south yorkshire
mine stayed at home and i went to work in mates tt.
Z4 needs a winch
- Thread starter rob davey
- Start date
:smart: good thinking - plus it allows the gritters to get out too.Darren M said:...I am a little concerned for tomorrow morning. I might go to work a little late, it`ll give time for the peasants to drive on the snow for me and hopefully condition if for me to drive along nicely on
I left Leeds at 05:30 one morning before Xmas and managed to beat the gritter drivers and then got caught in a snowstorm, not so much me but some other cars were all over the place, a new-shape MX-5 was the worst. Ended up stopping and having a kip for an hour and a half to allow the roads to be trafficked a bit and get going again.
I'd rather have had some extra time in bed :bonk:
mason storm
Active member
Darren M said:mason storm said:
Must admit I used this tactic also on some of the backgrounds- I had FWD white van man up my ar** when I had to drive some backroads and noticed the steering going light. Overall my journeys were very successful today but it sounds like the Z4 isn`t a car for snow. I only fitted new tyres last week so maybe that helped a little - lots of tread depth.
I am a little concerned for tomorrow morning. I might go to work a little late, it`ll give time for the peasants to drive on the snow for me and hopefully condition if for me to drive along nicely on
Likewise I think I may use the same tactic especially with all this talk of ice
Yep, that's the problem: for 360 days out of the year, we'll get by on normal summer tyres. But, winter tyres aren't just a different tread pattern; they're also a different compound designed to grip better at low temps and hence might be a good idea for cold weather. Actually, maybe us Scottish members should have "winter" tyres on all year roundcsmith319 said:
I agree, I've never really considered getting winter tyres put on as the weather just isn't bad enough for long enough. I've had my Z three years and this is the first winter I've had any problems.csmith319 said:
However, a recent experience of trying to get several RWD cars including the Z out of a Lake District access road, up a steep grade on compacted snow, did make me ponder. In that instance we had plenty of muscle on hand to push, but it did make me wonder about snow chains for use in case of emergency. The only problem is that you can't seem to get any for 18"s, but Rud do make a wired snow sock that seems like a reasonable bet (http://www.rud.com/en/produkte/schneeketten/pkw/softspike.html). Does anyone have any experience of a similar system?
Yesterday was the start of my 4 months off work, so the Z4 stayed tucked in the garage 
Far too many idiot drivers about that haven't a clue how to drive in the dry, so guess what they are like in this snow/ice! Saw loads of people in very heavy snow that didn't even have the thought to turn their head lights on!!
Far too many idiot drivers about that haven't a clue how to drive in the dry, so guess what they are like in this snow/ice! Saw loads of people in very heavy snow that didn't even have the thought to turn their head lights on!!mason storm
Active member
Andrew D said:
I've never seen anything like this before, could be a solution and stored in the boot (trunk for those in the U.S.)
I find it a bit amusing you guys are having such trouble. I learned years ago not to take my car out in snowy weather. It just doesn't work. Now maybe I won't be ridiculed fo putting it away every November. The snow you've have the past few days, i've seen 10 times already this season. On the bright side, when you do store your Z4 away for a time, the first drive afterward is incredible! It really makes you appreciate it.
I learned years ago not to take my car out in snowy weather. It just doesn't work. Now maybe I won't be ridiculed fo putting it away every November. The snow you've have the past few days, i've seen 10 times already this season. On the bright side, when you do store your Z4 away for a time, the first drive afterward is incredible! It really makes you appreciate it. 
Liverpool
How do you get around once you've put your car away for the winter?
I normally only have access to one car, and when the snow comes it is either walk the 200 miles to work (don't think so), use public transport (inpossible as it usually breaks down during hot, cold, damp, dry, winter, summer, spring, autumn conditions), or stay at home - no work = no money in my line of work.
I've not had a day off work due to the weather since I've had a vehicle of my own - I use high performance summer tyres and just take the conditions into account in the style of my driving. I've been stuck at work once when we got a foot of snow in about 4 hours and I couldn't get out of the car park, luckily I got a lift to my hotel by another member of staff in a G55 AMG
These Rud Soft Spikes might be worth considering as I can just store them in the boot/trunk and they cost less than £100 - although the website doesn't say whether that is each or for a set of 2 or 4.
Ideally I'd have a set of winter tyres but that would mean a new set of winter tyres every month during between November and March (I do 3000 miles a month) which would be about £600/set. If I don't leave them on all the time, then I risk being in the wrong part of the country with summer tyres on anyway when the snow & ice comes.
I normally only have access to one car, and when the snow comes it is either walk the 200 miles to work (don't think so), use public transport (inpossible as it usually breaks down during hot, cold, damp, dry, winter, summer, spring, autumn conditions), or stay at home - no work = no money in my line of work.
