Summer vs All Seasons

Le Chef · 07-18-2011, 04:41 PM

As I'm speccing the car the dealer has suggested going with 309's mounted with All Seasons, rather than summers and having a spare winter set for later in the year.

I'm in Chicago and gotten used to having two sets of wheel and tires, admittedly on 911's and the XFR.

Do any Mid-Westerners have points of view/preferences either way?

MTIA!

Harplayr · 07-18-2011, 05:00 PM

I lived in Chicago (now I’m in Bloomington). I had a set of winter wheels with Blizak’s on my old X3.
With the all seasons (Michelin Primacy MXV4) they were pretty good in snow and ice, but with the real snow tires they were fantastic! A good set of snow’s DO make a difference.

If you plan on keeping it a long time (not a short lease) then I’d say go with the two wheel setup. If not then you’ll probably be ok for Chicago winters, but will have to drive a bit more cautiously. I would also look up the snow and ice ratings of your OEM all season tires on Tirerack.com.

ando · 07-18-2011, 06:49 PM

I live in Des Moines. I had an early order 35i delivered Jan with the standard 18" P7s as I would have specified the 309s with all seasons because I think the 309s look the best to me but I did not want to switch out tires on a all wheel drive vehicle like this. We had a bad winter and the P7s did well. When I had a 328i rear wheel drive I did switch to the blizaak run flats in winter and since replaced the 2007 328i with a basic manual Audi A4 quattro while I was waiting for the x3. Both all wheel drive vehicles performed well with all seasons that being said the treads are new.

nonagon · 07-19-2011, 07:32 AM

If you're going to have a dedicated winter set, why not get summers? All-seasons are mediocre...

Harplayr · 07-19-2011, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nonagon

If you're going to have a dedicated winter set, why not get summers? All-seasons are mediocre...

The only reason I have traditionally gone with the all seasons / winter set rather than summer tires is that around Chicago the weather is very unpredictable. We can get freak snow and freezes well before and after the traditional beginning of winter season and I don’t want to be caught with summer tires in those conditions.

My question is to go run-flat or not. The lack of a spare bothers me, but it's been many years since I've used a spare so it may be worth the gamble.

Le Chef · 07-19-2011, 08:47 AM

My options are 309's with summer tires + a second wheel and winter tire set. Or 309's with all seasons.

nonagon · 07-19-2011, 11:50 AM

309s with summers + a second winter wheel/tire set is ideal. All-seasons are not exceptional at anything.

DCat · 07-19-2011, 12:37 PM

I also have this dilemma-I have the 309's w/ summer tires...probably a stupid question, but why can't I just get second set of tires (blizzak run flats is what I'm thinking) and swap those out on my current 309 wheels?

Le Chef · 07-19-2011, 12:56 PM

You could break down the wheel and tire set but the typical rule of thumb is to fit smaller wheels to give you more sidewall and to fit narrower tires to cut through the snow more effectively. I'm hoping that Tirerack will have a 17" wheel and winter tire package.

X5plug-in · 07-19-2011, 01:13 PM

Something from the Yokahama range seems to be the suggestion from the tyre thread I started - I was pointed to here: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/review...eMake=Yokohama

I am also looking for a all season tyre that is not too much o a compromise and the Geolanders seem to be the ones most often recommended so far.

ando · 07-19-2011, 01:27 PM

I think it depends on how you intend to use your x3. I lived in chicago for two winters with a 2005 grand Cherokee all wheel drive and standard Goodyear tires and had no problems including trips to the Rockies.

Le Chef · 07-19-2011, 02:49 PM

My wife will drive the X3 most of the time, but we also frequently drive to family in Michigan and they live down an unpaved and often unplowed lane. In the past this has meant leaving the car at the end of the lane and walking in.

I also get to drive this vehicle until I can find my next old 911. Which means I want to have fun driving it - hence SAP/DHP and 309's as part of the order.

Mako · 07-19-2011, 08:08 PM

Go summer and winters. Summer tires will be okay for the random April snow, just drive careful.

