BMW z4 in snow
- Thread starter irou95
- Start date
Winter tyres are mandatory in many European countries, but not here in the UK, which I believe is a mistake especially now that MS+I all season tyres are widely manufactured, America for instance has UHP all season tyres widely available for high performance cars that offer great all year round performance.
My mum recently ran in to the back of someone at a roundabout after a motorway off slip as she recalls her foot was hard on the brake but she wasn’t stopping quickly enough, the conditions were cold, the road was wet and her Toyo’s just didn’t have the grip that she was expecting. With traction control this is what you get, no skid, just longer breaking distances, if she had all season tyres fitted I’m positive she wouldn’t have had the accident, fortunately she was not injured. Running summer tyres in winter is okay 99.9% of the time over here in the England, but when you need to stop quickly on a cold January morning, hard on the brakes, a passenger in your own car and you can’t stop, waiting for that gut wrenching crunch, you wish you’d fitted the right tyre at the right time.
My mum recently ran in to the back of someone at a roundabout after a motorway off slip as she recalls her foot was hard on the brake but she wasn’t stopping quickly enough, the conditions were cold, the road was wet and her Toyo’s just didn’t have the grip that she was expecting. With traction control this is what you get, no skid, just longer breaking distances, if she had all season tyres fitted I’m positive she wouldn’t have had the accident, fortunately she was not injured. Running summer tyres in winter is okay 99.9% of the time over here in the England, but when you need to stop quickly on a cold January morning, hard on the brakes, a passenger in your own car and you can’t stop, waiting for that gut wrenching crunch, you wish you’d fitted the right tyre at the right time.
Completely agree with the above, winter tyres make a huge difference in that 0.01% of cases where it really matters. I fit winter tyres on all my vehicles, z4 included where it then behaves impeccably on snow - having driven to the french alps two weeks ago in deep snow which was even covering the toll roads. 4wd might help you get going when it’s slippery, but makes no difference when you try to stop compared to rwd, you’ll only be going quicker with unfounded confidence when you do need to avoid an accident. I’d be hugely in favour of mandatory three peak approved tyres to be fitted in winter and can’t understand why people don’t fit them, far cheaper to have a second set of wheels than have an accident.
You miss the entire point of winter tyres. They're not just snow tyres but will out perform summer tyres when the road temperature drops below 7 deg C which is quite often in the UK, especially morning/evening commute.skelters said:
They are also outstanding in snow. Mine go on in about October and come off in March/April. if it is warmer they just wear quicker with a slight penalty compared to summer tyres.
There is no real difference in consumable cost overall as the summers are not wearing when not on the car, the only outlay is for the wheels which will still probably be worth what I paid for them if I ever come to sell.
Of course I get all of that and depending on where I live I would get winter tyres.
I live in london. Very rarely we get temperatures that low and I drive to the conditions. I also don’t drive the zed in the rare snow days we have. Winter tyres would be a waste of money for me…..unless doing s drive through Europe.
I live in london. Very rarely we get temperatures that low and I drive to the conditions. I also don’t drive the zed in the rare snow days we have. Winter tyres would be a waste of money for me…..unless doing s drive through Europe.
Here in Croatia and the majority of EU countries we have mandatory winter equipment on our cars and that means two things, you can have:
a. M+S tyres on all your wheels
b. or you can have summer tyres with a minimum profile depth of 4 mm on your tyres + snow chains/snow socks
Police will stop you on the road and check this out. So on my Mini, I have 4 M+S winter tyres + snow chains and on Z4 I have summer tyres and snow socks. And I try to have every 2-3 years new tyres, so they are as new as they can be.
I use my Z4 during winter days when it is dry, no snow, no rain, just to keep the car moving, as the car is not properly prepared for winter (battery, oil drained etc..), but yes, I don't drive my Z4 as I would drive during summer days, as summer tyre doesn't perform well under 7C, and winter tyre is better, but winter tyre doesn't perform well when it is hotter.
And that's a problem with climate change, under the law, we need to have winter gear on our cars, but for example, last week, it was over 10C, and in November, 13-14C, and now it is like 6-7C, and it will be 13-14C again. So no snow. Then you have to think what tyre to have
a. M+S tyres on all your wheels
b. or you can have summer tyres with a minimum profile depth of 4 mm on your tyres + snow chains/snow socks
Police will stop you on the road and check this out. So on my Mini, I have 4 M+S winter tyres + snow chains and on Z4 I have summer tyres and snow socks. And I try to have every 2-3 years new tyres, so they are as new as they can be.
I use my Z4 during winter days when it is dry, no snow, no rain, just to keep the car moving, as the car is not properly prepared for winter (battery, oil drained etc..), but yes, I don't drive my Z4 as I would drive during summer days, as summer tyre doesn't perform well under 7C, and winter tyre is better, but winter tyre doesn't perform well when it is hotter.
And that's a problem with climate change, under the law, we need to have winter gear on our cars, but for example, last week, it was over 10C, and in November, 13-14C, and now it is like 6-7C, and it will be 13-14C again. So no snow. Then you have to think what tyre to have
sars said:
Can only assume you've never been to the West Coast of Scotland. Damp conditions? Aye just a bit son, even the ducks wear wellies.
