What type of snow tire/wheels do you put on X5M?

[PIEZON]

Hello,

Insights are appreciated, looking to cost out a set of winter tires/wheels.

I see that some just put all season tires on the stock 20" wheels. How does that hold up/work out?

Thank you for your insights!

[mitch808]

Good all-seasons, and a smart head can get you to most places just fine, especially with an AWD/4x4 vehicle. I've done 4" of snow up mountain pass to get to a snow/ski area just fine in all-seasons.

True snow tires will get you to 98% of places regardless of which axle is powered, and then there are tires with studs too...

Continental DWS is a great one to look into. Check out tirerack.com for reviews and tests.

[PIEZON]

Originally Posted by mitch808

Good all-seasons, and a smart head can get you to most places just fine, especially with an AWD/4x4 vehicle. I've done 4" of snow up mountain pass to get to a snow/ski area just fine in all-seasons.

True snow tires will get you to 98% of places regardless of which axle is powered, and then there are tires with studs too...

Continental DWS is a great one to look into. Check out tirerack.com for reviews and tests.

Thank you Mitch! So you put all seasons on the 20" and all is good?

[mitch808]

Originally Posted by PIEZON

Thank you Mitch! So you put all seasons on the 20" and all is good?

I have the X5 and a Subaru. The Subaru has had summer tires in snow, sketchy but reasonable.
Now on all-seasons (18"), and can go just about anywhere, nary an issue. Though on a 20% grade, uphill in reverse, in snow, I had to take it slow

That said, tire is a tire is a tire. It doesn't matter if it's 13" gold wire dayton's or 26" spinners. All-seasons if you're gonna be in snow are a given. There are "performance," all-seasons, and just general all-seasons.

What you need to decide is how severe of a snow area you will be in, to afford the extra confidence true snow tires provide. There is a strong confidence in braking with those on, that you don't get with any other type of tire. Snow tires on even an FWD civic, would handle better than an X5 on summer tires or even lower tier all-seasons in a few inches of snow I bet.

[sburke91]

I put a set of Michelin Pilot Alpin's on the stock 18" wheels on my 50i base. This was one of the worst winters we've had in years, and the X5 was unstoppable. Prior to the X, I had a 4WD Tundra with all season tires for 10 years, and the X5 was head and shoulders above it in the snow.

[kskpsu]

I am struggling with this. Our X3 had dedicated M-Sport wheels w/ michelin Xice3 for the winter..transformed the car into one of my best snow rides ever. Now with the X5M, I am in a predicament. My utopia would be mounting the stock 20s with the same size rubber in winter format, then run OEM 310 wheels in the summer like on your X3...but in 21" for the X5. I am not concerned with the wider tire for winter, and I prioritize the aesthetics of the stock wheel and maintaining better handling when the roads are clear. Too bad no winter tires exist in that size. I may convert to the Conti's before next winter, at the very least to get out of run-flat rubbish. I once had a 2005 X5 4.8is in Illinois with the Contis, and it did surprisingly well in the slop....there isn't an all-season tire out there geared more heavily to winter traction. The S6 has dedicated winter rubber that I can leverage on the bad days.

[windsailor]

Pirelli Carving Edge no studs on OEM 20s, unstoppable and yet aesthetically correct.

[troymi]

Originally Posted by PIEZON

Hello,

Insights are appreciated, looking to cost out a set of winter tires/wheels.

I see that some just put all season tires on the stock 20" wheels. How does that hold up/work out?

Thank you for your insights!

If you follow the BMW edict here is your official option. Style 298 with 255/50/19 all around but different staggers. Pushed out on the rear hubs. Obviously there are other options but depending on where you live you may not even need full winter package. By the way, this is mounted on an M Sport package not an M.

Damn file limits from iPhone. I'll post tomorrow.

[theaudir8fan]

OEM size, your only choices are the Pirelli or Toyo GSi5

[mitch808]

Originally Posted by sburke91

I put a set of Michelin Pilot Alpin's on the stock 18" wheels on my 50i base. This was one of the worst winters we've had in years, and the X5 was unstoppable. Prior to the X, I had a 4WD Tundra with all season tires for 10 years, and the X5 was head and shoulders above it in the snow.

