View Full Version : Snow Handling?
Does anyone know how the AWD SS handles in the snow and how well do the tires perform?
jimmys5600
10-17-2006, 07:59 PM
Iam from the Buffalo NY area,and we got hammered with snow last thursday,over a foot. Anyway I went out thursday night and mine
felt very good in the snow,better than I thought it would be.
02redhawk
10-17-2006, 08:35 PM
Yup, AWD in the snow makes the truck actually handle as good as, if not better than our '02 TB 4WD. Although, I do swap to 245s on the SS in the winter.
zambinc
10-17-2006, 10:00 PM
Is that with the stock Goodyears it came with? Pirelli makes a snow set that will fit, but we're talkin a grand sans wheels....
Iam from the Buffalo NY area,and we got hammered with snow last thursday,over a foot. Anyway I went out thursday night and mine
felt very good in the snow,better than I thought it
would be.
Jonnyss
10-17-2006, 10:14 PM
Does anyone know how the AWD SS handles in the snow and how well do the tires perform?
Tim,
We live in Ontario--took possession of the TBSS just after Christmas last year--drove all winter on the OEM's with no problems.
After this winter, they will be done, so we'll be going with Pirelli snow and ice tires for the winter, and VR rated tires for the summer--although, I just read a thread where some guys are trying to organize a group buy for widened wheels, which I'm seriously considering.
Vancouver doesn't get much snow--you'll be fine with the stock setup unless you want to upgrade to something else.
Jonathan
jimmys5600
10-17-2006, 10:53 PM
Is that with the stock Goodyears it came with? Pirelli makes a snow set that will fit, but we're talkin a grand sans wheels....
Yes sir,stock wheels and tires. Like I mentioned I was pleasantly surprised how well it behaved in the snow.
Fishhunter911
10-17-2006, 10:56 PM
I drove my AWD SS through 12 inches of wet snow last winter.... no issues at all. Stock tires.
LeonPhelps
10-18-2006, 03:07 AM
Just be carefull braking, I noticed mine would slide alot last winter.
1BADSS
10-18-2006, 11:00 AM
I can't wait..Gonna be fun. I had mine at a sand pit and it worked pretty good.
JRJOHNKC
10-18-2006, 11:14 AM
What about the RWD SS? Good, bad?
I had a couple cars with RSAs. They are great at first but once they are down to around 6/32s driving in the snow becomes a lot more interesting. The stock BFGs on my TB allowed me to go down to around 3/32s before they started to have winter issues. In deep snow, it is almost better to not drive with the RSAs.
junehhan
10-18-2006, 09:02 PM
I honestly can't wait for our first snow fall of the year. We always get cheated as all the major snow storms go north or south of our region. I chose to get AWD just for snow, and i'd hate to let it go unused this winter. Of course, the salt that will be coating my vehicle makes me shudder............
Raybikes
10-31-2006, 03:53 PM
I had an 03 LTZ and now the SS RWD and I live in the Mid-Atlantic area. Bit concerned that the stock vehicle will be a POS in the winter time and I don't dare go anywhere near Snowshoe, WV with this vehicle. It's a bit tricky in the rain, I can't imagine it in the snow but, I have no other options other than to walk when its snows heavily. I may be wrong though, has anyone experinced the SS RWD in the snow?
Raybike
2006 SS, RWD, Stock everything.
Trailblazer1
10-31-2006, 04:41 PM
I bought mine last December and have gone through one winter with it. Handles great in the snow. Recently went for a nice slide in the rain though...really don't understand why. It is the first time anything like that has happened. Have just under 10K miles on the tires and they were rotated at 6K. Scared me pretty good with that guard rail approaching pretty fast.
Raybikes
11-01-2006, 09:02 AM
I bought mine last December and have gone through one winter with it. Handles great in the snow. Recently went for a nice slide in the rain though...really don't understand why. It is the first time anything like that has happened. Have just under 10K miles on the tires and they were rotated at 6K. Scared me pretty good with that guard rail approaching pretty fast.
Just wondering if you had AWd or RWD?
Raybikes
chunn7
11-01-2006, 10:12 AM
Just wondering if you had AWd or RWD?
