X5's and snow

[joncorry]

I was at friends today and we got onto the subject of spending NYE in the Highlands and this got me wondering how well the E53 would cope in snow. Mine is currently on non-winter tyres and I was wondering how well everyone coped in the snow earlier this year? My main concern is the size of the rears and will they bite into the snow? Also how well does the auto and traction control cope when it gets slippy.

Obviously upgrading to winter rubber would make sense but if I don't, how is it likely to cope?

[scooby1doo1]

With out winter rubber it's going be as expected, abit pants.

Watch some tube vids


Sent from the phone via talktapa

[AW8]

You don't state what make/type/spec/size non winter tyres you have.

Some non winter tyres better/worse than others in snow.

Current tread depth may be a factor too.

[pvr]

Difference on mine was being able to drive up pure ice and thick snow, whilst on the summer (M+S ones), same size wheels, I was all over the place.

[535dboy]

Normal tyres 275 & 315 - Rubbish !

[joncorry]

Thanks for the replies, it's currently on 255 & 285 x 19 tyres all of which are a mixture of accellera and 1 Nexen (all on the vehicle when I bought it) but they have a fair amount of tread (6mm+).
Just seen the weather forecast and I may be finding out tomorrow how it is in snow as the NW is set to get a bit! Still it can't be any worse than the M3 was!

[pvr]

Don't count on it, the X5 has the weight behind it to make it slide really hard

[535dboy]

[quote=""pvr""]Don't count on it, the X5 has the weight behind it to make it slide really hard [/quote]

Agreed - just leads to a bigger crash !

[g60renshaw]

Uphill they are pretty good, down hill on summer tyres they are hard to stop but the hill decent button can save the day

Jay

[AW8]

[quote=""joncorry""]Thanks for the replies, it's currently on 255 & 285 x 19 tyres all of which are a mixture of accellera and 1 Nexen (all on the vehicle when I bought it) but they have a fair amount of tread (6mm+).[/quote]

To be honest your location & tyre set up are agianst you somewhat.If you had said you had meaty Toyo Proxes all around I would have said you were in better shape than many. You still have HDC, 4WD & good ground clearance in your favour - just dont expect miracles on inclines.


I use 19" Diamaris all year around. Having driven on significant snow with this set up before I can say starting & stopping on inclines an issue. I once took 2 hrs getting the car off the driveway with the vehicle either static or spinning around on it's own axis.

Despite at times being a justified source of forum amusement, my lack of a winter set for 5 winters is frustrating. Sad to say but this winter I hope we dont get any snow !

[Smeeagain]

As has already been said it really depends on what conditions you are in and what you expect. However, I drove up the bealach na ba in Scotland last New Year in snow and ice with summer tyres on my 19" wheels. The hairpin bends up to 200 ft can be 'interesting' but take your time and you'll be fine. This year I have winter tyres on 17inch wheels. Google the road (or look at my link) to see where we were and what it is like - possibly the most dramatic and challenging road in the UK - at the foot of it there is a sign stating 'no learners, no caravans !
'http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bealach_na_B%C3%A0

[joncorry]

[quote=""smeeagain""]As has already been said it really depends on what conditions you are in and what you expect. However, I drove up the bealach na ba in Scotland last New Year in snow and ice with summer tyres on my 19" wheels. The hairpin bends up to 200 ft can be 'interesting' but take your time and you'll be fine. This year I have winter tyres on 17inch wheels. Google the road (or look at my link) to see where we were and what it is like - possibly the most dramatic and challenging road in the UK - at the foot of it there is a sign stating 'no learners, no caravans !
'http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bealach_na_B%C3%A0[/quote]
I know the cattle pass quite well from numerous trips to Applecross, the M3 was a hoot on it until I remembered how rubish standard brakes are!
This year, it's just as far as Glengarry where our house is but that still means tackling Rannoch in Winter!

[dirtymonkey29]

I picked mine up last jan (3.0d 54 plate facelift) after it put a load of snow down. I'm on 19" staggered and it was all over the place and went sideways when I turned in to a petrol station to get diesel. This year I got a set of 17's same size on all four corners. They came with Michelin mud and snow tyres ( more of an all season tyre), one tyre was scrap so I replaced the lot with vredestein wintrack extreme winter tyres on recommendation from this forum Friday just gone, luckily as its snowed today and I was over the yorkshire moors and a car had left the road. I hope they perform as well as I've heard.

[5wany]

I drove my one last year on 20's (315 rear /275 front) in and around Edinburgh / Linlithgow / Fife last winter where upto 1/2m snow had fallen over the winter & never lifting / melting from road due to the extreme cold through day time.

OK council snow shovels kept the height down a bit but I only got stuck once when crossing a road junction where plow had piled the snow quite high and I got front e53 through it and rear got stuck. 5min digging a clear bit at rear wheels with a £10 shovel, then drove off.

If u can drive and are confident enough with ur driving ability you'll be fine.

TBH most people get stuck as they dont know how to read the road conditions (black ice / compacted snow /slush /fresh snow etc.....)They either drive too fast (crash) or too slow (get stuck).

Though in my defence I am a native of Scotland who grew up with bad winters and did roll my capri down a hill side during heavy snow when I was 19. Now that was a car for fun in the snow, dont know how me & my mate survived that one, both of us totally unscathed (seat belts worn), ended upside down in a frozen stream bed with a rock burst through windscreen bang in the middle of me & my mate. though my mate had a limp the next day as his dad booted him in the leg after the accident for allowing me to drive over a hill road in bad weather (I was still on L plates).

OP Save your money and buy a fold down shovel (about £20-25 for decent variety) put it in the boot. Use HDC when needed and just stay sharp.

[fenj66]

i run 19 inch diamaris and managed last years snow and ice without issue in hilly devon. obviously driven more gingerly given the conditions. but im not thinking of winter tyres needed for me.