Winter tires/wheels question

[egtownsend]

I wanted to get some advice on what you guys thought were good options for winter driving in the Z4. I don't have the convenience of having a designated winter driving car, so I need to stick some winter tires on the Z4.

Right now I have the 296 style rims with the factory RFTs installed. I do have the OEM insurance on the RIMs, and the CA at the dealer told me if I got another size OEM rim they would also be covered under the same plan. So I was thinking of moving to 17" rims with winter tires... does that sound like a good idea?

I'm not too familiar with this sort of thing, so any and all advice would be greatly appreciated!

[ChuckB]

Went with the BMW wintertire package, 290 rims with SottoZero tires in 17", does great in the snow, would get them again.

[Torn]

I'm going to throw on some RFT blizzaks on my 17s. I don't wanna get a flat and be stranded.

What's your take guys? Blizzaks the most ideal tire?

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by egtownsend

I wanted to get some advice on what you guys thought were good options for winter driving in the Z4. I don't have the convenience of having a designated winter driving car, so I need to stick some winter tires on the Z4.

Right now I have the 296 style rims with the factory RFTs installed. I do have the OEM insurance on the RIMs, and the CA at the dealer told me if I got another size OEM rim they would also be covered under the same plan. So I was thinking of moving to 17" rims with winter tires... does that sound like a good idea?

I'm not too familiar with this sort of thing, so any and all advice would be greatly appreciated!

Smaller wheels (like the 17" recommended by your dealer) and narrower tires (same size on all four corners) are the the ideal set up.

I had a winter set purchased from BMW on my former M3 and the difference between the summer and winter set with snow on the ground was like day and night

I also purchased a set for my former Z (now for sale) the same effect difference like day and night. Of course one needs to adjust for driving conditions

Good Luck ...

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by Torn

I'm going to throw on some RFT blizzaks on my 17s. I don't wanna get a flat and be stranded.

What's your take guys? Blizzaks the most ideal tire?

Good choice

[Memphis1]

i don't use my Z as a DD in winter, but i do have 18" rims with 225/40 michelin x-ice 2 tires... didn't have a problem last winter.

[cdeslandes]

Originally Posted by Torn

I'm going to throw on some RFT blizzaks on my 17s. I don't wanna get a flat and be stranded.

What's your take guys? Blizzaks the most ideal tire?

Same here. Blizzak LM-25 RFT on 17" BMW 292 wheels. Works great.

[ZheHbKa]

if it snows will you still drive it? i dont so i dont even bother with winter set. and if doesnt snow and roads are dry then even summer tires are ok imo

[Memphis1]

Originally Posted by ZheHbKa

if it snows will you still drive it? i dont so i dont even bother with winter set. and if doesnt snow and roads are dry then even summer tires are ok imo

no, it's not ok, because the compound of summer tires becomes really hard and it loses all its traction below 40 degrees... winter tires not only have the grip for snow and ice, but the compound is meant to maintain grip even in freezing temps.

[ZheHbKa]

Originally Posted by Memphis1

no, it's not ok, because the compound of summer tires becomes really hard and it loses all its traction below 40 degrees... winter tires not only have the grip for snow and ice, but the compound is meant to maintain grip even in freezing temps.

True, but having driven summer tires in the winter its reasonable, of course handling and grip are not as in the warm weather but I found that in NY it is not cost efficient to buy another set of wheels for the winter

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by ZheHbKa

True, but having driven summer tires in the winter its reasonable, of course handling and grip are not as in the warm weather but I found that in NY it is not cost efficient to buy another set of wheels for the winter

I cannot agree re: cost-efficient ....

First; you will be safe if you use a winter set, you never know when you get cut in a snow storm. So it might save you from a very expensive accident. "cost savings in my book"

Second; as Memphis already pointed out the rubber is not the same (summer tire verses winter tire - manufactures spend millions to perfect the winter tire (thread and compound). Besides while you run your winter set you save the thread on your summer set "cost savings in my book"

The only decision you have to make is will I get a spare rim set also to save tire changes and balancing twice a year. Well that depends on how long you plan to keep the car, you can always sell the winter set with the car or even separately.

my 2 cents

[cdeslandes]

Originally Posted by Rolf-Dieter

I cannot agree re: cost-efficient ....

