Sponsored by The Tire Rack

[bimmedout22]

I finally got to test out my 225/40/18 Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 tires in a little snow this morning. I was very impressed with the traction with these tires in the snow. Last year with this amount of snow I was left stranded running my PSS's. I thought I'd share my success with using these tires as my "winter" tires vs a dedicated snow tire. I'm also very happy with the grip in the cold weather. These tires won't replace my PSS's when it warms up, but I thought I'd share my experience with them in the snow and honestly for most these would be a great year-round tire. I also attached a pic of my car last year where it stayed for the night until the roads were clear.

[tock172]

I had a set of the old Continental DWS tires on my '04 330i about 5 years ago. I was extremely impressed by their performance in the snow. I highly recommend them. I also remember being impressed with how DSC helped me climb a few hills when I lost traction. I imagine DTC is even better.

[NVHoo]

They are consistently rated as one of the best all season tires in snow, much better than the Michelin AS series and at a relatively bargain price. In my opinion they are a cost/performance best buy. (I had Pirelli AS tires that were worthless on snow and went with DWS.) All season tires are always a trade off. The excellent DWS snow performance comes at the expense of dry handling although the DWS is still better than most in that area too but not quite as good as the Michelins. However, even the best all season tires perform poorly on ice as compared to a true snow tire.

[blue135]

I have run the Continental DWS on a Civic Si, Genesis and my ZQ8 Colorado V8. Loved them on all of them, but won't put them on my E88 because i have have a set of All Seasons already and like the OP, have to have a set of summer tires for most of my driving (a recently learned fact).

[JH135is]

Thanks for the review, Im picking some of these up shortly for myself

[bimmedout22]

No problem. I did have DTC activated and it worked very well. I'm comparing it to my ASC from my previous car "97 318ti" which is no comparison.

[tock172]

Originally Posted by bimmedout22

I did have DTC activated and it worked very well. I'm comparing it to my ASC from my previous car "97 318ti" which is no comparison.

My '99 E36 M3 had ASC and while I'm sure it was good for it's time, it can't hold a candle to DSC, much less DTC. BMW & Bosch have done a superb job of improving traction control systems.

[bimmedout22]

Originally Posted by tock172

My '99 E36 M3 had ASC and while I'm sure it was good for it's time, it can't hold a candle to DSC, much less DTC. BMW & Bosch have done a superb job of improving traction control systems.

I would have to agree with you completely. I can't say how many times it has saved me from losing it when hooning around in any road conditions.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by bimmedout22

I would have to agree with you completely. I can't say how many times it has saved me from losing it when hooning around in any road conditions.

I always drive with a quick press of the DTC button. It allows me to have a little fun around corners without losing control.

Holding the DTC button down for 3 seconds or longer and turning everything off is dangerous on the streets IMO. Unless you're doing donuts in the snow. I don't really get that opportunity to much. Haha!

[bimmedout22]

Originally Posted by Esteban

I always drive with a quick press of the DTC button. It allows me to have a little fun around corners without losing control.

Holding the DTC button down for 3 seconds or longer and turning everything off is dangerous on the streets IMO. Unless you're doing donuts in the snow. I don't really get that opportunity to much. Haha!

Dangerous on the street indeed. After I did this with all the nannies off, I can agree. Lol

[/URL]

[tock172]

Originally Posted by bimmedout22

Dangerous on the street indeed. After I did this with all the nannies off, I can agree. Lol

Did this just happen? If so, in addition to the wheel, I would get a full inspection of the suspension and subframe.


I've wrecked two BMWs. I don't fuck around with turning any of traction control systems anymore, unless I'm at autocross.

[bimmedout22]

Nah, this was a year ago. BMW looked it over good. All that was damaged was the wheel. It even held air after looking like that. I requested to have an alignment at that time, too and the funny thing was the tech said my front passenger strut and strut tower was bent not allowing them to have it aligned properly. So all said and done it drove out of the shop better than new with a new front strut lol. It really was a low-speed impact, but from the force of the driver's rear wheel sliding/hitting the curb the wheel took the hit luckily.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by tock172

I've wrecked two BMWs. I don't fuck around with turning any of traction control systems anymore, unless I'm at autocross.

Actually, driving with a quick press of the DTC button is fun. The nannies loosen up a bit, but not so much that you'll lose control. Just a little slippage.

I've wrecked my share of cars as well and would never drive with everything turned off. One of the benefits of a modern car.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Just FYI, for driving on the snow you're actually supposed to drive in DTC (one quick press of the button). This is because some additional wheel slip is expected and you don't want power getting cut or you'll have trouble getting moving from a complete stop.

It's also a "poor man's sport mode," and I sometimes drive with DTC on for spirited driving. I save TIM YOYO mode for AX, lol.

Also, I just picked up a set of these Contis not too long ago as my "winter" tires. well, actually my "street" tries, since I will probably use them year-round and save my RE-71R's for AX. I've been impressed with the Contis, though. More than adequate performance for the street.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

It's also a "poor man's sport mode," and I sometimes drive with DTC on for spirited driving. I save TOM YOYO mode for AX, lol.

That's TIM YOYO mode (THAT'S IT MOTHERFUCKER, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN). Haha!

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by Esteban

That's TIM YOYO mode (THAT'S IT MOTHERFUCKER, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN). Haha!

Oops - typo. Fixed it.

[bimmedout22]

Originally Posted by Esteban

That's TIM YOYO mode (THAT'S IT MOTHERFUCKER, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN). Haha!

TIM YOYO haha. I learn something everyday!

[tock172]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Actually, driving with a quick press of the DTC button is fun. The nannies loosen up a bit, but not so much that you'll lose control. Just a little slippage.

I've wrecked my share of cars as well and would never drive with everything turned off. One of the benefits of a modern car.

I wrecked my 2002 330i with DSC fully enabled. Granted, no traction control could have saved me from my own stupidity. Regardless, I find myself having no desire to disable DTC (even partially) in my 135i. I can see and feel it working overtime I do a high RPM power shift. No need for me to push the envelop unless I'm in the correct environment.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by tock172

I wrecked my 2002 330i with DSC fully enabled. Granted, no traction control could have saved me from my own stupidity. Regardless, I find myself having no desire to disable DTC (even partially) in my 135i. I can see and feel it working overtime I do a high RPM power shift. No need for me to push the envelop unless I'm in the correct environment.

Traction control will not stop all accidents. Some are inevitable. I don't feel like I'm pushing the envelope. Just having a little fun.

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by Esteban

That's TIM YOYO mode (THAT'S IT MOTHERFUCKER, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN). Haha!

[Esteban]

Is that the real thing?

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Is that the real thing?

Lol, yep. I didn't think the prurient folk at the DMV would issue it after I applied and was turned down for "64AHBJ8" for my 1964 Austin Healey 3000 MkIII BJ8, cuz "BJ".