Has anyone just gone ahead and used the 20's in the winter?

[mellow_sparky]

Our sales person has an X5 with 20's and he said don't even think about taking them up in the snow for skiing.

We've had our 3.0si sport package wheels (19" with 255 all weather tires) up on snow covered dirt roads in the back country for cross country skiing - not a single problem. The car performed perfectly.

Now, of course, the tires were brand spankin' new. That also makes a difference. 20's with brand new rubber may be passable in some snow conditions; but tires that are a couple years old? no way.

[KEF]

Originally Posted by Tainui

I have the factory 20's and dunlop sport maxx's and twice had more than 6" of unplowed snow in Vermont this winter. No problems with the set up. Better (winter) tires will stop quicker but driving within both the vehicle's and your abilities you'll be fine.


If there is ice, it doesn't matter wether you're on snows or not. Many people will say the sportmaxx's were terrible on an inch of snow. My experience is that the initial snow fall melts to form ice and then the inch of snow accumulates on top. Very bad. Take it easy and you'll be fine.

Quite possibly the worst advice you could give somebody on this subject.

[soldmystang]

maybe they just call them "summer tires" because the guys in marketing were hungover that day.

i wouldn't have a set of tires i had to wonder about on any given day. dude, if you get the 20's you will need a set of winter tires. even here, where we see no appreciable amount of snow, we understand a "summer tire" is seriously affected by temperature.

go for the 24 month lease. maybe you will luck up and survive it.

[rh71]

I've heard numerous times from numerous people saying the 20" summer tires were basically sleds in the snow. As in your life would be in danger type of useless. Do what a lot of people have already done and don't order the 20s from your dealer. Do it aftermarket where you can get all-season 20s on and drive with them full-time. Swapping twice a year = pain in the friggin rear.

In contrast, I've heard from more than a handful of 20" all-season owners that they are perfectly fine in the snow. I was debating this myself for quite a while. You want Michelin Latitude Tour HPs or Toyo Proxes S/Ts. One other benefit (in my opinion) is that these non runflats give a MUCH softer ride (coming from runflat 19s).

[awesomejun]

I think I was the only one driving with 20s during winter in upstate NY.
Used 20''s during the winter, and it wasn't extremely bad...(Since I'm still alive!! )
Well... I was mostly driving like a priest.. but it was kinda fun to enjoy the numerous unexpected drifts.
Let me introduce my "3TON SLED" which gave me an incredible driving experience during this winter!!!

[KYZRSOSE]

Originally Posted by awesomejun

I think I was the only one driving with 20s during winter in upstate NY.

I was out as well (in the Bridgestone's.) I felt like a postman.

[atlas]

Could you drive at 40kph/24mph in the snow on 20s without winter tyres? With chains on the rears?

[rh71]

Originally Posted by atlas

Could you drive at 40kph/24mph in the snow on 20s without winter tyres? With chains on the rears?

Just don't use summer tires. I was in all-seasons and played around in the snow, purposely trying to slide out and the traction control did a good job. 24MPH was a simple task. I drove on the highway at the speed of the rest of traffic also with no problems... just don't do anything abruptly. When you say 20s people automatically think summer tires (OEM setup) when you can very well change them out.

[poleposition]

of course you can but it's just really really stupid

[TYMSMNY]

^ I traded in those stock RFTs in for those Toyos Proxes ST II on the 214 rims. Summers + ice + downhill = dangerous!