I just got this 05 in October. My 2001 was excellent in the Snow. How are these 05 and newer models?

 

With my FWD '04, same as the '05, and a brand new set of Alenzas I had no problems in the snow on a trip near State College several years back. Back roads included and with up to six inches of heavy snow on the roads in locations yet to be plowed.

As expected, not so great in ice. Nothing helps you there with the possible exception of chains. If the roads are icy, I recommend staying in if possible.

The cool part is getting the dash to light up like a Christmas tree and hear the anti-lock brakes kicking in for the VSC when you try to have fun letting the car slide a bit. I can do the same in a controlled slide on unpaved dirt roads.

The button for "Snow" next to the gear shift is only good to get you moving from a stop in icy conditions. I never touch it. Just be careful with the gas to get moving.

Most accidents or incidents in the snow are a result of poor drivers, IMHO, driving too close or too fast for their skills and not a fault of the equipment. As a kid, after a heavy snow storm my father drove me up to the mall where the parking lot was wide open and not plowed, malls were closed on Sundays back then, and let me loose with a driving lesson on how to control a car in those conditions. Get the car loose and then get it back under control. Couldn't hit anything so was a great experience. Later, I would do this on my own with the family's FWD and RWD cars. Later, I did the same with a Subaru 4WD wagon I had purchased.

In short, is more a matter of experience than the equipment. I find the RX to be more than competent in the snow. Know your limits. Learn the cars limits.

Disclaimer: I grew up in PA, only live in FL now.

Of course, YMMV.

 

The RX 330 does very well in the snow. I agree, just drive more cautiuosly and keep your distance. 4wd or awd doesn't mean anything when it comes to stopping on icey conditions.
Be safe..

 

This is good information,considering they temporarily dropped the viscous coupling and relied on sensor`s and such for 04-05.

 

Another report. We just got 12" of heavy wet snow yesterday with high winds and lots of drifting. I live in a rural area that doesn't see plows often and I was pushing snow ahead of the car in many locations. When I looked in the rear view mirror I could see the path the bottom of the car was making, not just the tire tracks. I have an 04 AWD model and Bridgestone Alenzas with around 28,000 miles on them (10/32nds tread depth). This car seems to love snow. I felt quite confident in the car's performance.

Also, I echo the earlier comments regarding an awd vehicle. They don't stop any better than any other vehicle and keeping safe distances and speeds is important to arriving at your destination without incident.

 

Good report. Love those Alenzas! Mine were just rotated after 30K with 9.5 to 10/32nds left. The 9.5s are now on the rear.

Only adjustment I might make for winter would be to take a couple of pounds of air out of them, perhaps from 35 which I normally run to 32 or 33 for snow.

 

The recommend pressure is only 30psi. Doesnt it have a bad ride at 35psi?

 

I've driven these Alenzas at several different pressures. At 30 psi they are very smooth riding and give a luxurious ride. At 32-33 psi they firm up noticeably. Not a bad ride, but definitely firmer with less body roll. At 35 psi they are very firm and stable. Nice pressure for highway driving as they feel smooth and very competent. 35 psi in the city with potholes and rough streets is a bit harsh. I have not noticed any difference in mpg whether I run 30 , 32 or 35.

My tires are now usually always set to 32 psi.

Also keep in mind that the tire pressure will change based on their temperature, 1 pound for every 10°F. It's now -3 F here. Later in the week it will be 30°F so I can expect the 32 psi to rise to 35.

 

I got ya.

 

I have an 08 RX350 and just had the Alenzas put on. We just got about 6 inches of snow here in the twin cities and they handle the snow great. I have them at 32psi.