No fair to compare a pickup truck with an empty bed that likes oversteer naturally. An X5 on 3 wheels could handle better in the snow.

[novablackm3]

since the x5m comes w/ rft summer tires i put on bridge stone blizzaks on as soon as the temp drops below 40. the rims are so wide so the rears a bit stretched but not a problem.

[X5MFan]

My winter setup is Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 255 50 19 on the 298 rims. I have been very happy. Car is a 2012 X5M, 25mm spacers rear and 15mm front.

[kskpsu]

Originally Posted by theaudir8fan

OEM size, your only choices are the Pirelli or Toyo GSi5

Thanks for the info...didn't see these tires/sizes at my normal go-to retailers. Work the Bridgestones until next winter, then I'll make the conversion!

[RoundelM5]

Blizzak LM60's in 255/50-19 and 19"x8.5" Sport Edition wheels from Tire Rack were an awesome combo this winter
- square setup with same track front/rear is better than staggered widths
-- winter tire rubber compound is engineered for optimal performance in cold temps
-- all season tires are a compromise in all categories
-- narrower tire performs better in snow
-- you didn't compromise on vehicle in choosing X5M, why would you on tires when it's cold - 3-5 mos of year depending on where you live? Buy a dedicated set of winter tires/wheels and do it right the first time.

[dkreidel]

Pirelli Scorpion Winters 255-50x19 on 298M wheels. We have nasty winters in Montana - it snowed again today - so I need real winter rubber 5 months out of the year and run DWS on BBS SV's when it's nice out.

[PIEZON]

Those look great! Thanks for sharing!

[troymi]

Check eBay. Someone posted a decent set of oem style 298 wheels/tires. May need some refinish but they are for winter after all. Look pretty good for $1750 opening bid.

[PIEZON]

Originally Posted by troymi

Check eBay. Someone posted a decent set of oem style 298 wheels/tires. May need some refinish but they are for winter after all. Look pretty good for $1750 opening bid.

Thank you very much!

[x5mannn]

http://nh.craigslist.org/pts/4387232900.html
Wheels have no curb rash tires look like new

[MRV99]

Your choice of winter/summer vs All seasons will all come down to your tolerance for having 2 sets of wheels. I run dedicated summer/winters on all BMW's I have had and I would not do it any different. Winters perform great in cold and in adverse conditions instead of ok in all condtions like All seasons. I am not worried about my ability to control the car, I mainly worry about the soccer parent(pc) driving a Minivan, while talking on the phone with bald tires. I want to have the ability to have a tire which provides me greater ability to avoid this person when things go wrong(which I have had to do many times). When you have 80k+ cars it is a cheap way to keep the car nice.

I run 255/19's for winters on the X5 and 275/315 20's for the summers

[speedwaywhite]

Having moved from FL to Kansas City at the start of winter, I learned very quickly the limitations of the stock RFTs in really cold and then snow. I had the following mounted on my OEM style 300 wheels:

2 275/40R-20 Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow Run Flat Run Flat XL $346.00 each
2 315/35R-20 Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow Run Flat Run Flat XL $412.00 each

Wow - as much fun as the X5M is dry, having the power, AWD and true snow tires make it a true BLAST to drive in the cold and snow! I still wanted RFTs so I didn't have to worry about the no-spare-tire. Yes; expensive. Yes; worth every penny for safety, security and fun.

Now I just have to figure out the replacement wheels for the summer RFTs that don't break the bank...

[PIEZON]

Originally Posted by speedwaywhite

Having moved from FL to Kansas City at the start of winter, I learned very quickly the limitations of the stock RFTs in really cold and then snow. I had the following mounted on my OEM style 300 wheels:

2 275/40R-20 Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow Run Flat Run Flat XL $346.00 each
2 315/35R-20 Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow Run Flat Run Flat XL $412.00 each

Wow - as much fun as the X5M is dry, having the power, AWD and true snow tires make it a true BLAST to drive in the cold and snow! I still wanted RFTs so I didn't have to worry about the no-spare-tire. Yes; expensive. Yes; worth every penny for safety, security and fun.

Now I just have to figure out the replacement wheels for the summer RFTs that don't break the bank...

Thank you for sharing! So you don't keep these on all year?