Second; as Memphis already pointed out the rubber is not the same (summer tire verses winter tire - manufactures spend millions to perfect the winter tire (thread and compound). Besides while you run your winter set you save the thread on your summer set "cost savings in my book"

Second that. Winter rubber is typically less expensive than high performance summer rubber. So you save money with each mile AND get better winter traction!

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by cdeslandes

Second that. Winter rubber is typically less expensive than high performance summer rubber. So you save money with each mile AND get better winter traction!

You my Friend know your tires

[tranquility]

It's not really a cost savings because obviously your cars can only wear 1 set at a time, so it's not as if you're wasting 2 sets at the same time.

OT and silly ques, but how do winters compare to summer tires during the summer?

[az34]

Originally Posted by Memphis1

no, it's not ok, because the compound of summer tires becomes really hard and it loses all its traction below 40 degrees... winter tires not only have the grip for snow and ice, but the compound is meant to maintain grip even in freezing temps.

i cant say it better even if i do not drive the Z during winter.

[ChuckB]

Originally Posted by tranquility

It's not really a cost savings because obviously your cars can only wear 1 set at a time, so it's not as if you're wasting 2 sets at the same time.

OT and silly ques, but how do winters compare to summer tires during the summer?

Winter tires in summer temps will get "greasy", as in much less traction due to rubber getting softer, this will also result in a tread life reduction of somewhere near 75%, depending on how hard they are pushed.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by ChuckB

Winter tires in summer temps will get "greasy", as in much less traction due to rubber getting softer, this will also result in a tread life reduction of somewhere near 75%, depending on how hard they are pushed.

So it's the opposite effect, the rubber being too soft, leading to less grip vs summers during summertime? I just thought that maybe the grip would be great but the tread would wear out super fast. I guess not.

[Jayda]

Originally Posted by Memphis1

no, it's not ok, because the compound of summer tires becomes really hard and it loses all its traction below 40 degrees... winter tires not only have the grip for snow and ice, but the compound is meant to maintain grip even in freezing temps.

It is rarely below 40 for an extended period of time in SC but it does happen (temps tend to fluctuate alot in the winter here from day to day as well as morning to night). If we have a rare snow, my car will not go out. Under these circumstances, I can't see I need winter tires. This is great info though. I did not know this about tires (probably because I have lived in the south). I also could not stand having my car full of salt and snow......maybe I'd get used to it after awhile but I'm not so sure!

[Torn]

I just mounted my lm-25s!

Let the snow begin...

[mstevens]

Originally Posted by Torn

What's your take guys? Blizzaks the most ideal tire?

Not at all. Best would be Nokian Hakkapeliitta R. Unfortunately, they're not available for the 18" wheels needed for my 35iS, so I got stuck with Blizzaks on my new Z4. I have the preferred Hakkas on my old Z4.

Having recently done a significant amount of driving in both cars after our freak 2 1/2 foot late-October snowfall I can say that the Hakkas are better in heavy, wet snow, on packed, icy snow, and on dry roads. The grip of the Blizzaks is so lousy that the DST is constantly kicking in on the new car while the old one handles spirited cornering just fine.

Edit: my Blizzaks are LM-60, which are supposedly their performance winter tire.

[Torn]

Originally Posted by mstevens

Not at all. Best would be Nokian Hakkapeliitta R. Unfortunately, they're not available for the 18" wheels needed for my 35iS, so I got stuck with Blizzaks on my new Z4. I have the preferred Hakkas on my old Z4.

Having recently done a significant amount of driving in both cars after our freak 2 1/2 foot late-October snowfall I can say that the Hakkas are better in heavy, wet snow, on packed, icy snow, and on dry roads. The grip of the Blizzaks is so lousy that the DST is constantly kicking in on the new car while the old one handles spirited cornering just fine.

Edit: my Blizzaks are LM-60, which are supposedly their performance winter tire.

I have the lm-25

I haven't had a chance to drive it with snow on the ground! I will give you my thoughts once it snows. I have heard great things about the Nokian Hakkapeliitta tho!