Z4 + Winter Tires, your experience ?

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sebastien.barre@gmail.com - 18 Jan 2006 20:01 GMT

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

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Tom K. - 18 Jan 2006 21:09 GMT

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> Thanks a lot

1. I assume you are planning to buy wheels for your winter tire, since the
WS-50's aren't available in all Z4 sizes.
2. Do you mind not having run-flats?

That said, while I haven't tried winter tires on my Z4, I just put a set of
Dunlop M3's on my 328i & the dry and wet performance improvement over
Blizzak Mz-01's was substantial.

Tom K.

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sebastien.barre@gmail.com - 19 Jan 2006 02:10 GMT

> 1. I assume you are planning to buy wheels for your winter tire, since the WS-50's aren't available in all Z4 sizes.

Yes of course.

> 2. Do you mind not having run-flats?

I don't mind. I guess I can leave an extra in the trunk (since more
weight will help too), and I have AAA + BMW assistance anyhow...

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David - 24 Jan 2006 01:46 GMT

I put four Hercules winter tires on my E-36 that I am extremely happy
with, and they are inexpensive. I got them at a place on Central Ave
out past K-Mart called Adirondak Tire. I think the tires are called
Polar Cat or Arctic Cat or something like that, but I'm in Texas right
now so I can't check. It's worth a call to them to see if they have
your size, if you haven't found anything yet.

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kuhljul - 25 Jan 2006 04:39 GMT

I live in California, so can't suggest good places, but Winter tires will
have softer rubber so you will get better grip in cold conditions like NY. I
am using All Season tires on my car and my tires do skid every now and then
and the DSC light flashes sometimes. With the Sport Continental Winter tires
I had, this rarely happened and I could tell I had better traction with those
tires. I am getting Winter tires again and I live in CA.
Good luck!

>Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
>Thanks a lot

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