Diamaris in snow?
 

Hey guys,

I've read that the Michelin Diamaris on 20" wheels are bad in snow, but just wondering how bad? I'm heading up to Tahoe this week and it's supposed to snow, probably a few inches. I drive to Tahoe once every couple years, so it's not worth getting snow tires.

I grew up in Chicago so I've got plenty of experience driving in snow, but I'm just wondering how poorly the Diamaris will perform in snow this week. Will it be OK if I drive slowly and carefully, or are they so bad in snow that this is a really stupid idea?

Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks

They are sleds in the snow.

http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...=diamaris+snow

I'm in Chicago and the Diamaris tires are downright dangerous in the snow. You might get some traction, but you won't be able to stop or steer. After 30+ years of winter driving in New England and the upper midwest, the X5 on my 19" Diamaris tires scared me with the first snow. I run 18" TSW wheels with dedicated snow tires.

surprisingly enough we had our first snow here this past weekend and my mich's werent all that bad !! if you drop the tire pressure down to like 25 lbs it helps even more !!

OP: Your Chicago snow experience will be of little value on the Diamaris. I grew up driving in Maine and thought the same as you--I should be able to handle a little snow as long as I go slow and have AWD. However, my 4.6is was downright scary on the Michelins in the first Colorado snow this year. You have at least two very important things going against you with these tires: 1) extra wide contact patch = very bad...the smaller the footprint (i.e. narrower) the better in the white stuff, 2) high performance rubber compound gets hard and slick (even on dry pavement) when the temp falls below 40F...you really need a rubber compound made to remain pliable in the cold

Agree it seems silly to spend $$$ on snow tires you will use only once or twice a year. I understand there are folks in Cali that will now rent you snow wheels and tires for just this type of situation. If you can't rent some snow tires and wheels for the X, then rent another vehicle for the trips to Tahoe. You won't much like driving a Blazer. Explorer, whatever for the week you are there, but it will make you appreciate your X that much more when you get home!

Think about not being able to stop. That's what these are like in the snow. Drive at your own peril. NS.

Prefect timing on the this thread.
Thanks for all the input guys, guess its time to clear a section next to the track tires for another set of rims for the X5?

g

I almost killed myself in a local parking lot my first year with my X5. Going downhill, I hit a small ice patch and the tires were like huge skis. The fact that I did not hit a person or an object was due to pure luck. I have the 19" sports wheels with diamaris. I knew I had to get snow tires but it was not time yet. It was so scary, I walked home that day. I replaced the tires the next day with a set of 17" wheels and Hankook Icebears. The ice bears are decent tires but they are really loud this year (2nd year of ownership). They also make a ton of noise at 80mph and over. I know I should not be going that fast on most days anyway.

YMMV

Which X5 do you have? I have done some research and it looks like 18 inch in the min I can go with the on the 2004 4.8. Any thoughts?

g

Z chains / cables
 

I put a pair of Z chains on my 20's and they are getting the job done. I'm in Seattle where the street clearing is non existent and we have plenty of hills.

I live in LA and have a 4.8is and would suggest listening to the previous suggestions...I also drive up to Tahoe quite a bit and picked up a set of 18" snow wheels/tires this past summer...The 20's up in Tahoe are going to be completely useless, not to mention that if its snowing when you get up to Kaibers pass, they won't let you go through chains or no chains. Not only are these tires too wide, but when coupled with the 4.8's stump ripping power, I'd be surprised if you even made it a few inches in that heavy crud up in LT. Even with my brand new blizzaks, the 4.8 is constantly trying to stay hooked up. Also keep in mind that they have gotten 7+ feet of snow in the past couple weeks, you will most likely encounter a side road that still has 2 feet of snow on it unless you are driving straight into heavenly village and not leaving it.

Best car I ever drove in the snow(20years of snow driving) is still the old ass subaru station wagon 4x4 we had with 15" tires...that thing was absolutely unstoppable and had probably 90hp to the wheels! Haha

If you don't have any experience with the 20's in the snow, then it's probably best to avoid it. However, I have taken my car to mammoth a lot and a few times it was dumping snow. As others have said, it is VERY slick with the 20s but in mammoth if you don't go off on any steep hills and you keep your speed very slow, like 20 mph max, you will be able to get by. I didn't have too much trouble putzing around the town and to the ski lodge. Also, when you're rolling it will feel fine, but stopping is main issue. You just need to start slowing down well in advance, keep a lot of distance from the car in front of you and apply the brakes very lightly and gradually.

I don't have any experience with the roads in Tahoe.

Yep, you'll need at least 18's to fit over the front brakes on anything larger than 4.4...and not all BMW 18's will fit at that. I have the recommended winter setup from BMW on my 4.6is (purchased at huge expense by previous owner) and it transformed my X into a TANK in the snow :D

Getting up to Mammoth is a walk in the park compared with getting into Tahoe...If its snowing do not even attempt to drive through the pass with the Diamaris tires on, you will most likely end up off a cliff or in the side of a mountain...seriously.

