Is my driveway too steep?

jackal15 · 12-03-2019, 07:55 PM

Hi all - planning to purchase a 17/18 F80 as a daily driver but have one potential obstacle. I live in the Boston suburbs where we get our fair share of nasty snowstorms. Even though hills aren't really an issue in the area, my driveway could be. It's straight, ~120ft long and 15-20 degree incline. I can't carry momentum as it's a turn from the main rd. My S4 with Pilot Alpins (performance snows) sometimes even loses traction when it has some snow/ice cover. Attached are some pictures after today's storm when the snow was cleared.

Does anyone think I'd have difficulty going up my driveway with a compacted snow layer/some ice in an F80 with studless ice and snow tires (eg Michelin x-ice, Nokians)? I know it wont perform like my S4 but I want to make sure I'll at least be able to get up my driveway.

TIA

icegrill · 12-03-2019, 08:05 PM

Definitely would crash.

audioMeth · 12-03-2019, 08:07 PM

i live in a town that doesn't use salt and daily mine with winter performance, does just fine.

Jim B · 12-04-2019, 10:47 AM

OP, it would work for this guy.

jmg · 12-04-2019, 02:34 PM

Looks more like a 90 degree vertical incline!

Jim B · 12-04-2019, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmg

Looks more like a 90 degree vertical incline!

OP would need some REALLY sticky tires here.

nicknaz · 12-04-2019, 06:57 PM

If your awd with rear lsd + snow tires s4 loses traction and has a hard time, I think you answered your question.

Keep an awd car for winter and use rwd car for summer.

Or redo the driveway with heated pipes underneath.

gunsmoker · 12-04-2019, 07:34 PM

I live in Mansfield, MA and I have a moderately steep driveway. I have Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ tires and I cannot get up there unless all snow is removed and the driveway is treated with ice melter. Still, the M3 is my daily and I can work from home on a snowy day. I was able to get to work in Milford this Monday although the roads were not treated well in that town.
My previous A4 had no issues getting up the driveway with the same model tires and 3-4 inches of snow. The M3 is more fun every other day of the year.

AIRHEIR · 12-04-2019, 09:14 PM

Throw on some winters you will be fine.

evoix · 12-05-2019, 08:19 AM

If my m3 couldn't make it up my driveway i would sell my house and move.

Slap some winter tires on and you will be fine.
You will have absolutely have problems if you keep your mpss's on.

JMH1099 · 12-05-2019, 09:16 AM

Same situation here! When I use to live at Northern VA my F82 is not able to drive back to my garage during snow days, I tried multiple ways (change tires, fully clean the snow and put cat litter on the driveway(worst idea)). I end up not driving it during the snowing days. Redo the surface of driveway will definitely help but It's very pricey...

yayaya · 12-05-2019, 09:21 AM

Should be fine my driveway is about as steep and It is fine with snow tires. You can always reverse up the driveway.

HoldenMI · 12-05-2019, 09:25 PM

Having had S4s, which are front wheel drive biased "AWD" cars, I'd say that hoping an F8X will do better is not realistic. I would add that my M3 is great with snow tires, but I don't expect to best an S4 with same tires in the snow.

12-03-2019, 07:55 PM	#1
jackal15 Private 65 Rep 93 Posts Drives: 2022 X4M Comp Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Boston suburbs iTrader: (0)	Is my driveway too steep? Hi all - planning to purchase a 17/18 F80 as a daily driver but have one potential obstacle. I live in the Boston suburbs where we get our fair share of nasty snowstorms. Even though hills aren't really an issue in the area, my driveway could be. It's straight, ~120ft long and 15-20 degree incline. I can't carry momentum as it's a turn from the main rd. My S4 with Pilot Alpins (performance snows) sometimes even loses traction when it has some snow/ice cover. Attached are some pictures after today's storm when the snow was cleared. Does anyone think I'd have difficulty going up my driveway with a compacted snow layer/some ice in an F80 with studless ice and snow tires (eg Michelin x-ice, Nokians)? I know it wont perform like my S4 but I want to make sure I'll at least be able to get up my driveway. TIA Attached Images
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12-03-2019, 08:05 PM	#2
icegrill Lieutenant Colonel 2078 Rep 1,780 Posts Drives: 2015 M3 Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Oregon iTrader: (3)	Definitely would crash.
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12-03-2019, 08:07 PM	#3
audioMeth BTC maxi 222 Rep 1,124 Posts Drives: F80 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Rehoboth, MA iTrader: (8)	i live in a town that doesn't use salt and daily mine with winter performance, does just fine.
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12-04-2019, 10:47 AM	#4
Jim B Wingman 1895 Rep 1,890 Posts Drives: 2022 BMW M4 Manual Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Sacramento, CA iTrader: (0)	OP, it would work for this guy. Attached Images
	Appreciate 6 sabrina493.50 backagain345.00 dallastide172.00 jmg18703.50 DS_BMW1603.00 oneknightr56.50 Quote

