Winter driving, VSC, and TRAC
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 91
Likes: 12
From: Iowa
Winter driving, VSC, and TRAC
While I'm accustomed to RWD vehicles, this will be my first winter driving my IS350 longer distances Iowa. The driving will mostly be on highways with some Blizzak winter tires that are almost 8 years old but have 95% of there tread left. From reading about tires, it sounds like the older Blizzak tires should be okay if I don't see any cracking on the tirewalls.
Are there many conditions where I may wish to disable TRAC and/ or VSC? The manual mentioned disabling both to rock the vehicle when it's stuck. Are there other conditions where proactively disabling those makes sense?
A friend with an Audi mentioned it performing much better in the winter with sandbags over the axle in the trunk. From reading about the Lexus, it sounds like that's not beneficial on our cars. Thoughts?
Are there many conditions where I may wish to disable TRAC and/ or VSC? The manual mentioned disabling both to rock the vehicle when it's stuck. Are there other conditions where proactively disabling those makes sense?
A friend with an Audi mentioned it performing much better in the winter with sandbags over the axle in the trunk. From reading about the Lexus, it sounds like that's not beneficial on our cars. Thoughts?
8 years old? I'd more than bet there is dry rot present. The compound hardens over the years anyways, and I'd def be replacing them minimum after 6 or so seasons regardless of tread left.
Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 421
Likes: 36
From: Mass
I’m in the same boat. I bought my IS350 at the end of March. I have a new set of Yokohama advan sport a/s. Hopefully there good in the snow. Mostly highway 60 miles 1 way to work. I also have a 4x4 avalanche for the snow but she’s rotting away right in front of me. I’ve owned it for 10 years with no major repairs and 200k on it.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,358
Likes: 129
From: ON, Canada
well some folks here keep traction control off during the winter because they find it too evasive, and in a way they are sort of right that the system doesn't allow for almost any sliding and abruptly cuts power even though things are under control
Especially, on the highway no need to turn off traction. The only time I ever turn it off is when i get stuck in a parking spot and need some wheel spin to power out of it. Good winter tires make all the difference, i found that michelin x-ice in 225 size performmed much better than blizzaks in a 245 size imho.
On my RWD IS350 in rare wintery conditions, I've found myself throwing into the trunk two large bags of kitty litter and a small shovel and a large piece of folded cardboard...just in case. Oh, did I mention I'm on max summer performance tires all year 'round? LOL!
But yeah, I'd only see it necessary to remove the T/C and such when in very slow conditions OR when truly stuck somewhere where wheel spin would be necessary.
But yeah, I'd only see it necessary to remove the T/C and such when in very slow conditions OR when truly stuck somewhere where wheel spin would be necessary.
On my RWD IS350 in rare wintery conditions, I've found myself throwing into the trunk two large bags of kitty litter and a small shovel and a large piece of folded cardboard...just in case. Oh, did I mention I'm on max summer performance tires all year 'round? LOL!
But yeah, I'd only see it necessary to remove the T/C and such when in very slow conditions OR when truly stuck somewhere where wheel spin would be necessary.
But yeah, I'd only see it necessary to remove the T/C and such when in very slow conditions OR when truly stuck somewhere where wheel spin would be necessary.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post