Jamrock27

I am not currently a Lexus owner but will be in about a year and a half when my current lease expires. I live in NJ up a hill and my only concern about the ES 300H is the front wheel drive. Can anyone tell me their experience driving in heavy show and most important driving up a hill in show?

lesz

Unless you are willing to spend the money to buy an all-wheel drive vehicle and are also willing to sacrifice mpg with an all-wheel drive vehicle, a front-wheel drive vehicle should be noticeably better on slick roads than would be any rear-wheel drive vehicle. I haven't driven my 2013 ES in winter conditions yet, but my 2006 ES did as well on slick roads as any vehicle I've owned other than 4x4 SUVs, and I expect that my 2013 ES will do at least as well with more advanced systems for traction control, ABS, etc. than were on that older ES.

Jamrock27

Thank you, my reason for concern is I am currently driving a 2012 Camry SE and almost did not make it home over the hill the last show storm. Maybe you could update the post the next time you drive in snow

Mike728

Most of the problems in snow are due to the tires. Put some Blizzak's on your Camry and see how much better it is in the snow. That's the extreme, of course. I replaced the crappy Hankook's on my old Sonata with some Continental Extreme Contact DWS's and it was like night and day. I went from barely getting up my driveway in an inch of snow, to getting through half a foot with ease.

mrBillFL

1+

Winter wheels and tires. FTW!

the high mileage tires you get are slippery to start with. in snow and ice it can't be good.

jonmanch

Does anyone know how the Michelins that came with my 300h handle in the snow?

Mike728, thanks for the suggestion of the Continental Extreme Contact DWS's. I have made a note of them in case the Michelins don't do a good job.

Jamrock27

Thank you, i will keep this in mind

lesz

Even though I haven't had the opportunity to drive in snow with my 2013 ES, which is equipped with the Michelins, I had the same Michelin tires on my 2006 ES, and it did great in snow and on slippery roads. My only complaint with the Michelins is that they start out with only 9/32 of an inch of tread. The Goodyear Assurance tires that I replaced the Michelin tires with started out with 12/32. Not only were they equally as good in the snow, but ride quality and noise were similar to what I got with the Michelin tires, and I got about 25,000 more miles out of them than I got with the Michelins. When the Michelin tires on my 2013 are ready for replacement, I plan to replace them with the Goodyears.

jonmanch

Thanks for the quick response.

Also, does anyone know if the Continental Extreme Contact DWS's noise level is more than the Michelins?

lesz, I am going to check out the Goodyear Assurance tires, as well.

Mike728

Tirerack.com is a great resource for these types of questions.

Jamrock27

Ok, so it's snowing in New Jersey. I know there must be some ES 300H drivers out there. Anyone care to comment about their experience driving in the snow?

bc6152

Across the Delaware River in PA we have about 6" of snow on the ground. It is snowing as I write this post 8pm Saturday. I have a 2013 ES350 with Michelins. I don't believe that there would be a substantial difference in performance of traction between the 350 and 300. I can testify that using my driving skills honed through many years of winter driving, that this car will go just about anywhere - reasonably speaking - with the all season Michelins. One must adjust their driving to the current conditions and in doing so will have few, if any problems with the FWD Lexus. I would also agree with the other members that changing to winter tires would probably increase snow traction not only in your Lexus, but any car. My issue with changing to winter tires is that almost within hours the roads are cleared of snow but you're stuck with the snow tires.

Mike728

I'm sure my ES350 with the 18" Bridgstones would be the worst combo of the bunch. I can now say I'm very impressed with the way it gets through the snow. An ES300h with 17" tires can only be better.

Jamrock27

Thank you very much, any hill driving?

bc6152

I go up and down a hill every day. Again, using common sense and a light foot on the accelerator does the trick.