XSeries-forum

Currently have 20" Style 177 275/315 tyres (Summer), having read some reports that X5's are not good in the snow/ice i am thinking i must sort some winter tyres out as i dont want to be sliding around and damage these wheels

The cheapest option for me i think is to go 20" as i have a set of OZ Canyons in the shed 20x9.5, i could put of 274/40/20's snow & Ice tyres on.. or would i be better off just getting some 17 or 18" wheels as 20" would not be much better than current set up

Any opinions would be appreciated

Thanks Jim

Pick up a set of 17-18" from Fleabay or similar.  You'll probably also get a much better range of good winter tyres to choose from at that wheel size too.

Richard

Agreed, in snow you need/want smaller wheels and deeper profile tyres. I have a set if 17 inch wheels shot with vredestein wintrac extreme - they've been fantastic

I have some 19" Vredestein winter staggered set , they are fantastic although people say go for 17" I have found them great in snow ! 
 

Havent you got some 19" for sale ? put some winters on them !

Ditto the above recommendations for 17 or 18" - they will perform better in the snow and ice than 19" or 20" and be much cheaper as well, although any winter tyre is better than summer ones in snow and ice and wet conditions.  Plus repeated changing over of two sets of the same tyres on the same rims ie summer -winter -summer etc is not recommended -rather buy a set of winter wheels. 

As we've been here before with this topic I'll keep my reply brief.  I've run my X5 on 20" winters for the past two years and my Z4M on 19" winters for the past 5 years.  They are outstanding of both cars, have got me through all sorts of really bad driving conditions and there are no adverse effects on my wheels from changing them over on a seasonal basis. 

And I don't doubt that at all but 17 inch wheels with deeper profiles will perform better in like for like conditions assuming good tread depth ( in fact good depth tread on 20 inch would most likely perform better than heavily worn 17 inch) And that's the point, what some consider as conditions that are ok to drive in, others wouldn't venture out in, which is why the only advice that can be given is the best practice approach of smaller wheel and deep section with good tread
Smee

The point remains that the 20" winters are a viable option that perform excellently in adverse winter conditions and I say so from personal experience.  The answer to the OP's original question is that the 20" winters will be night and day compared to summer 20s.  If you want to use your 20" wheels then go for it.

It might be viable for you and has worked well, but that won't be the case for everybody and albeit you have found it works on 20" rims, best practice is to reduce the sizes as a thinner wheel and taller profile and more blocky pattern cuts through snow and provides greater ground pressure on ice than a wider/lower section.  That's science.

I got he of some 17" wheels in the end and bought some new winter tyres 255/60/17 , and the the spacers from Raj to push them out a little. 19 tyres are much more expensive than 17,s

[quote="X5Sport"]
It might be viable for you and has worked well, but that won't be the case for everybody and albeit you have found it works on 20" rims, best practice is to reduce the sizes as a thinner wheel and taller profile and more blocky pattern cuts through snow and provides greater ground pressure on ice than a wider/lower section.  That's science.
[/quote]

Why would it not work for someone else?  My 20s are, in fact, a taller profile tyre.  The winter 19s on my other car are low profile (265/30 & 235/35) and have been outstanding in cold, icy conditions and in deep snow.  The common mantra on here is to say go smaller and narrower which is fine, I'm providing an opinion based on actually using wider tyres successfully which someone might find useful.  I posted my original comments knowing that I would not convert you or CondorX5 to my opinion but others might find my experience useful.

I'm not suggesting it should not be done, and it quite obviously works for you as well it will for others.

It's definitely not a mantra on here about smaller narrower wheel/tyre combos being preferred, it's an industry wide view and.

The 'standard' is also to use the same sizes all round.  I don't.  My 19" are staggered and work just fine but again may not work for everyone as there are so many variables at play.  The science part is correct but that didn't mean your findings are no good.

You don't need to feel you need to convert me, and your opinion is based on experience so totally valid. 

Richard

Hello, not sure what model X5 youve got, but if youve got a 4.6 or 4.8i.s I think you'll need at least 18" wheels if you go down that route.

I've got a 4.6is and put some 18" alloys on over the weekend and they only just fit due to the massive brakes 

Ive got 4 decent tyres Michelin Tyres on with 5-6mm of tread all around and im mmmming and rrrrring about taking them off selling them and putting on some winter tyres instead.

dgm, you do what you like, just as everyone can - your opinion is valid as is mine and everyone elses, not sure why you feel so defensive on the issue, the choice is yours to make!  I was just sharing my opinion like everyone else, no-one suggested you have to follow that option!

The recommendations across the board are for higher profile tyres for winter conditions - that generally means 17" or 18" for the E53 X5.  And there is a substantial choice of tyres available at reasonable prices in those sizes.

If money is no object and you don't mind the lack of choice and availability generally of 20" winter tyres, that is entirely up to you.  That doesn't mean that it is right for everyone else though, nor does it mean that 20" winter tyres will outperform 17" or 18" ones, given identical tyre condition, weather and driver skill as science indicates they will not.