alenza in snow x5 40i

[dasrott]

2019 x5 40i has 20 inch alanzas, just got it, wondering how might it be in snow? those tires are big, so will they sit on top of the snow and not dig in? Also the x5 is typically front wheel drive, how does it perform in snow? I take it it won't be as good as 4wd just trying to get an idea of what to expect. My x3 was horrible in snow, even two snowflakes. Hoping this will be better

[andrewwynn]

If your x3 was bad in snow it was the tires.

My wife's X5 came with discount tires and it was worse than a front drive car on snow. Not exactly terrible bit not like 4wd at all. When I upgraded my tires I put my worn out snow tires on her car and it instantly behaved amazing in snow.

X5 since 2007 is rwd with front added in when needed. No idea where you got an idea it was the opposite. I find it very hard to believe they flipped to fwd.

I've used both 255 and 235 on our previous e53 and e70 and my current e70 has 255/55/19 but not snow tires. It gets it done but half the traction of actual snow tires. You can research on tirerack.com to compare snow traction of "3 season tires" (what people in marketing like to call all season). If you want winter grip you need winter tires. Ok grip for driving on snow 10 days a year. "3 season tires" will get you though.

The important factor for digging through snow is the width not the diameter. 235s had at least 50% better grip than 255s but 255 snow tires did just fine the 255 "all season" that came on my e70 are only ok in snow. Plenty of floating on top feeling vs. the sure grip I was used to with my Dunlop SP Wintersport.

[Mikealwa]

It's all about tires, fwd with snow tires is going to be as good or better than AWD. I'd recommend blizzak, Michelin x ice or if you can find nokian r3 or similar

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Studded tires will get through the snow and grip the surfaces below, conventional snow tires will work to grip snow and ice.

[andrewwynn]

Actually rwd and snow tires is better than all season and AWD. There's a great comparison on YouTube. Pretty shocking just how bad the AWD faired. Could not even get up some hills the rwd model could.

[Mikealwa]

And x5 is rear wheel bias.

[Qsilver7]

The only FWD BMWs I can think of are the little ones like the 1 & 2 series that are built on the UKL2 platform (same as the MINI Countryman). The X5 (depending on platform) will either be RWD or AWD…and do google the difference between RWD & AWD to help not make this mistake in the future.

BMW’s AWD system (xDrive) in most cases will have a rear wheel bias but is designed to use any wheel on any axle depending on the amount of traction available for each tire. If you have a BMW and you’re driving in winter conditions (snow/ice/rain/cold/dry)…and the ambient temperatures are consistently below 45° F…you can expand the car’s capability for not just traction, but stopping and turning, too by considering the use of a dedicated winter tire.

Yes, a smaller narrower winter tire will no doubt perform better in deep snow etc…but I have 20” dedicated winter tires (Yokohama Blue Earth) mounted on my f15 X5 and they perform great in all kinds of winter weather that can be experienced in the Great Lakes region.

The OP asked about a brand of tire I’m not familiar with. I would recommend googling info about that tire to determine what TYPE of tire it is. Is it a summer, all season, or other type of tire? Is it an ultra high performance (UHP) or touring tire? Knowing what type of tire it is will help determine how it will perform in winter weather conditions…as well as late fall/early spring.

[dasrott]

thanks guys I get the awd thing because when I bring up the power distribution on the display it always says front wheel drive is engaged I have never seen rear wheel