BMW X5 on Snow Socks
Discussion
Hi all,
Anyone any experience of using snow socks on their X5?
Mine's a 57 plate E70 car, with the 20" rims. I've bought a full set of socks to keep in the boot, however have never used them on any other car I've owned - Previous winters were spent whizzing about without problems in my winter tyred Scenic which the M3 lived under an igloo of untouched snow for the duration of any white outs.
I'd have liked to have had a set of winter wheels and tyres for the X5, however will be making do with the snow socks for this winter.
Anyone any experience of using snow socks on their X5?
Mine's a 57 plate E70 car, with the 20" rims. I've bought a full set of socks to keep in the boot, however have never used them on any other car I've owned - Previous winters were spent whizzing about without problems in my winter tyred Scenic which the M3 lived under an igloo of untouched snow for the duration of any white outs.
I'd have liked to have had a set of winter wheels and tyres for the X5, however will be making do with the snow socks for this winter.
I bought snow socks for my Z4MC about 5 years ago with the intention of using them as a stop gap measure until I'd put winter wheels/tyres on.
They're still sitting in the boot, unused, after 100,000 miles.
If it's thick snow outside, then it's not the lack of grip I have to worry about, just the ground clearance (a problem you won't have) - and I'll stay at home.
Snow socks are only a very short term, get-you-out-of-trouble solution, and will be knackered after about 20 minutes of driving.
They're still sitting in the boot, unused, after 100,000 miles.
If it's thick snow outside, then it's not the lack of grip I have to worry about, just the ground clearance (a problem you won't have) - and I'll stay at home.
Snow socks are only a very short term, get-you-out-of-trouble solution, and will be knackered after about 20 minutes of driving.
mmm-five said:
Snow socks are only a very short term, get-you-out-of-trouble solution, and will be knackered after about 20 minutes of driving.
I used them last year in the Alps for about four days and they're still intact and I'm taking them with me to Scotland tomorrow. I think they're brilliant and in no way short term. Have you used them?I have used snow socks on a 320d over 2 days of bad weather in Devon. They are brilliant. Yes they do wear when on roads that are maybe half tarmac and half snow, but they don't wear that badly and certainly not in 20 minutes !! I had mine still on as the roads got better for about an hour and all they had was a couple of wear holes which were tiny.
They are better than winter tyres in snow but are obviously not as flexible and are there for emergency use - just somewhat better than the 20 minutes mentioned above !
They are better than winter tyres in snow but are obviously not as flexible and are there for emergency use - just somewhat better than the 20 minutes mentioned above !
I collect my 640d on Monday and as I think we are going to have a cold and potentially snowy winter I've been thinking about these.
However, I've read on a few forums that they are a nightmare to install and even harder on some BMW's due to wheel arch / tyre clearance?
The 640 has 285 section rear wheels, they do sell them for the car, but I want to ensure I can fit them if needed!
However, I've read on a few forums that they are a nightmare to install and even harder on some BMW's due to wheel arch / tyre clearance?
The 640 has 285 section rear wheels, they do sell them for the car, but I want to ensure I can fit them if needed!
This was mine last year:
They're not the easiest of things to fit if the arches are tight and I don't know if they're easier or more difficult than chains as I've never used them. In the end my wife, whose paws are no smaller than mine, fitted them with ease so I suspect patience and expectation had a huge part to play on my account!
They're not the easiest of things to fit if the arches are tight and I don't know if they're easier or more difficult than chains as I've never used them. In the end my wife, whose paws are no smaller than mine, fitted them with ease so I suspect patience and expectation had a huge part to play on my account!
moffat said:
The 640 has 285 section rear wheels, they do sell them for the car, but I want to ensure I can fit them if needed!
The 20`s on ours are 275 section and like you the thought of heavy snow could be interesting the old 330d we had with 255 section was bad enough...I keep thinking of winter tyres but never get around to it! Thankfully I'm lucky with the X5, that I'm not too worried about fitting from the point of view of arch clearance, and can easily reach up and under the arches behind the wheel.
Part of my "kit" that I've stowed away with them is a huge polythene bag for them to go back into when I remove them. Thankfully they come with a pair of gloves with them, however a set of marigolds will go in there too, as will normal winter emergency change of clothes and waterproofs.
Really appreciate everyone's first hand experiences and valuable replies.
Part of my "kit" that I've stowed away with them is a huge polythene bag for them to go back into when I remove them. Thankfully they come with a pair of gloves with them, however a set of marigolds will go in there too, as will normal winter emergency change of clothes and waterproofs.
Really appreciate everyone's first hand experiences and valuable replies.
I tried them on my E65 with 19 inch wheels when we had that last big bout of snow a couple of years ago.
Pointless. You literally had to jack the car up to get them on and even then they were a b
h to get round the wheel. Plus sticking your hands round the back of the wheel with an inch of clearance with the car jacked up on a slippery driveway? Er no, I'd rather keep my hands thanks. On a car with skinny tyres and plenty of clearance perhaps but on a big wheeled Beemer I'd either get winters or a lift from a mate!
Pointless. You literally had to jack the car up to get them on and even then they were a b
h to get round the wheel. Plus sticking your hands round the back of the wheel with an inch of clearance with the car jacked up on a slippery driveway? Er no, I'd rather keep my hands thanks. On a car with skinny tyres and plenty of clearance perhaps but on a big wheeled Beemer I'd either get winters or a lift from a mate! bennyboydurham said:
I tried them on my E65 with 19 inch wheels when we had that last big bout of snow a couple of years ago.
Pointless. You literally had to jack the car up to get them on and even then they were a bh to get round the wheel. Plus sticking your hands round the back of the wheel with an inch of clearance with the car jacked up on a slippery driveway? Er no, I'd rather keep my hands thanks. On a car with skinny tyres and plenty of clearance perhaps but on a big wheeled Beemer I'd either get winters or a lift from a mate!
My 330d LCI had little clearance and I skinned my knuckles the first time I tried to put them on - until I read a comment on a forum re M Sport BMW's and Snow socks ... it suggested using a piece of wood the size or more to the point, thickness, of skirting board. I tried it and had them fitted in about 30 seconds !!! Use the skirting board to wedge the top of the snow sock in where your hand doesn't fit and it works !! It is still potentially fiddly but I have carried said skirting board with me whenever I take the snow socks now as it is one of the best bits of advice for BMW owners I have encountered, and yet so simple Pointless. You literally had to jack the car up to get them on and even then they were a b
h to get round the wheel. Plus sticking your hands round the back of the wheel with an inch of clearance with the car jacked up on a slippery driveway? Er no, I'd rather keep my hands thanks. On a car with skinny tyres and plenty of clearance perhaps but on a big wheeled Beemer I'd either get winters or a lift from a mate! 
Osinjak said:
I used them last year in the Alps for about four days and they're still intact and I'm taking them with me to Scotland tomorrow. I think they're brilliant and in no way short term. Have you used them?
No 
mmm-five said:
They're still sitting in the boot, unused, after 100,000 miles.
I was just reiterating what I was told 5 years ago when I was contemplating these or a winter wheel/tyre combo.I should have been clear with my time limit, as I meant to say that I as told that I'd have to take them off as soon the snow clears otherwise they'll only last 20 minutes.
I've yet to need them though as the Z4MC is not completely useless in winter and I've not found any snowy inclines that I couldn't drive up with my summer tyres. That said I don't go out trying to find impassable snow drifts either
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