I am taking my first long road trip in my X5 this month, which will take me from Atlanta, GA to Traverse City, MI. What I am wondering is how badly the X will handle snow with the stock Bridgestones? It has the sport package and I realize that the tires are "summer" tires and all but I am not about to buy snow tires for a week long trip.

What is your experience with this?

Thanks!

as long as you have snow or all season tires, and drive normal you should be fine.

Hasan

Yeah, just be careful, after I get new rims, I'll be putting on snow tires on my stock 18's...

The stock 19s have the Bridgestone ER30 tires which are the performance "summer" rubber. I can't be the only X5 owner around here that's attempted some winter driving with these shoes....

The stock 19s have the Bridgestone ER30 tires which are the performance "summer" rubber. I can't be the only X5 owner around here that's attempted some winter driving with these shoes....

Sorry man, don't get much snow down here as you probably know. Also, our X5 has only been on trips even further down south. It's a spoiled car, only likes to stay in tropical type weather.

I am taking my first long road trip in my X5 this month, which will take me from Atlanta, GA to Traverse City, MI. What I am wondering is how badly the X will handle snow with the stock Bridgestones? It has the sport package and I realize that the tires are "summer" tires and all but I am not about to buy snow tires for a week long trip.

What is your experience with this?

Thanks!


I'm in the same boat. I will take my X5 into it's first winter this year as well. Since the X5 4.4 weighs nearly 5,000lbs and has a 4WD system...as long as you don't race it through the snow you should be fine. I was considering getting snow tires but I think I will see how well the stock all-seasons do first.

FYI: You can get snow tires for the X for around $650.00 from TireRack if you really want them.

Have an 01 X5 4.4 but no SP. All, I can say is do not drive a 5000lb all wheel drive on summer tires in the snow. All the electronic gizmos cannot compensate for no grip, which is what you get when summer rubber gets very cold and has those large flat contact patches get rock hard. I have driven our X5 through blizzards on I70 over mountains and you can make it w/ all seasons if you drive very conservatively, but w/ summer rubber your going to go sliding off IMO. You might make it if you dont have anybad weather during your trip. Figure out what your deductible is and deceide it you want to pay it or not. Hell, rent a car it would be cheaper than snows, or trade someone wheels w/ allseasons for the trip.

My M3 in the snow in summer tires gets stuck in a flat drive. On my snow tires/wheels, I am unstoppable until snow gets over the airdam. The X5 is a blast in the snow.

My 0.02

awd does not help when it comes time to stop!!! Summer tires will have the abs going so raoidly, that youll never stop, until you hit something. BTW, TC gets a LOT of lake effect snow!! BEWARE, and good luck!

I'm going on my 4th winter with the stock all season tires, it's ok when it isn't too icy. As with all awd drive cars with decent tires it can acclerate thru anything, stopping and turning is a whole different story though. I slide a lot quite a bit and I don't drive very aggressive in the snow (only in empty parking lots). With a summer tire though I would think twice, I have all season pirelli's P7000 on the M3 and when the temp drops to 45 and lower, they freeze and it feel like your on skates, but those tires just plain suck.

If you have bad winters in your area, snow tires are definately recommended. It's cheap insurance and will save you a lot of grief thru tough winters. I bet most of our deductibles are almost enough to cover snow tires.

I see many suv/truck owners here in Colorado that think they are invicible because they got awd, but a few minutes later they are in the ditch while people in cars with snow tires get around like it's summer time.

No tire will save you from bone headed driving on slippery pavement, so drive safe and be careful.

ugh... I guess it's time to check Ebay for some stock all-seasons on a set of X5 3.0 rims. Maybe I'll get out of this cheap, since the Bridgestone's on the sport 19" are almost brand new.

As for TC getting snow, yeah, I am well aware since I grew up there. That's part of the reason that I left! :D

My 19" Michelin summer tires don't stop AT ALL in minimum snow.It's like skating on ice,SCARY.I was forced to purchase 17" Michelin Alpins with wheels($1575.00).Winter special from BMW.The tires work great in the snow but the look is blant.I was in a hurry,I should have gone for the 18" tire and wheel package offered by AAARIMS,a much nicer look.

I would play it safe and get the snow tires. I used to have a 325iX and got cocky thinking that i could run it on any tire since it was all wheel drive. Big mistake. All wheel drive, ABS, DSC, traction control and whatever else you call it only works as well as your tire allows. .... it all comes down to that little amount of contact patch between your vehicle and the road.

Dont look at it as you have to spend $1000 for snow tires. Look at is as you're protecting your life, protecting the $60,000 you paid for your X5, and saving yourself all the money and headache if you were to have an accident because of loss of traction.

Wosby

I have a lot of experience driving on the West side of Northern lower MI in a Quattro and one time with high performance tires. All I can say is . . . .

DON'T DO IT!!!

Broke down and purchased a set of X5 3.0 17" rims with an almost new set of Michelin all seasons on 'em. Since the choices for the 4.4 sport 19" are extremely limited, this seemed like the best option...

Gotta love ebay!


Now if only the nasty weather would hold off for a few weeks....

Broke down and purchased a set of X5 3.0 17" rims with an almost new set of Michelin all seasons on 'em. Since the choices for the 4.4 sport 19" are extremely limited, this seemed like the best option...

Gotta love ebay!


Now if only the nasty weather would hold off for a few weeks....

Aaron,Why go through all that trouble and downsize to all seasons.Snowtires still work best in the snow.But then again,you're in Georgia and I'm in New Jersey.The snow is a little deeper up here.Another option for you could have been Pirelli Ice and Snow.They even come in 19" size.,since you only needed them for one trip.Anyway,good luck.

Aaron,Why go through all that trouble and downsize to all seasons.Snowtires still work best in the snow.But then again,you're in Georgia and I'm in New Jersey.The snow is a little deeper up here.Another option for you could have been Pirelli Ice and Snow.They even come in 19" size.,since you only needed them for one trip.Anyway,good luck.

Having spent the majority of my life in northern Michigan, trust me, I know all about the virtues of snow tires. This was a simple cost justification.... Purchase of wheels & tires w/shipping was $400.00. I don't have to pay for mounting nor worry about having some inexperienced tire changer screw up my wheels. As for the all-seasons, they should be fine for the less than 2500 miles that I will drive on them and when I'm done, I'll put them back up for sale.

Total investment? Less than $400.00.

If I had purchased snow tires from tire rack or discount, I would have most likely been stuck with a set of snows with less than 3000 miles on 'em that cost me over $750 and that I would most likely never use again.

Having spent the majority of my life in northern Michigan, trust me, I know all about the virtues of snow tires. This was a simple cost justification.... Purchase of wheels & tires w/shipping was $400.00. I don't have to pay for mounting nor worry about having some inexperienced tire changer screw up my wheels. As for the all-seasons, they should be fine for the less than 2500 miles that I will drive on them and when I'm done, I'll put them back up for sale.

Total investment? Less than $400.00.

If I had purchased snow tires from tire rack or discount, I would have most likely been stuck with a set of snows with less than 3000 miles on 'em that cost me over $750 and that I would most likely never use again.

All that for less than $400...I see why you gotta love eBay.

Hey Aaron,

I'm glad to hear you broke down and got a second set of tires for your trip. But why "all season"? Why not just go for snow dedicated, since that was your concern in the beginning. It's actually good that you went with a smaller diameter rim. "Low Profile" snow tires kind of defeat the purpose. The extra rubber on a 17 inch will better suit the conditions you got them for. Safe travels.

Wosby