New Guy, just bought an X5 - Winter Help :)
 

Hi all,

I just bought a 2011 x5 35d :D Should be taking delivery of it very soon. I ordered the sport package with the optional 20's (style 214 Y Spoke) which will be horrible in the snow.

I was wondering what a good winter setup would be. I have already really stretched by budget on this truck so I dont want to spend more then I have to.

I was looking at putting Michelin Alpins on the wheels and going back to summer tires in the summer but the rear wheels would have to be stretched. I am not a fan of this for both curbing and other pitfalls of stretching a tire.

Other option is to get Pirelli tires that will fit but cost a fortune.

What should I do? :dunno:

Personally, I'd see how it goes, obviously depending on the type of driving you do.

Two winters ago, I had a TrailBlazer SS AWD 400HP with stock 255/50/20's on it and drove through some of the deepest Chicago winter snow you could imagine, 20 miles one way to work and back.

My X5 has the 255/50/19's on it, so I'm just going to to like I did before, and take my time and should be all good, although I know yours will have the 315's out back so you might just need to take it a little slow.

Personally, I never once had an issue with my AWD SS with 400HP, and I love to play in the snow.

The BMW X5 with it's advanced XDrive I'm sure is just going to be even better.

Just my thoughts if you want to save some $$$ and you can control yourself in the snow... :D

update -> just stumbled on the Continental ExtremeContact DWS all season tire.

We dont get very much snow in Vancouver, would these all seasons with the x5 be good?

Its the most cost effective option $900 for 4 tires.

toyo proxes stII are also around that price range... also all-season.

Frankly I don't know why they give you high performance summer tires on this "truck" even if it's a sport pack... too much hassle changing out twice a year, plus they wear fast.

Couple pics of my '08 TrailBlazer SS AWD. I really wish I would have kept this vehicle...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/...083478ee_z.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2536/...8505f841_z.jpg

rh71-

Love your X5!:bow:

Vancouver BC? Or Washington?

Winter tires aren't about the depth of the snow. They are about the temperature, and the appropriate rubber compound for that temperature. Summer tires are soft, and will go very hard and slippery, when it is cold. You don't need snow to have problems. AWD helps you go, it doesn't help you steer or stop, and more accidents are caused by not being able to steer and stop, than by not being able to go.

Recommend you get a set of smaller winter wheels, and dedicated winter tires. That is what I did. Your truck deserves them.

:thumbup::cool:

You should be fine with all-season tires.... Most people do fine with all-season tires, 2WD and 1500 pounds less. Also, most people have no clue that summer and winter tires exist.

I've always changed out summer and dedicated winter tires, but with the X5 I'm going with all-season tires year round in Chicago. However, there are no mountain passes for me to drive through, just the occasional deep snow on flat ground.

The Continental DWS has great reveiws, I was actually going to get them, but they have been backordered for a while. I went with the Yokohama Avid Envigor which also has great review and as a bonus are cheaper. I just got an email they shipped today.

If you could just get this through to people, Im new to this forum but I have said the same thing 1 million times.

Why is it that the only part of your whole car that touches the ground is the part that nobody cares about, all the driver aids in the world can't do anything if the tire will not grip.

You would not wear runners skating so why should your car?

Smaller wheels and winter tires all the way and studded if you can, the sound of studs is way better than the sound of hitting a pole.