Need advice on snow driving
 

I live in northern California and we never get snow. We are planning to go to lake tahoe for a week but my concern is I'm using 20' Dunlop summer tire. Is it safe to use summer tire even with tire chain in snow. Anybody experience using summer tire in snow? And do
I need to have four tire chain? Thanks

I'm fairly certain that BMW states that chains are to be used on rear tires only. As far as the use of 20" summer tires... I have no experience with Lake Tahoe, but I would expect you could encounter a variety of winter road conditions, from slush to packed snow and ice. It is the packed snow and ice that I would be concerned about given your use of summer tires. Your steering response and braking dynamics will be severely comprised. Driver skill can go a long way to overcoming some of this, but your fellow drivers will have a lot of influence, and sudden steering or braking inputs may not be possible. I have read other posts from members who have talked about using all season 20" tires, but don't recall a summer tire on snow post. If you don't already have experience driving in snow, 20" summer tires on possible challenging roads conditions may not be the best place to start learning. If you are experienced, road conditions and the possible advice of other members may help you in your decision. I run dedicated winter tires each year, and while I could get by on the stock (18" in this case) tires, it would certainly make it much more tricker than it can already be. Good Luck, and if you decide to go with your X and 20" with chains, let us know how it goes (who knows, maybe the weather will cooperate and grace you with clear roads, but as you are already planning for... be prepared!

Good advice from ICX5. I run snow tires in the winter as well. Summer tires are useless in certain types of snow. There were some recent posts with video showing the difference between snow tires and all seasons. Summer tires will be much worse.

I have no experience with chains so I can't offer any advice on that.

Don't drive in snow with summer tires. You will not have control of your vehicle. Many threads here on this. You will not be able to stop, start or go around turns in the snow with any predictability. Chains on the vehicle are not the answer. Get all seasons or snows installed and then use chains if needed. Seriously, don't drive in the snow with summer tires, damage, injury or worse could happen.

I agree, dont drive summer tires in the snow. The tires will turn into a hockey puck and it will be very hard to get grip. You should do a search on youtube of "summer vs all season vs winyer tires".... Winter tires are a dramatic improvement even over the all season tires.

I will be changing from winter to summer tires annually.

It'll cost some money, but I recommend that you get some dedicated winter tires for your trip! You can't put a price on your safety!

I just had some Bridgestone Blizzak's installed yesterday and it's a Night and Day difference in how the truck drives on snow! Well worth the money spent because now if my wife takes the X anywhere, I know that she's in good, capable hands! I Definitely wouldn't say that with the 20's on, but then again, it was safe for her to drive as long as she didn't leave the garage! :D

There were a couple of people on this forum that had gotten winter tire setups for their X5's and swayed me in that direction, so I'm trying to pass that on (Thanks for your posts PolePosition and King and C's Bimmer :beerchug:)!

I drove ours with the 20's on it in the snow and while it went forward alright, it didn't brake and slid all over the place in turns! As a matter of fact, I kept it in the garage until the winter package came in and just drove our other car! There's a good chance that you won't be able to get my butt out of the seat as far as driving in the snow since it's gotten it's new kicks!

Good Luck and Please Have a Safe trip!

Here's the video that they were talking about:

YouTube - Tire Rack Tire Test - All-Season vs. Winter Tires

1. I live in the sierra foothills and go up to tahoe 1-2x per week, any conditions.

2. The Most Hated drivers are flatlanders who have no clue... they litter the road, drive too slow or too fast, slide into others, stop the chain control line to ask the inspectors dumb questions.... ("I'm just going to Tahoe", etc)

3. Chains are a joke. Chains are general not needed (if people had proper tires), but are there to make people drive slow. Why? See #2.

4. Nothing worse than seeing people driving around tahoe on barely wet and slushy roads with chains...displaying to the world their total ignorance about chains- either they don't know how to get them off, or didn't want to pay, or figure it is a good idea...

