X5 4.8 Off Road?

[PAPI]

Originally Posted by PAPI

Going back to his original question about off roading 20´s against 19´s (or even 18´s):

The smaller the wheel, the biggest the meat (rubber) you can have to absorb bumps, hits and damage to your wheels and suspension components.
And about snow: I don´t know, the only snow here are in snow cones

I should have say "fit" intead of "have" ... sorry

[jpknupp]

Thanks for the replies.

I don't plan on doing any real offroading (i.e. canyons and backcountry), I just need to go on the occassional jeep road. I have a 4Runner now, and it is perfect for the mountain biking, road trips to Utah and Ohio (from Texas), and minimal offroading that I do. But it's not very exciting on the road.

I've thought about getting a third car--maybe a 335i, M3, or S4--for fun, but we only have a two car garage, and parking is a b*tch here. Plus, 80%+ of my driving is in the SUV, which is why I sold my S4 a little over a year ago.

I love all the technology, and better handling of the new X5. I drove an E53 4.4, and it was pretty fun, too, but not the same as the E70. I've never driven a 4.8is, but I have considered that as an option. I just don't think my wife will go for a used car--plus from what I here the ride is pretty harsh in the 4.8is.

I'm deciding between keeping my 4Runner and getting an S4 Avant, or selling the 4Runner and getting an E70 4.8, with a second set of all-terrain wheels and tires. What do you think?

BTW, are all-terrain tires as good in the snow as snow tires? Are they more durable? Aren't snow tires really soft? and wear quickly on pavement?

Thanks. Jeff

[Outrageous]

Originally Posted by jpknupp

BTW, are all-terrain tires as good in the snow as snow tires? Are they more durable? Aren't snow tires really soft? and wear quickly on pavement?

1. No
2. Yes
3. Pretty soft, but so are high performance summer tires. Snow tires are grippier in the cold.
4. Yes, to varying degrees, but so do high performance summer tires.

Nokian WR's ( http://www.nokiantires.com/en/tire_wr_suv.aspx ) are good for snow (they earn the "snowflake symbol") and can be used year-round (unlike other snow tires), but unfortunately they're not available as run-flats.

[jcreed]

from what you described i think you would probably like 4.8 x5 more. its true the ride can be a bit more harsh but looking at your other choices (m3 and s4), i dont think the x5's ride is worse then those, and x5 is perfectly fine for the type of offroading you are talking about. and since you want more performance, then the 4.8 might be more your thing then the 3.0. but why dont you go and test drive both cars and see which one you like more.

any all terrain tires are not as good in snow as snow tires. snow tires are designed for the snow, all other tires made sacrifices in their design to serve a different purpose and i might be wrong but i dont think any general purpose tyre could out perform a speclized tyre.