Winter Driving Experiences with Stock EX35?

[dividedhighw]

Hi Everyone!

To all our friends from warmer places like CA, AZ, TX ... just click Back now!

This morning, I had my first taste of winter driving with the stock EX35 setup. Although I bought winter tires/wheels, I wasn't able to arrange their installation until next week. Since I know there are a few members here from the Ottawa area, and many more from the GTA that may have experienced this first winter blast, I wondered which of you are still on the stock A/S tires and if you had any quick thoughts.

In my case, I drove through mostly wet, slushy conditions, with temperatures ranging from -1 to 1 deg-C. I found the stock setup to be exactly what I expected - adequate, but not nearly as confident nor sure-footed as my Subaru or past Audi's with winter tires.

Cheers,David

[EX35_bernard]

I thought I was gonna get my first taste this morning too but no snow here yet. Maybe later today.

I probably wont put on snow tires till next year so I'll have this whole winter to see how it handles.

[SOX 404]

To all our friends from warmer places like CA, AZ, TX ... just click Back now!

Ohhhh shutup... haha... CA has snow too... Big Bear, Lake Tahoe and Yosemite...

[EXceptional]

We've been warned that there may be a Snow Tire Shortage coming soon, because of the new law in Quebec that forces everyone to install Snow Tires on their Vehicles.

Some people don't even buy them... they just steal them. The Police have been reporting Snow Tire Theft is on the rise in Quebec. So lock'em up !

Sidebar: I wonder if English labelling is allowed to be on a Tire, sold in Quebec ? Can anybody confirm this ?

I too will wait a Year, to see how the Wife likes driving around with just A/S Tires on.

If I need Tires, I'll buy them from the TireRack.com site, cause they sell & ship them up to Canada for a fraction of the cost that we get ripped off up here for.

[zozoka1212]

Sorry I know it is a ex forum just thought the G is the closest to the ex.

C'mon Dave ship me some white stuff here. I wanted to get some fun in the snow and we've got nothing. London got few inches.

Anyways there is so much differences between tires. Even with all season tires. The high performance all season tires won't do to good in snow but the grand turing all season, passanger all season tires are really good. The biggest problem is some people don't even know what they have on their car.

For example the Pirelli 4 a/s tire is better on light snow than some of the winter tires. Of corse nothing beats the winter tire.

Here is the G in snow with high performance a/s tires.Having fun,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qkl4aCRa ... ?v...lated

Verry controllable.

here is how it starts in snow. First I did not engage the snow switch. After it turned 1 or 2 I engaged it and you see how it comes out right away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...annel

Not sure if I will go with a set of winter tires or set of all season but not high performance tires. I have to think about it.

zozo

[BrokenTiller]

New EX35 for me a few weeks ago. I had the dealership throw in a second set of wheels (sized down to 17 inch) with Bridgestone Blizzaks for the winter.

It amazes me how many people think they can get by in a real winter region with All Season tires and/or all wheel drive. I always get a second set of wheels with dedicated winter tires and it makes for much safer driving and much more fun/sporty performance in the snow/ice and crud as well. By having the second set of wheels/ tires, I get much better life out of my summer tires as well so the cost is discounted over a few years as well.

[dividedhighw]

A big Canadian "Welcome to NICO!", BrokenTiller!

You'll find quite a few members here from the GTA.

It amazes me how many people think they can get by in a real winter region with All Season tires and/or all wheel drive.

Yup - seems like your take is very similar to mine on this topic. Check out this thread for other related discussions: zerothread/351634

Cheers,David

[dividedhighw]

C'mon Dave ship me some white stuff here.

Haha ... I only wish I had such powers!!!

Cheers,David

[BrokenTiller]

First night of "spirited" driving in some wet snow before swapping to the snow tires in a few days. Stock Dunlops on 18" rims were pretty good in the very limited snow. Mostly driving on just very wet/cold streets.I engaged the magic "snow" switch. Mostly noticed a slightly reduced throttle response and early shifts possibly. Anyone able to shed some insight on what the switch really does? I am guessing that it may start you in 2nd gear to reduce slippage at start and may engage the AWD 50/50 full time...For such a HUGE owner's manual, it doesn't say much about it.

