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Been out over single lanes with 10-20cms of fresh snow on them in the X5 with its snow boots on. It is awesome.
Totally surefooted. Even more awesome was having been driving reasonably normally I saw a car try and pull out and having moved about a metre was stuck. Had to pull him out.
TBH normal tyres on an SUV style car with AWD are pretty good in the snow.
Last year, my Tiguan R-Line never got stuck once, even in the deepest snow. Struggled a couple times, but always freed itself. And that is wearing Pirelli P-Zero's.
Had it out today. And even with nearly worn front tyres, it still climbed snow covered hills with no trouble.
I have an X5 and a shogun which we use for towing, in the snow the X5 stays at home it is crap in slippy conditions. Shogun makes light work of bad weather and roads
I had to bring my 535d home last night and swap it for my Mrs Mondeo. Only 2" of snow but it really was useless. The Mondeo was fine.
I always try to use my wife's Honda Jazz when it snows, the 5 series could easily leave me stranded sideways across a road. BMW and Mercedes still refuse to release their 4wd systems available on 3/5 and C/E class across Europe and NA in the UK
It's always amusing to read how people in other countries are allowed to drive in snowy conditions without snow tires. You benefit from snow tires already under temperatures below 6 degrees celsius because of the rubber mixture being better suited for lower temperatures.
I use studded Pirelli Winter Carving Edge on my BMW with LSD, no need for 4wd here The tires make so much more difference than the difference between 2wd and 4wd IMHO. I tried my Type R on summer tires on snow once, it handled like total crap
Last edited by Turbovin; 06 February 2012 at 01:14.
It's always amusing to read how people in other countries are allowed to drive in snowy conditions without snow tires. You benefit from snow tires already under temperatures below 6 degrees celsius because of the rubber mixture being better suited for lower temperatures.
Well, perhaps - but it's when the roads are covered in ice that regular tyres just plain stop working. Here in the UK that normally only happens for a few days a year, so it's not really economic to swap.
That said, after last year's prolonged chaos I bought a set of spare wheels and put Bridgestone Blizzak LM25's on them. They've been on my P1 for the last couple of months, and whilst I can't say I've noticed any real difference from my usual tyres, today (being the first snowy day we've had this winter) could be interesting.
The tyres I have on the car are not specific snow tyres - maybe a better description would be cold weather tyres giving improved performance below 7deg.
At least around here it is cold and wet and below 7 deg a lot of the winter - especially early mornings taking the kids to school.
Based on my experience so far - a very good investment.
Don't make the mistake to think that winter tyres = snow tyres.
Not at all*
Maybe my thread title should have been Cold Weather Tyres - Awesome (less exciting though!)
I have heard that X5s are pretty average in the snow without snow-boots.
Most of them have 20in wheels though so not entirely a surprise.
The snow-tyres made huge difference where it really counted - changing direction and stopping. Something 4WD only gives you moderate help with.
Seconded, our X3 has traction in the snow with it's summer tyres but braking and steering needs a delicate touch. The Impreza however, with it's winter tyres is so much more planted - AWD traction plus the steering and brakes work as well!
Oh, and just because it's something that vexes me... start mini rant - snow tyres are not the same as winter tyres. Snow tyres would be pretty useless for most of the time in the UK winter as the temperatures are not low enough not to mention the fact that, other than a few weeks of the year, there's no snow. Whereas winter tyres are of great benefit in our cold and wet climate and, whilst not as good as a full snow tyre in the white stuff, they are infinitely better than a summer tyre. Mini rant over
My L200 has all terrain M+S tyres on all year round.
They're fine in the wet (and mus and snow) but obviously on icy roads they need the same care as any other tyre.
Not sure if you're referring to my comment re snow tyres not working on our roads but if so, you may be misunderstanding what a "snow" tyre actually is.
X5 Awesome!!!
The Mondeo was fine.
I wish they would.
The tires make so much more difference than the difference between 2wd and 4wd IMHO. I tried my Type R on summer tires on snow once, it handled like total crap 
