I’ve lived in the Colorado front range for 20 years and have had AWD cars the past 15 (Subaru Forester, Toyota Highlander). Usually factory tires are crappy, last 25k, and I then get the best tire for snow/ice short of getting studless winter tires. Handling in bad weather is then great and I’ve never needed more.
Yesterday’s storm caused traction woes for my M3 with 7k miles, but not my wife’s highlander with pirelli scorpion verdes, despite almost no tread.
Is the M3 AWD no good in the snow and I should get winter tires or are the factory continentals crap and just stick it out until they need replacement?
If the M3 AWD is not actually good in the snow, and I need winter tires, I was thinking it might be easiest to just get the premounted 18s from Tesla for 2k since the factory wheels and tpms are already there, then get a little better 3 season tire, but prefer to avoid this approach.
Model 3 18" Aero Wheel and Winter Tire Package
While just driving in the front range now, I’d hope to take the car skiing.