snow driving
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 326
Likes: 7
From: il
snow driving
Chicago just had there first big snow over the weekend , had my 05 Ls430 since june ,so first time I took her out in the snow , not really good , I have brand new all season tires on , and I tried the snow switch it helped a little at take offs , Any suggestions would be appreciated
Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 277
Likes: 8
From: Minnesota
In case you didn't get the memo, snow tires.
16 inch rims and 225/60 r-16 snow tires.
I got through one winter on all-seasons and it was not great. I got snow tires last year, and I wouldn't drive my LS in snow without them. And I'd rather drive my LS than any of the AWD/All season SUVs in my house.
Also, don't use the snow mode. Use the power mode, turn the VSC off, and go sliding!
16 inch rims and 225/60 r-16 snow tires.
I got through one winter on all-seasons and it was not great. I got snow tires last year, and I wouldn't drive my LS in snow without them. And I'd rather drive my LS than any of the AWD/All season SUVs in my house.
Also, don't use the snow mode. Use the power mode, turn the VSC off, and go sliding!
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,486
Likes: 3,997
From: Maryland
Wait in the trunk will help, but it really needs winter tires, and in Chicago they would be worth it.
it can be scary to drive that car on all seasons. I got caught in the snow in the LS400 one time going to WV at night in the mountains. Talk about a white knuckle trip, and I'm a pretty good experienced snow driver.
it can be scary to drive that car on all seasons. I got caught in the snow in the LS400 one time going to WV at night in the mountains. Talk about a white knuckle trip, and I'm a pretty good experienced snow driver.
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Advanced
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 551
Likes: 9
From: Canada
i live in Alberta and take my car on ski trips where i will be driving it up for 8 hours in the rocky mountains. i have learned two things:
1) These cars are so big no matter how awesome your all seasons are, you are so much better getting winters.
2) with snow tires, and the snow mode on, these cars are beautiful to drive in the winter.
1) These cars are so big no matter how awesome your all seasons are, you are so much better getting winters.
2) with snow tires, and the snow mode on, these cars are beautiful to drive in the winter.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 766
Likes: 110
From: MI
Your first step should be snow tires. After that, weight in the trunk helps a little. Then, learn to use the snow switch. If the road is snow covered, use it. If clean, it is not necessary. The most important thing is to remember that these things help you go faster but do not help you stop any better. So, leave a lot of room.
Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 277
Likes: 8
From: Minnesota
Your first step should be snow tires. After that, weight in the trunk helps a little. Then, learn to use the snow switch. If the road is snow covered, use it. If clean, it is not necessary. The most important thing is to remember that these things help you go faster but do not help you stop any better. So, leave a lot of room.
But Snow Tires absolutely 100% no doubt about it help you stop faster in the snow/ice.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 538
Likes: 14
From: British Columbia
and keep the tiresize in mind
The skinnier the tire, the better they drive.
Socalled performance winter tires are a bunch of BS
What do you want to perform? Safety is more important.
In really deep snow you will need chains and low speed.
Not all snow is the same. Driving in light powdery snow, no matter how deep is very different from the icy, slushy mush snow.
Once we were hunting in a Jeep and wide snowtires. Got stuck in 4wheel mode. A VW with skinny 14" tires passed us as if he was driving on dry road
Lesson learned
The skinnier the tire, the better they drive.
Socalled performance winter tires are a bunch of BS
What do you want to perform? Safety is more important.
In really deep snow you will need chains and low speed.
Not all snow is the same. Driving in light powdery snow, no matter how deep is very different from the icy, slushy mush snow.
Once we were hunting in a Jeep and wide snowtires. Got stuck in 4wheel mode. A VW with skinny 14" tires passed us as if he was driving on dry road
Lesson learned
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 301
Likes: 15
I just can't bring myself to buy dedicated snows. I drive in Chicagoland 80 miles round trip to work every day and I can probably count on one hand (and still have a couple digits left) that I ever missed work because of the snow. Even those 2 or 3 times I could have made it, I just chose not to. Are these cars as good a a front wheel drive car in the snow? No, but take it slow and use some good ole common sense and it will get you where you want to go. 25,000 miles plus a year in Chicagoland over the last 30 years or so and I've never bit the bullet and got snows. It's not that I don't want to spend the cash, I just don't want something else I have to find a place to store. I have no doubt snows are the best choice for winter driving though. If you got the space and the cash, go for it. You can't go wrong with snows in the snow.