Tires for 330i Sport in Seattle?

Hey folks,

I am moving up to the Seattle area later this summer and I also am planning on getting an E90 330i, preferably with Sport package.

So the 330i Sport comes with summer high performance tires. What is the deal with using these tires in a place such as Seattle that has plenty of rain and occasional freezing temperatures and some light snow? What do those of you with experience in these types of climates recommend?

I searched around and did a lot of reading about winter/snow tires for the 3 series so I guess what I'm really asking is those of you in the area and other areas with a similar climate (edge of the snow belt, etc.), what have you chosen to go with, and how have your experiences been with that decision?

Thanks,
Armen

P.S. I'm not really huge on skiing (i.e. going into the mountains in winter) but maybe my new friends in Seattle will convince me otherwise :-D Oh and I'll be closer to Bellevue but that shouldn't make a difference.

P.P.S. Sorry if this is more appropriate for the tire board, please move it if it is. Thanks.

Reply » Tires for 330i Sport in Seattle?

In general people in that area use summer performance tires year round. Not everybody, but it's common. If you need snow traction for skiing that's different.

But summer tires really do handle better than even ultra-high perf. all seasons, so it seems a shame to sacrifice handling 51 weeks of the year for 1 week.

You can get more specific advice by posting on the Puget Sound BMW board:

http://www.bmwpugetsound.com/

Reply » Tires for 330i Sport in Seattle?

It really does not snow very often in Seattle, so you could get away with summer tires.

Reply » Tires for 330i Sport in Seattle?

I guess my question is, staying out of the mountains, is it likely to encounter weather in the Bellevue area which will prevent me from getting to work and back in that 330i Sport with stock summer tires. Other than getting to work I don't see a reason to leave the house on a day that its snowing at all.

Reply » Tires for 330i Sport in Seattle?

Im in Seattle. Get some good water tires.

My Toyo Proxes FZ-4's are terrible in the water. I got in a wreck because they sucked so bad in the rain...but they are sooo good when its dry.

Dont get TOYO's for wet roads, im still searching for a good wet season tire too.

Reply » Tires for 330i Sport in Seattle?

I'm in Vancouver, BC, which has similar climate as Seattle. I went with summer and winter tires. Even though I rarely drive in the snow, I like to have the peace of mind. Having winter tires also means I am prepared for the rainy fall and winter seasons and allows me to run my summers down to lower tread depth. The only extra cost would be the wheels.

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