ZPOST
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Go Back   ZPOST > BMW Z4 Technical Talk > Wheels and Tires
  TireRack

SUPPORT ZPOST BY DOING YOUR TIRERACK SHOPPING FROM THIS BANNER, THANKS!
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      11-19-2014, 12:05 PM   #1
pokeybritches
Colonel
pokeybritches's Avatar
United_States
479
Rep
2,782
Posts

Drives: ESS/G-Power Z4M, VF Z4, 996tt
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles

iTrader: (12)

Garage List
2006 BMW Z4M  [10.00]
2006 BMW Z4M  [8.50]
2003 BMW Z4 3.0i  [9.00]
Throwing in the towel - winter tire advice

After living in hot places for the past 8 years, I've moved up to DC and experienced my first "real" winter last year. I'm looking for advice on which tires to buy so that I can enjoy the cars year round. My situation is a little unique:

- I have an old Grand Cherokee that I drive when it snows, so I'm not forced to drive the Z4/Z4M if I don't need to. The only winter precipitation they will see is the occasional surprise snowfall, at which point I will just drive carefully.

- I have summer tires and wheels already. The sole reason for the winter set will be to enjoy the cars year round in the colder temps. Average temperature in the winter is 20-30 degrees, occasionally getting into the single digits.

I've noticed the Michelin PA4 gets pretty good reviews, but it's not available in wide sizes. I would be running either a 225/255 setup, or a square 255 setup:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....ilot+Alpin+PA4

My question is, should I go with all seasons for the width, or are there tires that grip better in the cold (like the Michelin PA4)? I'm looking to move to a 255/285 setup if possible.
__________________


VF Engineering Z4 3.0i, ESS Z4M, G-Power Z4M, 996 Turbo
Appreciate 0
      11-20-2014, 07:32 AM   #2
Westersund
Captain
Westersund's Avatar
Sweden
469
Rep
846
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Hallstahammar

iTrader: (1)

Nokian Hakkapeliitta is big here in Northern Europe. Always get good reviews. Might be hard to find with your dimensions though.
Appreciate 0
      11-20-2014, 08:39 AM   #3
Huz-Z
Brigadier General
Huz-Z's Avatar
Canada
843
Rep
4,044
Posts

Drives: Z4 3.0si, 328 XDrive, X5 35i
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Canada

iTrader: (0)

You wants a good winter tire on the car. I recall one year we had a small skim of snow just a few days before I stored the car and the thing would only spin its wheels in the driveway with the slightest throttle input. I shudder to think of driving with summer tires on a cold icy road. Just tune in to any hockey game and picture your car behaving like a hockey puck.

So, if its good winter tires you want, look here:

http://tires.canadiantire.ca/en/tires/winter-tires/

In my experience, cheap winter tires ride poorly and are bloody noisy. The more expensive the tire, the better the winter preformance with minimal impact on ride and tire noise.

Cheers!
__________________
Huz-Z


BMW Z4 3.0si Roadster. Montego Blue Metallic. Premium and Sport Package.
Appreciate 0
      11-20-2014, 10:54 PM   #4
3002 tii
Lieutenant General
3002 tii's Avatar
United_States
2257
Rep
12,546
Posts

Drives: Z4 M, 550i, X3
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: CT

iTrader: (99)

Garage List
Typically want to run narrow snow tires, not wide. But if you have no intentions of driving in real snow and its more about having proper rubbers for colder temps (ie not summer tires), just go with a good all season like Conti DWS in your preferred width.

+1 on Nokian Hakkas, honestly doesn't get better than that. I run Blizzaks on my 1er only because I actually wanted run flats for winter. Last thing I want to have to do is change a flat in single digit temps.
__________________
Follow for latest mods
Appreciate 0
      11-21-2014, 04:17 PM   #5
VMRWheels
General
VMRWheels's Avatar
2037
Rep
25,989
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Anaheim, CA

iTrader: (4)

Garage List
2013 BMW M3  [10.00]
2015 BMW M4  [0.00]
2013 BMW F30  [0.00]
2014 BMW F22  [0.00]
2013 BMW F06  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3002 tii View Post
Typically want to run narrow snow tires, not wide. But if you have no intentions of driving in real snow and its more about having proper rubbers for colder temps (ie not summer tires), just go with a good all season like Conti DWS in your preferred width.
+1
__________________
Appreciate 0
      11-25-2014, 09:37 AM   #6
blacksquid
Private First Class
blacksquid's Avatar
3
Rep
103
Posts

Drives: 2011 135i Convertible
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: United States

iTrader: (0)

We're both in NoVA so this should apply, not that I've driven in any bad weather yet in my Z4MC. I went with Pirelli Sottozero 3 in 225/45R18 and 245/40/R18 on OEM wheels. I considered Nokian WRG3 but they're a bit more difficult to get. I really didn't consider a more hard core Winter tire for this area since we don't get much snow.

YMMV


John
__________________
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:20 AM.




zpost
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST