BMW winter tyres 2011
Following two of the worst consecutive winters in living memory BMW has revised its specialist winter tyre programme, designed to help drivers get the best on-road performance from their car throughout the winter months - regardless of weather conditions.
Changing tyres to suit different seasons is already part of mainstream motoring in most of Europe and now BMW are making this easier than ever to do in the UK too. As well as offering a selection of winter wheel and tyre packages, for just £30 BMW UK will store and insure the spare set of summer wheels and tyres until they need to be changed again in spring.
Summer tyres, fitted as standard equipment by all car manufacturers, operate best at temperatures above 7°C. This means summer tyres fitted by BMW provide excellent levels of grip, acceleration, braking, comfort and fuel economy in normal road conditions. However, once the outside air temperature gets nearer to freezing the rubber in summer tyres hardens, which detracts from their performance. In true wintry conditions of snow and ice tyre performance is even worse.
Developed by BMW the new winter wheel and tyre packages have been specially engineered to operate much better than summer tyres at temperatures below 7°C. The tyre is made from a different mix of silica / rubber compound which enables them to retain flexibility at much lower temperatures, generating heat and reaching their optimum operating temperature much more easily.
Fitting winter tyres will ensure that a BMW performs to the best of its abilities during severe weather, yet even if the winter is mild, winter tyre users will benefit from significantly reduced tyre wear and increased wet weather grip and performance.
Potentially there is a cost benefit too. The new BMW winter wheel and tyres can result in as much as 40 per cent better wear characteristics than summer tyres when the outside temperature is below 7°C – meaning the tyres will last a lot longer.
Winter tyres also feature an increased number of blocks, channels and sipes which ensure they dissipate standing water more effectively, helping them to reduce the risk of skidding on wet surfaces. This sophisticated tyre technology ensures maximum levels of grip over winter, significantly reducing the chances of an accident, whatever the conditions. Braking distances improve by up to 20 per cent on icy roads and up to 10 per cent in the dry.
A number of different wheel styles and sizes, including alloy and steel rims are available. Prices vary by model but start at £700 for a complete set of four winter wheels and tyres on a BMW 1 Series. Interested customers should contact their local dealer for more information or visit bmw.co.uk/winter-tyres.
