Winter Tyres

[Taylan]

Originally Posted by Gatekeeper

No problem whatsoever, and I do appreciate that you took the time to clarify.

To clarify my own earlier statement: Yes, anybody can go over 160 km/h in a motor vehicle, especially a good one.
My point is that when shit hit the fan at such speed, it takes much more than average driving skills to get out of trouble. Even in a Beemer.

Hi Gatekeeper,
You are definitely right for your warning for high speed driving.

However I can understand why Sailor made it up to 230 kms/hr on the way to the mountain... It was the first weekend of the ski season and we were a few cars on the highway at around 6 pm in the morning heading to the mountain. (of course, this cannot be an excuse)

On the hand, there is one very straight straight of over 10 kilometers on the highway before the mountain exit. There I have also reached around 230 kms/hr for a moment just to understand the characteristics of the car.

I won't do it again.

[Gatekeeper]

Small world !

[mario486]

Hi Everyone,

I have had a few questions on what winter tyres are generally available in the UK for the X1. My research a while back, a quick trawl on the web and had a chat with the tyre dealer I normally use leads me to the short list below. Interestingly the dealer mentioned that sales of cold weather tyres here in Scotland has gone through the roof (wonder why ) and that he is struggling to keep up with demand. Anyway here is my list for 17" rims, hope it helps.


All sizes are 225/50/17
Nokian WR G2 Run Flat
Yokohama W.drive
Hankook Icebear W300
Nankang SV-1 Winter Plus
Dunlop SP WINTER SPORT 3D (I have these)
Pirelli W 210 Sottozero S2 Run Flat (My first choice but went for the BMW supplied Dunlops)
Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3 (for some reason very, very expensive, £300 each)

I am sure there are others but these are the ones I found easily.

[Gatekeeper]

At the risk of repeating myself, Internet is the way to go. When I brought my X1 to the local mechanic whom I know well, he confided that he too, was ordering Winter rubbers on the net, with Delti Germany !!

Anyway, I got the Nokian WR G2 sans RunFlat ... at € 146 a piece, delivered within 3 biz days.

Those tires are just awesome.

[mario486]

Originally Posted by Gatekeeper

At the risk of repeating myself, Internet is the way to go. When I brought my X1 to the local mechanic whom I know well, he confided that he too, was ordering Winter rubbers on the net, with Delti Germany !!

Anyway, I got the Nokian WR G2 sans RunFlat ... at € 146 a piece, delivered within 3 biz days.

Those tires are just awesome.

I agree, I do pretty much all purchases through the internet. However, the winter tyres were different as I could not match BMW's deal. The clincher being that they store my alternate set and swop them for free.

[mario486]

Sort of related I have BMW UK on the trail to find out if they can fit one of these Webasto heaters to my X1.

Webasto Parking Heater

I am getting my car ready for the next ice age

[Gatekeeper]

Never seen that one.... But the idea is similar to the block heater found on domestic and import cars sold in certain areas of NA : warm up the engine block (actually the oil pan and lower engine) in order to keep oil's fluidity at engine start.
It keeps the coolant warm as well, and actually allows the car heater to be efficient within seconds, sending warm air into the cockpit quite rapidly.

[mario486]

Don't think I have posted a pic of my winter tyres yet so here goes. As you can see they are on steel rims with plastic caps.

[Gatekeeper]

I would remove the covers, and run it black wheels, heavy-duty like... Gives it a Panzer look..

[mario486]

Originally Posted by Gatekeeper

I would remove the covers, and run it black wheels, heavy-duty like... Gives it a Panzer look..

I did for a short while but the wife did not like it, says the covers are "pretty" Will take them off if I ever need to fit my chains.