Winter is looming fast upon us, daylight is already down to 10 ½ hours per day, heading towards the shortest day in December then slowly creeping back up again.
It will be my first winter with a BEV, so far I have been very impressed, the instant switch on of power started me to think about winter driving. There have been some great articles online with regards to winter driving and advice.
In the past I have not ever considered changing my tyres or snow chains for any of my cars.
A colleague of mine had a BMW 5 series, he always put his winter tyres on his car without fail, he did drive back to kent from Yorkshire each weekend so I understood his reasons.
With such slim wheels and a 6.9 second 0-60 it has started me to wonder if I should have a set of winter wheels. I started to research the options.
Via BMW the 19 inch start spoke for my i3 cost £1,000 within BMWs winter hotel.
The 19 inch turbine styling are £1,700
Winter tyre should I bother?
The winter tyres are designed to work in colder conditions,
The more effective in the cold than standard tyres, they are made from specifically formulated tread rubber,
The winter tyres make it easier to control your car on icy and snowy roads.
They have a much stronger traction due to having wider tread blocks and extra cuts in the tread called ‘sipes’ that give the tyre extra bite to grip winter roads, hills and sharp corners, and continually remove build-ups of snow.
Drivers find that winter tyres give them that extra security when they’re driving in challenging winter conditions, this will leave you to have extra confidence and control.
You should always buy a full set, and not mix brands.
Mixing winter and summer tyres can make slippery conditions more dangerous and affect how well your vehicle handles, especially if the tyres have different tread patterns or speed ratings.
Summer tyres will wear out more quickly than winter tyres in cold temperatures.
Here are some basic tips I have been told during advanced driver training sessions.
When driving in snow, slush or ice
Keep your speed down
Do not exceed the maximum speed that your vehicle recommends for winter tyres, it is often lower than that of summer tyres.
Check the tyres for wear frequently
Check your tyre pressure and tread depth regularly.
A minimum tread depth of 4mm for winter tyres to ensure optimal performance,
Use a higher gear to start and pull away, this is tricky in an EV. Most modern cars are fitted with driving aids for different road conditions.
DSC Dynamic Stability Control
DSC prevents traction loss in the power wheels when driving off and accelerating.
DSC also recognises unstable vehicle conditions such as fishtailing or nose-diving. Within the physical limits DSC helps to keep the vehicle on a steady course by reducing engine speed and by applying brakes to the individual wheels.
I wonder how the regenerative breaking will feel on a slippery surface?
DTC Dynamic Traction Control
The DTC system is a version of the DSC where forward momentum is optimised.
The system ensures maximum headway on special road conditions or loose road surfaces, e.g., unplowed snowy roads, but with some‐ what limited driving stability.
Activating the Dynamic Traction Control DTC provides maximum traction. Driving stability is limited during acceleration and when driving in curves.
You may find it useful to briefly activate DTC under the following special circumstances:
When driving in slush or on uncleared, snow-covered roads.
When freeing vehicle from deep snow or driving off from loose grounds.
When driving with snow chains.
Deactivating/activating DTC Dynamic
Traction Control
Activating DTC
1. “Settings”
2. “Traction control”
3. “TRACTION”
TRACTION and the DSC OFF indicator lamp lights up.
Deactivating/activating DTC Dynamic
Traction Control
Activating DTC
1. “Settings”
2. “Traction control”
3. “TRACTION”
TRACTION and the DSC OFF indicator lamp lights up.