Snow?!
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Lead Lap
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 618
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From: Missouri
Snow?!
Ok. I don't know about you guys, but in my IS350, I can barely get up a 1 degree hill in my stock tires. I just get stuck there in this miserable st. louis snow. I was told snow in St. Louis is much different than the snow in Colorado because it fills your treads and makes the tires like ice skates. STL is expecting even more snow on Sunday night well into Monday and I have a huge exam on Monday. I hate it... That feeling of "oh I might get a snow day" so you don't want to study as hard... Ugh. I'm just ranting because I was in my subdivision and was stuck there for 20 minutes trying to get home which was less than 100 yards away due to my sucky tires and lack of snow trucks in my neighborhood. Anybody else experiencing similar problems with snow... I know VA is gonna get the mother load of snow on them...
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,810
Likes: 15
From: MI
A set of winter tires and wheels will cure your problem for about $1000. The Michelin x-ice tires I have on my RWD Dakota are the best I've ever used and turn that slippy Dakota into a tank in the winter. Winter tires and wheels also save the finish on nice summer wheels and lessen tread wear on performance tires. BTW, how much tread is left on your stock tires?
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,534
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From: MD
I've never understood why Lexus offers the GS 350 in AWD, but not the IS 350. The IS300 is hands down the worst car I have ever driven in snow. I always turn the traction control off in order to move anywhere.
On Dec. 19 i was caught off guard with 20inches of snow while i was away from home in my staggered ultimate performance summer 245/40/18 and 275/35/18 tires. I had never been so humiliated in my life. Corollas looked like H1's in comparison.
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,702
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Agreed. I myself had an IS300 and, even with the factory-stock all-season tires, traction control only (no VSC in 2001), and snow-mode for the automatic transmission, it was still a handful on any really slick surface. I went through 4 or 5 winters with it and finally got a Subaru.
I agree that both AWD and a MT option is needed on the IS350. Once again, I discussed that with the Lexus reps at the recent D.C. Auto Show.......I've mentoned it several times.
AWD alone, though, will only have a limited effect if you have tires that are crappy in snow.....which includes many low-profile, "dry-weather", high-performance tires. All-season high-performance tires help some, but the best bet is either straight all-seasons or purpose-designed rain/snow tires. Bridgestone Blizzaks, especially, have a good reputation in snow, though my Outback, with the all-season RE-92s, is outstanding in the snow/ice. I have never gotten stuck, and have had it in snow over a foot high.....as in two recent blizzards here in the D.C. area..
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Agreed. I myself had an IS300 and, even with the factory-stock all-season tires, traction control only (no VSC in 2001), and snow-mode for the automatic transmission, it was still a handful on any really slick surface. I went through 4 or 5 winters with it and finally got a Subaru.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: MD
My parents and I have been strictly AWD since 2002. I have no intention on looking back unless I could afford a second car such as the GS450h or a Corvette, etc. ...But I am decades away from that.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Highway Pull Councelor
Ok. I don't know about you guys, but in my IS350, I can barely get up a 1 degree hill in my stock tires. I just get stuck there in this miserable st. louis snow. I was told snow in St. Louis is much different than the snow in Colorado because it fills your treads and makes the tires like ice skates. STL is expecting even more snow on Sunday night well into Monday and I have a huge exam on Monday. I hate it... That feeling of "oh I might get a snow day" so you don't want to study as hard... Ugh. I'm just ranting because I was in my subdivision and was stuck there for 20 minutes trying to get home which was less than 100 yards away due to my sucky tires and lack of snow trucks in my neighborhood. Anybody else experiencing similar problems with snow... I know VA is gonna get the mother load of snow on them...
Glad you posted this. Yep, I had the same problem with my Lexus IS350 when I owned it last year. IIRC, Lexus IS350 comes with High Performance Summer Tires and so was mine. I am betting yours is equipped with a set of summer tires which is absolutely worthless in the winter and snow/icy conditions. You don't even need snow to lose traction, even on a *dry* road in 30F or less weather can get you slide all over the place.
As others have mentioned, you must put on a set of Snow Tires. That will give you a night and day difference. With the winter tires (I prefer Bridgestone Blizzak) your car can even outperform AWD SUVs that are much heavier, equipped with All Season Tires in the extremely slippery conditions (ice) downhill or uphill don't matter. It's the tires that make the major difference.For your car have a set of winter tires ready for winter, and go back to Summer tires when winter is over. This is really the best and safest way.
Last edited by meowCat; Feb 8, 2010 at 11:32 AM.
Lead Lap
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: MD
I had staggered 18" Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 tires mounted on my 2008 IS 350 right before that start of the new year. I pulled the summer OEM tires off and will be mounting them on a second set of stock rims that I hope to buy soon, I think they still have one more season left on them.
These have been real great in snow. I was debating even getting them put on because we don't usually get too much snow in the winters in the Baltimore-DC area but this season we've been getting pounded.
These have been real great in snow. I was debating even getting them put on because we don't usually get too much snow in the winters in the Baltimore-DC area but this season we've been getting pounded.
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