Yes I know about temperature and the wet etc vs the performance of the MPS4's on the car. Always really careful especially in the wet. Did have runflats on the previous Z4 so I've experienced terror in the wet, dry, cold, warm!
Better watch what'd said on here or the Great British Tory Police will be all over this thread and before you know it it'll be an offence to drive on the not so Great British roads with anything other that Great British Tyres (Made in China). You'll need a Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter set with the obligatory flag of shame on them.
Saw the aftermath of two crashes today on the M8 and info on the overhead gantry of another on the M74 extension.
Looked like a relatively new Audi TT aquaplaned into the flatbed van type thing. 2nd was a Fiat something or other also aquaplaned at the same spot as the Audi and damaged a front wheel.
Really bad drainage on the outside lane M8 Westbound just before the new slip road to Bishopton if anyone is on that road.
I encountered snow in Burnley before Xmas and couldn't get up some of the hills out of the town. Only to get to the top of one in a roundabout way and be faced with a 100 yards steep slope on the other side. Oh what fun in getting down that..... At least going up I found that I could stop! No not suited for the snow but hey ho I didn't buy a soft top car for prime use when there's no chance of putting it down. My Previous car (MX-5) I did 90+% of my driving with the top down and the Z4 is planned to be the same, including light rain and temperatures above about 3 or 4 degrees celsius.
Cornwall1888
Member
Obviously a z4 isn’t designed for snow in the slightest but I got around better than 95% or other drivers in the uk with my winter tyres fitted, was fun driving up hills past SUV’s with summer tyres.
Changed to a fwd countryman S in the summer and just fitted Michelin cross climate 2 all season tyres. I’m guessing that’ll have just as much if not more traction in snow, breaking won’t be quiet as good.
Changed to a fwd countryman S in the summer and just fitted Michelin cross climate 2 all season tyres. I’m guessing that’ll have just as much if not more traction in snow, breaking won’t be quiet as good.
Excellent choice with the Michelin Cross Climate 2’s, these now carry the 3PMSF symbol, meaning that they meet a European standard for traction and braking in cold and snow conditions, so braking in snow conditions will be significantly better than a summer tyre but maybe not as good as a full on snow tyre, however braking performance will be superior in every other condition.Cornwall1888 said:
My Zed’s on a set of Michelin Alpine tyres (225/45/17) right now, fitted to the wheels that came with the car. Excellent excuse to get my hands on a new set of summer wheels (if ever you need an excuse for new wheels, try it!).
We’ve had temperatures around and just below freezing, and the tyres perform better compared to summer tyres at these temperatures. While I haven’t had the misfortune of having to test the stopping distance, it’s peace of mind for me to know that I’ve done all I can on the equipment-front to stay safe.
That said, I’ve had the rear step out a few times when pressing on in wet and greasy conditions. Good fun, and still controllable.
Last year we had a fair bit of snow, and the 118D performed flawlessly on winter tyres (didn’t clear off all the snow as I was out for a testrun on an industrial estate just around the corner). Yes, the RWD can step out a small bit when setting off in icy conditions, but you can adjust both power and steering input to stabilise the car. And while the Zed may not have a perfect 50/50 weight distribution, it’s not bad either.
Always a good idea: have a little play on a wide open parking lot or similar. You can simulate both regular and somewhat “extreme” situations, getting a feel for how the car responds to specific input or situations. Oh and it’s good fun too
We’ve had temperatures around and just below freezing, and the tyres perform better compared to summer tyres at these temperatures. While I haven’t had the misfortune of having to test the stopping distance, it’s peace of mind for me to know that I’ve done all I can on the equipment-front to stay safe.
That said, I’ve had the rear step out a few times when pressing on in wet and greasy conditions. Good fun, and still controllable.
Last year we had a fair bit of snow, and the 118D performed flawlessly on winter tyres (didn’t clear off all the snow as I was out for a testrun on an industrial estate just around the corner). Yes, the RWD can step out a small bit when setting off in icy conditions, but you can adjust both power and steering input to stabilise the car. And while the Zed may not have a perfect 50/50 weight distribution, it’s not bad either.
Always a good idea: have a little play on a wide open parking lot or similar. You can simulate both regular and somewhat “extreme” situations, getting a feel for how the car responds to specific input or situations. Oh and it’s good fun too
parabolica
Member
In deep snow? No, that’s what I have a Volvo for. But in cold/sub zero conditions and up to maybe a foot of snow I’ve been impressed at how stable and controllable the car is in tricky conditions, although a set of all seasons helps (full winters even better).
How does your top look so hardtop-like? it glows and stuffChris_D said:Full-on winter tyres FTW. Nokians here. The Finns know a thing or two about thrashing around in the snow.
And if you can't drive in the snow and ice using winter tyres you shouldn't be driving in the first place.SAVE_20191222_114004.jpg
Euhhm...because it’s a hardtop (?) :?irou95 said:How does your top look so hardtop-like? it glows and stuffChris_D said:Full-on winter tyres FTW. Nokians here. The Finns know a thing or two about thrashing around in the snow.
And if you can't drive in the snow and ice using winter tyres you shouldn't be driving in the first place.
As to the glow, it’s probably become irradiated due to all that time I spent at Sellafield. :lol: :!: