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BMW Z4 Tires and Wheels

59 messages,  Last post on Oct 01, 2009 at 12:08 PM

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What is this discussion about? BMW Z4, Coupe, Convertible

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#16 of 59 Re: Snow Tires; Z4 vs. 3 series convertible [habitat1] by logic1 Jan 31, 2006 (8:03 pm)
Replying to: habitat1 (Jan 31, 2006 5:12 pm) 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.   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.
#17 of 59 Re: Snow Tires; Z4 vs. 3 series convertible [habitat1] by dhanley Feb 01, 2006 (9:24 am)
Replying to: habitat1 (Jan 31, 2006 5:12 pm) Habitat, i was not advising him to drive a z4 *all* winter with stock tires. That is indeed a bad idea. However, in chicago, there are very few times the snow will be too deep, and he'll have a truck besides. He'll do fine with snows or even all seasons, and avoiding the deep stuff.
#18 of 59 Tires by habitat1 Feb 01, 2006 (12:02 pm)
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. Replies to this message: kyfdx (Feb 01, 2006 12:11 pm) mdw1000 (Feb 02, 2006 4:10 pm) mdw1000 (Feb 02, 2006 4:29 pm) bdr127 (Feb 03, 2006 8:08 am) logic1 (Feb 03, 2006 11:11 am)
#19 of 59 Re: Tires [habitat1] by kyfdx HOST Feb 01, 2006 (12:11 pm)
Replying to: habitat1 (Feb 01, 2006 12:02 pm) The '06 Z4 is in production right now...   1st deliveries are scheduled for March..
#20 of 59 Re: Tires [habitat1] by mdw1000 Feb 02, 2006 (4:10 pm)
Replying to: habitat1 (Feb 01, 2006 12:02 pm) Good points. I used to drive a 2wd S-10 in winter without much trouble. Definitely was much easier though when I got 4wd. I was more concerned about the tires and ground clearance of the BMWs than anything else.   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? Replies to this message: mdw1000 (Feb 02, 2006 4:29 pm) bdr127 (Feb 03, 2006 8:08 am)
#21 of 59 Re: Tires [mdw1000] by mdw1000 Feb 02, 2006 (4:29 pm)
Replying to: mdw1000 (Feb 02, 2006 4:10 pm) One other question. Someone mentioned increased road noise. How bad is this generally? I realize with the top down you will hear everything, but with the top up is it bad? Replies to this message: bdr127 (Feb 03, 2006 8:08 am)
#22 of 59 Re: Tires [mdw1000] by bdr127 Feb 03, 2006 (8:08 am)
Replying to: mdw1000 (Feb 02, 2006 4:29 pm) I realize with the top down you will hear everything, but with the top up is it bad?   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.
#23 of 59 Re: Tires [habitat1] by logic1 Feb 03, 2006 (11:11 am)
Replying to: habitat1 (Feb 01, 2006 12:02 pm) 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.   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.
#24 of 59 No Go in Snow by peacefield Feb 09, 2006 (10:17 am)
Coincidentally, my circumstances are very much like those of mdw1000. Bought my 2005 Z4 a year ago. It only comes with one set of tires and I can promise you that they're not all seasons. I have a Chevy s-10 2wd that I intended to sell which was never very good in the snow anyway. One afternoon driving home in roads that were only barely covered (a tiny fraction of an inch) made the car 100% undrivable. As much as the pick-up is not a great winter driver, I've had to keep it because the Z4 is a NO winter driver.   That aside, I've gotta tell you that I LOVE this car.
#25 of 59 heck yeah by dhanley Feb 13, 2006 (9:52 am)
And, moreover, driving any car is dangerous.   Let's all start walking more!

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