03 4.4, live in the "snow belt" of Oregon. I have driven my X my 540 my 1 ton dodge and my m3 all around in the snow with my normal tires and have not had a problem at all. The X5 is the daily and most of the roads have been snowed over or been sheets of ice for the last 2 weeks. Even if I am "playing" around with the gas the ass end has never came around on me. I agree that tires can be a factor in driving in the snow, but the driver is a big factor as well.

As far as requiring people to install snow tires, that ridiculous. Here most everybody is scared of the winter weather so they get the studded tires put on, have you seen the damage they do to the roads? That should be illegal and the tires should be outlawed. I once read an article that stated that in Oregon the budget for repairing the roads was $25 million a year however drivers with studs on their tires cause almost 100 million in damage a year. That's the truly ridiculous part.

Yes!

These roads are so screwed because of studded tires. There's a law here in Oregon for that too!!

Different strokes for different folks.

Here's one for ya! Here we are dead in the winter, snowed over roads last Sunday, and this next weekend I get brand new tires put on my daily!!! Whoot whoot. I'm getting brand new DW summer tires put on:)

So if people in Sweden buys a new car in the winter it comes with winter tires and if they buy it in summer does it still come with winter tires or summer tire? After all, wouldn't a dealer be in non-compliance with the law if they are selling cars with summer tires in the winter?

Summer tires have all the traction of a billiard ball on ice or snow. Sorry you were surprised by that. But it's not the fault of your X - just get proper tires.

Getting by and being safe are two different things. You can get by with all seasons, but you rolling the dice more than you need to be. They also make snow tires that aren't studded, which is what I have. Most people here aren't afraid of snow, so they head out in les Schwab specials and cause serious congestion.

You could eat a nice juicy RibEye steak with a spoon if you had to...but a knive & fork would be so much easier. :)

Here's some short video that shows how much better winter driving is when using winter tires vs all season tires vs summer tires. Not only is traction better...but so is stopping and turning. A 2WD vehicle w/winter tires will perform better than an AWD vehicle with summer or all seasons:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2wTg0l3_wI


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGfvyPtYR0Y


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfuE00qdhLA


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elP_34ltdWI

Excellent vids Q!
Now I want to see a test done at 30* on dry pavement with summers vs. AS. This is the scenario I would see with my summers in the winter maybe two months of the year max. Anything below 40 with moisture I can take my X.

:D ... the most impactful results would probably show a shorter stopping distance on the all seasons vs the summer tires with temps around 30° F. since the rubber compound will harden quicker on a summer tire before an all season as the temps start to drop below 45° F.

Tires. Tyres. Tires. That what connect da car to da road.

I don't feel as if I am getting by, I'm fairly proficient with driving around in the snow, as we get it quite regularly. I'm way more competent then those guys driving around in those big jacked up diesel trucks who think they own the road in the winter. Here I have seen more cars in the ditch with winter tires then without, most of them women but still.....

I'm not doubting the ability of winter tires and I understand the rubber makeup is different then AS but if your going to be an idiot its not going to matter what tire you have on your rig. I have a set of snows from my moms old X3 I should put on to test this theory and let everyone know..