X5 in the snow: what's the consensus?

[Shez1878]

After 2 weeks of driving in the snow without winter tyres I have to say the E70 performed fantastically.

Infact, summer tyres with excellent tread diminish the need to spend hundreds of pounds on winter tyres.

Very happy!

[pvr]

I had no choice on the E53, I slid down the drive on summers and putting winters on changed the character completely. Driving in France in the snow in the mountains as well - very sure footed.

On the E70, I did not take the risk and got winter wheels straight away so I have no idea what it would be like in the snow without them.

[Black X5]

Having had mine without winter wheels (last year), and with (this year), here are my thoughts: (both comparisons with new Bridgestone RFTs- 20" summer and 19" winter).

Without:
-Never got stuck as such, but above 40mph car felt unstable and 'shaky'
-Traction control was kicking in regularly
-Stopping was the biggest problem- car went into a skid at the slightest heavy braking
-Going up inclines was challenging- loss of traction (but still got me up)

With:
None of the above.  It is a big cost but well worth it IMHO. It felt boring to drive because the car felt so 'normal'.  In the snow you expect sliding and skidding but this was massively reduced.

Not a direct comparison- but a friend of mine with an XC90 got stuck going up a small incline last week- me following in the E70 with winters no problem at all.

Winters for me every time from now on. )

[Horizon]

I bought some Vreds extreme wintracs last year and leave them on 6 months of the year.
I went out playing in the snow last night, fantastic go anywhere never lost any traction even in 12" of drifting snow on a fell road where no one had gone in the snow.
Mine are like for like staggered set up 285-19 rear and 255 - 19 front, no need to get thinner wheels in my opinion.
The only time i saw the traction control light is if I floored it, even then it would accelerate up the inclines.

[X5Sport]

I have a staggered 19" setup with Pirelli Scorpion tyres on the X6 and it feels fine.  A couple of places had packed snow which needed the 'snow mode' on, but otherwise no issues at all.  As with your E70 it feels almost normal.....not that I would trust it if I tried driving completely normally though.  That might be throwing too much caution to the wind.

With the snow now melting fast here the fun is almost over..

[jaynana]

i think the summers also wear out faster in teh winter conditions, because the rubber becomes more brittle.

the winter rubber i suppose is designed for that temperature..

[X5Sport]

It is.  Use/performance is best below 7C.

[Runningman35]

Hi All,

New to the X5 and forum and just had mine a day before the snow arrived.

Interested in your experiences with snow tyres and/or all seasons. Mine has the staggered M Sport 20" inch rims that most seem to have, and Bridgestone Duellers on the front and Dunlop's on the back.

Managed up most Grampian hills in the last week no problem including beside Bennachie, and does slip about a bit but just need to concentrate on smooth inputs and slow steering movements where possible! HDC is handy as ABS in the snow is always a bad idea. Bring back a Cadence braking option for snow/ice, as a better option if you know what you are doing.

What wheels are people choosing if going for winters?

[pvr]

18 is the ones you need to clear the brakes, and also provides the cheapest tyres.

I got the SE wheels for my M Sport, works for me.

[Runningman35]

Are these the ones that look like the Ford Focus ST style Snow flake style? What tyres and wheels cost roughly?

Cheers for any advice but also thinking based on other threads that keeping the 20's for the summer months is probably best as probably get damaged if weather carries on like this for a few more months!

[pvr]

The SE wheels cost me £200 in the end on ebay after I sold the tyres to a member on here, and the winter tyres (Vredesteins) were £90 a corner.

So £600 all in.

[Runningman35]

Thanks will look into it ASAP! ::)

[Jalf]

The 21 inch dunlop sport maxx's were terrible in the snow, zero grip on snow worse than my old 3 series.
the winters are superb, hardly notice the snow at all.

[Raj]

Have to say this is the first time I've run dedicated winters and have to say they certainly instil a lot more confidence. Also glad my Alpina's can have a rest from the crappy weather too.

[Sanj]

Mine are coming off today.