I've not had a day off work due to the weather since I've had a vehicle of my own - I use high performance summer tyres and just take the conditions into account in the style of my driving. I've been stuck at work once when we got a foot of snow in about 4 hours and I couldn't get out of the car park, luckily I got a lift to my hotel by another member of staff in a G55 AMG
These Rud Soft Spikes might be worth considering as I can just store them in the boot/trunk and they cost less than £100 - although the website doesn't say whether that is each or for a set of 2 or 4.
Ideally I'd have a set of winter tyres but that would mean a new set of winter tyres every month during between November and March (I do 3000 miles a month) which would be about £600/set. If I don't leave them on all the time, then I risk being in the wrong part of the country with summer tyres on anyway when the snow & ice comes.
rabman5 said:I find it a bit amusing you guys are having such trouble.
rabman5 said:I find it a bit amusing you guys are having such trouble.
I think our problem is that we never really have this weather!!! Therefore a second car for bad weather just wouldn't ever get used, maybe one day a year at the very most. This years weather is in the headlines because it hasn't been this bad for 18 years...
It's a bit like the news in California when there is bad rain... (I've been there when it happens, people just aren't prepared for it!)
I was forced to take the Zed out this morning. Long story but the X5 doors froze solid and could not be opened at all. My wife stole our daughters car so was left with the Zed or house bound.
Actually the local roads were a bit tricky, but on the way back home detoured into Sutton Park. 2500 acres of near wilderness surrounded by City. Just managed a couple of snaps, but worth the drive... No pics of the donuts done later.
Winter tyres would have made life easier this week, but I could never justify them for the limited snow we ever get and frankly when no other cars are around it's a lot of fun
Look how cold it is - not a splash mark on the car after 10 miles of driving
Actually the local roads were a bit tricky, but on the way back home detoured into Sutton Park. 2500 acres of near wilderness surrounded by City. Just managed a couple of snaps, but worth the drive... No pics of the donuts done later.
Winter tyres would have made life easier this week, but I could never justify them for the limited snow we ever get and frankly when no other cars are around it's a lot of fun
Look how cold it is - not a splash mark on the car after 10 miles of driving
I understand how fortunate I am to have a "family" vehicle to drive during the winters. When I had my 323i I just used good snow tires and everthing was fine. Even in the 323, without snowtires I couldn't drive up my driveway. I stilll see plenty of Z4's, 911's etc driving around all winter. I'm just lucky enough not to have to do so.
Thanks forthe pictures!
rabman5 said:
Well, I've got a family car, a 320d, but my wife needs that for normal family use. However, given that it's tyres are also 255 section and it's rear wheel drive, I don't think it would be much use either!
Comment still stands - people in the UK don't put winter tyres on as there is no need; and definitely not for only 1 or 2 days a year.
I had a right old laugh this morning.I`m staying in a small village with UNGRITTED roads. I reversed my car and drove it to the end of the graveled drive and stopped briefly to observe the road I had to drive on - so I`m facing downhill slightly. I had to drive down this little slope then along a REAL icy short flat piece of road before going up a decent sized climb that I thought I wouldn`t make it up. As I observed the road a couple looked over at me shaking their heads while smiling which I took at them trying to indicate to me 'forget it'. The woman`s Load Road Discovery (??I think) was stuck on the flat piece of road and the guy had a shovel and some sand with him. I indicated to them the direction I would take because it was a junction also and I was going to drive right past the Land Rover, so they kindly stood by the road to watch me have a go. I headed off slowly and waved at the couple with a big cheesey smile on my face as I drove past the STUCK 4x4 Land Rover and up the hill I went - all done in 2nd gear at low RPM`s and minimal wheel spin - Of course the little bit of momentum helped
Of course the little bit of momentum helped
Don't get confused with "snow tyres" as opposed to winter tyres.
Winter tyres have much better performance at lower temperatures than "summer" tyres, and even run of the mill car tyres must be better in lower temps than Bridgestone or Continental tyres.
Altough it doesn't snow very often, the temps are below 6 degrees for a large part of the year, and winter tyres usually have better wet performance too.
As with most things, everyone will have different requirements. If you spend most of your time on urban roads or on the motorway then winter tyres would be nice but far from essential in the UK. If you live or drive in rural areas on A or B roads regularly, then IMHO they would be a worthwhile investment.
Winter tyres have much better performance at lower temperatures than "summer" tyres, and even run of the mill car tyres must be better in lower temps than Bridgestone or Continental tyres.
Altough it doesn't snow very often, the temps are below 6 degrees for a large part of the year, and winter tyres usually have better wet performance too.
As with most things, everyone will have different requirements. If you spend most of your time on urban roads or on the motorway then winter tyres would be nice but far from essential in the UK. If you live or drive in rural areas on A or B roads regularly, then IMHO they would be a worthwhile investment.