Whats the view on 20" Winter Tyres on an X5

[Denis O]

Having driven up to the southern entrance to the Mont Blanc tunnel, with 2 inches of snow on the road (sans tunnels of course) using standard 19" Bridgestone summer tyres, I really don't know what all the fuss is about with snow tyres in England. Scotland maybe but come on.

We get 1 bad winter, for a couple of weeks, every 30 years. Hardly worth spending piles of cash on winter tyres, especially when you already have a 4wd vehicle. The X5 may not be a Defender but it's perfectly capable of getting around in the light dusting we get.

Just my opinion like. I just hope it's valid!!!

[briankerrys47]

Well said Denis
could not agree more,but some of us do live in remote areas,if it's that deep stay indoors I say

[Smeeagain]

[quote="X5Sport"]
I'm not suggesting it should not be done, and it quite obviously works for you as well it will for others.

It's definitely not a mantra on here about smaller narrower wheel/tyre combos being preferred, it's an industry wide view and.

The 'standard' is also to use the same sizes all round.  I don't.  My 19" are staggered and work just fine but again may not work for everyone as there are so many variables at play.  The science part is correct but that didn't mean your findings are no good.

You don't need to feel you need to convert me, and your opinion is based on experience so totally valid. 

Richard
[/quote]

But it comes back to my point - you're not comparing your tyres/wheels in the conditions that someone else is. Winter tyres will be better than summer and you may well have found it fine. But had you had 17 inch wheels/tyres you would have found it even better is the point

[zaw]

Hello.

Although my car has 20" alloys low profile type, I am hoping I can still generally get around in snow fairly easily. I know the wheels/tyres that are narrower like 17" are better especially with winter tyres.

I used to own an e34 for 12 years and it was rear wheel drive and I used to dig out tracks all way to the road and use grit as lived on a hill, and did not use winter tyres, but usually made it everywhere I needed to go, of course apart from steep hill I live on the rest of the roads and journey was fairly flat.

What are the issues with large alloys and low profile types of tyres with an X5, ulitmately placing it in 4-wheel drive mode should get you around generally?

[X5Sport]

Err......It's always 4WD.

The issue is wide summer tyres with 'sporty' performance have a reduced 'ground pressure' so aren't as good at cutting through so you lose traction earlier.  The tread also gets less flexible below 7C which is the sweet spot for winter rubber.  Winter rubber has a different tread pattern too designed to give more grip, but there are limits even then.

Our E46 with its wide 18" wheels is close to unusable in even moderate snowfalls and has a propensity for wanting the back end to be in the lead.....

Richard

[JonP50]

I bought a set for my E70 last year and even though we didn't get any snow, I really noticed the difference. My wife felt so much safer driving it in the cold and during unexpected periods of icy roads! Not just for snow.

I dropped from 20" to 18" with same size 255/55R18 all round and just had them put back on last week. Just over £1k for wheels and tyres, £50 to swap and my shiny BMW alloys are dent free!

Jon

[briankerrys47]

[quote="briankerrys47"]
Well said Denis
could not agree more,but some of us do live in remote areas,if it's that deep stay indoors I say
[/quote]Still with Denis 0    who said a grand to swap around,I thought a rescession was on  ::) and a 'Weather Bomb' to contend with )

[jaynana]

[quote="briankerrys47"]
[quote="briankerrys47"]
Well said Denis
could not agree more,but some of us do live in remote areas,if it's that deep stay indoors I say
[/quote]Still with Denis 0    who said a grand to swap around,I thought a rescession was on  ::) and a 'Weather Bomb' to contend with )
[/quote]

Some ppl venture out of England, where winter wheels are sometimes the law of the land 

[X5-D-Sport]

For the 3 Penneth worth...

The facts state them selves... even though I'm running 19" 285 all round on myX5

Any Defender out there - which is the undoubted ultimate off roader (tho uncomfortable, small, basic, & a bone shaking bucket)..
AND, if I was to want an all conditions off roader/snow capable machine.... A Defender is the route all day long, as proven by armies the world over...

