I hope to get some opinions if the experience that I am having is expected.

Today I picked up my car from a garage after getting my summer tyres swapped with winter ones.
The front tyres have about 4 mm left but the rear have plenty of thread.
The car is a rear-wheel drive.
Basically, I feel a big difference in the way that the car now drives.
If I were to run it on a (short distance) high torque, the front tyres seem to skid (?) or slip.
This made the car feels a bit jerky, especially I were to push the gas pedal suddenly.
I first felt this when I was driving the car uphill.
Since this is the first time I am driving on winter tyres ever, I am wondering if what I am experiencing is normal or maybe I should bring the car back to the garage.

TIA!

Time for new tires!

Tom

mmmm winter tires have a very different feel to summer ones. it depends very much on the car.

In my jeep I barely felt the difference, but in my S4 it was night and day. Almost like my suspension was shot.

Now in the bmw it feel different and is much louder. It just got a suspension overhaul... so a bit harsher ride and louder is completely normal

nah can get another season out of them. although it is likely better to get new ones so they much match a bit more and it is not always 2x2 you have to buy

How old are the tyres is the question I would ask, 4 years after manufacture they get rather hard, they dont grip well & handle badly.

Look for date of manufavture 3206 would be 32nd week of 2006.

You should get them checked. Is it a regular car if so yes ypou may notice some difference but it should not be as dramatic as you mention in the posting.

You may be light on air and not have suitable pressure or the tyres really need a closer look.

If you do end up buying new ones you can get insurance on the tyres for 2 years to cover wearing out, nails punctures etc for about 5CHF per tyre extra. Its worth considering I have used it to replace a tyre and have the tyres checked over for free including replacement of a valve for free.

My car is a BMW 520i Touring. The tyres indeed sound louder and the drive is harsher.

@FMF: Not sure when they are made, but I'll check it tomorrow morning.

This is a weekend car and so I thought I could get another season out of it.
I only drive about 500km a month or less, to and fro Konstanz.
But, I will see if it keeps doing that and will probably replace them.

Another question: the tyres are Conti Winter TS790. I looked a couple of websites and it seems that they don't sell these anymore. Can I put on two different sets of tires on the car? (i.e. fronts will be different from the rears)

Yes, no problem & totally legal.

yes but make sure you get 2 of the same qualities. I always opt for the cheaper ones as they are just as good in my opinion but if you have 2 continentals get something similar in regards to thread pattern etc. I didnt do this on the s4 and DAMN what a difference. Front had the V thread and rear just radials.... it was night and day when I switched to all V s this is just personal opinion as im not a mechanic or tire expert.

BTW i got a 525d touring so basically the same car. amazing what these things can do in slick conditions isnt it

What worries me is that I am driving on perfectly dry road and the front tyres are slipping.
While 4mm thread may not perform well with snowy/icy road, I still expect them to work well on dry road.
I think I'm going back to the garage tomorrow.

how fast are you driving??????

Right - something doesn't add up here.

The BMW is RWD - so the only time you'll get front wheel "slip" - IE when the wheels aren't doing what they should is:

1) When the car is understeering - IE you are applying greater steering angle than the change in direction experience by the car

2) When the front brakes are locked.

Judging by what you are saying it can only be the latter - maybe a caliper sticking slightly.

There is no real way of judging unless I was to see/drive the car.

4mm is not ideal tread depth for a winter tyre - yes it will do - but I'm a sucker for spending money on a cars ONLY contact point with the road - I rate it as quite important. EVO magazine recently did a winter tyre test - and there is a huge difference between a GOOD tyre and a BAD tyre.

You've not really managed to describe the 'slipping' very well, so yes, I think taking it back and explaining what you really mean is the best plan.

Just to update.

It was a very silly thing.
All I needed to do was to fill up the gas tank.
I am used to the US/Japan-made cars and assume that when the fuel indicator is at E or 0, that means I still have 2 gallons.
But, with the BMW, even with the computer indicator saying that I could still go for 60km, the engine already starts to shudder when I press the gas fast and am going uphill.

Sorry for re-uping this thread.

While the driving performance improved after I filled up the tank, I can now reproduce the same "jerky" drive at low rpm (~1000-1200 rpm). The car hesitates and jerkily lurch when I step on the gas at low rpm. I originally thought it was due to the tyres as I just changed them. I have only tried 2nd and 3rd gear on city road (due to speed limit of course).

Before this episode (low gas), I have not noticed this problem with the car.
It could be that I didn't pay too much attention prior to this.
Of course, I also don't drive at low rpm.

Thanks again for any advise that you can offer.

What is the car?? What fuel did you use?

It's a BMW 520i. For the last fill, I used V-Power 100.