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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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#7 of 59 Re: Rims [cuco] by z4enthusiast Dec 23, 2005 (7:06 pm)
Replying to: cuco (Nov 13, 2005 12:03 pm) Hi, I have a 2003 Z4 with 19000 miles on it. I had a flat and after changing the flat, I noticed that on sharp turns I would hear a thumping sound after intervals. I took to a tire shop and the person said, the struts are gone and showed me by jacking the car and lifting the tire. I could lift the tire up and down. I plan to take to the dealer after the holidays. After reading your description, I think I am in for some major repairs. Hopefully the dealer covers it as the car is under warranty. By the way, I had to take my car to dealer four times for fixing the airbag light...very disappointed.
#8 of 59 Z4 + snow tires by sebbarre Jan 18, 2006 (11:57 am)
Hi,   I love my Z4 2.5 2003! I drive it during summer, and I use another car during winter.   I just crashed my winter car, and I'm wondering if I should buy another new small winter car, or go for the winter tires on the Z4... (I'd rather the later for financial reasons mainly).   We have pretty decent winter here in upstate NY (Albany, USA), at least 4 months during the year, it easily goes down to 20 F, etc. I've a 25 mins ride to work everyday (same to come back), against traffic, on a highway. I got caught once on black ice with the Z4 and my factory tires (all season run-flat I guess), and it was not pretty, I really thought I was going to crash it any second, even at low speed.   There is a recommended set of 4 Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 at Tirerack.com, and I've seen good things about it on this forum. And also adding weight in the trunk, etc.   Do you have any experience about winter tires and the Z4?   Thanks a lot Replies to this message: habitat1 (Jan 19, 2006 6:00 am)
#9 of 59 Re: Z4 + snow tires [sebbarre] by habitat1 Jan 19, 2006 (6:00 am)
Replying to: sebbarre (Jan 18, 2006 11:57 am) I had a 2002 Honda S2000 and grew up in the snow belt (still have a second home there).   My thoughts are that you could probably get by with a good set of snow tires on the Z4, IF (big letters), you are going to be driving on plowed streets/highways. If, on the other hand, you will need to be able to negotiate 4-6-8+ inches of unplwed snow, forget it. The low ground clearance of the Z4 will make any attempt at more than about 3-4" pretty dicey.   Note that I assume you use a real ruler where you are from. Here in wimpy DC, a "dusting" is reported as 3-4" and they have canceled school on the forecast of snow that often never materializes.   Another factor to consider in your economic analysis is the wear and tear on your car, come trade in time. We sold our S2000 at 2.5 years and 19,000 miles and it did not have a single paint chip. We got the highest possible "excellent" trade in value from a PA dealer that claimed it was the only car he had given that rating to in a year. Had we driven it through mush and over salted or graveled roads, chances are it would have been rated "very good" at best, which would have cost us $1,500 in lower trade in value, not counting the extra miles on the odometer. A "good" trade in was over $2k less than we got.   In the case of our new 2005 911S, the 3 year trade in difference would be about $6,000-$10,000+ going from excellent to very good/good, so you can be sure it will never be fitted with Blizzak's. But here in DC, I've had the top down almost every week since we bought it in September, so it's no big deal to keep it idle every once in awhile when we get a "dusting".
#10 of 59 BMW's in chicago winter. by dhanley Jan 31, 2006 (2:31 pm)
To deal with chicago winters, i do have a separate set of winter tires (for my 328i). It's not as necessary as i thought, and i could do without, but i do like the security, and it is helpful when i venture to winter wisconsin. My BMW is old enough that it has ASC instead of the superior DSC a z4 will have. I did fine the one heavy snowfall we had this winter, and in wisconsin when i still had my summer tires on. As noted above, ground clearance is likely to be the real issue. Last winter we had that one big snowfall, and i knew that if i stopped in my building's parking lot, i might get stuck, as there was close to a foot, so i snowplowed straight into the stall. Good fun.   If you can tolerate missing a day or two of driving, and watching the forecast for predictions of serious snow, a z4 will be fine.   dave Replies to this message: logic1 (Jan 31, 2006 2:41 pm) clarkkent (Feb 12, 2006 8:06 am)
#11 of 59 Re: BMW's in chicago winter. [dhanley] by logic1 Jan 31, 2006 (2:41 pm)
Replying to: dhanley (Jan 31, 2006 2:31 pm) Last winter we had that one big snowfall, and i knew that if i stopped in my building's parking lot, i might get stuck, as there was close to a foot, so i snowplowed straight into the stall. Good fun.   Bravo!   I think a lot of people worry unnecessarily about RWD and the snow.   Caution is always advisiable. Snow offers unique opportunities for thrills if you are keen to take them.
#12 of 59 Re: BMW's in chicago winter. [dhanley] by clarkkent Feb 12, 2006 (8:06 am)
Replying to: dhanley (Jan 31, 2006 2:31 pm) Isn't it dangerous to drive any kind of car, with any kind of tires in Chicago, in any kind of weather???   ck
#13 of 59 heck yeah by dhanley Jan 31, 2006 (2:56 pm)
Personally, i think snowfall is great, as it allows me to practice donuts and 360's without putting a lot of wear on my tires.   IMHO, a lot of people fear RWD needlessly. I've heard a lot of people claim they'd never own a RWD car because it's "unsafe." There's been a lot of marketing put into FWD promoting this drivel. My bmw is better in the snow than my last two FWD cars.   dave
#14 of 59 Snow Tires; Z4 vs. 3 series convertible by habitat1 Jan 31, 2006 (5:12 pm)
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. Replies to this message: kyfdx (Jan 31, 2006 5:59 pm) logic1 (Jan 31, 2006 8:03 pm) dhanley (Feb 01, 2006 9:24 am)
#15 of 59 Re: Snow Tires; Z4 vs. 3 series convertible [habitat1] by kyfdx HOST Jan 31, 2006 (5:59 pm)
Replying to: habitat1 (Jan 31, 2006 5:12 pm) Hmmmm... Doesn't the Z4 come with all-seasons? I thought it only got Summer tires with the Sport Package? I could be wrong.. it happens often.. 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...
#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.

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