94 Q with no traction in the snow

[CINNALOCKS]

I have a a tcu on my converted A. ....since I have owned it and before I converted it has always had an issue of traction,whether it is the rain or worse the snow. I am running the original BBS 15 rims with 235s. but it was the same when I was running the 215s.

I hate driving in the snow and I live in Indiana. I have done a lot to get the car up to speed and keep it there, Wes has helped me tremendously.

I have no clue where to begin to address this problem,as I understand it the Q is supposed to have a better TCU than the Lexus did during the same time. Taking off from a dead stop is a lesson in patience.

[Q45tech]

Tires are always 90% of the equation and the Michelins are twice as hard as oem tires so you must expect less than stellar launches.

All season tires are not really designed for snow or ice just suitable in colder [dry] weather where Summer tires turn bad at 50F.

The 235 haven't been made in 3 years so, regardless of tread depth they are extemely hard and unsuitable for snow.

[CINNALOCKS]

I understand that but it seems to have even less traction than one would expect and slid out on the r/r more so than the l/r............

I am currently running 1 yr old Goodrich TA Radials. Sorry that should have been 225 not 235 and though I bought them new they were the last ones available......... maybe not the best but damn I did not expect them to spin at EVERY LIGHT.

Shouldn't the traction system if working properly do more OR am I tripping?

[Q45tech]

Traction control is useless if the snow and ice tires are not up to spec it just applies the rear brakes so you cannot move.

Correct Proper Tires are mandatory!

[CINNALOCKS]

Thank you for making that clear. There is so much to know and based on what I knew at the time I thought I was doing well.........Now it all makes a lot more sense to me, I could have done so much better. Glad that you are here.

[elwesso]

Hussain... I think I told you this before, but Ive never had any issues with the Q with TCS sliding around on me... Im not sure how good the tires you have on your car are in the snow, but..

Just so you know.. My Q of course has an LSD but with summer rated tires. I tried to move it out of its winter hiding place, and i could barely get it out of its spot.. On the flip side, my BMW has blizzak winter tires, but has an open diff, weighs less and has worse weight distribution, and im the only one in the house that doesnt get stuck... That little car is a warrior in the winter with the tires!

[Haitian_King]

I found using 2nd or 3rd gear helps me during snow. Do you have the 1st gear start TCU in? It may be best to swap in your 2nd gear one (if you still have it) for the winter months. That's the advice I got from Goody.

A friend of my uncle's used to put sandbags in the trunk to help with traction.

[GseaQ]

Hi Hussain,

Millions of people get away with using all-season tires in winter on front drive cars. For us with rear drive cars this is simply not safe and is really damn near impossible.

Bite the bullet and buy four - not two - 215/65 or 225/60 snow tires (H speed rated) for your original wheels and put some fat, sticky summer performance tires on a set of summer wheels.

You'll be amazed at how good she performs in the snow! It's not my old Quattro, but still easily drives around other cars littered about in the snow.

Glenn

[Q45tech]

"Millions of people get away with using all-season tires in winter on front drive cars." BECAUSE:FWD has 63+% of total weight on driving wheels vs 40-45% on RWDFWD usually has significantly less torque than V8.

Intermolecular friction between tires and road is function of weight per square inch of tread which is a function of inflation PSI.