Snow Passage
 

OK, some of you know that I have driven my X5 up to Bellingham, WA for a six month job.

I have the 19" performance tires and am currently investigating the snow situation here.

According to a few sites I've found, there is an average snowfall of 5 inches during January, and there can be an accumultaion of 1 inch on the ground.

I cannot imagine going through the expense of buying snow tires for a possible 1" of snow (if there is more than that, or if the X5 cannot handle light snow on the summer tires, I will just take the day off, take public transportation, or walk the two miles to work.)

But the real question is how does the 2006 X5 do in light snow with performance tires (around town - slow speed)?

I've driven my '98 honda civic in +/- 1 inch snow in tahoe with factory performance level tires (not performance at all). I think the X5 will do fine in 1 in. of snow;) ...thats just me, I'm sure others will give input.

I bet its nice senery this time of year up in WA

I drove my X last winter on all-season OEM micheline tires. Most times - they are ok, except pure ice... Especially if the local authorities cleans roads from snow...

Last winter, we got hit with a snow storm before I was able to put on my winter tire set up. I was running staggered 20" 87's, with summer tires, there was about an inch of ice with a few inches of snow on top... I had no major problems getting around, Definately take it easy, becuase when i wanted to "mess around" in the snow doing some donuts and stuff... it was waaaaayy to easy. if you are only expecting the occasional minor snow, I wouldnt worry
If you drive carefully and responsible, it will be fine.... stay out of the snow banks!!

First off I think Bellingham gets a lot more snow than that. My Nephew lived there for several years.

All the post that I have read renders the performance tires useless even in light snow.

I don't like the feeling of trying to make a left and still going straight!

I would recommend finding something.

It's your call.

FWIW:

I have years of driving in Colorado and the Rockies. The X has 19" with Daimaris. I made it through a few winters here in Santa Fe BUT only drove (crawled) it in town, 35 or less and without any major snow or freezing conditions.

Those summer tires suck on slick snow or ICE!!! Absolutley no control. On the crunchy, fresh or soft snow, I made do. It scared the hell out of me, sliding uncontrollaby into an intersection on a .5 % incline because of slick packed snow and ice. If the guy in that Chevy truck hadn't been driving defensivley, it would have been an ugly (me 5 mph, them 30) 4 car pile up.

I have given up and put a set of Vredesteins and 18" rims this year. Not worth the risk and I have ALOT of miles in blizzards, passes and living at 10,000 feet in the rockies.

The main reason is the tire compund itself. Below 35 it freezes hard and has no reactive capability, like a hockey puck, it just SLIDES.

I would look around for used all season tires you can trash later. Above all, always use common sense about the conditions.

check craigslist for tires and rims. super cheap. and even without the snow, the cold makes the all seasons hard like hockey pucks!

Winter tires (softer compound) are great for low temperatures too...

Agree with the posters above that the issue isn't the snow, it is the hard rubber compound, ambient temperature, and ice. You have summer tires, and you need winter tires. The snow is purely incidental, it is the cold that matters.

If you can park it on cold days, great. Trouble is, few of us have the discipline to do that.

I totally agree! I've tried performance tires in light snow and you definitely have to keep off the throttle. The back end of my X5 got really squirrley. Get some all-seasons. I bought Michelin all season 19" and they worked fine. I've still got the Diamaris for the summer.

i live in vancouver, and we get around the same amount of snow as bellingham. i have 19" too, and the X doesn't slip as much as i thought it would. in my opinion i think your ok with the tires you have on right now. it doesn't really snow that much, but when it does, about 5 inches of snow piles up, but thats about it.