Winter ok or not ok?
#1
Driver School Candidate
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What is everyone thoughts on the GS F in the snow? I live in the north east where we get lake effect snow. Appreciate it. I have a car on hold and I’m wondering if I need to re evaluate which crushes me.
#3
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Nunz (09-26-23)
#4
Driver School Candidate
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Hey topgun24fa, have you taken a look at these two videos (and comments)? They’re from a guy who’s driven the GS F through 3 winters. Seems the trick is to turn traction control off and engage snow mode to get out of snowy banks.
https://youtu.be/jZEOmQIAvns
https://youtu.be/OJmcXNVxkJg
https://youtu.be/jZEOmQIAvns
https://youtu.be/OJmcXNVxkJg
#5
Driver School Candidate
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#6
Driver School Candidate
#7
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Get snow tires and you should seriously be fine.
Steve
Steve
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#9
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I'm in MA. I have Michelin Pilot Sport AS3+ tires installed for the winter. Mostly for the rubber that handles the freezing temps, not for snow. I have a 16 Yukon for the snow. But I take out the GSF on the dry days.
When I had an ISF, I would keep it in the garage for the winter with a battery tender. But now I feel that's unnecessary.
When I had an ISF, I would keep it in the garage for the winter with a battery tender. But now I feel that's unnecessary.
#10
Intermediate
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I'm in MA. I have Michelin Pilot Sport AS3+ tires installed for the winter. Mostly for the rubber that handles the freezing temps, not for snow. I have a 16 Yukon for the snow. But I take out the GSF on the dry days.
When I had an ISF, I would keep it in the garage for the winter with a battery tender. But now I feel that's unnecessary.
When I had an ISF, I would keep it in the garage for the winter with a battery tender. But now I feel that's unnecessary.
When I don't start up my GSF for 2-3 weeks, the battery dies and I can't start it up. Definitely need a tender.
#11
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I'm in MA. I have Michelin Pilot Sport AS3+ tires installed for the winter. Mostly for the rubber that handles the freezing temps, not for snow. I have a 16 Yukon for the snow. But I take out the GSF on the dry days.
When I had an ISF, I would keep it in the garage for the winter with a battery tender. But now I feel that's unnecessary.
When I had an ISF, I would keep it in the garage for the winter with a battery tender. But now I feel that's unnecessary.
I have them on my IS F right now because I went to visit my dad in Iowa in October, and it was 25 degrees outside while I was there - snowed the day before I got there. I'll leave them on until March to avoid summer tire chatter on cold days.
#12
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OP
I have winter performance tires for the GSF, the Pirelli Sottozero 3's. I installed them last year after one of my commutes to work I almost crashed trying to drive in 40F at slow speeds on the Summer tires.
My verdict? I'm not too impressed with the Pirellis and was even less impressed with my trip to Vermont. I went skiing with my wife and we got put to the real test in the ski resort parking lot. I did NOT feel safe on the snow, even at slow speeds (high gear, low revs) the car was slipping. They were mounted and pressured by Lexus and everything was done textbook. I would say they work great on cold pavement but in deep snow I was being outmaneuvered by your local SUV with AWD. Sure, getting around on paved roads would be fine and even in light slush. But the moment you're in deep snow or on local roads with fresh powder, you are in trouble.
Then again, it may have been the tires. After my first season one of the sidewalls already had a bump which got replaced under warranty. If I would do it again, I would have gone with Michelins.
I have winter performance tires for the GSF, the Pirelli Sottozero 3's. I installed them last year after one of my commutes to work I almost crashed trying to drive in 40F at slow speeds on the Summer tires.
My verdict? I'm not too impressed with the Pirellis and was even less impressed with my trip to Vermont. I went skiing with my wife and we got put to the real test in the ski resort parking lot. I did NOT feel safe on the snow, even at slow speeds (high gear, low revs) the car was slipping. They were mounted and pressured by Lexus and everything was done textbook. I would say they work great on cold pavement but in deep snow I was being outmaneuvered by your local SUV with AWD. Sure, getting around on paved roads would be fine and even in light slush. But the moment you're in deep snow or on local roads with fresh powder, you are in trouble.
Then again, it may have been the tires. After my first season one of the sidewalls already had a bump which got replaced under warranty. If I would do it again, I would have gone with Michelins.
#13
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Just fine In the winter with Snow tires and drive accordingly. Nokian Hakkapaletta (sp?)) is a good winter tire. You cannot drive in the winter with the Michelin performance tires. It’s impossible on slippery snow or ice covered roads.
#14
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For example, for the Lotus Evora (not GSF), the factory manual recommends:
Tires
Type - Michelin Pilot Super Sport
Size - front 235/35 ZR19 - 91Y
- rear 285/30 ZR20 - 99Y
Recommended Inflation Pressures (cold)
Manual & automatic vehicles
- front 2.0 bar (29 lb/in²)
- rear 2.2 bar (32 lb/in²)
Winter Tires
Type - Michelin Pilot Alpin
Size - front 225/35 R19 - 88W
- rear 255/35 R20 - 97W
Recommended Inflation Pressures (cold)
- front 2.4 bar (35 lb/in²)
- rear 2.6 bar (38 lb/in²)
Type - Michelin Pilot Super Sport
Size - front 235/35 ZR19 - 91Y
- rear 285/30 ZR20 - 99Y
Recommended Inflation Pressures (cold)
Manual & automatic vehicles
- front 2.0 bar (29 lb/in²)
- rear 2.2 bar (32 lb/in²)
Winter Tires
Type - Michelin Pilot Alpin
Size - front 225/35 R19 - 88W
- rear 255/35 R20 - 97W
Recommended Inflation Pressures (cold)
- front 2.4 bar (35 lb/in²)
- rear 2.6 bar (38 lb/in²)
#15
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I'm in Kansas City which doesn't get a huge amount of snow but on the factory tires I would spin the tires with pretty much a dusting on the ground. The car was worthless in the snow. My GSF is a daily driver so I ended up putting Continental DWS06's on the car and it moves around town with a couple of inches no problem. For a daily driver, the Continental's made the car exactly how I would want it. Smooth and comfortable ride like a Lexus should be without feeling each and every bump in the road but then you still have the HP for having some fun.
Stay safe and healthy everyone!
Stay safe and healthy everyone!
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MR2ISH (01-26-21)