[sarugby4life]

Planning a quick snow trip and would like to know what tire chains folks are using. I believe in CA it is mandatory to carry them with you.

The truck has Pirelli P Zero run flat tires. Rears are 335/35/R21. I assume only rear axe is required?

For anyone who has these tires how do they do on their own in the snow. Anything special required to set drive mode etc?

[jad03060]

Sorry, if you believe the manufacturer, you should NOT use chains on your wheels. Here's what the user's manual says about it...
Use only in pairs on the rear wheels, equipped with the tires of the following size:
▷ 265/50 R19.
▷ 275/45 R20.

Does nobody ever read their manual?

[TurtleBoy]

Those are summer tires. Don't go anywhere near cold, let alone snow, with those. They shouldn't be used below 40 degrees.

[Guy Fleegman]

Originally Posted by jad03060

Sorry, if you believe the manufacturer, you should NOT use chains on your wheels. Here's what the user's manual says about it...
Use only in pairs on the rear wheels, equipped with the tires of the following size:
▷ 265/50 R19.
▷ 275/45 R20.

Does nobody ever read their manual?

My provided manual isn't very helpful when it comes to tire chains and some of the information is flat-out incorrect for my model. The iDrive manual has zilch. When I asked a similar question on this forum a few months I didn't get much feedback. Ultimately I bought the highest-rated chains I could find but have not had the need to use them.

HOWEVER, I don't have 21" wheels, only the 19 all-season RFT. If I had a car set up for performance, I'd probably just avoid winter driving entirely.

[eelnoraa]

You probably have same winter usage as me. The big issue is summer tires. You can put chains in the rears and get traction, but your front is responsible for turning and 80% of braking. With summer tires, you will have tough time to remain safe, especially in current state of Cali snow belt. My suggestion is to replace with a set of all season and bring chains.

[sarugby4life]

Ugh may just rent an SUV for this trip. This is a once a year thing and the tires are still brand new.

[rundeyvoo]

I haven't used it on mine, but my buddy took his 45e up to Mammoth Mountain a couple of weeks ago when they had that insane winter storm. He used textile snow chains and said it worked great. No damage on his OEM 21" 741M's either. I'll ask him for the exact product he ordered and get back to everyone that's interested.

[sarugby4life]

Originally Posted by rundeyvoo

I haven't used it on mine, but my buddy took his 45e up to Mammoth Mountain a couple of weeks ago when they had that insane winter storm. He used textile snow chains and said it worked great. No damage on his OEM 21" 741M's either. I'll ask him for the exact product he ordered and get back to everyone that's interested.

That would be great! Thanks! Not really any snow in the forecast but it’s a bit too early to know for sure.

[jad03060]

In both the app supported user's manual, the printed one, and the .PDF, just search for tire chains...it pops up quickly...the user's manual is useful, and because it's so big, search is your friend!

[Guy Fleegman]

Originally Posted by jad03060

In both the app supported user's manual, the printed one, and the .PDF, just search for tire chains...it pops up quickly...the user's manual is useful, and because it's so big, search is your friend!

Here's something my print manual says about tire chains. The problem is that there's no such setting on my iDrive and a search for "tire chains" turns up nothing. The print manual increasingly seems like a one-size-fits-all encyclopedia of things that MIGHT apply to your particular vehicle.

[eelnoraa]

Originally Posted by rundeyvoo

I haven't used it on mine, but my buddy took his 45e up to Mammoth Mountain a couple of weeks ago when they had that insane winter storm. He used textile snow chains and said it worked great. No damage on his OEM 21" 741M's either. I'll ask him for the exact product he ordered and get back to everyone that's interested.

I have used them. They are call "tire socks". They are relatively easy to put on. When driving, they are not bumpy like chains or cables. The biggest issue for them is when to put them on. In deep snow, sure, but in most of Cali snow belt driving, we are on interstate. Surface is mainly thin ice or packed snow on pavement. These get grinded pretty bad by the time we were allowed to take them off. It is really more of a one time used thing. Traction wise, they are not as good as metal chains, but in a pinch, they work OK.

The big question is do you put them on all 4, or follow the manual just to put on rear. If you follow manual, then the summer tires in front are very ineffective on braking or turning. Will you take that risk?

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by eelnoraa

Traction wise, they are not as good as metal chains, but in a pinch, they work OK.

I don't about that, that traction looks good enough to hold the vehicle upside down.

[eelnoraa]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

I don't about that, that traction looks good enough to hold the vehicle upside down.

fixed fixed.

[jad03060]

Originally Posted by Guy Fleegman

Here's something my print manual says about tire chains. The problem is that there's no such setting on my iDrive and a search for "tire chains" turns up nothing. The print manual increasingly seems like a one-size-fits-all encyclopedia of things that MIGHT apply to your particular vehicle.

Attachment 3088135

Yes, but do you have rear wheel steering?

If you don't, that menu won't appear. THe issue is, if you DO have rear wheel steering AND you put chains on, you must turn off the rear wheel steering, or you can damage things as the clearance won't be sufficient. If you DON'T have rear wheel steering, there's no reason to have that menu item.

