Contrary to what our fellow e60 guys are saying across the country and across the pond, I think you'll be OK going to Big Bear as long as you are going up and back in the day light and you don't get caught in a major blizzard. I don't think they realize Big Bear is only 2 hours away from So Cal beaches and they do a pretty good job keeping the roads cleared. As you may know, most of the time its hot up there and you end up skiing/snowboarding with just a tee-shirt...(maybe with long sleaves!) I also would'nt consider the RE050's summer tires since they are OEMs and are meant to be an intermediate.

If the weather report says chains required, I would take another car too...have you seen what loose chains can do?

As for Mammoth...thats more than a day trip and I agree with the others...take the parents SUV!

Finally...if you do get up there with the e60...post some pics!!!!

 

I once drove it on Dunlop RFTs in Mud. It was like driving on skate ring. Dont even think about it. Buy winter rfts.

 

 

Think about wearing your dancing shoes on ice

 

You folks have dancing shoes AND winter tyres??

Wow!

ABC

 

A friend of mine poo pooed winter tires. Said he only worked 5 minutes from home and could make it in anything. Called me CRYING the first time he tried to drive in the bad stuff. Could not do more than 5 mph and could not get up the 1/2" step to his driveway. I had a neighbor that went 3 years without changing tires (too cheap) - almost got stuck crossing railroad tracks. Has an Audi now.

 

I had winter tires for the first time last year, after making do with all seasons for years. Now I'm a believer. In the case of the OP, the solution is the parents' SUV. But for anyone who'll be driving on snow and ice, summers will never do, and even all seasons aren't the answer if you'll be doing it more than 5-6 times in the winter.

What confuses me is that so many people seem fixated on safety these days, yet so few get winter tires even where I live, near Detroit. Anything that drastically reduces stopping distances should be a top priority safety item. Careful driving isn't a viable alternative, since surprises happen.

 

An SUV without proper winter tires is no better than a RWD vehicle in the same situation. On slippery road 4WD may get you going on a straight line, it doesn't help stopping or going around curves. Besides, the high centre of gravity makes it a lot more difficult to regain control once you start to skid. At where I live, on a snowy day, more SUV's and 4WD trucks ended up in the ditch on the roadside than normal 2WD cars.