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Coupes & Convertibles BMW Z4 BMW Z4 Tires and Wheels
59 messages, Last post on Oct 01, 2009 at 12:08 PM
You are in the BMW Z4 Forum. Your Host is claires
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I grew up in the snow belt (Erie, PA) and we still have a second home there. This is a mild winter so far, but it averages 110" of snow a year, which I believe is 2-3 times Chicago's level. I believe there would be a significant difference between the Z4 and 3 series convertible in the snow. My Honda S2000 came with Bridgestone Potenza Pole Position S02 tires. They are "W" rated and stick like glue to dry pavement, hydroplane fairly easliy on wet and freeze and glide on snow and ice. That car was undrivable on snow covered roads with the standard tires. I believe the Z4 OEM tires are a little less extreme than the S2000's, but I suspect they would exhibit some of the same characteristics. The 3 series, on the other hand, has all-season tires unless you get the sport package. Ground clearance will also be noticably less on the Z4 than the 3 series. I'd have a lot more confidence in getting by without snow tires in a 3 series. If you opt to try the Z4 with high performance summer tires, make sure your life insurance is paid up.
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Replying to: habitat1 (Jan 31, 2006 5:12 pm)  I agree... if the Z4 comes with Summer tires, you'll have to get winter tires for Chicago, if you plan on driving it at all in the winter months.. Neither car is driveable in winter weather with the Sport Package tires... |
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Replying to: habitat1 (Jan 31, 2006 5:12 pm) Well, I know my Miata with the sports suspension had Potenzas. Don't know what they were rated. I would not recommend it as a daily driver in the winter. But if the op has a truck, the Mazda would do in Chicago for the occasional spin. I don't think the Z4 would be all that more extreme. I am with Dhanley. I took the relatively mild Chicago winters as a chance to have a little unique fun. During regular driving, I kept the baby sitter on and took it easy with the accelerator. |
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Replying to: habitat1 (Jan 31, 2006 5:12 pm) |
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Host, You may be right, that the Z4 comes standard with all seasons. I was going by the ones that I have seen - all with the sport package. Byt the way, has the Z4 been discountinued for 2006? - it's not listed in Edmunds BMW models list. Logic1, According to Edmunds, the Miata Sport comes standard with rather benign all season tires. And there are many "Potenza" tires that include all seasons. My Acura TL 6-speed came with Potenza summer tires that were drivable -albeit a little slippery - in the winter. But the Potenza "Pole Position" S02/S03 "W" rated summer performance tires that came on my S2000 are in a different league, and downright dangerous on packed snow in sub 25 degree weather. If the Z4 came with those kind of tires, snows would be a must. I doubt even the sport package 3-series comes with that type of dedicated summer tire. dhanley, I don't disagree. The point I was making was that I thought the stock 3-series tires would be more winter friendly than the stock Z4 tires. However, since I haven't been able to verify what the stock Z4 tires are, I may be wrong. It may indeed be the case that you only stray from all-seasons if you select a sport package on either. And I agree with your comments regarding RWD being unfairly criticized for winter driving. |
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Replying to: habitat1 (Feb 01, 2006 12:02 pm) 1st deliveries are scheduled for March.. |
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Replying to: habitat1 (Feb 01, 2006 12:02 pm) I will hopefully be able to keep the truck when I get this car, but it may not be the case. We only have a 2 car garage, and the other stall is taken up by my wife's 05 TL (and I don't really want to leave a vehicle parked outside). That car is what brought on a lot of thinking for me about getting something that drives nicer than my truck. The TL drives so nice I've found it much less fatiguing to drive than my truck, which is a consideration with my chronic health problems. My thoughts at this point center around 4 options... 1. If I can find a place to cheaply store a 3rd vehicle indoors, keep the truck for winter driving and hauling, and get a convertible, such as a Z4. 2. Get rid of the truck and get a convertible that will do reasonably well in the snow, such as a 3 series. 3. Get a sedan or two door with a nice sunroof that will handle well in all seasons, such as a TSX. 4. Do nothing, and keep swiping the TL when I need to drive any kind of distance  None of this will happen in the immediate future (except option #4). I am just in the research stages for now. But thanks to you guys I have some more info to work with! For those of you with snow tires - do you get them just for the rear wheels or all 4 wheels? I remember 30 years ago my dad having an old Nova that he'd put snow tires on the rear for, but that's my only experience with snow tires. I'm thinking I will go the used route if I get a convertible. Seems you can find some low mileage convertibles around here for fairly reasonable prices. Any thoughts on that approach?
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Replying to: mdw1000 (Feb 02, 2006 4:10 pm)
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Replying to: mdw1000 (Feb 02, 2006 4:29 pm) Some people think it's too much, some people think it's fine.... The best thing to do is to drive it and decide for yourself. |
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Replying to: habitat1 (Feb 01, 2006 12:02 pm) Thanks for the update. As I said, I do not recall what Potenzas came with the Miata sport package. Per your Acura experience, the Miata Potenzas were slippery but workable. I agree there are some tires that are not safe on snow (or even reasonably wet pavement for that matter) at all. |
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