[EXceptional]

That's exactly how it was explained to me.

Think of it as a Governor on the Throttle. No matter how much Gas you give the Car, it won't allow the Wheels to spin out. Whether it starts off in second gear or not, I don't know. Maybe it's done, electronically.

Some pictures from last Monday...

[ExLover]

I had an experience when i first took delivery of the ex35 in February in Toronto when there was a heavy snow storm, the condition was much worse than what's in your pictures. I found the ex35 responded very well. Also I parked it outdoor for a 2 hours and it's moving on the parking lot without any problem. BTW it is with the stock tires.

[drducati]

I'm planning on driving my 2008 EX RWD with stock tires (Michelin Lattitude Tour HP) from Miami (home) to Syracuse, NY (used to be home) for the Xmas holiday. They often get snow and I'm wondering if I'd be playing a dangerous game trying to drive up there with the possibility of snow with the stock tires. I hate the thought of having to buy an extra set of tires. Is there an "all around" tire that may be conducive to rainy Miami weather and snow? Or should I just get some chains? A shovel? A brain? An airline ticket?
Modified by drducati at 5:06 PM 10/16/2009

[JCL622]

I'm planning on driving my 2008 EX RWD with stock tires (Michelin Lattitude Tour HP) from Miami (home) to Syracuse, NY (used to be home) for the Xmas holiday. They often get snow and I'm wondering if I'd be playing a dangerous game trying to drive up there with the possibility of snow with the stock tires. I hate the thought of having to buy an extra set of tires. Is there an "all around" tire that may be conducive to rainy Miami weather and snow? Or should I just get some chains? A shovel? A brain? An airline ticket?

Modified by drducati at 5:06 PM 10/16/2009

the stockies are fine, so long as your not trying to zoom down in snow. however that isn't your main concern. What you really need to be aware of is how healthy your tires are. if they are pretty worn down, well, the harsh winter here in NY will not make it any easier for you. so check your treadwear. Esp since you have an 08 so you have more mileage than us newer owners.

has cuse gotten snow already? it's cold as balls in Long Island, but i don't know if we'll be getting snow anytime soon

[ecosse]

[QUOTE=drducati] Is there an "all around" tire that may be conducive to rainy Miami weather and snow?

Here is a quote from a recent article on winter tires in The Toronto Star "Wheels" section:

The Hankook Optimo joins a very small, exclusive group of tires, the "all-weather" segment. These tires have earned the snowflake rating.

And they have the bonus of being able to be driven in the summer. This is what all-season tires were meant to do but failed miserably at.

So the Optimo 4S joins the Yokohama W.Drive, the Nokian WRG2 and Goodyear Fortera TripleTred in this tiny all-weather club.

http://www.wheels.ca/newsFeatures/article/782314

[drducati]

Thanks for the input. Although I don't have a lot of mileage on my 2008 EX RWD, there is a lot of stop-and-go and hit-the-brakes-cuz-the-guy-in-front-of-me-forgot-where-his-directional-control-is kind of driving here in Miami. Hence, I think before I head up north, I will have the tires changed out. I just called around for the Hankook Optimo 4S, as per your recommendation, but can't find anyone that has them. I just spoke to PEP Boys and they recommended the Cooper CS4 instead. They're pretty expensive so I'm thinking of testing out the stocks and crossing my fingers...

[JCL622]

Thanks for the input. Although I don't have a lot of mileage on my 2008 EX RWD, there is a lot of stop-and-go and hit-the-brakes-cuz-the-guy-in-front-of-me-forgot-where-his-directional-control-is kind of driving here in Miami. Hence, I think before I head up north, I will have the tires changed out. I just called around for the Hankook Optimo 4S, as per your recommendation, but can't find anyone that has them. I just spoke to PEP Boys and they recommended the Cooper CS4 instead. They're pretty expensive so I'm thinking of testing out the stocks and crossing my fingers...

all season tires = no season tires.

they are a hybrid wheel that doesnt do either of what it needs to do especially well. the only time it's different is when you compare it to a specific market, like all season vs winter tire during the summer, or all season vs summer tire in winter.

you have a set now, so invest in a set of good blizzaks. then use the stock rubber until it's worn out and buy summer tires. you actually end up preserving your tires better by doing this