How does ur E70 handle in the Snow???

[trueX5er]

Originally Posted by eddiek

I'm curious if everyone that has responded has the winter tires or not (at least those that didn't specify it). There's some occasional ice/snow as well as the occasional trip to go skiing at Mt Hood which usually isn't too bad (maybe several inches of snow at worst) for me and I was hoping the all seasons on the stock 4.8 (no sport pkg) would be good enough. I had some Michelin cross terrains on our Lexus RX which handled Michigan winters then Mt. Hood with no problems at all.

I have all-seasons on mine. You should be fine with them.

[seventhirteen]

Originally Posted by trueX5er

I have all-seasons on mine. You should be fine with them.

All-seasons should be fine for limited snow and ice action. Just carry snow chains in case. If you drove for 2+ months in some snow and ice daily then I'd go for the dedicated snow tires. It would help you avoid the idiots that shouldn't be out on the road. If you had sport summer only tires it's just plain stupid to drive in any bit of snow and ice with those.

[JaMarcus]

Does anyone have tire chain recommendations for 20" wheels with the sports package? Thanks.

[proveg]

Originally Posted by JaMarcus

Does anyone have tire chain recommendations for 20" wheels with the sports package? Thanks.

If you have summer tires on, dont even think of driving in at or below freezing temperatures, your rubber really stiffens up and you will be an accident waiting to happen. Summer tires do not have M+S symbol on them (that means Mud and Snow).
There are snow chains by BMW
PN 36110426949 set of 2 for 225/55R18 or 255/50R19 and retails at $500
I dont know if there is anything for 20" ones.

[X5audi]

As well as it does in any other weather... 18" all-seasons.

On a similar note, my A3 FWD plowed through it like a champ, thanks to my Pirelli snow tires. A Jeep Compass clogged an intersection because it couldn't get out of one icy patch, but the A3's DSC light only went on twice, and got through both encounters easily.

[kustjag]

Hey All,

I could use your advice. I live in Washington, DC/Northern Virginia and we hardly get snow, maybe a few light snows a year. I am getting the X5 with 20" wheels and there is only the option of the summer perfomance tires.

I really don't want to get a winter wheel set because I don't think it is worth it, never has been needed in my 15 years here. I am thinking of maybe having chains for emergencies. Is that a good idea? How do they work?

Any input would be appreciated.

[FineProperty]

Kustjag...if you can find a suitable all season tire, a tire store may swap you no charge for the more expensive performance tires.

As for DSC DTC, is there a sequence of button pushes that deactivated all of these so you can have fun in an empty snowy parking lot? And, when you tap the electronic parking brake at speed, does it stay on, or just activate rear brakes while pushed in like the Volvo electronic e-brake?

[rodybmw]

I'm in a similar dilemma. I want to get the 20" wheels and need to stay with Runflats because of not having any room for a spare with the 3rd row seats (at this time the only Runflat tires in those specific sizes are summer tires). I live in Los Angeles and we obviously have no snow here and hardly any times where the temperature is close to freezing, so the 20" summer runflats would be OK here. However, sometimes we do go to skiing resorts one or possibly two days max. a year....and even then most of the times the roads are clear of snow. So is it worth for me to consider getting 19" wheels instead of the 20's so that I could get M+S tires for the 1 or 2 days a year that we may be in snow? Would chains not work well enough in that situation for us?

Here are some chain options I found for the 315/35-20 tires. Their prices range from $73 to $425.



Spikes Spider ($425): http://www.spikes-spiders.com/catalo...tegory/?id=598







Farad SNOW tyre crampons (£144.85): http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbv...Tyre=315/35-20






SCC Super Z6 Chain ($73): http://www.amazon.com/Security-Chain...668311&sr=8-13

[y5choi]

Chains are not allowed in Canada if I remember correctly, but anyway I have the bmw winter tires package on and it is commendable in snow. the back end does kick out a bit when turning sharply without the DTC on (wet snow, about to 5-6 inches deep) but really the car will stay on course. Haven't tried any highway driving in the snow but i'd be too chicken to gun it anyway. its solid and its fun. hope that helps

[Denalio]

Originally Posted by proveg

If you have summer tires on, dont even think of driving in at or below freezing temperatures, your rubber really stiffens up and you will be an accident waiting to happen. Summer tires do not have M+S symbol on them

To all those entertaining driving with 20's in the snow or freezing temperatures, PLEASE heed proveg's advice. Don't do it it is extremely unsafe. I was caught last year in a freak April snowfall and it was scary with the 20's. Not only is the handling and control (or lack of) greatly compromised, but you can't even brake safely. You might as well be driving a toboggan with the 20's.