Hello all,
Live in New England and thinking about an LS460. I always mount winter tires on my ES350 and am wondering if I really need AWD?
I am fine about that, but it limits the number of cars that I can contemplate.

Opinions from those in snow country?

Thank you.

 

If you are going to put on winter tires.. you'll be fine..

But at the end of the day, if you have a job where you drive to even in the snow, I would spring for the AWD.

The "assurance" of AWD works wonders.

 

I live in Iowa, snow country. I run RWD with dedicated winter tires. No issue so far. For the 1-3 days per year that you may find your self out in a snow event it is not worth it to me to have AWD the other 360 odd days using more gas and giving less power. For those really bad times, I am lucky we also have an RX350 in the family. And while I haven't driven yet in really heavy snow with the LS, in the lighter snow and slush or ice it has been no problem with the winter tires with good remaining life.

 

 

I've spent years in the high sierras - can get tons of snow and hilly conditions.
My LX 570 on snow tires is the way to go.
There have been occasions where a RWD sedan (like my old GS300 or 2013 LS 460) just could not have come through..
Granted those are few and far between - but if you NEED to get through snow...4WD

 

no...
no...
no...

 

I would say yes if you went to the extent of putting snow tires on your previous fwd Lexus. RWD LS460 seems more rare up north. I have a rwd 2008 and it does not see snow. I have a beater Toyota Camry for the snow. One time I backed out of my garage to get out the snow blower out, My driveway has a slight slope. I had some difficult driving back the Ls460 into the garage. My previous GS350 with awd was unstoppable in snow.

 

 

The AWD is only functioning when you're applying power to the wheels, so under braking or coasting the traction comes down to what the tires can provide. You already know the benefits of winter tires, even an AWD vehicle needs adequate traction for the reasons already mentioned. A car with lower ground clearance limits your mobility in deeper snow. The ultimate bad weather vehicle is AWD and winter tires, but RWD with proper rubber can likely handle most situations. How often must you drive in the worst weather? Understanding that AWD brings with it additional components for repair and maintenance, slightly decreased mpg, and possibly a higher entry cost, you have to ask yourself, do I need the ultimate in bad weather mobility.........

 

If you're going to put winter tires on it, you'll be fine. If you're planning on staying on allseasons, then yes I would get the AWD.

Lexus AWD system on their sedans is excellent BTW

 

Whether you need AWD or not, I don't know. I can only relate my experience with my LS 430 RWD with all-season tires vs. my LS 460 AWD with Nokian Hakkapeliitta winter tires.

Once, in my 430, it had just started to snow and stick on the road. I figured this was no problem, and it wasn't, until I reached a 20-degree grade. The road appeared fine and I didn't anticipate a problem. I got about 150 feet up the 300-foot uphill section and then I was done. I wasn't going anywhere. I had to get out and put chains on right in the middle of the road which I hurriedly put on while other traffic was trying to get around me. A hair-raising and unpleasant experience to be sure.

Another time, at a ski resort with a slight incline (maybe 10-15 degree slope), going along the aisles which were perpendicular to the slope, the front wheels would slide downhill towards the other parked cars when I started forward. I came within about two inches of hitting them. Some kind skiers pushed the front of the car up till I got out of the bind.

So, I got my LS 460 with AWD because I never wanted to be in those predicaments again. Now, in winter, with my AWD F Sport and winter tires, I can go anywhere. I set the air-suspension to high and have no worries. I've gone up and down a 30-degree driveway in snow without any issue whatsoever.

My guess is that with AWD, even with AS tires, I would have been fine in both of those situations. But now I don't worry about it at all.

 

Just drive slow when it snows, stay in the right lane u will be fine. Now if ya get out to ski hills and such get snows.

 

Chicago just got hit with snow pretty bad. the AWD on my LS is fine, and it's heavy enough too.

It doesn't necessarily matter as "much" on AWD or not, but rather the right tires.

I've driven numerous vehicles in the snow that were rear wheel drive, my s2000 included, and as long as you if you had dedicated winter/snow tires on a rear wheel drive car, you're golden, it would do even better than vehicles with AWD that had/have all-seasons.


Dedicated tires are key, if you want the most out of a situation. All-seasons are good, but not great; as they are a jack of all trades but a master of none.

AWD WITH snow tires? Now you're talking

 

I have never ever needed AWD with my LS430 with X ice3's. I ski all the time in huge stroms in the UP of Michigan, 200 inches to date no probs.

 

My RWD with dedicated ice/snow tires is unstoppable in the snow. I would never get AWD unless I had to. Unfortunately al Canadian LS's after 2012 (or so), are only available with AWD