Not worth the risk going out unless its urgent. I go out in the snow in the misses car (ka) and its okay, but its not me I don't trust, so many UK drivers have no idea how to drive in the snow its scary. So many people think the harder they press the throttle the more chance they have of moving! And don't realise how much space you need to keep from the car in front if you do need to stop! No i like the back of my zed just the way it is thanks! :wink:
Snow Driving?
- Thread starter Nova2k7
- Start date
lacroupade said:
You are totally wrong, you have to have experience of a decent set of winter tyres before making a declaration like that. Rear wheel drive or not, if a Z4M can make decent progress in the snow with winters on then any BMW can. FWD with low profiles is a bitch to drive in heavy snow anyway so even your statement on that issue is far from correct without qualification.
lacroupade
Veteran
dgm said:
Well thanks for that unequivocal update Mr Smiley.
Perhaps you should be on Top Gear?I think you put waaaaay too much faith in what is basically the same black circle with a bit softer rubber so I'd hate to be driving anywhere near you when the weather got serious.
For your edification, I've driven FWD and RWD vehicles, 2x4 and 4x4, with summer tyres, winter tyres and chains, in the UK and in southern France in the Pyrenees and in Austria where they don't have snow, they have SNOW. I probably also passed my test when you were still a twinkle in your mothers eye, so I stand by my statement.
If you're talking about a couple of inches of wet snow at low speed then its no biggie in ANY vehicle providing you take care, but other than that my Zed would stay at home, even if only for the reasons that others give regarding OTHER drivers.
lacroupade said:dgm said:
Well thanks for that unequivocal update Mr Smiley.
I think you put waaaaay too much faith in what is basically the same black circle with a bit softer rubber so I'd hate to be driving anywhere near you when the weather got serious.
For your edification, I've driven FWD and RWD vehicles, 2x4 and 4x4, with summer tyres, winter tyres and chains, in the UK and in southern France in the Pyrenees and in Austria where they don't have snow, they have SNOW. I probably also passed my test when you were still a twinkle in your mothers eye, so I stand by my statement.
If you're talking about a couple of inches of wet snow at low speed then its no biggie in ANY vehicle providing you take care, but other than that my Zed would stay at home, even if only for the reasons that others give regarding OTHER drivers.
I'm far from edified by your claimed driving experiences in SNOW and if anything you've further shown your ignorance with regards to the effectiveness of winter tyres in SNOW. I could counter with my experience of European driving in SNOW on winter tyres but you're so obviously uninitiated to the qualities of modern winter tyres that I won't lend your utterings any credence.
You reckon that the snow we've experienced in Scotland over the last 2 winters was a couple of inches of wet snow do you? It wasn't and when most front wheel drive cars were struggling to move I was able to drive safely past them. Just where you got the idea that I would be dangerous to drive near in winter conditions with winter tyres on, only you will know but once again it displays your lack of experience of these tyres.
You've displayed your usual patronising self in this thread, do you think your age, whatever that may be, gives you greater wisdom? Remember, there's no fool like an old fool.
Just to break things up for a sec... I didn't realise until last year that actually the best way to get going in snowy/icy conditions in a manual car on reasonably flat (though not necessarily very flat) road surfaces is to stick it in first and let the clutch out gently, WITHOUT using the accelerator. In most modern cars you will set off slowly and steadily without stalling, and without spinning the wheels, unless of course you've already dug yourself in. Learned about it on BBC News, and worked a treat when I tried it, though unfortunately only after I burnt the clutch out on my Focus ST riding it in second gear, as I was always taught to start driving in the highest gear possible. Didn't know that the ST's clutch was prone to high temps and sticking even in normal conditions 
As for the tyres / technique debate - I am sure that winter tyres improve the experience hugely, and in fact I hope they do in case it snows whilst I am travelling to/from Scotland this weekend, but in my experience technique is 90% of the equation. If your technique is sh1t you're going nowhere, whereas if you're patient, cautious, gentle and steady with EVERY control input then, notwithstanding all the other idiots, you have a pretty good chance of getting where you need to (mostly) irrespective of the type of tyres you are using. IMO of course, and qualified with the fact that I haven't ever had winters until I bought my Z.
Anyway,
As for the tyres / technique debate - I am sure that winter tyres improve the experience hugely, and in fact I hope they do in case it snows whilst I am travelling to/from Scotland this weekend, but in my experience technique is 90% of the equation. If your technique is sh1t you're going nowhere, whereas if you're patient, cautious, gentle and steady with EVERY control input then, notwithstanding all the other idiots, you have a pretty good chance of getting where you need to (mostly) irrespective of the type of tyres you are using. IMO of course, and qualified with the fact that I haven't ever had winters until I bought my Z.
Anyway,
The biggest problem for Zed's is deep snow. I don't care what tire you have on if the snow is over about 6 inches deep and your going to have problems. However on plowed roads or pack snow with a good set of winter tires and proper driving techniques you will not have any problems save for the other nuts out there driving.
Well said, my thoughts exactly. I use winter tyres and as long as your not heavy footed and take things gently, then no issues. Can't factor in other nutter drivers and their lack of experience, however you can still get rear ended with wet roads in the summer!WLH said:
Saucers of milk will soon be served...
Tapatalking...
Tapatalking...
Since I'm a relatively new Zed owner and haven't yet had a chance to pick up a good set of winter tyres (or acquire the knowledge to know which ones would be best for my Zed), I'm spiraling into severe Zed-deprivation syndrome this winter. More snow than usual ... not deep, just a thin layer renewed at frequent intervals ... so the car is sitting in the driveway with a float charger on it until things clear up. I am not going to trust the run flats that are on it in any kind of snow.
It's HELL I tell you! PURE HELL!
Next year I'm going to be ready.
It's HELL I tell you! PURE HELL!
Next year I'm going to be ready.
Liverpool
Last year my 3 series didn't move for 4 weeks. Yes it was bad snow. With or without winter tyres, the snow was too deep to move it.
To be fair it was a bad winter. There was 1ft of snow or more everywhere. Some roads weren't cleared for weeks. However, there comes a point where driver skill, snow tyres etc etc cannot overcome the laws of physics. Before you get to that point, snow tyres and driver skill most certainly help.
In the UK, we rarely get weather so bad that the 'physics' part comes into the equation
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To be fair it was a bad winter. There was 1ft of snow or more everywhere. Some roads weren't cleared for weeks. However, there comes a point where driver skill, snow tyres etc etc cannot overcome the laws of physics. Before you get to that point, snow tyres and driver skill most certainly help.
In the UK, we rarely get weather so bad that the 'physics' part comes into the equation
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I remember driving the 1 mile to Tesco in my Ford Focus in December '10 on a Saturday when it snowed. The round-trip took 4 hours and I think I saw 5 or 6 abandoned RWD BMWs and Mercs between our front door and the supermarket car park :lol: If it so much as looks like snowing, my Z (with no winter tyres) will be staying in its parking space
Done it the past 3 winters.....Can be done, but if you don't have to, don't do it.