Winter/Snow driving suggestions
 

This is my first winter/snow in my 04 X5 4.4i. I don't have snow tires. We had our first snow here in Maine, and the X was much better than the Honda Accord that I had. I did slip on a turn but overall the ride was great! I will really appriciate suggestions from people used to driving their X's in snow and the do and don't!

Thanks in advance!
Sumo

Congrats, what type of tires are you running??

I use Pirelli Scorpion Assymetriccos!

best suggestion is to get a dedicated winter wheel/tire set

Dont use all season tires all year.
If you can afford it........
Pirelli scorpion Snow And Ice for the winter and some high performance ones for summer.
And dont turn of the DSC... its saved my ass a couple times

Agree with all posts here. X drive and dedicated snows make a great snow combination.

I noticed that when people switch to their snow wheel set, they swap it out to 17" or 18" wheels. Will 19" wheels with Bridgestone Turanza's be okay for going up to Tahoe? thanks.

swapping to smaller wheels is more the product of the available snow tires as they did not start makeing the snows in the proper sizes over 18 for the x5 until this year

Great advice from you guys, thanks. BTW, the 19" Pirelli front's are sold out on tire rack for the season! This might be a dumb question, but are these snow and ice tires okay to drive on regular roads that get plowed pretty quickly or will they get destroyed in no time flat?

the scorps do well on pavement expect three winters (depending on mileage of course) of use in mixed ice snow pavement conditions...dunlops are about the same...Blizzaks (bridgestone) wear away VERY fast on pavement and conversly offer about the same snow/ice performance...the 19 offered in scorp ice and snows were a special order only tire from tire rack this year although they do have the proper sizes in both 18 and 20 in stock in all warehouses

while we are on the subject fo snow tires I have a set of dunlop graspics with about 500 miles on them in a 225/55/16 if anyone wants them they come mounted on a set of pontiac wheels and i could use the beer money they might net me (since it beats selling blood plasma) so if you are interested PM me

I have no complaints at all with my 18" Scorpion Snow and Ice. Agree with above, I've had no probs with dry payment on warm days... no unusual wear (no noticeable wear at all yet, 2 short winters). In fact, I was pleasantly surprised that I could actually corner a little with the scorps. I was not expecting that sidewall and tread performance on dry days. Good luck with your purchase.