Note, the printed version of the manual has stuff you may not have in your vehicle...the one IN the vehicle is at least supposed to be customized for your delivered options.

If you search on "chain" versus "snow chain", you'll get to the needed info (in my copy, it's on page 368, but that can vary year-to-year).

[rundeyvoo]

Originally Posted by sarugby4life

That would be great! Thanks! Not really any snow in the forecast but it’s a bit too early to know for sure.

These are the ones my buddy ordered and used on his 45e.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008RWU8CI...hk_typ_imgToDp

[Guy Fleegman]

Originally Posted by jad03060

Yes, but do you have rear wheel steering?

If you don't, that menu won't appear. THe issue is, if you DO have rear wheel steering AND you put chains on, you must turn off the rear wheel steering, or you can damage things as the clearance won't be sufficient. If you DON'T have rear wheel steering, there's no reason to have that menu item.

Note, the printed version of the manual has stuff you may not have in your vehicle...the one IN the vehicle is at least supposed to be customized for your delivered options.

If you search on "chain" versus "snow chain", you'll get to the needed info (in my copy, it's on page 368, but that can vary year-to-year).

Exactly my point. I have stopped relying on the print manual for many things but it's also problematic to check the iDrive manual while in the car. Certainly not while driving and inconvenient when everyone's in the car waiting for me to quit "fiddling" with the menus.

I thought maybe the app could access the car-specific version remotely but the pdf is just like the printed version. It doesn't seem that it would be that hard to do since the app has access to so much other data in the vehicle.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by sarugby4life

Ugh may just rent an SUV for this trip. This is a once a year thing and the tires are still brand new.

If it's only once a year, renting may be the most economical choice.

If you do rent, make sure the vehicle you rent has All Season tires.

There is something I didn't know for the longest time and it's info on this forum that brought it to my attention. Summer tires are bad news in winter not due to snow. They also fail miserably even without snow when the temperature is cold. The rubber compound used in summer tires becomes useless grip-wise when the temperature falls below 40 degrees or so.

Good luck. Have fun on your trip.

[dananelson1]

I'm in Norcal with a 45e; we go skiing a ton in Tahoe, so for us it made sense to swap my summer 741m (21") tires/wheels for the 740m all seasons for the winter then back in the summer (which is what we do). BUT, I realize that's a big pain the butt if you only drive to the mountains a few weekends a winter.

If the weather looks 100% clear (like today) for your trip, AND, once in your destination you don't drive much, you might be fine with your set-up as there is no chain control (but you'd want to minimize driving and drive very careful in the mountain). Otherwise, the tire socks mentioned will NOT get a pass through CalTrans, you will need tire chains or cables.

SO the question is all 4 or only rear; I think all 4 while a pain is the gold standard for awd vehicles that need chains/cables (PRO TIP: spend the extra few minutes to make sure they are tight! Then after 10 mins of driving; pull over and retighten real quick).
Yes

Originally Posted by sarugby4life

Planning a quick snow trip and would like to know what tire chains folks are using. I believe in CA it is mandatory to carry them with you.

The truck has Pirelli P Zero run flat tires. Rears are 335/35/R21. I assume only rear axe is required?

For anyone who has these tires how do they do on their own in the snow. Anything special required to set drive mode etc?

[JMD]

When I was stationed in Bridgeport, CA area,...I found "Tire Cables" to be more favored over "Tire Chains"! Safe travels out there...

[sarugby4life]

Thank you all for the candid feedback! I think we have decided to just rent a Tahoe or Suburban with 4WD. It’s just not worth all the effort to swap tires etc for a once a year trip. Was really looking forward to taking the 45e to the snow but oh well!

Told my wife we could take the X5M instead and she vetoed that idea.

[dananelson1]

Prob a good call; though you could buy a 4 pack of cables and have them in case chain control comes on and you'd be good to go.
Bonus for taking rental is your new X5(s) will stay rock chip free and clean (the mountain roads are ruthless given the grime and gravel that spread everywhere...!)

Originally Posted by sarugby4life

Thank you all for the candid feedback! I think we have decided to just rent a Tahoe or Suburban with 4WD. It’s just not worth all the effort to swap tires etc for a once a year trip. Was really looking forward to taking the 45e to the snow but oh well!

Told my wife we could take the X5M instead and she vetoed that idea.

[eelnoraa]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

If it's only once a year, renting may be the most economical choice.

If you do rent, make sure the vehicle you rent has All Season tires.

There is something I didn't know for the longest time and it's info on this forum that brought it to my attention. Summer tires are bad news in winter not due to snow. They also fail miserably even without snow when the temperature is cold. The rubber compound used in summer tires becomes useless grip-wise when the temperature falls below 40 degrees or so.

Good luck. Have fun on your trip.

So I am in SF bay, we often deep below 40F in winter evening. All my previous cars (BMWs) have summer tires. I honest don't think 40F is as much of issue as even slightest slow/ice, or maybe low 30sF. Sure they aren't great, but certain not disaster. I personally have used my BMWs for ski trip on sunny winter days. Not recommended, but everytime I have issue with traction is at local road with snow, not from cold days

Summer pattern on snow/ice is bad. shallowest ramp, I will have issue going up. Braking distant is super long