LeX2K

More weight in theory yields more traction but SUVs are fitted with relatively wide rubber offsetting the weight. In slippery conditions weight per rubber contact patch is everything.

mmarshall

I agree that winter tires would make more sense in upstate NY, which, except maybe for the Sierra Nevadas in California, is arguably the Snow Capital of the U.S. I was referring, though, to this D.C. area when I made the remark about them usually being unnecessary.

Also agreed that, all else equal, AWD helps only start-up traction, not braking or handling. I was not implying anything any different, and have not done so in past posts, either.

SW17LS

My LS430 was the same way.

This is my third RWD LS, the issue is not the weight, its the better traction and skid control systems. This car is heads and shoulders better than the other two. I would put RWD with good traction and skid control over FWD after this experience.

I'm not crazy LOL. I wasn't about to get the car stuck in that parking lot, and that snow was as high or higher than the ground clearance of the car, and as I said before it was an incline.. Has I still had my AWD LS I would have attempted that, but not in the RWD LS or the FWD Pacifica. Both would have been high sided on that snow and stuck.

I'm not about to get out in either of these cars and drive around on snow that is 5"+ and not traveled on at all. Thats something I would only do in an AWD vehicle or preferably an SUV with better ground clearance.

Nor would I

LeX2K

I'm curious do you think all of Canada has exactly the same weather?

RX_330

The more aggressive programming of Lexus traction control works much better in real slippery conditions like that (not so much in deep snow). I have found the traction control in FCA products to be damn near worthless. I had a 2011 Town & Country that couldn't get me up my cousin's uphill dirt driveway. With traction control on there was still endless wheelspin and it felt like there was very little individual braking even when there was intervention.

MattyG

In this particular scenerio and your particular situation, yes. Your experience certainly points to not letting yourself be limited by the traditional fears of RWD with all season/grand touring tires in winter. Lexus certainly appears to have improved the traction control and skid control over previous versions. But at some point the rubber meets the snow and a sophisticated FWD car and AWD can match that LS and also exceed it. These are what I would call mild winter conditions with fairly warm temps. I've not known FWD Chryco products to be good in winter without some help from winter tires.

Yeah I agree. AWD wins every time due to taller tire height and ground clearance. FWD also wins due to weight on the drive wheels. Just different driving techniques with each type of vehicle.

Toys4RJill

Yes, I have driven my sisters car, a 3 series BMW in snow before when she visits. Yes, the new modern technology has improved RWD in the snow.

SW17LS

I would certainly say an AWD vehicle would exceed my experience with my RWD LS, certainly my AWD LS did, as did my AWD GS. I preferred driving them in the snow to my Jeep. FWD though, I really don't see how. I didnt have any issues accelerating, including up inclines from a stop. I agree, these certainly were not extreme weather conditions, but these are pretty close to the worst conditions you will find around here when you would be out in a vehicle. Perhaps once every 4 or 5 years we might have a snow worse than this snow, which is certainly not worth basing a vehicle purchasing decision on. Temps were in the upper 20s, which again is about as cold as it ever gets, even during a storm. This car performed as well or better than any FWD vehicle I've owned, lets put it that way. Last FWD product I owned before this van was a 2010 ES350 with TRAC and VSC. We had a FWD 2015 Kia Sedona also but never drove it in the snow.

The issue with FWD is the inability to control the direction of the vehicle and the speed of the vehicle at the same time when you loose traction. For instance, heading up that hill I discussed, when the van was grabbing for traction, I had no ability to steer it, I had to back off the throttle to get steering inputs back. When the Lexus was grabbing for traction, I retained control over the steering.

Certain things that are a problem. I have a rather steep small townhouse driveway (about the length of a car). The driveway was shoveled, but the alleyway was not cleared. I got the front wheels up on the driveway, but could not get up the driveway because the rear wheels were back in the snow. I wound up having to back the Lexus into the driveway and that worked fine, since the momentum carried the drive wheels onto the bare asphalt and they had traction. In a FWD or AWD vehicle that would not have been necessary.

So, would I go on a trip into the mountains where I know there would be heavy snow in my LS? No, but I wouldn't in the Pacifica either...and probably would not have in my AWD LS or GS because of ground clearance. I would in say my Jeeps or my Explorer. Would I be concerned driving my LS to work and back on a snowy day like the one we had yesterday like I would have been with my 400 or 430? No, which is a huge advancement IMHO.

Och

iTrader: (3)

My daughter actually lives near DC, in Reston VA. She asked me to get her a set of winter wheels for her X5.

SW17LS

Och

iTrader: (3)

Thats kind of what I'm thinking. She has AWD with all seasons, I told her just to avoid driving until roads are cleared.

SW17LS

Och

iTrader: (3)

I ordered them anyway, just to be safe.

AJT123

How much does the TCS give you before it steps in on the newer LSs?

I HAATE the traction control system in my LS430, it activates if the wheel slips a millimeter, and in the snow the car just goes nowhere. If I have to pull out fast on dry pavement it will activate, it's a huge bother how intrusive it is and actually makes it semi-dangerous if I need to accelerate quickly. I feel if it gave you a little bit more before it reigns you in it would be better in the snow.

SW17LS