the snow, you are probably going to be fine with all seasons but regardless, you are going to get frustrated by the way people drive in the snow around here.
---Eric
Yes...for some reason inclement weather means that you should speed up around here.Originally Posted by AlfaEric
-David
only if it's snowing... if it's raining, even a slight drizzle, then you should proceed at no greater than 7mph...Originally Posted by ShimShimHada
2000 323i
1997 M3
it was a beautiful day... the sun beat down
I had the radio on, I was drivin'...
...over the speed limit?Originally Posted by Diriclet
-David
You're right about the traffic. Hence my 6AT, although I love crankin it thru the gears. What does somebody do who's drving something like a Carrera GT or even a new Z06? I get frustrated in my G35 Coupe.
I think I'll get the snows to be on the safe side. Thanks.
Snows get you home when Doug, Bob or whoever predict a light dusting or bright sunny winter day and we end with a foot or more. Lived in DC area all my life. We do get snow and the amount is not predictable since all a Northeaster has do is move 50 or so miles east or west and we either get rain or a couple of feet.
It can take 2 hours plus hours jsut to get from the Pentagon to the Edsall Rd exit on 395.
Also remember snow is at its slickest between 28 to 35 degrees which is the average temp in DC when it snows. Driving on snow covered roads when the temp is below 20 degrees is like dry pavement in comparision.
And despite popular opinion DC is not flat!
Dave Apker, Duncan and herding diva in training Kate
Call up Radial Tire in Silver Spring.Originally Posted by soulman68
If you don't insist on runflats, there are some pretty damned cheap snow tires that'll do everythign you need.
2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4WD Duramax LBZ/Allison 6-speed
2002 BMW M3 - Alpinweiss III/Black
1999 323i KP/GTS2 - Alpinweiss III (Black Hood, other stuff)
1990 325is - Brilliantrot/Tan
1989 325is - Alpinweiss II/Black (S50B32)
1989 M3 - Alpinweiss II/Black (S62B50 in progress)
Just plan and it taking a while. If you car on Saturday get there about 30 minutes before they opne. You will not be the first car in line though. Cool thing about Radial Tire is there is usually a NCC member waiting too. If not you can talk cars with someone from the SCCA or PCA. Shame they dont have a truck or some one coming by selling breakfast.
I drive my Clifton to Silver Spring just for Radial Tire. Prices and Service cant be beat. Havent bought tires anywhere else in at least 10 years if not longer.
Dave Apker
The responses you got are very good. It is a decsion for you to make based on your preference and experience. If you are comfortable w/ All Season tires, then use them. Persoanlly, I have an Expedtion for that stuff and keep my baby in the garage.
Tom
"Everyone should believe in something. I believe I'll go fishing."
--Thoreau--
2005 330 CiC
I wondered the same thing and researched tirerack.com, which seems to hype the winter tire thing pretty hard. I found that the "high performance winter tire" like the Blizzak LM-22, Dunlop M3, or the Conti TS series differs from a good all-season tire only in deep-snow grip and perhaps ice traction. The rest of the measurements were very similar to my all-season Bridgestones. The real snow tires like the WS-50 would be great in northern PA or Michigan, but I figured we don't get enough snow to justify the loss of dry traction, road noise, etc. offered.
Just my 2 cents.
- John
Gaithersburg, MD
2000 Porsche C2
1972 BMW 2002tii
1992 Miata (SCCA SSM)
The big thing is that we get snow at the worst possible temperatures. Our roads turn into sheets of ice and that's what makes things bad here. Powder is nothing.Originally Posted by wolfgang20878
2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4WD Duramax LBZ/Allison 6-speed
2002 BMW M3 - Alpinweiss III/Black
1999 323i KP/GTS2 - Alpinweiss III (Black Hood, other stuff)
1990 325is - Brilliantrot/Tan
1989 325is - Alpinweiss II/Black (S50B32)
1989 M3 - Alpinweiss II/Black (S62B50 in progress)
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Bookmarks