BMW M5 tires

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If the tires are recent, they're probably the Pilot Sport PS2. The "PS2" markings will be smaller than the "Pilot Sport" insignia.

My advice on a replacement tire would be the Pilot Super Sport. More grip and less wear. What's not to love about that?
 
Originally Posted By: rshunter
My advice on a replacement tire would be the Pilot Super Sport. More grip and less wear. What's not to love about that?

Good call. Forgot about that tire.
 
Definitely try the Pilot Super Sport! The tread design looks like a mix of the PS2 and the Pilot Sport Cup(previously the two highest performing models). It's the best of the Michelin street tires and now even comes with an unheard of mileage warranty!
 
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Good to hear about the new Pilot Super Sport. That will be on the top of my shopping list when the time comes then.
 
Is this a summer-only vehicle, or are you running winter tires as well?

None of the summer tires discussed will be very safe once the temps fall below 40F.
 
Originally Posted By: Volvohead
Is this a summer-only vehicle, or are you running winter tires as well?

None of the summer tires discussed will be very safe once the temps fall below 40F.


I cannot even fathom the idea of driving this car in the winter. I imagine the term "useless" would be far too kind to describe its demeanour in snow.

This will be a 100% summer car.
 
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
I cannot even fathom the idea of driving this car in the winter. I imagine the term "useless" would be far too kind to describe its demeanour in snow.

This will be a 100% summer car.

My friend in CT disagrees with you.
wink.gif


He runs real winter tires in winter, though (and summers the rest of the time).
 
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
I cannot even fathom the idea of driving this car in the winter. I imagine the term "useless" would be far too kind to describe its demeanour in snow.

This will be a 100% summer car.

My friend in CT disagrees with you.
wink.gif


He runs real winter tires in winter, though (and summers the rest of the time).


They seriously aren't that bad? What about the 10w60 in the pan? LMAO!!!!!

Everything about the M-cars screams "fun summer vehicle" to me.... I hadn't even considered driving it year-round.
 
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
They seriously aren't that bad? What about the 10w60 in the pan? LMAO!!!!!

Everything about the M-cars screams "fun summer vehicle" to me.... I hadn't even considered driving it year-round.

A friend of mine has an '05 M3, which gets winter tires in winter. His father has an E46 330xi, which gets all-seasons year-round. The M3 with winter tires is the better vehicle in the snow. One time the father got stuck in the snow, and my friend went out in his M3 and pulled him out. Not kidding. If you PM me, I'll send you his name on M3Forum so you can ask him.

Of course, the E46 M3 is lighter, and has a better diff and less torque, than an E39 M5. However, my friend in CT with the E39 M5 gets around just fine. My experience, even with my super-worn LSD, has been similar.

As with any decent LSD-equipped RWD car, the only disadvantage an M car will have in the snow (compared to a FWD or AWD car) is traction under acceleration in the worst conditions. Handling and braking in all conditions will be significantly better than with most cars because of their 50/50 weight distributions, relatively light weight, and good suspensions. Considering that turning and stopping abilities are much more important to safety than acceleration, that sounds like a fair trade-off to me. Adding in the potential for safe car control experiments in empty parking lots, it's a slam-dunk IMO.
wink.gif


Again, for emphasis: These are not cars on which you can just slap all-season tires and expect to be okay. I think it's safe to say that, if you expect to get around in the snow, you should have winter tires. However, if you do, you will be quite shocked by what the car can do.


As for the oil, everyone I personally know with a car that specs Castrol TWS 10w-60 uses that oil year-round. At least two have over 100k miles on them without a problem in sight. TWS has a pour point of something like -51º C, if I'm not mistaken. Warm the car up gently and you'll be fine.
 
It snows in Germany LOL, and at the end of the day its just a 5 series BMW sedan.

Put some good winter tires on it and go easy on the throttle, they do just fine.

I had a rental C300 4matic last winter for a bit and it was better in the snow than my Silverado! That car was a beast going up my hill. All the computers in the new cars just kind of find the traction and the car just goes.
 
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Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
I had a rental C300 4matic last winter for a bit and it was better in the snow than my Silverado! That car was a beast going up my hill. All the computers in the new cars just kind of find the traction and the car just goes.

