winter tires?

[mcurcio1989]

I am sure this has been discussed but the search function is coming up empty. Do you guys find winter tires to be necessary for driving in the snow. I am switching over from a 325xi which I thought handled awesome in the snow. Yesterday we got our first snow and I had to take the old xi out for a test drive after doing vanos seals (before I sell it) naturally I had to play around in the snow a little. After finishing up I grabbed the x5 to see how she would like the snow and it sort of seemed like it didn't have the same grab on stops as the xi but better traction from a take off. Not sure if the braking is due to the fact that there is a little less tread left on the x5 tires or if maybe this vehicle just needs winter tires to handle properly. I have a set from the PO (who lived way further north than me) that I was planning on selling but I am wondering if I should think twice. He only had the tires and not rims so it is sort of a hassle.

[Ricky Bobby]

Well the X is heavier, has extremely wide tires etc, I can imagine how the 325 might "feel better" in the snow.

Skinnier, lighter tires will grab better in the snow given that I'm imagining you have all seasons on both. I hope you don't have summer tires on the X5 (Michelin Diamaris come to mind).

Also, worn down all season tires on the wider wheels of the X5 will definitely perform sub-par in the snow, compared to a 325xi. What is the tire spec on the 325? Probably about a 225 section width, whereas the X5 is 235 if 17s, 255 if 18s, and 275 on the front if 20s!

I don't have complaints about my X in the snow, but then again if I drove it to be a blizzard carver, I would buy a dedicated winter set. My style 168 staggered 20s are equipped with Toyo Proxes STII tires, which are decent in light snow when warmed up adequately, but I definitely take it easier if there is snow on the roads. My tread depth is good on them, but just the massive width of the tires is more of a hinderance than anything in snowy conditions. However, for the amount of times I need to actually drive in snow each year, it's a non-issue for me. We live off of main county roads, not like out in the woods, and our commute is straight up highway miles, so those roads are always taken care of.

In order to find road conditions that my X couldn't handle, I'd literally have to be driving away from civilization out into the sticks of West Jersey or something in order to really feel the "need" for snow tires.

[Qsilver7]

I've only had my X for 1 yr...but one of the 1st things I bought last year were a set of dedicated snow tires (235/60/18 Michelin X-Ice xi2)...and I don't know how the all-seasons would handle in snow (my assumptions/thoughts were ditto what RB said in the post above)...but the dedicated snow tires made driving in last year's winter weather totally UNEVENTFUL...which is what you want.

Dedicated winter tires not only help with traction for acceleration, but also help with turning and most importantly...stopping. The tires you have mounted are as important as the traction control technology your vehicle has...in fact, dedicated winter tires helps xDrive/ABS/DSC perform their best.

The very last storm last winter (March/2013) dumped approx 15" of snow...and the temps were going to go up around 50 °F within the next few days...so instead of shoveling & snow blowing like my neighbors...I backed down the drive and up the street (totally unplowed) with no issues at all...as they all stood there...probably waiting for me to get stuck.

The pic below is what I saw when I peeked out to see how much snow had fallen and why I awoke to the sound of snow blowers buzzing away.

[racingbmwm3]

Depends on how much snow you get per year and how well the roads are taken care of when it does snow.
My E30 325iX I drove for several years taking it skiing to the mountains always just on all-seasons, never had any problems as long as there was less than 12" of unplowed snow. But, it always required some planning ahead for stopping and sometimes turning. Then I started taking my older daughter up to the mountains with me, so I finally bought some Blizzaks, and I'll never go back! Good studless winter tires are a must. If you can't stop, you shouldn't start.

What year/model X5 do you have? You should update your signature to show that, it will help with suggestions/diagnosis.
Pre-facelift X5's have a not so great open differentials (front/center/rear) and rely on traction control for moving. Facelifted X5's have Xdrive, which at least gives some proper power distribution (front/rear). If you have an early X5, I've heard some embarrassing stories of getting stuck at the bottom of slippery hills with just one tire spinning. Traction control requires at least 2 wheel speed signals to work.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by racingbmwm3

... I finally bought some Blizzaks, and I'll never go back! Good studless winter tires are a must. If you can't stop, you shouldn't start...

...that is the same decision I came to as well...once I had gone through my first winter (2002/2003) with a set of snow tires (they were Michelin Arctic Alpins back then)...I committed myself to ALWAYS having a set of dedicated winter tires for at least my DD as long as I lived in snow country.

My decision to get snow tires was after I sold my 4x4 Ford F150...and the only vehicles I had left was a 91 753iL and my 97 740iL...one of them was going to have to be my snow sled...and the e32 was chosen. I thought for sure that it was going to be a hair-raising winter giving up the 4x4 because the 735iL only had BMW's initial ASC traction control system (no ABS braking {ASC+T} on the driving wheels) which only used engine throttle reduction to help regain traction)...but I was so shocked at the traction/turning/stopping ability of the snow tires in snow/freezing rain/ice/sleet/cold & wet days/etc (as long as I drove accordingly based on the weather conditions...I never got stuck or sideways. After that first winter...I made it my plan to have a set for each vehicle because you never know when an emergency may have you need the other vehicle with summer or all seasons mounted and the weather is not suited for those type of tires.

