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Author Topic: Z4 Winters  (Read 630 times)

Online mmret

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Z4 Winters
« on: August 23, 2010, 07:22:35 am »
07 BMW Z4 3.0si, NO sport package.  Website claims its 225/45/17.

Suggestions please. :) Have never driven a RWD roadster in the snow before, but on the other hand Toronto does not have too many bad snow days and I don't want to ruin the dry handling. So I am torn between the H/V rated high-po winters and the more conservative Q/T choices.

The TSX wears H rated WinterSport M3s which seem to strike a good balance but its a different car.
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Offline tpl

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Re: Z4 Winters
« Reply #1 on: August 23, 2010, 07:39:43 am »
Hankook Icebears worked well on my BMW in TO (including commutes up and down the 404) and were fine on cold dry and wet roads as well as snow and ice. I am sure they were not as good in snow as dedicated deep snow tires like a Hakka , nor as good on ice as a Blizzak          But.... they were not expensive.
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Offline inco

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Re: Z4 Winters
« Reply #2 on: August 23, 2010, 07:56:13 am »
I think you best bet would be to look for a tire that excels on ice. True we get some miserable snow storms at times, but ice buildup is more of a problem than the actual snow and you want a tire that responds to that.

I always found the Tire Rack folks to be very good source of information and the reviews are usually posted by happy customers.
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Online mmret

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Re: Z4 Winters
« Reply #3 on: August 23, 2010, 08:48:31 am »
I think you are right on that count inco, and implicitly TPL given the name of the tire. It does seem to be mostly an ice / hardpacked snow problem rather than deep snow. I will look into ice performance.
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Offline Mike

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Re: Z4 Winters
« Reply #4 on: August 23, 2010, 08:54:52 am »
Quote from: tpl on August 23, 2010, 07:39:43 am
Hankook Icebears worked well on my BMW in TO (including commutes up and down the 404) and were fine on cold dry and wet roads as well as snow and ice. I am sure they were not as good in snow as dedicated deep snow tires like a Hakka , nor as good on ice as a Blizzak          But.... they were not expensive.

I had the Icebear W300 on my RX-8 for two winters.  One really bad (two years ago) and one really light (last year).  Never got stuck, still had good dry/wet handling. 

You will probably have the same issue I did in that your car is so low to the ground, it will bottom out in deep snow.
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Offline airbalancer

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Re: Z4 Winters
« Reply #5 on: August 23, 2010, 02:12:56 pm »
I also run Icebears with our 323
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Online blur911

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Re: Z4 Winters
« Reply #6 on: August 23, 2010, 02:59:43 pm »
I'd have to suggest a Dunlop Wintersport 3D as being a suitable winter tire for a Z4 in Toronto
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Online mmret

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Re: Z4 Winters
« Reply #7 on: August 23, 2010, 03:07:21 pm »
Quote from: blur911 on August 23, 2010, 02:59:43 pm
I'd have to suggest a Dunlop Wintersport 3D as being a suitable winter tire for a Z4 in Toronto

Yeah I am happy with those (or maybe the earlier version...similar either way) on the TSX but they are not cheap plus I have some small reservation about going with such an aggressive tire on a 255hp RWD car.

But I agree with you on the face of it it fits.
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Offline quadzilla

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Re: Z4 Winters
« Reply #8 on: August 23, 2010, 03:18:39 pm »
Quote from: mmret on August 23, 2010, 03:07:21 pm
Quote from: blur911 on August 23, 2010, 02:59:43 pm
I'd have to suggest a Dunlop Wintersport 3D as being a suitable winter tire for a Z4 in Toronto

Yeah I am happy with those (or maybe the earlier version...similar either way) on the TSX but they are not cheap plus I have some small reservation about going with such an aggressive tire on a 255hp RWD car.

But I agree with you on the face of it it fits.

they are not cheap

Good tires cost money but can be worth it.

I have some small reservation about going with such an aggressive tire on a 255hp RWD car.

Don't understand this comment? People put these tires on even more powerful cars and are fine. I also didn't the the 3D was all that aggressive?
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Offline ovr50

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Re: Z4 Winters
« Reply #9 on: August 23, 2010, 03:28:05 pm »
Recently I have used both the Dunlops WinterSports and the Mich Sport Alpins and have been happy with both. Neither are cheap tires, but give both traction and handling.
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Online mmret

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Re: Z4 Winters
« Reply #10 on: August 23, 2010, 03:36:13 pm »
The question is, is there a better tire to be had than the WinterSports for a similar price...specifically the balance of Ice vs. Dry.

Also my gf wants to get a new 18" set for summer. Yeesh expensive tastes.
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Offline airbalancer

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Re: Z4 Winters
« Reply #11 on: August 23, 2010, 03:37:42 pm »
If I had a Z4 I would be on the look out for a hardtop
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Online blur911

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Re: Z4 Winters
« Reply #12 on: August 23, 2010, 03:54:43 pm »
Quote from: mmret on August 23, 2010, 03:36:13 pm
The question is, is there a better tire to be had than the WinterSports for a similar price...specifically the balance of Ice vs. Dry.

Also my gf wants to get a new 18" set for summer. Yeesh expensive tastes.

Well, I did go with Dunlop Graspic DS-3 on our Outback last winter, but we hardly had any real weather to throw at them.  They are a bit down the performance line, but do tout handling as being a feature.  Depends on how much dry performance you want to give up.  Price is better.
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Online mmret

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Re: Z4 Winters
« Reply #13 on: September 02, 2010, 02:43:37 pm »
Any opinions on the Hankook W409? The reviews on 1010 suggest that its pretty much the greatest thing since sliced bread and about 33% cheaper than the Dunlops.
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