I know its early, but...winter... and tire insurance advice

[Naz24]

I'm sure there's a thread that discusses this already, but i'd like to shed new light to my specific situation.

I just got rid of my X3 M Sport, prior to that, i had an X5. Basically, i've had AWD trucks for all of my winter experiences. My last RWD car i drove in the winter for 2 months....

Anyway, i have two dilemmas. I technically do not need to drive the car when it snows, but i think it would be smart to still throw snows on it, just in case i get "stranded" somewhere. My father is a builder and has a maintenance truck that he says i can pick up before snow storms...

Now since the tire warranty would not cover the snows i bought separately, is it even worth buying the insurance? My buddy just bought a tire at the dealer, and it was $578 installed PER TIRE! I understand these tires are 350 on tirerack, but damn the dealer hoses people...

So what would you do?

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by Naz24

I'm sure there's a thread that discusses this already, but i'd like to shed new light to my specific situation.

I just got rid of my X3 M Sport, prior to that, i had an X5. Basically, i've had AWD trucks for all of my winter experiences. My last RWD car i drove in the winter for 2 months....

Anyway, i have two dilemmas. I technically do not need to drive the car when it snows, but i think it would be smart to still throw snows on it, just in case i get "stranded" somewhere. My father is a builder and has a maintenance truck that he says i can pick up before snow storms...

Now since the tire warranty would not cover the snows i bought separately, is it even worth buying the insurance? My buddy just bought a tire at the dealer, and it was $578 installed PER TIRE! I understand these tires are 350 on tirerack, but damn the dealer hoses people...

So what would you do?

Well, since you asked, I personally wouldn't have started ANOTHER winter driving thread (in freakin' MAY !!!), and just drove my dads truck ... but that's just me

[Wah]

Winter tires are not just for the snow... they are for cold weather. Your PSS's will be hockey pucks when the weather dips below 40*. You will be safer on winter tires even in dry weather. For snow, take the truck.

[Viking123]

Insurance companies sell insurance because they expect to make a profit on that insurance. That means your expected return from buying the insurance is negative... So I'd personally forego the insurance unless you are more reckless than average, a worse driver than average, or if you drive in New York City

[PolishM3]

If you are talking about BMW wheel and tire then the insurance will correspond to the tire and wheel package as long as it is BMW approved. So if you buy from tirerack you are SOL but if you buy the BMW rims and star rated tires they will be covered

[georgere]

if it is a DD, get winter tires with new rims mounted and balanced from tirerack or the like. I have my winter tires/wheels for 8 years now. Put them on in about DEC and take them off in March. Driving on summer tires in winter is a risk and plain silly and using your father's track sounds like inconvenience.

[myzmak]

Originally Posted by Wah

Winter tires are not just for the snow... they are for cold weather. Your PSS's will be hockey pucks when the weather dips below 40*. You will be safer on winter tires even in dry weather. For snow, take the truck.

Yeah, this. Winter tires are for cold weather. Not just snow.

(ps Wah - love the hockey analogy. I told you that you'd come around and love the sport. My guess is Lups is just blushing with pride....)

In snow and F8X with winter tires is ok - just be careful and, if it is bad, put some weight in the trunk over the axle.

As for tire insurance, my only advice is read the policy carefully. It may not protect what you think it should (the dealer policy up here did not cover damage from potholes or cosmetic damage. Only structural damage from objects that did not belong on the road (ie: wood, etc))

[Lups]

Originally Posted by myzmak

Yeah, this. Winter tires are for cold weather. Not just snow.

(ps Wah - love the hockey analogy. I told you that you'd come around and love the sport. My guess is Lups is just blushing with pride....)

In snow and F8X with winter tires is ok - just be careful and, if it is bad, put some weight in the trunk over the axle.

As for tire insurance, my only advice is read the policy carefully. It may not protect what you think it should (the dealer policy up here did not cover damage from potholes or cosmetic damage. Only structural damage from objects that did not belong on the road (ie: wood, etc))

We are on the right path! Marketing clearly is our thing!

Well done wah!

[The Swami]

I'm not certain of what insurance you're referencing. I purchased Wheel & Tire protection from the dealership and it covers Road Hazards and Wheel Damage except for curb rash. This winter many owners had issues purchasing BMW's designated Winter Wheel & Tire Setup due to availability. I was delivered the wrong setup from my dealership which left me pissed! TireRack had a well priced Wheel & Tire package and many M3 owners jumped on it.

I ended up buying a set of used 19" Wheels from a fellow 2015 M3 owner and mounted a set of Michelin Sport Pilot AS3's from Costco! The tire runs great if I want to push the car a little bit and it can handle light snow and cold temperatures. When the snow and ice get a little heavier I invested in a set of ISSE Snow Socks for the rear tires! They fit on the rear 275/35/19's flawlessly and since their studded the ice wasn't an issue. You can pick up the Snow Socks from ISSE Direct, Amazon, AutoZone, or from ECS-Tuning.

Before you buy tires at the dealership or TireRack, please check Costco! They have Michelin and Bridgestone tires for great prices and they include insurance and free Nitrogen refills!

[Naz24]

Originally Posted by The Swami

I'm not certain of what insurance you're referencing. I purchased Wheel & Tire protection from the dealership and it covers Road Hazards and Wheel Damage except for curb rash. This winter many owners had issues purchasing BMW's designated Winter Wheel & Tire Setup due to availability. I was delivered the wrong setup from my dealership which left me pissed! TireRack had a well priced Wheel & Tire package and many M3 owners jumped on it.

I ended up buying a set of used 19" Wheels from a fellow 2015 M3 owner and mounted a set of Michelin Sport Pilot AS3's from Costco! The tire runs great if I want to push the car a little bit and it can handle light snow and cold temperatures. When the snow and ice get a little heavier I invested in a set of ISSE Snow Socks for the rear tires! They fit on the rear 275/35/19's flawlessly and since their studded the ice wasn't an issue. You can pick up the Snow Socks from ISSE Direct, Amazon, AutoZone, or from ECS-Tuning.

Before you buy tires at the dealership or TireRack, please check Costco! They have Michelin and Bridgestone tires for great prices and they include insurance and free Nitrogen refills!

Just add another thing on my list that I buy at Costco. Seriously though, their non-iron slimfit shirts are awesome...

Yeah i wasnt planning on getting hosed for a dealer Winter set up (I assume its like 4k). Ideally would love to find used rims and throw good snows on it. My area is usually plowed, so i'm not terribly concerned. Just need the better cold weather rated tires ( i heard summer tires lose half their traction below 40 degrees )

Never too early to start thinking about it!

[The Swami]

Oh I forgot to mention... There's a setback to using the ISSE snow socks! You can't go above 40MPH while they're on... Who knows, I might invest in a set of Vredestein Wintrac Extreme S or Pirelli Sottzero Series 2 but for now I'm good!