hmmm..first winter snow and not too happy..

[user1000]

Hey Guys,
i recently got a 2005 X5 4.8 and i love that car. Sounds like a beast, handles like a sports car and has all the toys for me to play with.

Just got a great set of winter tires, dunlop grandtrek WT M2 on original BMW 18's but the truck is not acting the way it should.

I drove a navigator, hummer h2 and gmc envoy before. With winters, they were like a tank on the road. Now the X5 is ok, but nothing exceptional in the snow. It feels a little skiddinsh when it comes to stopping on a road with a little bit of snow.

Am i doing something wrong? bad tires? i spoke to a couple of X5 owners when filling up and most of them said theirs also dont handle that amazing on the road...

Any insight would be appreciated.

[Naz24]

hmm thats odd that u say that. I thought mine handles very very well in the snow.

Maybe since your used to the heavier hummers etc...

[Helmuth]

hm... see the same with mine. My last 4WD was a Renault Espace Quadra - great car in winter compared to the X. Maybe it is the weight of the X that is negative for great handling.

[kaptain]

That seems odd to me.

I was impressed with my 2003's handling in the snow recently. Mine has 17inch All Seasons. Braking traction wasn't amazing but I wouldn't consider it bad.

Looking at the specs of a h2 its 2000lbs heavier and the stock tire size has a taller sidewall. If my math is correct the hummer has a 2.4inch (60mm) taller sidewall. I'm pretty sure increasing the sidewall while keeping the width the same results in more grip in loose terrain conditions. Of course it depends on the conditions, for example Ice is different than fluffy snow.

03 BMW : 235/65R17
05 H2 : 315/70R17

[chilliwilli]

Not familiar with your tires...however, i run 20" dedicated snows and have had zero issues...of course, i keep within the limits of common sense considering the weight of the X5 (and that i run 20's).

Have you considered dropping tire psi? I keep the winters around ~32psi pending load.

[Helmuth]

I have 17" pure winter tires. Breaking is the part that makes me unhappy. Maybe it is related to the fact that they put tons of salt on the roads and that is a slippery mixture. When snow gets deeper I will do some testing. Have some great roads for that near here. Let's see....

And BTW: dropping tire psi is not a good idea. Winter tires should have a little bit more pressure then summer tires (+0,2 bar).

[mywidebody02]

Mine is like it is on rails with my winter tires. Assuming your x drive is working it is all in the tires. Pirrelli ice and snow.

[kaptain]

Originally Posted by Helmuth

And BTW: dropping tire psi is not a good idea. Winter tires should have a little bit more pressure then summer tires (+0,2 bar).

I think it really depends on the conditions. But I noticed rally cars generally use Skinny tall tires so I think that would support the idea of a non deflated tire.

However if you are on really deep snow, I bet an under inflated set of tires would be more useful, to make the car float higher up and not get bogged down.

This link says to slightly over inflate.

Meanwhile this article claims over inflating is a myth.

[Naz24]

Originally Posted by kaptain

I think it really depends on the conditions. But I noticed rally cars generally use Skinny tall tires so I think that would support the idea of a non deflated tire.

However if you are on really deep snow, I bet an under inflated set of tires would be more useful, to make the car float higher up and not get bogged down.

This link says to slightly over inflate.

Meanwhile this article claims over inflating is a myth.

isnt the point to "dig in" to the snow to hit the pavement so you have more traction and to not float higher up?

[c4racer]

Originally Posted by mywidebody02

Mine is like it is on rails with my winter tires. Asking as your drive is working it is all in the tires. Pirrelli ice and snow.

+1 for the Pirelli's here. And while it isn't as good as an Audi Quattro in the snow, the X5 is better than any traditional big heavy SUV or truck I've owned.