How bad is the 19" sport wheel with Diamaris in Snow.

[BatKing]

Hi everyone,

Just want to know how bad is the 19" with Diamaris in snow? I live in SF bay area, so normally I don't see any snow except if I am going to Tahoe.

Now, this coming chirstmas will be the first time I will drive the X to Tahoe. Will I be fine with the 19" and Diamaris? or I am just playing suicide?

Thanks.

[Krunk Man]

I;ve driven the 19s with diamaris in the slow a couple of times and it wasnt that bad. You could get away with it but getting snow tires will make you close to unstopable.

The problem is when its gets really cold that the tires will really start to slide.

[SiLvX5]

I did it on bold tires with no chains on!! feels like ice skating on the snow, very VERY dangerous i wouldnt recommend 19" on snow

[Kewl X5]

Just got back from Reno/Tahoe & Mammoth Lakes area after they got some snow. I have 19" wheels with Pirelli Scorpion Zero A

I originally had Diamaris tires a few years ago and they just plain SUCK in snow.

Don't even bother using the Diamaris

However, I now have Pirelli Scorpion Zero A which is a high-performance all-season tires that do well in the decent snow. You assume CalTrans & Nevada DOT will plow.

I did drive through 18" of fresh snow with the Pirelli Scorpion Zero A with no problems.

[BatKing]

Thanks for the info.

now my Diamaris has about 26K miles on them and seems can still last about 8K to 10K miles. I am trying to avoid to get a second set of wheels and tires just for going to Tahoe. the next set tires I won't get Diamaris for sure. maybe the Lititutde.

I will see how bad the Diamaris in snow this Chirsmas. I did manager to drove my 92 Legend without chains on the snow last year for 40 miles on the 80. only could do 20 to 30 mph. I guess with the XDrive, it should at least better than the FWD legend without traction control.

[yeowzer]

I've driven in 3 or 4 early snow storms this year with my 20's and Diamaris without any problems. If I didn't snowboard every weekend I wouldn't have a second set of wheels.

[phil47]

Originally Posted by BatKing

Thanks for the info.

now my Diamaris has about 26K miles on them and seems can still last about 8K to 10K miles. I am trying to avoid to get a second set of wheels and tires just for going to Tahoe. the next set tires I won't get Diamaris for sure. maybe the Lititutde.

I will see how bad the Diamaris in snow this Chirsmas. I did manager to drove my 92 Legend without chains on the snow last year for 40 miles on the 80. only could do 20 to 30 mph. I guess with the XDrive, it should at least better than the FWD legend without traction control.

Not sure if your Legend had all-season tires or not, but the Diamaris is a performance summer tire...so I'm not sure that it will be better than your fwd Legend was even though the X5 has 4wd....

The Diamaris are DANGEROUS in the cold and snow

[seventhirteen]

I agree with the don't bother with the 19" Diamaris in the cold and snow. We had a bit of snow and ice in the Seattle area a few weeks ago before I got my winter setup. I managed to get around okay on the Diamaris but was not very confident and definitely started to slide around. After switching to 18" Dunlop GrandTek WT M2 I've had no problems with heading up into the snow and ice to do some skiing. It does amaze me seeing all the folks driving in snow on summer only tires. I chuckled at them as they spun trying to navigate the parking lot.

[JCL]

Batking:

OK, I don't have the Diamaris, but I was surprised by how this thread went. Here is what I saw:

Your question:

• How bad are the 19" in the snow? Is it suicide?

The Answers (abridged version):

• Not that bad. The tires will really start to slide.
• Feels like ice skating, very dangerous.
• They just suck, don't even bother.

Your response:

• Thanks. I am going to do it anyway.

The subsequent warnings:

• They are dangerous in the snow. They are performance summer tires.

And now my additional warning: Don't do it. You asked if it was suicide. Maybe, but even worse, it could be homicide. If you are lucky, you will be stopped by the highway patrol before you get there. Why would you think about taking summer performance tires into the mountains when you expect snow? Your AWD may help you get going, but it does nothing to help you stop. If you don't want to buy proper tires, fine. It is hard to justify for one time per year. Just use the money you save to rent a 4x4 from Hertz for the trip. Other drivers on the road will thank you. And best of all, your X5 will stay clean, dry, and undamaged at home.

[Boston X5 4.4]

Agree fully with JCL for the same reasons- don't do it.