Anyone have experience driving their LS430 in snow and ice regularly in the winter. Snow tires a must of course. Any near death experiences or swearing to trade for AWD?

 

Yeah I live in Boston and my Ls430 is pretty bad in the snow with "all season" tires. I usually don't drive when there is a threat of a snow storm but here have been times where i'm caught off guard. I thought traction control would help but it doesn't do much. I had a fwd 98 Cadillac STS and it I was able to confidently plow thru snow storms with alot of stability. It's pretty embarrassing seeing fwd Honda civics and accords drive around you. Winter is almost over, i'll just need to tough it out. I love my LS and next year I'll probably buy a "winter beater." I wouldn't want any any inexperience snow drivers sliding into my lux sedan.

 

I was hoping that an extra couple of hundred pounds in the trunk and blizzaks would get me through most of the northeast winters.

 

My LS is not very good in slippery conditions, but in the snow mode it does better. I find it quite amazing just how the system controls the wheelspin so well. That being said, next year I will get some Michelin Arctic Alpin's and takeoff wheels for stormy times.

 

I'm doing fine with my LS430 with all season tires. I just have to be more careful. Before this 04 LS430, I had 01 IS300 and 97 SC300. I did fine with all season tires on these cars too.

 

I've got an '04 LS430 here in NW Illinois and put dedicated wheels and Dunlap Winter Sport M3's on just before Thanksgiving this year. They've handled a couple of 7" and several 5" snowfalls with no problem at all. Absolutely no way would I just use the OEM tires for winter snow driving. It's part of owning a RWD car in my opinion and I've used snows on the GS300 I used to have and now with this LS430. I don't think having a AWD would make that much difference for me on the way I drive but if I drove more agressive in poor weather it might.

 

Blizzak's, Arctic Alpines or Winter Sports... Which to choose? Some Tirerack research I suppose.

 

I had the Michelin's on my GS and switched to the Dunlap's this time. I think, its been a few months, that I only had the choice of the Pilot Alpin's in the 17" size. Got to believe either would do a fine job for you.

 

Wouldn't you know it, just after I posted my prior response I had a strange occurance this a.m.

Had a strange occurance this a.m. with my '04 LS430 while backing out of my garage. We had a fair amount of rain last night followed by dropping temps and dusting of snow which left a icy covering on my flat driveway made of concrete. I have Dunlop Winter Sport M3's on the LS and have had great luck on snow.

I backed out slowly as normal and begin a turn to the right to be able to pull foward and head down the driveway incline to the street. Pushed on the brake while barely moving and couldn't get the car to stop sliding.. Pushed harder on the break and began to hear one tire begin to spin out of control leaving a large black mark on the ground. Threw the transmission into neutral to stop the tire spin. Put car into Drive and had same experience going forward, spinning tire that wouldn't stop spinning even with foot on the brake. This several times both in reverse and drive. Finally got my spouse, bless her, to come outside and throw down salt from the edge of the garage so I could get some grip and head down the drive. Roads were fine, just my driveway section was icy. Not too worried about what happened but don't understand why when I pressed on brake the tires seemed to accelerate uncontrollably.

Any ideas out there on what happened?

 

My wife has a RX330, as such I perview the RX330 discussions on various boards. These owners also seem to describe the trouble with the small amounts of snow and inability to stop. No direct mention of wheels accelerating however.

 

Based on some other feedback it appears the issue I experienced is related to the TRAC system and I would have benefited in turning it off to gain the traction I needed. Will do some more looking as this seems a little backwards at first glance.

 

I agree completely. My car has only the stock all-seasons and I have minimal problems. Next year I will get dedicated winter tires... but being careful and driving slower makes a huge difference. I'll probably get Nokians.

Fred

 

On the way home from the dealer today, I went through a park with poorly snow plowed roads to get a preview of how the LS did in slippery conditions. It was far from comprehensive, but was happy with the anti-lock braking in the ice comming to a stop. I was particularly suprised with how the car seemed to straighten itself out when accelerating comming out of a slow turn with a bit of rear wheel spin. Perhaps I was imagining it but the car did more than keep me from skidding on the snow/ice.

 

its just common sense to drive slower [SLOWER] in an ls in snow or slush. snow tires are not going to overcome physics. period. this is the first rwd car I have had since 3/86 and with the exception of my ml320 [invincible in the snow] all my cars were fwd which are terrific in the snow. even up to 12 inches of snow the fwd was great. this rwd car with brand new continental extreme contacts [I refuse to do winter tire changeover] is OK at low speed and I mean low. if I normally drive around 35-40 in the city then I am cutting 40-50% lower in the snow. and turning speed is much less. the snow setting for the transmission helps a lot but the emphasis is on driving slowly as well as allowing plenty of space between cars and plenty of time to stop.