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.

Gary. try winter compound tires. you will be amazed....

When you say 19" performance tires...you should be a little more specific. I'll assume you mean the Michelin Diamaris. I can tell you from personal experience that these tires are downright dangerous in any amount of snow... and I'm a person who loves driving in snow. They can make a few inches of snow feel like ice. The compound is simply not suited for cold temperatures and lack of tread grooves prevents it from biting on snow.

You can get a dedicated set of snow tires... but for the amount of snow you mentioned, it may be overkill. For occasional light snow, I would recommend going with the all-season Michelin Lattitude. I switched to them from the Diamaris and love them. Its Michelin's all season tire that fits the X5's 19's in larger widths. Great treadwear rating, good handling in dry and wet, and enough sipes and grooves to do well in light snow. Drove it in four inches of snow last year and had a hard time making it loose traction.

Well, I got my answer tonight.

Bellingham was forecast to get one to six inches of snow; then it was reduced to one to three; then finally no snow at all.

So, I decided to take a trip tonight to a local casino (won $150), had dinner, and then decided to go home. Outside, there was 2.5 - 3 inches of snow.

Started the car, drove a few feet in the parking lot, and since it felt OK, I decided to go home instead of becoming a guest of the local tribe.

During the 26 mile trip to drop off a friend and get back to my apartment, I had no trouble with the go and the cautious slow, however, there was one incident where the X decided on it's own to make a left turn. I was on a down slope in a banked section of the road.

Getting the friend back to his motel was no biggie, but then I did have to descend a steep hill to get back to the apt. I crept down the hill as slow as I could and timed my entry into the intersection - where I had to make a right turn - with the changing of the light.

With cautious braking I was able to get down the hill without sliding, however, the turn was a complete miss.

So, now that I have personal experience I will say:

If you absolutely have to get somewhere in 3- inches of snow, the Damaris 19 inch tires on relatively flat terrain, the X5 can probably make it. However you have to go really, really slow - and hope that nobody on the road does anything that causes you to have to react.

These tires have plenty of go, but any kind of turn above 5 mph - or any sudden turn or stop is a good opportunity to customize your sheet metal.

I would NOT recommend that anyone use these tires in the snow unless they absolutely have to. So unless the streets clear tomorrow - Monday I will be a bus passenger - and damn glad to be one.

It was your lucky day !

150 bucks in the Lummi's casino and no accident with the X5 despite thoses tires...

I've just seen this Topic, I'm going to switzerland on next WE and I have my 18" weels with M+S BFGoodrich tires. That's the best equipement according to my snow driving experience.

Enjoy the snow today ;)))

Glad you are OK! Congrats on the 150! :p:
It's all about the compound, that summer rubber just freezes SOLID and you gots no chance at real traction.
Enjoy the weather while you have it.

its no problem crawling around on sommertyres in snow, the problem is stopping! if a child runs out or you need to brake the problems start. By a set of steel rims whit a small dim good kvality wintertyres, i supose its not to expensive. Its the chipest ensuranse you can get. Merry cristmas from Norway.

Spent $200 for s6 Z cable chains. Definitely wasn't going to blow a grand or so on tires for a few trips.

The chains are just for pure emergency... I have been enjoying the bus for a week.