12-04-2019, 02:34 PM	#5
jmg Lieutenant General 18704 Rep 14,115 Posts Drives: G82 M4C X-Drive Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2022 G82 M4C X-Drive [9.85] 2018 F80 M3 CS [9.87] 2019 i3 BEV [0.00]	Looks more like a 90 degree vertical incline! __________________ 2022 G82///M4 Competition X-Drive - KW-HAS, EBC Bluestuff, Millway Race Camber Plates, Cup2 Connect, PSI High Flow Midpipe, Lightweight Front Lip, M Perf Flow Through Wing Previous • 2018 F80 ///M3 CS • 2016 F80 ///*M3 IG: Raging_G82
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12-04-2019, 06:57 PM	#7
nicknaz Lieutenant General 3187 Rep 10,509 Posts Drives: C6Z Join Date: May 2008 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	If your awd with rear lsd + snow tires s4 loses traction and has a hard time, I think you answered your question. Keep an awd car for winter and use rwd car for summer. Or redo the driveway with heated pipes underneath.
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12-04-2019, 07:34 PM	#8
gunsmoker Second Lieutenant 282 Rep 275 Posts Drives: 2016 M3 Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Mansfield, MA iTrader: (1)	I live in Mansfield, MA and I have a moderately steep driveway. I have Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ tires and I cannot get up there unless all snow is removed and the driveway is treated with ice melter. Still, the M3 is my daily and I can work from home on a snowy day. I was able to get to work in Milford this Monday although the roads were not treated well in that town. My previous A4 had no issues getting up the driveway with the same model tires and 3-4 inches of snow. The M3 is more fun every other day of the year.
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12-04-2019, 09:14 PM	#9
AIRHEIR X3M Comp 444 Rep 718 Posts Drives: X3M Comp Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: NJ iTrader: (4)	Throw on some winters you will be fine.
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12-05-2019, 08:19 AM	#10
evoix Major 441 Rep 1,347 Posts Drives: X3m Evo IX Evo X Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	If my m3 couldn't make it up my driveway i would sell my house and move. Slap some winter tires on and you will be fine. You will have absolutely have problems if you keep your mpss's on.
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12-05-2019, 09:16 AM	#11
JMH1099 Second Lieutenant 35 Rep 264 Posts Drives: 2015 F82 M4. 2011 E92 M3. Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Fairfax, Virginia iTrader: (1)	Same situation here! When I use to live at Northern VA my F82 is not able to drive back to my garage during snow days, I tried multiple ways (change tires, fully clean the snow and put cat litter on the driveway(worst idea)). I end up not driving it during the snowing days. Redo the surface of driveway will definitely help but It's very pricey...
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12-05-2019, 09:21 AM	#12
yayaya Second Lieutenant 104 Rep 263 Posts Drives: BMW 335xi E92 N55 Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Midwest iTrader: (0)	Should be fine my driveway is about as steep and It is fine with snow tires. You can always reverse up the driveway.
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12-05-2019, 09:25 PM	#13
HoldenMI Private First Class 114 Rep 108 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 6MT Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Detroit, MI iTrader: (0)	Having had S4s, which are front wheel drive biased "AWD" cars, I'd say that hoping an F8X will do better is not realistic. I would add that my M3 is great with snow tires, but I don't expect to best an S4 with same tires in the snow.
	Appreciate 0 Quote