Raybikes
His profile says its an AWD.
Fishhunter911
11-01-2006, 11:33 AM
I had a couple cars with RSAs. They are great at first but once they are down to around 6/32s driving in the snow becomes a lot more interesting. The stock BFGs on my TB allowed me to go down to around 3/32s before they started to have winter issues. In deep snow, it is almost better to not drive with the RSAs.
Hopefully I will be able to give anupdate on mine with 23k on the tires. Just need snow now.... "IF" we get any I will let you all know
Liquiddi
11-01-2006, 01:17 PM
I don't think you RWD guys need anyone to tell you. You know it's gonna suck in the snow. It will be the same as every other RWD car. You guys will be getting stuck on the smallest little inclines and what not. No point in hiding behind what's gonna happen.
Raybikes
11-01-2006, 02:00 PM
I don't think you RWD guys need anyone to tell you. You know it's gonna suck in the snow. It will be the same as every other RWD car. You guys will be getting stuck on the smallest little inclines and what not. No point in hiding behind what's gonna happen.
Being that I have the RWD, I know its going to suck in the snow. Since its the only wheels I own I'll be walking when its snowing. Fortunately, I live less than 1.5 miles from my train station.
I was just hoping that the traction control system would get by in the snow. Makes me wish I would have kept my 2003 LTZ...
I'm not so sure a RWD SS would be that bad in the snow, yes its not going to have the traction of the AWD models and the front will have a tendenacy to plow a bit....but, traction control has come a long way. I wouldn't expect it to sit and spin a tire all day long, like in the days of my last RWD car. You have a limited slip rear and the cpu is going to apply the brakes as necessary to the spinning wheel to help things along.....I recall the stabilitrac demonstration GM did two winters ago. They took a RWD Tahoe and sent it across a snow covered test track and make turns and abused it in the snow. They then did the same thing with an AWD model, not equipped with stabilitrac and it slid all over the place and had less traction than the RWD unit.
You just might be surprised at how well it does get along on snowy streets. (Just remember to leave the stabilitrac and traction control turned on and not automatically press the button to turn them off).
Liquiddi
11-01-2006, 02:35 PM
I have had traction control on a lot of cars including a RWD Lexus SC400 and they have all sucked in the snow. I actually had to turn it off in a lot of cases because it kills all the power and sometimes you have to spin the tires to get out of certain situations. I hope it's better on the TBSS because I know how frustrating it is in a RWD car.
1BADSS
11-01-2006, 03:29 PM
For sure the 2WD are going to be bad in the snow..I'm betting the AWD on the RSA's will do alright but it won't be great.
JRJOHNKC
11-03-2006, 05:15 PM
I have had traction control on a lot of cars including a RWD Lexus SC400 and they have all sucked in the snow. I actually had to turn it off in a lot of cases because it kills all the power and sometimes you have to spin the tires to get out of certain situations. I hope it's better on the TBSS because I know how frustrating it is in a RWD car.
You're smokin' bro. The BMW 325i that I just traded in for the SS was RWD with traction control. I could drive that puppy through anything. My wife felt safe driving it in the snow and she's a paranoid little freak. It all depends on the tires really, and the driver also. You don't drive a RWD drive vehicle the same way in the snow as you would a AWD or FWD for that matter. Unless you have suck ass tires, you should do fine in the snow with RWD and traction control on pretty much any vehicle.
hokie822
11-06-2006, 11:34 AM
Just curious if the regular TB wheels will fit on the SS....thinking about going to the junk yard for a set....run em in the winter.
The SS has high performance all-season tires as stock tires. A TB/EN with 4WD and M/S tires will run circles around an AWD SS in the snow. I'm not saying that the AWD SS is bad, actually it is probably real good. But you can't beat tire grip for winter driving. The RSAs really turn into chumps though when they are more than 1/2 worn.
RWD SS? Forget it! it would be similiar to driving a 400hp car in the snow on all season tires. You may be able to get moving on a flat surface but it is still unsafe.
Don't forget that corners and braking affect winter tire grip more then anything.
