I Need An Honest Answer...

[DetroitFolly]

Folks...I just bought a '99 323is...(identical to the '98)

I live in Michigan. How bad is this car in the snow? Will I need snow tires?

Thanks in advance!

[bmw323inewbie]

welcome, nice ride, enjoy
I have a 323i ' 96 in the UK, and guess depends on how heavy winter is, we get -10c at the most, good tread on rear tyres and I was fine.

[projal147]

Honestly.

Yes you will need snow tires. I have all seasons on mine and drive back and forth from school in upstate New York to home in New Jersey. During this past winter I drove through 3 snow storms and fought through hell to get home. My car was spinning out like crazy and if it wasnt for other cars on the road cutting a path for me, I would have never gotten home. Now mine is an earlier year car, but it's stock and is terrible in snow. I would recommend snow tires, esp since you live in an area which gets more snow then me.

[dopeyx27]

Yea get snow tires, I spin out alot in chicago.

[docrobot]

Do what so many of us do, get a set of winter / snow only tires on a second, cheaper set of rims and swap them as required.

[DetroitFolly]

thanks...to those that HAVE snow tires...how significant a difference did it make?

I've never needed more than all seasons before, but I've never had RWD and this much torque before.

[DetroitFolly]

also...thanks for putting up with my question. It's likely been talked about to death in the past. Us Newbies can be irritating, no?

[93 325i]

They make a world of difference.. I found that my car handled just as good as my old civic. You have to get used to RWD in snow first tho.. the blistex's made a night and day improvement

[PhunkDJti]

it makes a huge difference. i live in buffalo. now i have a winter car, but last year i wasnt as lucky. though i do have a TI as well, which may have made it even worse... those things have no wieght in the back... even with snows it was tricky(and fun) sometimes.
- but really any RWD car should get snow tires if theyre gonna be driven in the winter

[jiggs]

It's the case with all rear wheel drive cars ... but a good set of snow tires and you won't feel a thing

[wulley1]

I've driven my 97 328is in snow with and without snowtires. I will never drive
in the snow without them on ever again.

185-205 is a good tire width, don't put 225 or bigger on. It will just defeat the purpose.

[RedlinedRU]

my 98 323 does fine in the snow. its not as bad as i expected it to be. of course i'm not driving around in more than a few inches on the roads, but hell, its a great excuse to call in to work hahahaha

[Furious]

comming from toronto canada i know a bit about snow. basically the traction control on the cars are quite good, however snow tires (im my opinion) are a must with our cars. get a good set of snow rubbers youll thank me the first big snow day.

[Cruzin 323is]

i got a 98 323s.. and its horrible!

[jshearer]

I agree with getting a second pair of rims and snow tires and swapping them out in the winter. Plus, you can buy a second pair of "good" rims(17-18 inch) and put summer tires on them and snows on the stock ones, like me. Also sand bags in the trunk help alot too. Best thing is knowing your car. The more comfortable you are with the car the better driver you should be, by knowing the cars and your limits. I used to drive a 944 porsche and now my BMW so rear wheel drive is nothing new to me.