Thanks Dr. X5!

Would they still be the best option as far as price/performance even if I never have to worry about driving in snow?

Edit: Oops, just saw this was in E53 forum instead of E70. :)

I've had them on my '06 for 2+ yrs/30k miles and i highly recommend them. I bought just for winter use but $ got tight and i was not able to get my wish for 19 and summer tires so i decided to keep them on all time. Had used the DWS quite a lot in winter of 2010, driving up to DC, we find a lot of vehicles on side of road but x5 kept on going. Proven again this winter on road trips to NYC, so happy with them i decided to buy same tires for my e39.
X5 only wears 18 in case comparing them with larger sizes which may or may not make a difference.

Got another question....I live in the Washington DC Metro area and am looking to get my tires installed and front end alignmed. I bought my car from BMW of Rockville (formally VOB). Hence, I wanted them to install my tires and perform a front end alignment. The price they quoted me was outrageous! It costs $289 for the front end alignment (due to active steering --- also, only BMW can do this). It costs $80 to mount and balance each tire. I am looking at a minimum of $609 to have my tires installed. I am especially perturbed since it only cost me $51 to have new tires installed on my F-150.

I am hoping that there are places in the area that are a lot cheaper than the dealer.
Do you know of any?

Thanks,
Donald

I spent this past winter on a set of brand new Continental ExtremeContact DWS's, 275/40/20 and 315/35/20. I don't know how this vehicle does with actual snow tires in a smaller width, but with these things, it was nearly undriveable. It would accelerate decent, but braking or turning simply didn't happen. It was just dangerous. I can't blame it all on the tires, as I haven't tried a dedicated snow tire, or a skinnier all-season... maybe this vehicle is just terrible in the snow.

Previously, I had a 97 Explorer with a set of all seasons that was virtually unstoppable, and I still have my e30's which I usually run snow tires on, which are amazing in the snow (but they are small and light).


Other then the snow, I have no complaints about them. At this point I have about 20k miles on them, they are quiet, they have decent grip, great wet grip and hydroplaning resistance.

I can tell you its an unstoppable beast in really bad weather conditions with 18" Blizzaks. Do yourself a favor and get some wheels from a 3.0, or some aftermarket wheels and get some winter tires in the 255 width.

Turning, stopping, accelerating, everything is wonderful in snow with them. You get to experience the X-drive working the way its meant to. A 275 or wider tire, especially a 315 like ours in the rear is way too big for bad weather.

I drove back from Canada on a winter fishing trip this year, we had 6 inches of snow on the roads, unplowed, early in the morning and no one had traveled yet. 60 MPH and she was glued to the road. Accelerate almost like dry pavement. When we were on the frozen lake it would go anywhere, just raise the air ride up and plow through it.

I had 245/40/17 DWS's on my 330 and they were shit compared to some other all seasons I had. Ride was too soft and squishy in summer and traction much worse than average in snow/ice.

I figured it would be decent with snows. I have factory 18's with 255/55/18 all seasons, and they suck as well. I don't have x-drive, mine is an 02. But as I said, the acceleration is fine, it's turning and braking grip that is non-existant, and that's a function of the weight and the tires.

I do know that with open diffs, this thing will never perform like my Explorer did, with true limited slip differentials and a decent transfer case. I hate computer controlled shit... Even ABS. I took the ABS fuse out of my Explorer so it wouldn't kick in while I was trying to modulate the brakes.

I am really surprised by peoples responses in snow conditions with these tires. I am telling you, my 06, with about 6 inches of snow was a blast to drive. I was leaving everyone at lights. I was sliding sideways, and fishtailing in turns, and not a scary sliding, but on purpose, and very controllable, with DSC off. Oh, 4.8is, with 20s. I am sure if there was more snow, I would have to put on my winter setup, but it was way better than decent. I really can't complain.

Oh maybe because it was decent softish-wetish snow, not frozen solid. Maybe that's why.

Oh yes, the summer performance is a bit less than the factory Michellins. But overall, I would never put the factory back on, especially for half price, and the overall performance. It is still a very very very heavy car, and there is only so much your tires can do for you before you lose traction pulling some insane turn.

I just ordered a set of the ExtremeContact DWS. I have a set of dedicated tires/wheels for winter, but want to extend my use of the 20's a little bit longer into early winter and change over earlier in the spring, with a goal of minimizing time on the winter setup. Curious if anyone else has been running these through this winter. Anyone have more feedback?

I wasn't too impressed with the Diamaris, so it wasn't hard for me to throw in the towel and move away from summer hi perf tires.