IS350 is terrible in snow
02-08-14, 07:19 PM
#32
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Oem rear tire size is too wide for the little weight in the rear. Im running is250 rims with 215/45/17 and 235/50/17 . have two cinder blocks in the trunk and have no issues at all. Went to work in my is350 in all of the snow storms we had last month in NJ. Trac and vsc have to be turned off when attemping to go up a steep incline thou and is250(snow) mode on
02-09-14, 07:02 AM
#34
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The different tractions and stability features keep being mentioned, but the fact of the matter is that the IS350 and I would venture to say every other rear wheel drive light vehicle isn't worth a damn in the snow. Sure snow tires help, but there is no substitute for having the weight of the engine on the drive tires/tires that are plowing the way. I got by on my bald all-seasons in 3 inches of snow, but it was by no means stress free. I was holding up traffic and actually had to have a cop stop traffic on a hill so I could turn around. I wanted to head to Colorado for some skiing, but have now determined taking the IS is asking for trouble. My next vehicle will be an AWD. I like the IS enough that I might just get another one in AWD..... Who am I kidding, there are so many hot cars on the market..... I can't be faithful.
02-09-14, 07:35 AM
#35
rename this thread to "Your IS350 unprepared for snow". I have an IS250 RWD with summer tires and turned the traction control off and got to work and home safely here in Virginia.
02-09-14, 01:10 PM
#36
Welcome to Oregon…Parking is a great idea…unless the snow hits when you are at work and have to get home!
Found the solution though.Put my 4 studded snows on the 93 Toyota PU 2wd..filled the bed with snow..and can go most anywhere. Battery was dead and had to buy a new one..but I am at least mobile now.
Found the solution though.Put my 4 studded snows on the 93 Toyota PU 2wd..filled the bed with snow..and can go most anywhere. Battery was dead and had to buy a new one..but I am at least mobile now.
02-09-14, 08:25 PM
#38
This is me stuck in my ally lol. Before someone asks, yes it has snow tires, 250 pounds of weight in the trunk, with traction control off and snow mode on. This was a day after a snowstorm, got going when I left my garage but my car came to a complete stop from the wide tires and plowing the snow in front. Other than my ally, usually don't have problems going anywhere else. Just really surprised how all these FWD cars with all-season tires still do better than me going down my ally.
02-09-14, 10:21 PM
#40
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I feel you OP. I'm up in the West Hills of NW Portland, where we've gotten a lot of snow and ice (up to a foot!). My IS250 AWD copes with it quite well! I imagine the AWD helps a lot, my brother's M3 couldn't go anywhere (ended up having to dig it out). I don't have winter tires for my 250, yet I was surprised how well it drove in the snow yesterday.
02-10-14, 12:59 PM
#41
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I live here in Southwestern IL about 20 minutes away from St. Louis MO and we have had a lot of snow this winter season so far and this is my 2nd winter season with my 2IS. Last month we had a day where we got 16 inches of snow and I did just fine. I am used to driving rwd cars in the snow as I have driven in chicago and japan in the past.
My 2IS has a manual transmission rwd and I have AS tires on my stocks and have had no trouble so far when utilizing etcs snow mode because it starts out at a very low rpm and able to get traction without causing wheel spin. There have been a couple of wheel spins here and there but all in all it has been good so far.
So I agree with VTsuckah and sm1ke on slow/easy throttle acceleration being the key for rwd. Hope this helps.
My 2IS has a manual transmission rwd and I have AS tires on my stocks and have had no trouble so far when utilizing etcs snow mode because it starts out at a very low rpm and able to get traction without causing wheel spin. There have been a couple of wheel spins here and there but all in all it has been good so far.
So I agree with VTsuckah and sm1ke on slow/easy throttle acceleration being the key for rwd. Hope this helps.
02-10-14, 01:28 PM
#42
yup, we had a bunch of snow in chattanooga, my is went into a ditch... thankfully no major damage, just need to get an alignment.. i think its more a fact that low profile tires are not good in the snow.
02-10-14, 04:16 PM
#45
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Instead of putting your money into AWD get a spare set of rims and some GOOD snow tires. (I only use Blizzack but that is personal preference). If you have a garage you can swap them out yourself. Much cheaper than AWD and they will last for years if you use them that infrequently.