If it isn't snowing you can probably drive in easy enough, but if you need to use any of the side roads you'll be up shits creek. Also keep in mind that the weather changes very quickly up there...Drove in last year with the roads completely clear and only flurries in the forcast for the overnight...woke up to 3+ feet of extremely heavy snow...Luckily, I had my Honda Ridgeline and had absolutely no problems...People were getting stuck all over the place.

Not that I'm looking to drop a bunch of $$$ on this little project...... Since not all wheels will fit, which one did you get? Any pics?

thanks
g

Not a very good pic, but you can get the idea. It is a style 99 in BMW-speak
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3113/...76d9085526.jpg

Gbogh,
You already got the answer. I have a 4.4 and it can run the 17s. The 4.8 require the 18" because of the brakes sizing.
Good luck!

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I made it up to Tahoe without any problems, but there was less than 1 inch of snow on the ground. On surfaces that have been plowed and salted, traction wasn't bad. On surfaces that had some packed snow or ice, my X5 with Diamaris on 20s were sliding sideways while coming to a complete stop. Getting going isn't a problem, but like other posters have said, it's turning or stopping that's difficult.

This morning we woke up to about 6 inches of fresh snow. We're planning to head back to San Francisco this afternoon and there's just no way my X5 will make it. So we were lucky enough to find a gas station that would deliver and install chains for $140, not bad I guess. I foresee my 20" rims getting scratched all over, but oh well, at least I'll get home safe.

I'm definitely planning to get another set of tires or renting a 4x4 for my next Tahoe trip. This week all car rental places were completely sold out of 4x4 SUVs due to the holidays.

Merry Christmas everyone. Drive safe.

Well, turns out the garage guy who installed my chains did so improperly. The inside end of the chain became loose and severed my brake line. Now i have no power brakes and I'm stuck in South Lake Tahoe with my wife and kid. All garages, shops, etc are closed since it's Christmas and I can't get it towed to the nearest BMW shop until Mon/Tues. Looks like I'll have to find a car rental tomorrow to get home and leave the X5 with the towing guy until next week...

At least I have some sweet new chains on my X5! :(

Take/pictures whatever to document why they the brake line is severed. Could've ended a lot worse, at least you're ok.

When you say "chains", do mean "cable" chains?

What brand/model did you buy?

So sorry to hear about the chain mishap, but as previous poster said, at least you and family are OK--that's a lot to be thankful for on a day like this!

Wow, that really sucks... I hope everything works out ok. Good luck!

Dump the chains and get some other tires too if you are going to temp the snow. Good luck.

Hold on, I need to recap:

- You asked about whether the tires were any good for your trip.
- You were told "nope" by multiple posters.
- You went anyway.
- Realized it was a bad move.
- Paid a "mechanic" to put chains on your car.
- Severed a brake line.
- Got a rental car.
- Need new brake line and rim...and snow tires.

What did we learn here, snow tires would have been far cheaper than that adventure.

I'm new to the x5 world (my 04' 4.4 is 2 mnths old)
I have new snows on oem 19's (255 front, 285 rear oem size)
ITS AWESOME!!!
up hills, down hills, deep snow (and its lowered), any snow for that fact. ITs GREAT!

glad you and the family are ok mate, but I have to agree with Wagner on this. You really should have heeded everyone's advise and put some snow tires on that baby. I have the Diamaris on staggered 20's and she is quite content to sit in the garage until it warmer days.

should've read the manual... the billiant and very informative book tells you DO NOT put chains on the 20's...

Spikes Spider
 

I live in Seattle and have taken my '06 X5 4.8iS with 20" Diamaris up to Snoqualmie Pass twice so far and it's done great. Stopping and turning are the weak points, like everyone's said, but working the transmission seems to do pretty well for me (2nd to reduce speed, then neutral to stop).

That being said, I ordered a pair of Spikes-Spider Sport chains and just installed them on the rears today. They are the ONLY chains that you can put on this car, and at ~$465 a pair, they aren't cheap. But the quick install and good build quality help make up for the price, and it's a cheaper and more convenient solution than having a separate winter setup. I'm switching to all-seasons when these tires wear out though.

:iagree:
put 18" style 153 and Vredesteins, setup works great.

realchef,,,i have same wheels as yours, thinking of putting same tires if your satisfied with them. i also read another thread where some guys run them year round but i won't be.
how are they on dry roads ? we don't get much snow here but i do travel to ny mostly during winter months so i need better tires than mich energy.
can u tell me where u got them 2?

Switchman:
Only had the V's for 2 months and am quite satisfied. 9 out of 10.

So far, they have been quite good on dry roads. Sticky and quieter than Diamaris. In the snow, they have been above average. They have the extreme duty seal and are aprrvd to 149mph. It's easy to see how many people are running them year round.

I picked them up through
www.estrictlyforeign.com shipped for 850. I think they were 255/50/18.

Realchef,
Once the Icebears wear out, I will purchase a set!

You're gonna like 'em.

What tires did you buy?