Going to Tahoe for the Snow for the first time
 

I got the 2002 X5 3.0, but I've got Brisgestone Dueler HP Sport, I understand not snow tires.

Any advice? I am completely clueless about this trip and getting a little stressed to be honest. Going on Dec 19th.

Also, I have a 328i, it is obvioulsy not 4x4 but it has Michelin S+M tires on, am I better off?

post edit - I just realized those are summer tires!! If you wind up in snow or ice you are in trouble. Not recommended!

But if you end up driving in the snow and are on all-seasons or snow tires:

1. Allow yourself extra following distance to the car in front of you. It just gives you more time to brake and react to anything that happens. In the same regard, if someone is tailgating you, let them by if at all possible; you don't want them to slam into you if you have to brake.

2. Everything in moderation. No hard acceration, braking, or steering. All wheel drive is great for getting up to speed faster than a similarly equipped 2 wheel drive car, but awd is no advantage in braking. Probably lots of SAV accidents happen as a result of a great system that gets folks up to speed and gets them over their heads at speed!

3. Make sure your washer fluid is full and it is rated for freezing temps and that you are familiar with your defroster controls!

4. Have fun!

When I drove up to a ski resort near Tahoe, with all-season's on my SUV, it made no difference (to the "officials") when the weather got bad. I HAD to put chains on. So it depends on where you need to go when you get there...

#1 turn off your DSC when stopped or not cruising down a fairly clear highway(or road). You will be stuck in 3" of snow if you stop and try to pull forward with DSC on. The X will just sit there and burn the brakes as the DSC tries to stop the wheels from spinning. If you leave the DSC on until you make a run up a step incline you will be stuck halfway up and lose the momentum you needed from the spinning tires. Next, the hill decent control(HDC) is your best friend if you are going down a step incline that is snow or ice covered. If you use the brakes the tail end will come around. The HDC will walk you down with individual wheel braking. I have used HDC on a roller coaster like snow and ice covered road in Co. Leave it on, drive to the crest of one hill, let off at the crest and have the HDC walk you down the backside (It will kick back in when you let off the gas). My worst experiences with this was on the Michelin MXV4's. Great for everything but snow. For the last six years we have had a set of winters, Pirelli scorps ice/snows. Incredible, my wife thanks me every year, the things barely wear. Turn of the DSC go about anywhere, depths to a foot. Read about DSC and HDC in your manual.

I am officially scared to death...I really don't have the option of having different tires on at this point.

The other question I have is this, if I end up having to have chains on, do I need them on all tires? or just the back (or front) ones?

I do understand DSC should be off once on chains.

I also have a '99 328i, it is obvioulsy not 4x4 but it has Michelin S+M tires on, am I better off?

those guys are nuts w/the chains there! We were 500 feet from entrance to Alpine Meadows and were forced to stop and put them on in a blizzard. Buy them now and practice. We had to patronize one of the several entrepreneurs who stand there selling them to all the morons (us) who didn't have them. They make an unbelievable difference. Be careful. Where are you staying/skiing? I love Squaw. Very jealous.

...friends rented cabin, not even sure where on south tahoe. Thing is, I have these oversized tires (for the x5 3.0) 285/45 19" (back) and 255/50 19" (front).

Question still stands: Do I need them on all four?

Is there a place (online) where I can find them?

We were in a fwd saab and only put them on the front. We definitely should have paid the guy the extra $20 to put them on. It's not too hard, you just lay them on ground and drive over a bit and then fold them up and around and clip them. You can get them anywhere along the route (ie: gas stations etc). I don't think you need all 4. I wouldn't worry too much until you are there...maybe it will be dry. If not, chains will turn those racing slicks into awesome snow tires! Have a blast.

joe

I recommend never turning off DSC when moving. Particularly for an inexperienced winter driver, stability control is very valuable.

You won't burn the brakes unless you are using far too much throttle. The brakes will be applied on one wheel, to allow the other wheel on the same axle to drive. Turning off DSC doesn't stop the brakes from being applied.

If you are at a full stop, and try to get going but can't because you have no traction, DSC will apply brakes to the spinning wheel. If both wheels are spinning, DSC will reduce throttle, so the engine won't go above idle. That is when you turn DSC off, to allow wheelspin. You can try to churn through the snow, and if you get some traction the vehicle will move. As soon as you are moving again, turn DSC back on.

Rent a vehicle with winter tires. If you are only going once, it is cheaper than buying the proper tires.