All Defenders (except blinged Lara-Croft ones) run 17" rims with treads you can bury you knob in,
and however much I like my shiney alloys on my pretty X5, there is no escaping that the 1" treads on 17 tyres with a tall soft wall WILL haul you through places that any X5 on standard wheels will simply STOP....

That said, we have an X5 4x4 vehicle with traction aids, locking diffs, individual wheel braking etc, huge ground clearance etc etc..

So LETS GET BLOODY REAL HERE.....
......Unless you are on OFF-ROAD-CHALLENGE-COMPETITOR, have exceptional experience negotiating sludge & snow & 45' gradients & rocks 2ft tall and wade your vehicle thru 4ft of watery mud... then you simply will not have the experience to even need 17" off off-roader Trax-Max tyres..

AND, lets face it, the X5 is a capable 4x4 off-road vehicle any way in standard guise.

So, my rule of thumb would be....
Do you have Off Road Trekking Experience - - YES or NO... ??

if NO, then you will simply get yourself buried whatever tyres you use...
if NO, then you will most likely be too proud to admit the lack of ability Off-Roading, and bury your vehicle in a ditch and make it un-recoverable until the sun shines again...
if NO, and even with an X5 you cannot get out of the drive way on standard tyres, then simply enjoy the comfort of your home for a day off work... admiring your X5's curves from your warm chair...

If YES, then get the big deep tread tyres, and go PLAY with the elements... but DO expect a dink in the body work, and a few smashed lights.... this is why people play with Defenders, as they are simply a giant Meccano set for Dads, and every piece is riveted back on, & brush painted.

The X5 is a very capable machine with standard tyres.... So my personal advise is simple ...
It will venture safely where a standard car will not, and get you safely to your destination thru 6 inches of snow...

...however...

Unless you have Arctic Training, substantial Off-Roading experience and knowledge... and the snow is deep enough to stop you exiting your drive in an X5 on standard tyres -
then.......
STAY AT HOME AND BE SAFE, or risk breaking your favourite toy !

[X5Sport]

I totally agree........stay where it's warm, dry, and there are no other eejits to endanger your life whilst they play where they really shouldn't.

Richard

[X5-D-Sport]

Many thanks Richard....

That said, I have owned and built Landrover "Challenge" vehicles from the rolling chassis UP...
The Discovery TDi 100" chassis mated to an extended Series 3 or Defender body stretched 12 inches is the ultimate off roader on 17" rims with 245 MUD Traction Tyres is fabulous fun, but unlike the X5.... you spend every other weekend UNDER a Discovery instead of driving it....

So.... it's X5 all the way for me... Fabulous machine... makes me smile every time I drive it.
Personally the Diesel Facelift, with a remap, bucket loads of torque and lavish comfort... and when did it last snow badly enough to halt my X5.... 1982 if I remember actually..... and I was 17 then lol...

The X5 is a fab all rounder, and as we agree, it has its limits, and lovely refinements too ...
With MANY camping trips, festivals etc, my X5 has always lugged me out of 8" mud without any issues.. so I'm more than happy with it... and all I need to do to it until next summer, is to put fuel in it...

Personally, I like the nice X5 curves, the pretty leather, the heated seats, and the fact I don't need spinal traction when I've done 50 miles...
Added to the fact that I clearly know the limits of the vehicle & what to expect from the road conditions..

Unfortunately, cars are like knives... people buy a penknife & believe they are Rambo !

[X5Sport]

We have an E46 330Cd vert to give us a reality check!!  That swaps ends faster than 535dboy!!  O:-)

Richard

[Pete]

Where I live it is very steep hills, lots of twisty narrow roads and plenty of traffic.  I found the X5 great at going up hills with summers on, but once the tread was clogged up it was like a giant sledge at times when navigating it downhill and around bends.  Switched to winter tyres/alloys and got so much more control and grip..