You're smokin' bro. The BMW 325i that I just traded in for the SS was RWD with traction control. I could drive that puppy through anything. My wife felt safe driving it in the snow and she's a paranoid little freak. It all depends on the tires really, and the driver also. You don't drive a RWD drive vehicle the same way in the snow as you would a AWD or FWD for that matter. Unless you have suck ass tires, you should do fine in the snow with RWD and traction control on pretty much any vehicle.
Or big hills like we have in Utah. The police out here use to call a bad winter day, Audi day. Not because the car was great in bad winter, but the quatrro system seemed to give people more confidence. At least until they ended up off the road in a ditch.
ScarabEpic22
11-07-2006, 03:57 AM
Just curious if the regular TB wheels will fit on the SS....thinking about going to the junk yard for a set....run em in the winter.
Yes, all GMT360 wheels interchange with each other, except make sure you dont try and put 16" rims on an SS (I think new TB 06+ have larger front brakes too). They wont fit over the calipers up front.
tatsss
11-07-2006, 10:45 AM
I can speak from experience with the 2wd in the snow. It is not as bad as everyone thinks. Dealer let me take it over the weekend to demo as I was trading in a 4wd pick-up and was concerned about driving in the snow and it just so happened to snow. Tires, traction control, and stabilitrac worked great in moderate snow. Enough that it convinced me to buy it. Also drove in a heavy Chicago snow storm 10+” and was passing people who had FWD. The stabilitrac definitely works. Starting in a deep snow is not good though. If I tried getting out of my driveway with 8-10" could not get out without clearing the snow. With that said, I drive differently than I would in my Suburban or old pick up. I add weight in the back with salt and sand in case I need it to help me get out. For years there was no option other then rear wheel drive. Drove my modified T-Type for many years in the snow and it was definitely worse. Also for those in Metropolitan areas the snow removal has come a long way. Just have to know your limitations and adjust accordingly.
Unforntunately, once you are moving at a constant speed it doesn't matter what kind of drive you have. You are then at the mercy of your tires during cornering and braking. AWD does nothing to help in those instances.
I have driven numerous high powered RWD cars in the snow including a 96 Trans Am and a CTS V. The traction control was really bad on the 96 TA because it would kick back the pedal any time the tires slipped. The CTS V almost got stuck in deep slush going up a small hill with all-season tires.
So if you live in flat lands with no hills at all (including your driveway) then you'll do just fine with RWD in the snow. Just please stay away from my area during the winter. I like to make it to work on time instead of stuck behind someone trying to get up a minor hill covered with a little bit of the white stuff.
cmadams4
11-07-2006, 12:49 PM
Unforntunately, once you are moving at a constant speed it doesn't matter what kind of drive you have. You are then at the mercy of your tires during cornering and braking. AWD does nothing to help in those instances.
Somewhat true... the awd will want to pull the vehicle straight when it goes sideways.
Actually, I have driven an AWD car before (Audi A4 Quattro) and it will spin out in snow with the best of them if pushed beyond the tires' grip. It has a better chance of getting you moving but once moving it is all up to the tires and physics.
Stabilatrak, TCS and ABS can only fix a few driver screw ups. If the stabilatrak can't find any grip with the tires, you are still going to kiss the guard rail or whatever else is in your way. Same with the AWD system, no grip equals accident.
Most of the accidents that I see in the winter are not from RWD cars but from overconfident SUV/pick up truck/AWD cars. RWD cars are usually stuck already or parked in the garage, FWD cars have chains on their tires and most of the rest assume that their 4WD/AWD system will help them conquer the laws of physics.
JeSteRz
11-07-2006, 02:07 PM
Hey guys... I'm up in Buffalo too. The winter driving with the AWD is better then I had expected. I went out in the massive storm we had and it performed better then i could have imagined. I thought for sure I would need to swap out to winter tires but I think now I am going to hold off.
Driving and starting were very easy, the only problem i ran into was when i decided to see what my limits were by turning down a side street which hadn't been plowed and about 8-10inches on the pavement. And when i got stuck going forward, i just threw it in reverse and drove out nice n easy.
Oh... Jimmys, where abouts in buffalo are you? Im in the cheek/west seneca area. white ss