Are Run Flats Bad in Snow and Ice?

I came across a tweet showing a destroyed BMW in the snow and I wondered if the factory fit run flats were any good during winter weather?

Here is the tweet: https://twitter.com/Totobrose/status/403100688311267328.

Tony wrote: In the winter... - runflat winter tyres are better than runflat summer tyres - non-runflat winter tyres are better than non-runflat summer tyres

I would not imagine that runflats, as such, would be any better or worse than normal tyres - the important thing is the type of tread. 

Most modern tyres are optimised for low noise  - this is most important to the manufacturer, as in our eco-sensiotive age vehicle noise is now an important factor.  However, this results in tyres which lack any proper lateral tread pattern, relying instead on wide circumferencial grooves which have the ability to both reduce noise and shift water at motorway speeds. In other words, they are a specialised tyre for 'normal' purposes, and in mud or snow they are hopeless - just look at the chaos which covers most UK motorways every winter!

In the UK's blame culture, such problems are of course put down to the Highways Agency and/or the local authority failing to dump loads of salt and grit all over the roads, but the real cause is that of using tyres which are unsuitable for the conditions - not to mention a lack of technique in many cases.

In civilised countries, such as Germany and Sweden, drivers do not try to use such tyres during winter, being often required by law to fit winter or all-season tyres durng a specified period.

The only answer is to do likewise, and either have a set of 'winter' wheels and tyres, or fit  tyres which are suitable for anything the UK weather can throw at you.  Of course, this would cost money, and also result in tyres which lack a fashionable low-profile appearance, but the alternative of trusting to luck by attempting to drive in snow on a tyre such as Michelin Pilot SuperSport is approaching sheer stupidity.  When one thinks that a set of used wheels and winter tyres would only cost about £500 (not from a BMW dealer!) it is a lot cheaper than damaging a good car, suffering the general inconvenience, and paying the associated increased insurance premium afterwards.


Edited by Mike Fishwick - 21 Nov 2013 at 4:21pm

Bear in mind that winter tyres come into their own below 7C so if you have lots of days where the temperature to those levels the winter set up is beneficial.

OH even better where do I get a set of 21 inch wheels for my winter tyres!

More expensive option, by a cheap 4x4 and leave the crown jewels in the garage.

Edited by Bowler - 22 Nov 2013 at 7:53am

Phil Rosenbloom wrote: Bear in mind that winter tyres come into their own below 7C...

And when was the last time that happened down south??