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In Reply to: 4.4 SP 19" wheels and a Winter Storm posted by Daniel on February 11, 2001 at 23:55:16:
I was @ Tahoe Feb 8th through Feb 11th (the same time as you) in the same X5 4.4 19" config as you, and although I appreciate your optimism on your X5's abilities, your comments about the seemingly amazing traction w/those Michelin 19"s are pipe dreams. I've been driving in Hard Core Wintery road conditions for 25 yrs in all kinds of vehicles and tires, & I can't remember feeling a tire more slippery on snow/ice. Granted we're talking brutal blizzard conditions @ Tahoe, but despite all the BMW high-tech anti-slip, DSC, Hill-descent, ABS, etc (all of which I think is beautifully designed), you still have to have the right tires to translate it to the road's (or snow's) surface!
The DSC was kicking in constantly on the steep snowy roads around Lake Tahoe, but only succeeded in barely getting me TO my short-hop destinations... There was NOT a hint of a feeling of security on the road, except knowing that I had all those air bags around me. The Hill descent and ABS were working overtime approaching stop signs at slow speeds, but still slid seemingly forever and leaving constant questions about whether I would slide into every intersection. I took special note of an old front-wheel-drive Ford Escort w/snow tires blowing by me w/ease and no-slipping!!!!
As a direct comparison, I parked my X5 (thankfully) and went to a dinner meeting w/a friend in a Range Rover w/18" Michelin snow tires on the same roads (and without BMW's high-tech anti-slip) and we stuck to the road like GLUE!!!! In fact their ABS never even activated!!!
90% of snow/ice traction has to do with tires, and the Michelin Diamaris's are SPORTS CAR TIRES, despite the words 4X4 on the side!!!!!
Pretending to communicate to anyone that they EVEN think about driving the X5 Sport package w/19" Michelin Diamaris's in snowy or icy conditions is foolish.
These tires are meant to provide phenomonal performance on dry roads (and they deliver phenomonally as promised), but anyone who drives them in snow/ice conditions should probably call the tow truck 1st, because there is a very good chance you'll need it to remove you, your beautiful new X5, and whoever you take with you from the ditch (if your reasonably lucky).
I love this car, but it is IMPERATIVE that you get an extra set of 17" wheels w/Snows if you're taking it skiing!!!!!
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