G29 in Winter

I

Ian J

Member
 Tamworth
My last four cars have all been BMWs with X Drive four wheel drive and as I live in a close with no through traffic and the drive is a slight incline down to the house that four wheel drive has come in handy on occasions.

Now that I have the junior Zed with 2.0 engine and rear wheel drive I am getting a bit nervous about what winter could bring bearing in mind that it's my daily driver.

I see that many of you garage your Zeds over Winter and use your other car which is an option that I don't have. Do any of you risk it with the summer tyres or do you change over to Winter rubber.

I don't really want to fork out a few thousand on winter wheels and tyres if I only keep the car for a couple of winters so if I have to go down the route of tyre changes I may look at keeping the same wheels and using one of these tyre hotels who will garage my summer tyres for the winter

Any thoughts?
 
Keep your drive well gritted and salted when you think there will be a frost or snow. Also, park it near the top of the drive, just before the pavement and you should be OK. Remember that winter tyres are not designed for snow and ice, their purpose is to shift larger volumes of water below 7 degrees and will grip better below that temperature.
 
I've driven a RWD mid engine car as a daily through the winter and never changed to winter tyres, never had a problem. Also driven them through the alps during ski season and again, no problems. Admittedly, you need to take it very very slowly round corners when there's 2 inches of snow on the road but I doubt you'd be planting your foot to the floor in a Xdrive either. I drove my current Z home via Yorkshire, which included periods of heavy snow and very heavy rain - yes, I had to keep to a sensible 60 or so, but it never stepped out of line even for a second.

On the other hand, I drove a 3 series Xdrive in Sweden and got stuck on a slightly muddy hill road.

I reckon you'll be OK.
 
Ian, I used my Z4 throughout the year but not as a daily. But I also have a RWD 3 series as my daily, and have had for 5 yrs. I’ve never changed the tyres from summers once and I’d imagine I get much colder weather here than you do.

Only once did I get caught out in the snow but it was exceptional circumstances and I’m not sure many other cars would’ve coped any better in that situation. As suggested, keep your drive cleared/prepped and drive according to weather conditions when/if the weather turns :thumbsup:
 
I was caught out by light snow (an inch at most) earlier this year and can safely say that the G29 was a pretty shocking drive.
 
Fit Michelin cross climate 2 tyres if you live in cold and wet area of the UK, full winters if you see a lot of snow. but watch this video also:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBGNU_8mBlw&t=909s
 
I have had snow socks in the boot for three years, never used them.

If if does snow bad, then will have a snow day and work from home.

If i do need to get out for any reason (unlikely) , then i'll call a taxi and let him crash/damage his car. :wink:
 
BeeEmm said:
Keep your drive well gritted and salted when you think there will be a frost or snow. Also, park it near the top of the drive, just before the pavement and you should be OK. Remember that winter tyres are not designed for snow and ice, their purpose is to shift larger volumes of water below 7 degrees and will grip better below that temperature.
Click to expand...

Er, was that a typo? winter tyres with the three mountain logo and snowflake are specifically designed to use on snow and ice, this logo can also be found on most all season tyres too, for your pleasure
[youtube]bKtnczk8Mxk[/youtube]

As for the OP, depending on what size of wheel you’ve gone for, all season tyres for winter is a good option
 
Where in the country do you live?
I’m in London and have no issues through the years with zeds.

I will say that if it’s snowing, I don’t drive it as I don’t have winter tyres.

If you live in Scotland though……might be different.
 
sars said:
BeeEmm said:
Keep your drive well gritted and salted when you think there will be a frost or snow. Also, park it near the top of the drive, just before the pavement and you should be OK. Remember that winter tyres are not designed for snow and ice, their purpose is to shift larger volumes of water below 7 degrees and will grip better below that temperature.
Click to expand...

Er, was that a typo? winter tyres with the three mountain logo and snowflake are specifically designed to use on snow and ice, this logo can also be found on most all season tyres too, for your pleasure
[youtube]bKtnczk8Mxk[/youtube]

As for the OP, depending on what size of wheel you’ve gone for, all season tyres for winter is a good option
Click to expand...
Not sure of your point Sars. We seem to agree. You mention 'Snow' tyres which are different and are indeed designed for snow and ice.
 
Having had 6 Z4 over the different models I can honestly say that I've got stuck twice in that time due to the weather. Both times have been exceptional snow fall and a lack of gritters through our main road. Not many cars went out that day regardless of their tyres or model. The rest of the time I just take my time in bad weather and use my best judgement. Never had anything other than stock tyres during all those years.
 
BeeEmm said:
sars said:
BeeEmm said:
Keep your drive well gritted and salted when you think there will be a frost or snow. Also, park it near the top of the drive, just before the pavement and you should be OK. Remember that winter tyres are not designed for snow and ice, their purpose is to shift larger volumes of water below 7 degrees and will grip better below that temperature.
Click to expand...

Er, was that a typo? winter tyres with the three mountain logo and snowflake are specifically designed to use on snow and ice, this logo can also be found on most all season tyres too, for your pleasure
[youtube]bKtnczk8Mxk[/youtube]

As for the OP, depending on what size of wheel you’ve gone for, all season tyres for winter is a good option
Click to expand...
Not sure of your point Sars. We seem to agree. You mention 'Snow' tyres which are different and are indeed designed for snow and ice.
Click to expand...

Sorry you stated that winter tyres are not designed for snow and ice, which is incorrect. In fact you cannot class a tyre as a winter tyre without the three mountain and snowflake symbol attached
 
sars said:
Sorry you stated that winter tyres are not designed for snow and ice, which is incorrect. In fact you cannot class a tyre as a winter tyre without the three mountain and snowflake symbol attached
Click to expand...
Sars, thanks for clarifying.
 
I got caught out years ago in my 1 Series that was hopeless on snow on any sort of incline.

So the last 6 years I have fitted winter tyres to my 3 Series' just in case! But I only really needed them once when we got the "Beast from the East" and they were fantastic. Plus they are better on those cold drizzly days we get so often.

I've no idea what wheel sizes and offsets are on a G29 but you might find a set for sale - even if you only managed to find some suitable wheels it would work out much cheaper than buying wheels and tyres new.

For example I bought a set of 18" wheels with Falken winters fitted on here for my 2nd Coupe in 2017 for £350 - but I couldn't bring myself to subject it to those conditions!
 
We have a slight incline off the estate and even with the slightest snow its almost impossible to get up the bank. Generally look out of the widow and if there is white stuff it stays in the garage.

Did get one tip which has worked in the past from a neighbour who had a 3 series. He found that switching off all the traction control and aids meant that although the card did skid, second gear and gentle on the throttle worked to get you moving forward.
 
Nanu said:
We have a slight incline off the estate and even with the slightest snow its almost impossible to get up the bank. Generally look out of the widow and if there is white stuff it stays in the garage.

Did get one tip which has worked in the past from a neighbour who had a 3 series. He found that switching off all the traction control and aids meant that although the card did skid, second gear and gentle on the throttle worked to get you moving forward.
Click to expand...

Could be wrong, but I seem to remember reading something in the manual about turning off traction control in snow until moving.

I do tend to drink a lot of beer though, so may be bullshit.
 
Scubaregs said:
Could be wrong, but I seem to remember reading something in the manual about turning off traction control in snow until moving.

I do tend to drink a lot of beer though, so may be bullshit.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure I've read that somewhere as well.

I think I also read that in snow you're better off without ABS too, although that isn't switchable! Something to do with a locked wheel building up a wedge of snow that helps stop the car I think.

But I may be wrong too if I had been on the Shiraz. :lol:
 
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