mcourtne

Please bear with me, as I am certainly no auto genius. I have a new-to-me 2002 ES 300 with 17,000 miles in pristine condition. This car has never seen a Cleveland winter, until now that is. It was from Florida originally. From what I can tell, this car does not have traction control, which being from Florida is not surprising. It also doesn't have heated seats but I'll get used to that! I have never slipped and slid so much in a car. Does anyone else have trouble in the snow? I'm thinking it may be because I don't have traction control. The tires are yokohama as430, which according to reviews I read, should be good tires. They were checked before I brought the car here and they are in great shape/tread. My question I guess is, do you think snow tires would provide a substantial improvement? I am seriously considering selling this car and getting something with AWD and traction control but I really do hate to part with this Lexus. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

Its just the tires, those suck in snow. And you do have traction control, at least you should

WAES300

Must be the tires- my old ES does not have traction control, but it was fine in the freak snow/ice storm we had last month. Didn't lose traction at all, though I was driving very carefully.

KLF

It's very likely the tires. And he may in fact not have traction control. I was very dismayed to find that my car doesn't have it, but it came from Texas so I guess they figured they wouldn't need it.

porn-adkt

iTrader: (37)

Learn to drive

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

I will say this though, iusually just turn the traction control off like i did today. Also be very light on the throttle

PeterR1

Very subtle ****-adkt. Trac has to be standard on that car. tire/driver issue, I think.

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

Tires - swap them
Overdrive - off

then you're good to go.

I always turn traction control off anyways... more fun on the parking lot leaving work

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

Does starting the car off from a stop in second hurt the transmission if it is done a lot? I find it a lot less troublesome if i do

BoostedE21

Do everything in slow motion. Slow on the accelerator, slow on the brakes, slow in the turns.

mcourtne

Thanks, all. I'll probably get new tires. All of my other cars must have just had tires better suited for up north. I've been driving in the snow for years and haven't had much trouble, contrary to what some may think

sphillips

I drive a '97 es300 up here in the Tetons, already have a couple of feet of snow in the yard. Front wheel drive vehicles are very common up here, we just put studded tires on for the winter, and it crawls around like 4wd as long as the roads are plowed.

Timothyj

I have a 04 ES, same as yours. Its the tires. I have a set of winter tires and rims. Firestone winterforce on plain black steel rims. First year with them and the car goes real good in the snow. They make more noise, and don't handle like my Michelin Pilot Exalto a/s tires, but better then getting stuck. Had some bad snow and ice here in Mich. and my car with these tires worked out great. Your car is like new, traction control and abs react better with these tires in the snow. Have fun with the new car, drive safe.

Tim

JTS06Z06

Tires make all the difference. You dont even necessarily have to go with a specific winter tire but just one of the better all season tires should be plenty for a Cleveland winter. I am currently using my new Michelin Primacy MXV4's that I bought for my 00 ES300 and so far they have been very good up here near Chicago.

As for the traction control I to would have thought that every ES made would have traction control of some sort. Well either way traction control can only do so much its the tires that make more of a difference anyway.

James

KLF

I would have thought so too, but apparently not. I can find no evidence that my current '05 has it, which really bothers me, especially since the car is fairly well equipped (power pedals, rear sunshade, auto wipers, etc). No button on the dash, no warning light when I start the car, nuthin. Final test will be when we get some snow, so far nothing here. Even my daughter's Corolla has it.

I also have the Michelin MXV4's, so your post is encouraging. I would really prefer to have a set of dedicated snows, for a) better traction and b) to keep my nice OEM rims out of the salt. I intentionally kept my set of rims and Blizzaks from my previous car so I'd have a set, but alas my '05 will not accept a 15" rim, they hit the brake calipers in the front. Trying to sell them now so I can get another set in 16".