[Tengocity]

I've now done 1500 miles on these tyres since fitting and thought I'd share thoughts should anyone still be mulling over a winter tyre purchase.

They're one of the sportiest winter tyres in the market, being available in larger tyre sizes and high speed ratings, and what Michelin recommends for sports saloons and sports cars.

So far I've had no chance to drive in snow, only freezing cold, very frosty, and very wet conditions, plus a few milder days.

In comparison to Pirelli sottozeros I also have (18 inch runflats) they're head and shoulders better in pretty much every regard. As 19 inch non runflats they ride better than 18inch runflats: they also feel pretty much feel like summer tyres in steering feel and response. Really good grip and feel under hard acceleration, braking and cornering. Swapping over from the MPSS, and just in this typical English winter weather, I immediately felt that they gave me a chunk extra grip and confidence. It's the first time I've felt that winter tyres have improved the drivability over summer tyres all of the time, rather than just when it snows.

Previously I'd limited winter tyre usage to just the couple of months when it actually might snow, but I feel with these that I'd be happy to have on the car late November through to end of march.

I put the Sottozeros on the 330e, and I hate them. In the wet I managed to get the TC light flashing exiting a junction when just in electric mode, so 95bhp and about 200NM of torque and they're struggling.

[MattOz]

Michelin Pilot Alpins on my M3CS were great.

[CruzM3]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I've now done 1500 miles on these tyres since fitting and thought I'd share thoughts should anyone still be mulling over a winter tyre purchase.

They're one of the sportiest winter tyres in the market, being available in larger tyre sizes and high speed ratings, and what Michelin recommends for sports saloons and sports cars.

So far I've had no chance to drive in snow, only freezing cold, very frosty, and very wet conditions, plus a few milder days.

In comparison to Pirelli sottozeros I also have (18 inch runflats) they're head and shoulders better in pretty much every regard. As 19 inch non runflats they ride better than 18inch runflats, they feel pretty much feel like summer tyres in steering feel and response. Really good grip and deep under hard acceleration, braking and cornering. Swapping over from the MPSS, and just in this typical English winter weather I immediately felt that they gave me a chunk extra grip and confidence. It's the first time I've felt that winter tyres have improved the drivability over summer tyres all of the time, rather than just when it snows.

Previously I'd limited winter tyre usage to just the couple of months when it actually might snow, but I feel with these that I'd be happy to have on the car late November through to end of march.

I have these tires also and feel the same about them. Great traction, braking and grip under acceleration in dry and wet/frost conditions. I haven't driven in a lot of snow with these only light snow and they perform great. Worth the money for sure. I have them on the stock track package 398 wheels.

[willjames]

Originally Posted by MattOz

Michelin Pilot Alpins on my M3CS were great.

Car looks fly! All we need now is some snow!

[Ashway]

Got these as my winter set up on the 435GC, again no snow yet but plenty of sub 7 degree conditions over the last couple of months. The handling is fine even if the ride feels a little softer than the oem run flats. I use them from Mid November through till March as wet weather braking is so much better.

I've got sotto zeros on our little Abarth 500 and they do the job just fine too.

[350doc]

I run 20" Pilot Alpins on my A6 Allroad. Superb performance on snow in Swiss Alpine routes. Highly recommended.

[Donny_1962]

Agree with all above, this will be the second winter with them on 19" OEM size/staggered. And have no regrets, the wear was not too bad either over last winter.

There great in the snow, anyone remember me pulling a land rover out in the white stuff last year, roll on the white stuff...

[Rbrown]

Good to know how good they are.

Hopefully there will be some snow for you to try them out on!

[SkyJawa]

I've got the alpin 4 on my winters, never had a prob, driving down a snow covered outside lane of the motorway easily

[Wills2]

I've used PA2/3/4 and agree they are very good, I went for some Hankooks this time, never again! They are good on snow but just awful the rest of the time, utterly ruined the car.

[Mr Burt]

Agree with the majority, my Alpin on 18" non RF are giving me loads of confidence in cold damp conditions. Further advantage is the much smother, settled ride with the non RF.
Will be nice to have some snow to test them in.

[Ross_T_Boss]

Interesting observations, I'm thinking about fitting my winters (Pirelli's) to wear them out - 4.5-5mm all round on them. I intentionally left it late as I'm not as obliged to drive in harsh conditions as I was the last few years, and figured we're more likely to get snow & ice in Jan/Feb. I should get them through to April on the tread available now, at which point I was wondering what I should get fitted to replace the Pirelli's.

I found Pirelli's are better in Sp+ and manual, they do temp TCS to step in but work well with some slip. The more forgiving TCS allows you to keep the power in, they can be rather fun perhaps helps having X-drive too .

It sounds like I might find the Michelins better in the cross-over periods, and actually fit them in Oct/Nov rather than waiting for the worst winter months? As much fun as it can be I do want to fit winters for safety rather than having fun with the limited rear grip, kinda defeats the point

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Ross_T_Boss

Interesting observations, I'm thinking about fitting my winters (Pirelli's) to wear them out - 4.5-5mm all round on them. I intentionally left it late as I'm not as obliged to drive in harsh conditions as I was the last few years, and figured we're more likely to get snow & ice in Jan/Feb. I should get them through to April on the tread available now, at which point I was wondering what I should get fitted to replace the Pirelli's.

I found Pirelli's are better in Sp+ and manual, they do temp TCS to step in but work well with some slip. The more forgiving TCS allows you to keep the power in, they can be rather fun perhaps helps having X-drive too .

It sounds like I might find the Michelins better in the cross-over periods, and actually fit them in Oct/Nov rather than waiting for the worst winter months? As much fun as it can be I do want to fit winters for safety rather than having fun with the limited rear grip, kinda defeats the point

With my Pirellis I was exact same, always wanted minimise the time the tyre was on the car. Must say, I found the frustrations with traction much less so on the 335d than previously with the Z4 or E90 330d I had, however they really robbed the car of driving enjoyment.

Michelin Pilot Alpins couldn't be more different. Yesterday it was very wet but actually quite mild and on a cross country blast they were immense. Much better than the MPSS would have been. The real bite they had off centre gave a lot of confidence. I'm going to be happy to keep them on till mid-late March when I get back from Switzerland.

[MattOz]

Rumour has it that there may be some snow, for some of us at least, towards the end of this coming week. Looking forward to it!