Given
91%
while driving a
BMW 120d
(205/55 R16 H) on
mostly town
for 3,000
spirited miles
As a first-time BMW owner in 2009, come January 2010 I discovered a major problem. The inclement snowy weather transformed my fun evoking rear wheel drive 1 Series into a insurance liability. In-fact, potentially worse, a total death trap.
Something had to be done. I first heard of winter tires in Canada whilst on a skiing hioliday. I was much intrigued watching apparently maniacal Canadian drivers navigating 90 degree corners on snow packed roads at 30+ MPH.
So, out of sheer fear, over the summer, I researched winter tires as a UK option (whilst also seriously considering flogging the BMW for an Audi A4 Quattro instead).
To test the waters, I purchased 4 part worn German Goodyear Ultra Grip 7's on EBAY, which received good reviews on this website. What a revelation! My 120d SE had been transformed from un-drivable death trap into a vehicle that feels as safe on snow and Ice as a Landrover Discovery.
Even better, with perhaps frankly outstanding road performance, comfort and thrill navigating Britian's potholed roads at speed (than my relegated hard, noisy, RFT Bridgestone potenzas, which are now in the shed) I'm frankly tempted to leave them on all summer.
The UltraGrip 7's are reassuring, responsive, phenomenally safe and quiet and in my view totally essential equipment for a rear wheel drive car,
BTW they also work in harmony with the BMW's previously useless DTC snow setting.