Fancy shmancy AWD.
lol.gif


My 530i with dedicated winter tires handles the white stuff better than my wife's 4matic with all-seasons.
smile.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
My 530i with dedicated winter tires handles the white stuff better than my wife's 4matic with all-seasons.
smile.gif


And your 530i has an open diff!
thumbsup2.gif
 
There is a whole section in my Z4 user's manual about fitting snow chains to the car for winter driving. I'm sure M5 has similar "instructions".

I sometimes think that we are spoiled in the US as far as the cars go.
 
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: Volvohead
Is this a summer-only vehicle, or are you running winter tires as well?

None of the summer tires discussed will be very safe once the temps fall below 40F.


I cannot even fathom the idea of driving this car in the winter. I imagine the term "useless" would be far too kind to describe its demeanour in snow.

This will be a 100% summer car.


You've GOT to be KIDDING.

I'm sure there are quite a few on this board like me who logged many a mile way-back-when on RWD large-displacement, torque-laden V-8's in deep snow and ice. On unassisted drum brakes on occasion. This BMW is a stroll in the park in comparison.

The only thing keeping that car back in the winter months is ground clearance or an inexperienced driver.
 
Originally Posted By: Volvohead
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: Volvohead
Is this a summer-only vehicle, or are you running winter tires as well?

None of the summer tires discussed will be very safe once the temps fall below 40F.


I cannot even fathom the idea of driving this car in the winter. I imagine the term "useless" would be far too kind to describe its demeanour in snow.

This will be a 100% summer car.


You've GOT to be KIDDING.

I'm sure there are quite a few on this board like me who logged many a mile way-back-when on RWD large-displacement, torque-laden V-8's in deep snow and ice. On unassisted drum brakes on occasion. This BMW is a stroll in the park in comparison.

The only thing keeping that car back in the winter months is ground clearance or an inexperienced driver.


I was thinking more of the 400HP in a sub-4,000lb car sir (and I don't mean 1960's SAE GROSS HP, this is NET).

My Lincoln without snow tires was horrible. Yeah, and it has a "torque laden" V8 and drum brakes in the rear.

And while the BMW is for sure a car that has a PILE of nannies for traction and stability, I imagine that without dedicated snows (the stock rubber are 275 18's) that it would indeed be pretty useless in snow. Big wide summer tires (Michelin Pilot Sport) are NOT good tires to drive in snow with.

My reason for keeping this car off the road in the winter has to do with the fact that it's a friggin' BMW M5. The idea was to buy it as a toy and I had no intention of driving it in the winter, where the Expedition is far more capable and practical.

Road salt is hard on cars. And when buying a car as a toy, one usually doesn't plan on using the toy year round.

Heck, I may enjoy driving it so much that I DO put snows on it, get it Krown'd and take it out. But I doubt it at this point.

My choice had nothing to do with experience or the car's ground clearance, but more out of respect for the vehicle, the absence of dedicated snows for it, and the intended purpose of the vehicle.
 
Originally Posted By: Volvohead

The only thing keeping that car back in the winter months is ground clearance or an inexperienced driver.

For me, it would also be exposure to salt. If it was my baby and I wanted it to remain in pristine condition for as long as possible, I'd keep it in a garage and use a beater instead.
 
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Volvohead

The only thing keeping that car back in the winter months is ground clearance or an inexperienced driver.

For me, it would also be exposure to salt. If it was my baby and I wanted it to remain in pristine condition for as long as possible, I'd keep it in a garage and use a beater instead.


Bingo.
 
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Volvohead

The only thing keeping that car back in the winter months is ground clearance or an inexperienced driver.

For me, it would also be exposure to salt. If it was my baby and I wanted it to remain in pristine condition for as long as possible, I'd keep it in a garage and use a beater instead.


Bingo.

Yeah, I realized we were typing at the same time.
smile.gif


While driving an M5 during winter is certainly doable, I'd avoid it if I could, just like you. First of all, it won't be all that fun, and second of all, you'd be at a much higher risk of getting it wrecked, not necessarily by yourself but by other drivers who may happen to spin out of control and crash into you. I'd be heart broken if that happened. It'd be much easier to swallow if the same thing happened while you were driving the Expedition.
smile.gif
 
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