All-seasons in snow
 

In general terms are all-seasons (18's or 19s') good in the snow combined with X-drive? I'm considering buying some take-offs already mounted with all seasons (brand new). First hand experience would be helpful.

Thanks.

All seasons are OK, snows on 18s are better. :thumbup: You're better off with non staggered set ups.

In general, no. You have a high-tech vehicle with an advanced all-wheel drive system. Putting inappropriate tires on it limits the performance to the traction that the tires have. You don't need deep lugs so much as you need a cold weather rubber compound. A summer compound becomes very hard (with no traction) in the cold, whether or not you have snow.

Yes, you can get by. Many do, and I have done so as well. Remember though that AWD does nothing to help you stop, though, and drive accordingly.

If you are prepared to drive another vehicle on days when you have poor driving conditions, it is a reasonable approach. That is what I did. I also got by with all season tires on a 325xi at times, simply because the vehicle was so much lighter. The X5 is heavy, and I was OK unless we had real snow, or a freeze-thaw.

If you are buying wheels and tires, I would get winter tires.

:iagree:
I ran my E90 with stock All seasons through this last winter in Maine (heavy snow) and it took a lot to get the car to lose traction, however if you forsee yourself being in a snowy climate for a couple seasons, its definately a good investment. Use crappy rims, because they'll get wrecked.

I only have one set of rims and just change the tire between all season and snow tires at a tire shop. This way I don't have to buy a whole set of rims.

Not only is this inefficient $ wise, it's bad for the integrity of the tires to mount/dismount tires as often as you will be doing.

:iagree:

I agree with this. I bought my winter wheels and tires for around $3,000. That's a small price to pay and it's not much hassle to change each season to be sure that I have the right tires on my X5 for the season. I drive fast and I love the X5's traction and handling --- I wouldn't want to have worry that I've got a performance SUV with some non-optimal tires installed.

Changing the wheels gives me an excuse to go the dealership too just to see what's going on there :) I haven't had to go there for a single problem in the 10 months that I've had my E70 X5!! :D

I ever you want to come by Quebec province, keep in mind winter tires become mandatory the winter. All seasons are not an option anymore.

Are you sure even out of province visitors are required to follow this rule as well? That doesn't seem too fair, if you're just passing by or visiting Montreal for a day, you have to spend an arm and a leg to change the tires?