Diamaris in snow?

[Budget M3]

Originally Posted by gbogh3

Which X5 do you have? I have done some research and it looks like 18 inch in the min I can go with the on the 2004 4.8. Any thoughts?

g

Yep, you'll need at least 18's to fit over the front brakes on anything larger than 4.4...and not all BMW 18's will fit at that. I have the recommended winter setup from BMW on my 4.6is (purchased at huge expense by previous owner) and it transformed my X into a TANK in the snow

[gbogh3]

Originally Posted by Budget M3

Yep, you'll need at least 18's to fit over the front brakes on anything larger than 4.4...and not all BMW 18's will fit at that. I have the recommended winter setup from BMW on my 4.6is (purchased at huge expense by previous owner) and it transformed my X into a TANK in the snow

Not that I'm looking to drop a bunch of $$$ on this little project...... Since not all wheels will fit, which one did you get? Any pics?

thanks
g

[Budget M3]

Originally Posted by gbogh3

Not that I'm looking to drop a bunch of $$$ on this little project...... Since not all wheels will fit, which one did you get? Any pics?

thanks
g

Not a very good pic, but you can get the idea. It is a style 99 in BMW-speak

[realchef]

Originally Posted by abster641

I almost killed myself in a local parking lot my first year with my X5. Going downhill, I hit a small ice patch and the tires were like huge skis. The fact that I did not hit a person or an object was due to pure luck. I have the 19" sports wheels with diamaris. I knew I had to get snow tires but it was not time yet. It was so scary, I walked home that day. I replaced the tires the next day with a set

put 18" style 153 and Vredesteins, setup works great.

[switchman]

realchef,,,i have same wheels as yours, thinking of putting same tires if your satisfied with them. i also read another thread where some guys run them year round but i won't be.
how are they on dry roads ? we don't get much snow here but i do travel to ny mostly during winter months so i need better tires than mich energy.
can u tell me where u got them 2?

[realchef]

Originally Posted by switchman

realchef,,,i have same wheels as yours, thinking of putting same tires if your satisfied with them. i also read another thread where some guys run them year round but i won't be.
how are they on dry roads ? we don't get much snow here but i do travel to ny mostly during winter months so i need better tires than mich energy.
can u tell me where u got them 2?

Switchman:
Only had the V's for 2 months and am quite satisfied. 9 out of 10.

So far, they have been quite good on dry roads. Sticky and quieter than Diamaris. In the snow, they have been above average. They have the extreme duty seal and are aprrvd to 149mph. It's easy to see how many people are running them year round.

I picked them up through
www.estrictlyforeign.com shipped for 850. I think they were 255/50/18.

[rvancil]

I live in LA and have a 4.8is and would suggest listening to the previous suggestions...I also drive up to Tahoe quite a bit and picked up a set of 18" snow wheels/tires this past summer...The 20's up in Tahoe are going to be completely useless, not to mention that if its snowing when you get up to Kaibers pass, they won't let you go through chains or no chains. Not only are these tires too wide, but when coupled with the 4.8's stump ripping power, I'd be surprised if you even made it a few inches in that heavy crud up in LT. Even with my brand new blizzaks, the 4.8 is constantly trying to stay hooked up. Also keep in mind that they have gotten 7+ feet of snow in the past couple weeks, you will most likely encounter a side road that still has 2 feet of snow on it unless you are driving straight into heavenly village and not leaving it.

Best car I ever drove in the snow(20years of snow driving) is still the old ass subaru station wagon 4x4 we had with 15" tires...that thing was absolutely unstoppable and had probably 90hp to the wheels! Haha

[///MB]

If you don't have any experience with the 20's in the snow, then it's probably best to avoid it. However, I have taken my car to mammoth a lot and a few times it was dumping snow. As others have said, it is VERY slick with the 20s but in mammoth if you don't go off on any steep hills and you keep your speed very slow, like 20 mph max, you will be able to get by. I didn't have too much trouble putzing around the town and to the ski lodge. Also, when you're rolling it will feel fine, but stopping is main issue. You just need to start slowing down well in advance, keep a lot of distance from the car in front of you and apply the brakes very lightly and gradually.

I don't have any experience with the roads in Tahoe.

[rvancil]

Getting up to Mammoth is a walk in the park compared with getting into Tahoe...If its snowing do not even attempt to drive through the pass with the Diamaris tires on, you will most likely end up off a cliff or in the side of a mountain...seriously.

If it isn't snowing you can probably drive in easy enough, but if you need to use any of the side roads you'll be up shits creek. Also keep in mind that the weather changes very quickly up there...Drove in last year with the roads completely clear and only flurries in the forcast for the overnight...woke up to 3+ feet of extremely heavy snow...Luckily, I had my Honda Ridgeline and had absolutely no problems...People were getting stuck all over the place.

[abster641]

Gbogh,
You already got the answer. I have a 4.4 and it can run the 17s. The 4.8 require the 18" because of the brakes sizing.
Good luck!