In the long run...you end up getting more life from your spring/summer/fall tires by giving them that winter "reprieve". It's actually a win/win.

[mcurcio1989]

I'll update my sig but it is a 2004 with the manual (3.0) We really don't get much snow and last year we got hardly any but I'd say on an average year we get 1-3 4-6" falls and 3-6 1-3" snow falls. I have no concern about getting stuck it's just braking and maneuvering. The roads are generally kept clean and most all of my driving is on roads that will be among the first cleared. It sounds like I can probably get by without them but I am sure it would be nice to run these. I have never had winter tires before and I would not consider buying them its more a situation of should I pay to have them mounted or sell them.

[Ricky Bobby]

Well if you have the stick, then you already know that part of great driving in the snow is keeping in the correct gear, keeping the rpm's high enough, and using downshifting with minimal brakes for traction.

I avoid using overdrive (top gear) in the snow unless i'm on the highway and moving at a high rate of speed (and if its snowing heavily with accumulation I doubt the highway is going over 40-50 mph anyway!) and never lug the engine at low rpm's in the snow as you'll lose traction quick. Many of the problems of people driving automatics in the snow is that the tranny is always in the highest gear it can be and this translates to terrible traction/rpm load.

When my old man taught me to drive in the snow he told me 3 things:

1) Always keep the rpm's higher than you would if it wasn't snowing
2) Avoid your top gear at all costs if you can, overdrive will kill your traction
3) Downshift earlier and in accordance with light braking pressure, and use both brakes and engine to aid stopping, the downshifting will keep your rpm's higher which is in accordance with #1

I've never had a problem in 11 years of driving a stick in the snow, winter tires or all season tires equipped. Only problems I've ever had were with automatics.

[Riggodeaux]

MCurcio, the smart guys at eagbmw.com outside Cincy who sold me my X5 put Conti DWS all weathers on mine [sport package, 18" wheels] as part of the sale prep., and indicated they were more than enough for Ohio River Valley snowfall [maybe not for lake effect snow areas upon on Erie .....]. My very favorable impressions of the DWS in snow/slush on a much less snow-able vehicle [Mercedes SLK 350] in an Xmas drive last year to Northern Virginia suggests they will be all I need on my X5 for the rare snow/ice conditions I face driving south of the Mason-Dixon line ......

[ukrcan]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Well if you have the stick, then you already know that part of great driving in the snow is keeping in the correct gear, keeping the rpm's high enough, and using downshifting with minimal brakes for traction.

I avoid using overdrive (top gear) in the snow unless i'm on the highway and moving at a high rate of speed (and if its snowing heavily with accumulation I doubt the highway is going over 40-50 mph anyway!) and never lug the engine at low rpm's in the snow as you'll lose traction quick. Many of the problems of people driving automatics in the snow is that the tranny is always in the highest gear it can be and this translates to terrible traction/rpm load.

When my old man taught me to drive in the snow he told me 3 things:

1) Always keep the rpm's higher than you would if it wasn't snowing
2) Avoid your top gear at all costs if you can, overdrive will kill your traction
3) Downshift earlier and in accordance with light braking pressure, and use both brakes and engine to aid stopping, the downshifting will keep your rpm's higher which is in accordance with #1

I've never had a problem in 11 years of driving a stick in the snow, winter tires or all season tires equipped. Only problems I've ever had were with automatics.

Great point on using downshifting when trying to stop on a slippery road... but i am not sure i agree with your point about automatics...I use downshifting a lot when i break during winter using my automatic transmission and it works as well as a manual (maybe not as well but very close). transmission in our cars, when in manual mode, allows to keep RPMs high enough for car to brake. If a transmission does not have a manual mode - than you are screwed, i agree

OP...
We probably get a lot more colder days up here but i think winter tires are a must if your weather drops below + 5C (sorry don't know what it is in F) for a long period of time as the all season tire compound gets really hard and reduces traction. It doesn't matter if you have a 4 wheel drive or 6 wheel drive but if there is no grip with the pavement you will have difficulties stopping at the intersection of making a manoeuvre in the emergency situation. When it comes to driving through snow, my wife's X3 had no problems with all seasons driving through piles of snow that we get up here... things got a lot more "interesting" when she had to stop or start though...

[jsoto]

It's going to be a interesting experiment how well the Latitudes on 20"s staggard are in snow...I've never ran all season till this year.

I've always ran summers and snows but with the mindset of selling the X, I went with all-seasons setup for a easier sell...

Besides, aside from the brief stints when we get big snow, the roads I take are fairly clear, and I hated driving on gummy bears for the rest of the winter season when it was just cold with no snow..So if it's bad enough, I generally avoid being on the roads, as there are too many drivers who think they are invincible on a SUV.