20" Dueler H/P's in winter - will I survive?

[X548i20"]

I'm going to look into all the suggestions. Much appreciated!
I'm pretty excited about being a first time BMW owner and am glad to be able to discuss/read about all things Bimmer here. Thanks again for having me.

Maybe I should've gone with the 3.0 model, but I fell in lust with the 4.8 Black Sapphire. It's covered by the CPO warranty until Fall of 2015.
Does anyone know if swapping rims/tires to a winter setup by myself will void the CPO warranty? Are the TPMs simple to reconnect? Thinking of all the above, as well as getting all-seasons on 18".

Btw, I just got the X5 last week and have been driving like a granny, locally. I hope hwy driving helps the mpg avg.

[Naz24]

Originally Posted by X548i20"

I'm going to look into all the suggestions. Much appreciated!
I'm pretty excited about being a first time BMW owner and am glad to be able to discuss/read about all things Bimmer here. Thanks again for having me.

Maybe I should've gone with the 3.0 model, but I fell in lust with the 4.8 Black Sapphire. It's covered by the CPO warranty until Fall of 2015.
Does anyone know if swapping rims/tires to a winter setup by myself will void the CPO warranty? Are the TPMs simple to reconnect? Thinking of all the above, as well as getting all-seasons on 18".

Btw, I just got the X5 last week and have been driving like a granny, locally. I hope hwy driving helps the mpg avg.

You can swap rims yourself without voiding warranty. Just get the TPMS sensors..

Also, my dealer doesnt charge me to swap my rims out each season, maybe yours will be the same?

[X-cellent]

I'd check EBAY for some nice 18 takeoffs from someones e70 and get a set of Blizzaks or the like for winter setup. When I lived up north i always had a set of winter and summer wheels. find a set thats hub bore fits your year (can't recall if hub bore size has changed...."search" is not my friend!)...

TPMS modules changed during production years (I think 2010 - again I'm being lazy and not trying the search function here) so you'd just have to make sure the set in your second wheels was compatable. once they're mounted i think you just have to reset the sensors in I'drive...swapping between sets of 20's on mine i don't recall doing anything, they just worked.

[stimulate]

I had the 18" Bridgestone RFT on my X5 here in MA. First winter ( tires had about 15K miles ) was scary on any snow. I put Vredestein Wintrac on the 18" rims and run 19" staggered Vredestein Ultrac the rest of the time.

[alexmish]

When getting 2nd tire set with their own TMPS sensors, make sure you get those (takeoffs) from cars built prior to Oct 2010, as BMW had changed sensors around that time (thus signal receiver on your car will not be able to pick up signal from sensors installed on X5 built after 10/10).

Or you can get sensors separately and create your own combo of rims/sensors/rubber. Just make sure to mention that you have pre-2011 E70 model when purchasing sensors!

[wsybert]

Originally Posted by X548i20"

I'm a newbie here and just picked up an 09 48i (err, see SN). I have 20's with Dueler HP's. I live on Long Island, NY and some of the winters can be cold, even though we had a mild one last year.
Is there any chance I can make it through a typical winter (4" of snow on ground but usually plowed within an hour, temps in the 30's) with these?

And anyone have an idea how many more MPG's I can get switching from the 20's to 18's? i'm getting about 10 city now, uggh.
Thanks.

Don't even try the Dueler's in the snow. I did this past Feb, right after I picked up the vehicle, and they are downright dangerous in the cold and snow. I bought a set of 19's with Hankook IPikes.
Also, a thinner width tire will yield very little MPG improvement. The 4.8 is a hog on gas. It is what it is.

[ard]

Originally Posted by alexmish

When getting 2nd tire set with their own TMPS sensors, make sure you get those (takeoffs) from cars built prior to Oct 2010, as BMW had changed sensors around that time (thus signal receiver on your car will not be able to pick up signal from sensors installed on X5 built after 10/10).

Or you can get sensors separately and create your own combo of rims/sensors/rubber. Just make sure to mention that you have pre-2011 E70 model when purchasing sensors!

Or get a tire pressure gauge?

[alexmish]

Originally Posted by ard

Or get a tire pressure gauge?

It is not about measuring the actual pressure (yes, make sure you do have a good gauge)... It is about not having computer throwing error codes that it can't detect presure in the wheels!

[X548i20"]

Haha. Ard, should I disengage the rain-sensing wipers too?
But seriously folk, are 18" better in snow than 19" with the same tires?

[alexmish]

Originally Posted by X548i20"

Haha. Ard, should I disengage the rain-sensing wipers too?
But seriously folk, are 18" better in snow than 19" with the same tires?

I used to have both 19" (on my 2008 X5) as well as 18" (on my current 2011, winter setup)... I say 18" is better as they are "softer" overall for winter driving conditions - better handle potholes.