Winter Running

[Gwest44]

I don't have the benefit of a garage (or at least one i can get the car in) or the inclination to take it off the road for the winter months and as a result I will be running it through the winter - it has a nearly new set of Pirelli P Zero's on and I won't be running it when the snow is on the road.

Do I need to invest in a set of winter tyre's and an outdoor cover or just exercise caution and maintain the cleaning / waxing routine?

 

[MrPT]

Where do you live and is it your only car?

 

[Sidewaze Samm]

My experience of those tyres in temps below 10deg C is not good at all - not a lot of grip. Luckily never experienced snow with them.

 

[Gwest44]

I'm based in Sheffield and I also run a SAAB 9-3 and Chrysler Grand Voyager MrPT

 

[rally-chris]

I’d suggest you look at all season tyres rather than have the hassle of swapping winter wheel/tyres twice a year.

 

[ph001]

If you don't intend on using it in the snow then P zero's will be fine over winter in this country. I had them on my Z3M and did several winters with no issues. Obviously you need to be aware of the reduced grip levels when they are cold.

Buy yourself some ACF50 and give the underside of the car a good spray (particularly the brake pipes). Amazing stuff.

 

[Jembo]

It’s worth searching the many threads on this subject.

It’s not the snow that’s the issue, it’s ice, especially black ice where winters make a real difference

 

[grumps]

I've run my E86 (and a number of other cars/vans) with and without winter tyres. In my experience it's definitely better to have them in icy conditions.
Bear in mind though that the Z4's limited ground clearance means running in snow might present a different set of problems which winter tyres won't resolve.

 

[Steve84N]

I’d suggest you look at all season tyres rather than have the hassle of swapping winter wheel/tyres twice a year.

Don't do this. They are compromised for more of the year than the amount of time they are better than summer tyres.

I ran my Z4 through winter on summers no problem and it's only snow that it was poor in. I had a Quaife though so still managed alright.

 

[Mr Tidy]

I've put winters on my E46 daily for the last 3 winters, and it was so much better when temperatures were low, especially on damp roads.

This year I replaced it with an E91 just in time for the Beast From The East, but as it came on winters I had no problems.

If I was running my Z4 as a daily through the winter I'd want winter tyres on it - just in case!

I wouldn't bother with a cover - my Z4 lives outdoors all year with no ill effects. I have seen rubbing of the paint on the extremities (like front & rear wings) of covered cars due to the covers shifting if it gets windy.

 

[Frankie169]

I’ve just fitted a set of Eagle F1s and I intend using it through the winter, not in the snow or icey conditions as I have a main car but not going through the hassle of changing tyres or buying a second set of wheels.
Will chose whether to use it depending on the road conditions.

 

[skelters]

I drive mine all year round and I'm further north than Sheffield thankfully.

Car will be fine.

Tyres will be fine.

Make sure you keep a hat and a jacket in the boot for those days when you can get the roof down over the winter.

Sunglasses too!

Roof down
Bum warmers on
Heating to the floor
Sorted!

 

[buzyg]

As you have alternate vehicles for when weather is really poor, I would stick with the summer tyres and just not drive the Zed on those days.

 

[Z4M-2006]

I live about 20 miles from Sheffield albeit on the other side of the Pennines

No amount of “ winter tyre” will get you anywhere in the Z if conditions are bad.

Winter tyres are great, I’m an advocate of them but if you have anything like the weather we do then I wouldn’t bother with the expense ..

Pic of our main road, it was around 8ft deep at the time ..

 

[Kamuela]

Ah, yes. Winter. I remember that.

 

[ben g]

I've used my Z4 as a daily driver, in all weathers, for the last 6 years. If you aren't driving in snow, then there is no real need for winter tyres.

If you're driving to the conditions, then summer tyres are perfectly fine on cold, wet, icy roads. Just don't go driving like Lewis Hamilton.

I managed to get home after a night shift, 10 miles on ungritted dual carriageway, in once piece, the last time we had bad weather in February this year.