My X5 is pretty good in the snow, when I run my Hankook IceBear snow tires. But my old Audi allroad with Dunlop M3 snows was far better. And my wife's Ford Explorer with it's Michelin Cross Terrain tires (year round tires) is also better.

I think part of the problem is the size of the X5 tires. I dropped from the OE 19" staggered wheels to a dedicated set of 18x9 TSW wheels with stock size 255/55-18 snows. They're too wide for some of the snow and can't get down to the pavement for best grip. My Audis always had narrower snows- my A6 ran 235/45-17, my allroad used 225/55-17 tires, and wife's Explorer is 245/65-17. All narrower than the 255's on the 18" wheels.

But the X5 is only slightly less capable than the Audis in traction in the deep snow. Reality is that here in the upper midwest we get a few big dumps a season, but a lot of lighter snowfalls, 6" or less. In this type of snow, the X5 with IceBears is fine. And while the IceBears may not be quite as good as a narrower tire in the deep stuff, they're great on dry and wet winter roads which is probably 75% of what most of us have during the winter season.

If it's any consolation, last winter in the Northwoods of WI when we had a huge snowstorm, I got out of our cabin's driveway and my BIL's Acura MDX was hopelessly stuck. Family next door couldn't get their X3 with all season tires to move at all. But their Escalade got out easily.

__________________
'04 E53, 4.4 Sport
'97 E39 528i
'86 911 Carrera, track car
'96 BMW R1100R