Agree with all, above: Snow Tars!

We have an '01 X, (pre-X Drive), and a CR-V:
there is no comparison in any category, imo.
GL,mD

That is a really bad idea for winter conditions. Makes sense for driving on soft sand, but not snow.

Tires is everything in snow but also snow condition, we had close to 2 feet(yes feet of snow in Seattle Xmas week). After rain for 3 days, I almost got stuck going up hill with snow chain on 1 year old Pirelli tires.
well being 19" wheel with 285 tires didn't help either.

Back into the garage, put the Dunlop performance snow tires set(no stud). It was way better.
In 20 degree cold my Pirelli + chain would be fine up hill not in 1 foot of slush though.

All in all CRV is not better than nX5 (maybe worst ) cause it's not even AWD, it's front wheel drive in normal condition then xfer case put torque into back axle upon slips. X5 is 40/60 front to back in normal condition.
The best would be 4wd with lock diff and off road tires. My neighbor is the first to come and go in 2 feet of snow in his subbie, up and down the hill of our private road.

I'll say go get the snow tires, if buying used just make sure the thread depth still around 9-10 of 32nd inch deep. The best deal was $950 from tire rack but with centering ring on 17" wheels. Not sure if they still have them. S/H was around $120.

Good luck, btw only drive in severe weather when you have to, other drivers may do so without a good set of tires and hit you.

JCL. what you say makes sense about tire pressure. I have never found a reference for differing pressures on BMW vehicles.

interestingly, on a Hyundai I rented (they rent those things??), it said to lower pressure nearly 5 psi for winter driving (read manual about tires while waiting for ferry).

I think a couple PSI lower would not even be noticeable yet may offer a small amount of traction without too much detriment. we will only know if someone tests under same conditions...

:iagree: Tires,, tires, tires

I have an 06 Expedition and an 01 4.4 X5. Took off the 19in Performance tires and put on 17in dedicated snows. Michelin Pilot Alpins. We live in Buffalo off an alley that gets plowed once a year if we are lucky. It is solid ice underneath foot deep ruts.

My X is my daily driver and will pound through anything. I only drive the Expedition if there is more than 5 of us riding.

As everyone else said it's all in the tires.

Lowering tire pressures in winter is a myth that has been well-documented.

That Hyundai manual may have suffered from poor translation from Korean: your tire pressures will drop 1 psi for every 10 degrees F drop. A 50 F drop in ambient will result in a 5 psi underinflation. They may have been talking about an effect (which requires extra inflation to correct) vs an instruction.

nope, it clearly stated using lower pressure for winter tires.

hmm, i could have sworn it said less. i was in a 2008, this is from a 2006.

Snow tires should carry 4 psi (28 kPa)
more air pressure than the pressure
recommended for the standard tires on
the tire label on the driver's side of the
center pillar , or up to the maximum
pressure shown on the tire sidewall,
whichever is less.
Do not drive faster than 75 mph (120
km/h) when your car is equipped with
snow tires.

Anyway, a change in pressure is strange.

That just said more air than standard, which makes sense and corresponds with what JCL stated. I find that in wet/slick conditions I get better traction with higher pressures. Lower pressures is for at the track, rock climbing or on sand...

tires but also driver. mashing the go pedal and erratic inputs will get you into trouble no matter what. my 540 on UHP summers is still drivable on snow if your careful.