Photo: Car Magazine
The guys from Car Magazine joined forces with BMW to try and find out exactly how big of an impact winter tires make in cold weather. In this endeavor, they set up 3 challenges using 2 (almost) similar cars.
They went for the retiring BMW E92 M3 and the new F32 435i, the former using summer tires while the latter was fitted with winter rubber. The 3 challenges included a drag race, a brake test and hot laps around Pirelli’s Vizzola test track, in Northern Italy.
On the first test, the 435i managed to win the race, pulling a 6.3 second run to 100 km/h compared to M3’s 6.8 seconds, despite the obvious power difference. 1-o for winter tires.
On the second challenge, when braking hard from 62 mph (100 km/h) the Pirelli rubber proved extra capable, again, stopping the 435i nearly 10 meters shorter than what the M3 managed (40.6 meters versus 50). That could mean the difference between life and death. 2-o.
Last, the two were taken around the track for some hot laps. Needless to say, everyone expected the M3 to win, quite comfortably too. However, despite wearing the M badge on the boot, the E92 proved sloppy without proper rubber and finished nearly 4.5 seconds slower than the 435i. Game over.
On the first test, the 435i managed to win the race, pulling a 6.3 second run to 100 km/h compared to M3’s 6.8 seconds, despite the obvious power difference. 1-o for winter tires.
On the second challenge, when braking hard from 62 mph (100 km/h) the Pirelli rubber proved extra capable, again, stopping the 435i nearly 10 meters shorter than what the M3 managed (40.6 meters versus 50). That could mean the difference between life and death. 2-o.
Last, the two were taken around the track for some hot laps. Needless to say, everyone expected the M3 to win, quite comfortably too. However, despite wearing the M badge on the boot, the E92 proved sloppy without proper rubber and finished nearly 4.5 seconds slower than the 435i. Game over.
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