07-18-2011, 04:41 PM	#1
Le Chef Banned 16 Rep 412 Posts Drives: BMW X3 35i Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	Summer vs All Seasons As I'm speccing the car the dealer has suggested going with 309's mounted with All Seasons, rather than summers and having a spare winter set for later in the year. I'm in Chicago and gotten used to having two sets of wheel and tires, admittedly on 911's and the XFR. Do any Mid-Westerners have points of view/preferences either way? MTIA!
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07-18-2011, 05:00 PM	#2
Harplayr Lieutenant 19 Rep 424 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW X3 28i, F25 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	I lived in Chicago (now I’m in Bloomington). I had a set of winter wheels with Blizak’s on my old X3. With the all seasons (Michelin Primacy MXV4) they were pretty good in snow and ice, but with the real snow tires they were fantastic! A good set of snow’s DO make a difference. If you plan on keeping it a long time (not a short lease) then I’d say go with the two wheel setup. If not then you’ll probably be ok for Chicago winters, but will have to drive a bit more cautiously. I would also look up the snow and ice ratings of your OEM all season tires on Tirerack.com.
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07-18-2011, 06:49 PM	#3
ando Colonel 2001 Rep 2,148 Posts Drives: i5 eDr40, G80 and F80 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0) Garage List 2024 BMW i5 eDr40 [10.00] 2022 BMW M3 [7.50] 2015 BMW M3 [0.00]	I live in Des Moines. I had an early order 35i delivered Jan with the standard 18" P7s as I would have specified the 309s with all seasons because I think the 309s look the best to me but I did not want to switch out tires on a all wheel drive vehicle like this. We had a bad winter and the P7s did well. When I had a 328i rear wheel drive I did switch to the blizaak run flats in winter and since replaced the 2007 328i with a basic manual Audi A4 quattro while I was waiting for the x3. Both all wheel drive vehicles performed well with all seasons that being said the treads are new.
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07-19-2011, 07:32 AM	#4
nonagon Captain 113 Rep 777 Posts Drives: Porsche Cayenne GTS Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Arlington VA iTrader: (0)	If you're going to have a dedicated winter set, why not get summers? All-seasons are mediocre...
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07-19-2011, 08:47 AM	#6
Le Chef Banned 16 Rep 412 Posts Drives: BMW X3 35i Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	My options are 309's with summer tires + a second wheel and winter tire set. Or 309's with all seasons. Last edited by Le Chef; 07-19-2011 at 08:52 AM..
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07-19-2011, 11:50 AM	#7
nonagon Captain 113 Rep 777 Posts Drives: Porsche Cayenne GTS Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Arlington VA iTrader: (0)	309s with summers + a second winter wheel/tire set is ideal. All-seasons are not exceptional at anything.
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07-19-2011, 12:37 PM	#8
DCat Enlisted Member 5 Rep 44 Posts Drives: 2011 X3 35i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Milford, MI iTrader: (0)	I also have this dilemma-I have the 309's w/ summer tires...probably a stupid question, but why can't I just get second set of tires (blizzak run flats is what I'm thinking) and swap those out on my current 309 wheels?
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07-19-2011, 12:56 PM	#9
Le Chef Banned 16 Rep 412 Posts Drives: BMW X3 35i Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	You could break down the wheel and tire set but the typical rule of thumb is to fit smaller wheels to give you more sidewall and to fit narrower tires to cut through the snow more effectively. I'm hoping that Tirerack will have a 17" wheel and winter tire package.
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07-19-2011, 01:13 PM	#10
X5plug-in Lieutenant 72 Rep 532 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Something from the Yokahama range seems to be the suggestion from the tyre thread I started - I was pointed to here: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/review...eMake=Yokohama I am also looking for a all season tyre that is not too much o a compromise and the Geolanders seem to be the ones most often recommended so far.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-19-2011, 01:27 PM	#11
ando Colonel 2001 Rep 2,148 Posts Drives: i5 eDr40, G80 and F80 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0) Garage List 2024 BMW i5 eDr40 [10.00] 2022 BMW M3 [7.50] 2015 BMW M3 [0.00]	I think it depends on how you intend to use your x3. I lived in chicago for two winters with a 2005 grand Cherokee all wheel drive and standard Goodyear tires and had no problems including trips to the Rockies.
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07-19-2011, 02:49 PM	#12
Le Chef Banned 16 Rep 412 Posts Drives: BMW X3 35i Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	My wife will drive the X3 most of the time, but we also frequently drive to family in Michigan and they live down an unpaved and often unplowed lane. In the past this has meant leaving the car at the end of the lane and walking in. I also get to drive this vehicle until I can find my next old 911. Which means I want to have fun driving it - hence SAP/DHP and 309's as part of the order.
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07-19-2011, 08:08 PM	#13
Mako (Sold) '00 M Roadster '06 M Coupe '16 M3 '20 X3MC 1547 Rep 2,587 Posts Drives: '23 M3 comp Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Chicago suburbs iTrader: (0)	Go summer and winters. Summer tires will be okay for the random April snow, just drive careful.
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