Infiniti M35X snow performance

[tman]

I have an Infiniti M35X and am having TERRIBLE experience in the snow. My previous car was an Audi AWD and it was incredible compared to the M35X. I live on a hill, and I am unable to get up the hill with my M35X, but my honda odyssey with FWD and traction control gets right up.

Anybody having a similiar experience? I am not sure if I need to take it to the dealer.

[Jesda]

Your minivan's nose-heavy design makes a huge difference. Also, the Odyssey has more weather-friendly tires.

[gniknave]

You need better tires. It doesn't matter if you have FWD, RWD, or AWD, you have to use the right tires for your environment. I know this because I know first hand that the M35x is an AWSOME performer in the snow with the correct tires. I assume you've already tried activating 'Snow Mode'?

[Repo Man]

Evan, off-topic sorry, where the hell are you these days? I called Dreyer yesterday and they said you left. What's up???

[Bloodredhog]

Are you saying ditch the OEM Goodyear RSA's?

What do you have on your 35X?

I dont want winter tires - is there a good all-season that handles snow well?

[szh]

Are you saying ditch the OEM Goodyear RSA's?

Yes, they are terrible tires!! Neither good in summer, nor in winter, nor in rain, etc. This is the one thing that I just do not understand about Infiniti and some other car mftrs - why they allow that tire on any car at all surprises me!!

I dont want winter tires - is there a good all-season that handles snow well?

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a good all-season tire that handles snow well! The best thing to do is to get a set of cheap steel rims and put good snow tires on them.

If you do not want to do that, you could try using the same tires that you had on your Audi. The M35X should do just as fine as the AUDI AWD you had ... !

Z

[scjconsulting]

I have owned 6 Audis, with AWD, the last 2 were S4s and I had separate snow tires and rims.

I found the OEM tires terrible at everything, but did not want to get a snow tires again - did not know how I would haul them to be changed - my S4s were Avants!

I replaced the OEM tires several months ago with a set of all-weather Nokian WR tires. They are suppose to be the best snow all-weather tire you can buy. No problem with the recent heavy snows in Minnesota, but did not really do a lot of driving. I do like the tires.

[antzrus]

The OEM Goodyear RSA's are horrible in snow and dry. They tramline all over the place for way too many M operators. When I replaced them w/ContiExtremeContacts the tramlining discontinued and the Conti's are excellent in all the snow we've had here in North Central WA.

On dry pavement they are quiet, easy to control and sticky. So far I haven't had a lot of experience in the rain; just snow. They also are about $100 cheaper per tire than other top rated ultra performance all seasons. I have no idea about their longevity, but they appear to be pretty good for an "all seasonal" if there really could be such a tire.

[Agent M]

I bought my M35x used, with some crappy Falken tires. I replaced them with Goodyear Eagle F1 all-season tires, which have done fairly well for me in a very snowy Wisconsin winter. I'm sure that dedicated snow tires would be better, but the F1s seem like a decent all around choice to me.

[martinos]

I posted this on another board in NICO, but seems more relevant here. [/QUOTE] I got my infiniti m35x stuck in some deep snow, and I discovered that the wheels are not posi. Only the front left and rear right were spinning. If I had all four, I might have been fine. I tried to get it out with various combinations of the modes on and off, but no luck. Any thoughts?[/QUOTE]

question- How deep? What were your tires? Were you high centered?

The car is a 2006, I have new yokohama snows on it. It did get some snow wedged under it, because the wind dam seems low. My 2004 grand prix managed much better through the same conditions on the same day. It was on a hill.

The only other negative comment I have, is that the factory wheel design seems to trap snow, and I have often have a problem with imbalanced tires. I made the mistake of putting the summer tires on aftermarket rims, and putting the winters on the factory ones.

Beside that, I love the handling, and I really love this car, but this non-posi characteristic I find a little hard to believe.

[xxxalpinexxx80]

I posted this on another board in NICO, but seems more relevant here.

I got my infiniti m35x stuck in some deep snow, and I discovered that the wheels are not posi. Only the front left and rear right were spinning. If I had all four, I might have been fine. I tried to get it out with various combinations of the modes on and off, but no luck. Any thoughts?[/QUOTE]

question- How deep? What were your tires? Were you high centered?

The car is a 2006, I have new yokohama snows on it. It did get some snow wedged under it, because the wind dam seems low. My 2004 grand prix managed much better through the same conditions on the same day. It was on a hill.

The only other negative comment I have, is that the factory wheel design seems to trap snow, and I have often have a problem with imbalanced tires. I made the mistake of putting the summer tires on aftermarket rims, and putting the winters on the factory ones.

Beside that, I love the handling, and I really love this car, but this non-posi characteristic I find a little hard to believe.[/QUOTE]

--------Mine does quite fine in the snow, I think it is all about the tires, the stock ones have so many problems. Also, I am pretty sure all 4 wheels get powered split 50-50

[NightWatch]

Do some research on Infiniti's all wheel drive... it is NOT full time 4 wheel drive and the differentials / transfer casings are not positraction. The onboard computer controls the percentage of all wheel drive from 50/50 at speeds under 25MPH to 100% full rear wheel drive at speeds above 45MPH. Even if you use the "snow" switch it only works at speeds under 25MPH.

I'm not sure what Infiniti's goal was in producing an "all wheel drive" sedan, but they do not perform like an Audi does at all. Having the expectation that this car is going to perform in deep snow is not realistic. Even the FX AWD model line doesn't do a very good job in deep snow.

[antzrus]

Do some research on Infiniti's all wheel drive... it is NOT full time 4 wheel drive and the differentials / transfer casings are not positraction. The onboard computer controls the percentage of all wheel drive from 50/50 at speeds under 25MPH to 100% full rear wheel drive at speeds above 45MPH. Even if you use the "snow" switch it only works at speeds under 25MPH.

I'm not sure what Infiniti's goal was in producing an "all wheel drive" sedan, but they do not perform like an Audi does at all. Having the expectation that this car is going to perform in deep snow is not realistic. Even the FX AWD model line doesn't do a very good job in deep snow.

I can only speak for myself. But I spend a lot of winter time up in British Columbia (Rossland, BC) and here in Wenatchee, WA in a lot of snow. My X on ContiExtremeContacts has no problems..?

[mikeym45x]

I've owned 2 awd Infinitis, an fx35 and a m45x, both through winters with stock tires. Both performed GREAT, if driven correctly. The fx35 i drove through a full blown blizzard. Obviously the sedans not going to be as good in deeper snow then the truck, but it was fine this winter. The important thing to remember is these cars are RWD at first and become AWD after the rear slips, therefore you cannot let off the gas when you feel wheel spin, if you do an oversteer will continue to be an over steer. Instead continue giving it gas, and correct the steer, the front wheels will come into play and the over steer will be MORE then controllable. Try practicing in a spot where you don't have to worry about losing control during the next time you drive it in the snow. I read similar reviews about how "horrible" the fxs were in the snow before I had it my first winter. One drive and I couldn't believe how much i disagreed with those people. Oh and the snow switch does nothing more then lessen throttle sensitivity.

[szh]

I also recommend using true snow tires in snow conditions. All-Season's are not a substitute for this.

Z

[elmatador]

I got a 06 m35x and i have michelin pilot alpin tires on it. The goodyear tires are garbage. With the michelins, the handling was insane in the snow. I drive the car like a maniac in the snow and it handles really well. Oh and turning VDC off in the snow is freaking awesome.

Change your tires bro.

[szh]

I got a 06 m35x and i have michelin pilot alpin tires on it.

Good Stuff™!

Those are excellent tires for snow conditions.

Z