While the BMW 3-series tagline may be “The Ultimate Driving Machine,” many people often wonder if BMWs are good for driving in winter! Even with all the engineering and tuning in the world, it’s fair to wonder if that performance holds up in snowy conditions. With proper winter tires, all our BMWs 3- series can perform very well in snow. Models with the xDrive all-wheel-drive system will handle even better in various wintry conditions.
While a good set of winter tires can drastically improve a BMWs handling in snow, they’re not the only reason a BMW can hold well in the snow!
Safely Maneuvering on Snow
The performance in the world doesn’t do much good if the car can’t translate that power to the ground! Hence, having the right tires on your BMW is essential for winter driving.
Winter tires also come with features such as deeper treads and zig-zag grooves to improve traction.
The Open Road With a Clear View
Mainly when driving in winter conditions, you must allow sufficient preparation before starting your journey. Make sure that the entire vehicle is free of snow and ice. Scrape only in one direction to avoid smearing your windshield unnecessarily. Also, check your rear-view mirrors and headlights, and ensure that the cameras on your car are fully functional and not obstructed by ice.
The Driver
While many people may not like to hear this, the skill and experience of a driver are some of the most important factors when it comes to snow.
It is vital to bring this up because most drivers already overestimate their driving skills. Couple this overconfidence with snowy or icy conditions in which you do not have experience driving, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.
Drive Systems
While BMW is slowly starting to release models with front-wheel drive, most of their vehicles are rear-wheel drive.
Because the engine is in the front of the car, front-wheel-drive vehicles perform well in the snow because of the added weight on the tires receiving power. It is of particular help when it comes to climbing hills! Without getting too far into the weeds, each of these 2-wheel drive variations is more than capable in the snow when equipped with proper winter tires. You’ll have a natural advantage with a BMW if it has the xDrive all-wheel-drive system! In case you’re not familiar with all-wheel drive, or “AWD” for short, it provides power to all four wheels instead of just the front or rear set. In cases where the ground is slippery, this keeps all four tires spinning for added traction.
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