F15 X5 optional 20in wheels

[BimmerSFo]

Hi guys quick question...especially for anyone in Bay Area.

Have you guys ever took your 20in performance tires on the X5 to Tahoe where there is not much snow but sometimes chains are required?

we are going just once this year and I am not sure i want to spend money on new tires....

Thanks!

[IvanLZ]

As long as you avoid driving on heavy snow with alot of inches then you shouldn't have any problem. The key is to drive at a moderate speed. I've driven my summer tires on temps close to 0 and everything is fine as long as you don't drive on snow or slush.

[sandwi54]

That's a seriously dangerous thing to do and you would be endangering yourself and other drivers on the road. At low temperatures summer tires turn into hockey pucks with or without snow and lose most of the traction, and this is worse on inclines going up the mountain. Imagine yourself slide down the hill without traction...

[MochiEater]

Originally Posted by BimmerSFo

Have you guys ever took your 20in performance tires on the X5 to Tahoe where there is not much snow but sometimes chains are required?

Lake Tahoe, California where it is currently 31F/-1C?!?! What tires are on the X5 right now, the SUMMER performance tires?

Below 50F summer tire compound gets harder and less grippy. By the time temps get around freezing, it will be like driving on 4 bowling balls - when it's sunny and clear. In the snow/ice, the car will not turn or stop much at all - if it can even get out of the driveway.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...jsp?techid=273

Rent an AWD vehicle with all season/winter tires.

[Roundown]

Originally Posted by IvanLZ

As long as you avoid driving on heavy snow with alot of inches then you shouldn't have any problem. The key is to drive at a moderate speed. I've driven my summer tires on temps close to 0 and everything is fine as long as you don't drive on snow or slush.

This is terrifically-bad advice.

[IvanLZ]

Originally Posted by Roundown

This is terrifically-bad advice.

From my experience the summer tires gets the job done when the pavement is DRY. I mentioned in my post that it won't work if the surface has slush or snow...

[alphaod]

Originally Posted by BimmerSFo

Hi guys quick question...especially for anyone in Bay Area.

Have you guys ever took your 20in performance tires on the X5 to Tahoe where there is not much snow but sometimes chains are required?

we are going just once this year and I am not sure i want to spend money on new tires....

Thanks!

Yes, last year for opening day of N* we had much slipping here and there, finally we did slide off the road prompting me to immediately switch tires once I got back home. Also get chains, I use Thule XG12 size 265 for the rears, requires one-time adjustment so do that when you get it. I switched to the Conti DWS06 and that was sufficient for Tahoe including a trip up to Whistler.

The summer tires are fine for accelerating (due to 4wd likely), but after that you're seriously risking your life since it doesn't turn or brake at all on light snow and ice.

And in case you didn't know, they do check if you have chains, so please get them.

[Kzang]

Originally Posted by IvanLZ

From my experience the summer tires gets the job done when the pavement is DRY. I mentioned in my post that it won't work if the surface has slush or snow...

Same here. Summers ride fine and grip fine in freezing temps.

[alphaod]

But if the OP is going up to Lake Tahoe, I assume it's to snowboard/ski therefore there will be snow and ice the ground, so the summer tires will be very dangerous.

[MochiEater]

I have a friend who is a firefighter. He tells me stories. He told me of an accident where an MB AMG E Class wrapped around a telephone pole in the early morning. The road was dry and clear and a gentle curve, temps around freezing. There were no other cars involved and nothing indicating why the driver had lost control - except the AMG was riding on 4 summer tires. The car was split in half - and so was the driver.

Anecdotal data for things like this is going to suffer from survivorship bias.

[alphaod]

Also only once? I don't even live in Bay Area anymore, and I got the Epic Pass knowing I'll be going at least a couple times.

[cmyx6go]

Originally Posted by Roundown

This is terrifically-bad advice.

^ What he said. I wouldn't do it. I can feel the difference in handling and stopping power as the temps fall. Already have my snow tires on after feeling delayed stopping power with temps in the high 30s and low 40s. I am guilty of trying to prolong the change as long as possible but it's not worth it. Summer tires are not safe in cold temps.

[BimmerSFo]

thanks everyone... i guess will try to pick up a set of all weather tires with some wheels or maybe rent a car, but rental prices are crazy for NY weekend... thank you!

[Roundown]

Originally Posted by MochiEater

I have a friend who is a firefighter. He tells me stories. He told me of an accident where an MB AMG E Class wrapped around a telephone pole in the early morning. The road was dry and clear and a gentle curve, temps around freezing. There were no other cars involved and nothing indicating why the driver had lost control - except the AMG was riding on 4 summer tires. The car was split in half - and so was the driver.

Anecdotal data for things like this is going to suffer from survivorship bias.

Exactly.

If you spend time in the mountains you'll know that a dry sunny day means melting snow, which means ice covered roads in the evening (or if it's really cold, ice covered roads where shade exists... like around a bend/pass).

FWIW, if I couldn't swing snow tires, I'd drive something less expense so I could.

You have about a square foot of contact patch, do yourself (and everyone else on the road a favor) and make sure it's the right one for the conditions. At minimum, a $1,200 set of DWS06s would be a world better than the OE Summer rubber. If storage/logistics are your issue, find a local tire store, have them match (or beat) TireRack and see if they offer storage for a nominal annual fee (many do).

[zinengineer]

three thoughts

a. Winter DOES NOT equal Summer; they are different seasons
b. Just because you "can" does not always mean you "should"
c. Remember, there are others on the road besides yourself

If you can afford a BMW, you can either afford the correct tires OR a rental with the proper equipment, otherwise.......

[Neuera09]

Your best to rent an SUV for the weekend and make sure they have winter tires on. A couple of year ago I rented one with specific winter tire request and drove to Oakland airport to get em. I got there and guess what, none of their full size SUVs have em on. Long story short, I drove to SFO and got a 50% off of their daily rate. Good luck.