5. Summer tires will not have the right grip if you do take the chains off. Even wet or dry roads, if the temps are too cold those summer compounds may not be safe.

6. Chains on all week, or even for a short period of time, can break or come loose- SIGNIFICANT PAINT DAMAGE will ensue. ONE chain break and ONE revolution of the wheel can result in a complete fender repaint, and destruction of the fender liner. Or damage the rim itself depending on the rim design and chain installaton.

I need new geolanders on the front of my mountain beater- one side jsut at the wear bars the other past... when I was up there in chain control they were very, shall we say "challenging". But I grew up driving 2WD cars in snow 4 months of the year, and there was no 'chain control'... experience can make all the difference. If you were a skilled snow driver, maybe you could do it- otherwise it is a recipe for disaster.

If you are not going to need winter tires again on your X5, don't buy them. Simply rent a vehicle with appropriate tires. Nothing worse than summer tires in winter conditions, especially for someone not trained in winter driving (which is an oxymoron, because people trained in winter driving tend to buy winter tires).

thanks for all the advice. i just ordered snow tire and wheel package from tire rack, cost me 1400 including shipping.

20s were summer tires or all-seasons?

summer tire

Best advice I can give is: Go slower and maintain more distance to traffic.

Take a look at this video, which compares SUVs with summer tires, winter tires, and all-seasons trying to go up the "driveway from hell." Not unlike my driveway! YouTube - Ultimate Driveway Tire Test

summer tire in snow :stickpoke

I sugest you wait for the snow to melt
here up north, its not even an option

It's the law - at least in Quebec. They talked about making it the law here in Alberta but there's too many idiots saying it they can't afford winter tires. Like they can afford the cost of an accident. :confused: :rolleyes:

I was told that 20's and snow chains are not compatible :dunno:

anyway, winter tires are the only smart decision in these circumstances...:thumbup:

This is a great video of summer, all season and winter tires.

YouTube - Tire Rack Tire Test - Winter/Snow vs. All-Season vs. Summer Tires on Ice

Your best option by far is the winter tires. But you can put snow chains on 20's for sure because I have a set... I have driven my car on snow and ice and its scary!! I was lucky i had no down hill because i would have crashed for sure... even if you drive carefully at some point you will have to turn and brake... When i used the chains... (always on the front) the grip was excellent but I was driving like an idiot up to 50km.... I used spike spider chains... google them...

I believe the OP decided to purchase a winter tire package, would be interesting which size and winter tire selected.

However, since chains are mentioned again, I'll add this from the 2009 X5 owners manual (Not sure which year/model you have Alpha):

"BMW only tests certain fine-link snow chains, classifies them as road-safe and recommends them. Your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center can provide you with this information.

BMW X5: use is only permitted in pairs on the rear wheels with tires of the size

255/55 R 18
255/50 R 19

Observe the manufacturer's instructions when mounting snow chains. Do not exceed a speed of 30 mph/50 km/hr with the chains mounted."

Alpha's comments above are telling, that even with chains on 20" tires; "... its scary!! I was lucky i had no down hill because i would have crashed for sure..."

m3fil, would you share which tire/wheel package you went with (wheel size/tire brand, model, width). Hope your trip goes well, let us know.

i bought a combo tire and wheel from tire rack blizzak RFT for 1400. the are on sale right now

FYI-

Last time I checcked, California law requires you to HAVE chains/cables IN the car even with AWD + snow tires on the car. Not that you need to USE the chains, but technically you must have them with you.



I've NEVER been asked... as I recacll the law began in 2000 ish. So a couple of hundred passes through chain control and never asked.

Just saying-

A

PS I have a box of brand new cables. never used, that I toss in whatever AWD I am using that day. ;)

FYI, just drove over highway 80, and it was GNARLY. The X did great though!

Doesn't feel as "planted" as the 530xiT, but that's cuz this is the first drive in the X5!

I have 2008 MAY model and 315 in the rear and 275 in the front. I use my chains in the front only because if I don't then steering the car on ice is useless...:rolleyes: