Driving in snow (California)

[hybrid_eg]

Has anyone driven in snow on OEM 21's with PSS? Does F85 manage?

I'm asking because i want to go skiing next week (Mammoth, CA).. for those who know roads are gentle and I've never had an issue needing cables with any 4wd vehicle i owned in the past.. granted these are not all season tires hence the question.. I was going to buy cables for the rear but i guess nobody makes this tire size for front or rear.. I really don't want to be buying winter tires or different wheels..

Any input is greatly appreciated!

[tastelid]

Expecting the summer performance tires to perform well in the snow will leave you getting lots of “look at that idiot” looks as you slide off the side of the road.

[hybrid_eg]

I'm not expecting them to perform well, i'm wondering if they can manage with minimal snowfall given its a 4wd suv? I've seen other 4WD suvs with performance tires with no issues.. Forecast calls for 20% chance of snow so there may be none..

[Deejay55]

I took delivery of my X5M last January. After 2 weeks of dry weather, we had about 2 inches of snow. I wanted to see how it would drive in the snow with the summer tires. It was like driving with no brakes. I was lucky to get back home in one piece. If there is a chance of snow, I would NEVER take a chance.

[hybrid_eg]

Thanks for the info! I guess we are taking Prius with cables

[WCH]

Like others have said, the PSS are useless in snow. You won't be able to stop and any elevation change will be like riding a sled. Be safe.

[lv42day]

Don't do it, I got caught by not putting my snows on early enough and the car become sled.... basically you cannot stop!.

[Wristdoc]

Having owned many 4 wheel drive vehicles and living in Kansas for many years, I thought I might be able to get away with the summer tires given the advanced X6M drive system.

We received about 2 inches of snow back in November. I drove my usual 1.5 mile commute to work. Felt lucky to arrive alive. Ordered a set of Yokohama Bluearth snow tires during my lunch break.

Worst 4 wheel drive vehicle I have ever driven in snow...tires make all the difference in the world.

[ajob]

DON'T !

[clubspec330i]

Originally Posted by hybrid_eg

Thanks for the info! I guess we are taking Prius with cables

I had experience with my V8 X5, all season tires, and 2.5' of snow in Mammoth Lake - no problem. Knowing so, I won't take you F85. I would rent F150 4WD and SUV with similar capability for this trip. Prius with cables may be better than F85 with PSS but not going to cut in in 12" or more of snow on the ground. I drove late model F150 while my work Tahoe was in the shop. It was so good that I am considering it as a replace for my '13 Tahoe with 70k.

As for rain, I was comtempting wheather to take F86 or F80 this morning. Since it may not rain that hard, I took out F80 from Claremont to Pasadena to see my client. PSS may not be glued to the ground but it has decent grip with ability of going sideway slightly with MDM on.

Cheers and enjoy the snow,

[pk9394]

Originally Posted by hybrid_eg

Has anyone driven in snow on OEM 21's with PSS? Does F85 manage?

I'm asking because i want to go skiing next week (Mammoth, CA).. for those who know roads are gentle and I've never had an issue needing cables with any 4wd vehicle i owned in the past.. granted these are not all season tires hence the question.. I was going to buy cables for the rear but i guess nobody makes this tire size for front or rear.. I really don't want to be buying winter tires or different wheels..

Any input is greatly appreciated!

don't try it, is bad idea to driven the PSS in snow. go rent a car

[cfm56d7b]

There is no substitute for winter tires even for us SoCal residents when driving to Big Bear or Mammoth. I have a set of winter wheels / tires in the garage - just for an occasional trip to the higher elevations.

[gqgambler]

Don't do it. Bad idea.

[musa]

Originally Posted by hybrid_eg

I'm not expecting them to perform well, i'm wondering if they can manage with minimal snowfall given its a 4wd suv? I've seen other 4WD suvs with performance tires with no issues.. Forecast calls for 20% chance of snow so there may be none..

When it comes to driving in snow, what is critical is not whether the vehicle is a 4WD or not, but rather whether the tires are snow tires or not. In other words a 2WD with snow tires will outdo, by far, a super high-tech 4WD drive system with pss summer performance tires. Of course, as you've already attested to, some performance tires may give a 4WD some traction in light snow but not for long drives, because the non-winter tire rubber compound will shortly become as hard as steel and turn the the tires into snow skates. Winter tires have special compound and tread patterns (some even with studs), particularly meant for cold climate and snow.

[pachieh]

If you can afford an X5M, you can afford winter tires.

Don't chance it.

[cmyx6go]

Don't
Do
It

[secretariat]

Just think of it like this. You go to an ice skating rink and use your car to do laps. Don't do it.

[hybrid_eg]

Thanks again guys, will not be chancing it with F85. The prius is loaded and ready to go!

[tastelid]

tahoe is supposed to get like 8 feet isnt it? yum

[hybrid_eg]

I think Tahoe also picked up 4' plus like Mammoth last week so should be good.. going to Squaw this week..

[jeskandarian]

Just to pile on a bit. I have 20" P Zeros on my iDrive50 X6. I bought a set of 19" BMW wheels on Ebay for $700 and put Bridgestone Blizzaks for Mammoth trips as I go multiple times per year. (Note Costco will mount/balance for $15 a tire).

I was up there last week for that huge 4 day storm. I drove about 100 miles of snow covered 395 on my way. I drove around town all week in white out conditions and drove thru 2+ feet of wet snow to get out of the uphill driveway like it was nothing. I was looking for reasons to drive around. That car with the Blizzaks will go thru seemingly anything with no issue. It sticks like glue when turning and I never had any doubt I was going to make it thru any drifts or up any icy hill. On 395 where you're driving a 4 lane, plowed road it was perfectly stable at 60ish (as long as there was no one else around). I'm super impressed. Totally worth the ~$1500 for a snow tire setup that should last for longer than I own the car since I have no need for them at home. With a Dewalt 20v impact wrench, a decent torque wrench and a good floor jack it takes 20ish minutes to swap over.

[DgjoX6M2016]

Winter tires make what is un drivable completely competent. Like different cars really. I would fear chains/cables would fail and destroy wheel well. Plus installation would suck. Such problems our forum friends in CA have.