MnM24

Is it me or is this car horrible in snow? I remember taking it out last year, it spun when turning, didn't let me stop at a stop sign (almost hit an incoming car, wow that could have been really bad).

rominl

iTrader: (4)

tire problem?

MnM24

I bought the tires recommended from the Lexus dealership.

clubsport

yeah, my rwd 2dr coupe with low profile tires will do that in the snow all the time

MnM24

Yeah, but this is a 4x4 AWD GX470, it's not supposed to do this

andreys

I would suggest to put on a decent tires. The ones from Lexus are probably same as OEM, which are okay for highway use but not for anything else.

Kermee

iTrader: (1)

There are limitations, even with AWD vehicles. Proper tires for snow and ice will help considerably. You still only have four tires touching the ground for a nearly 5,000 lbs vehicle like everyone else. On any type of slick surface, you can't expect to drive it like it's dry pavement.

I use to drive my FWD-only Nissan Versa with snow tires in the worst snow/ice conditions and I commute to work just fine. Every other car I see in the ditch is either a 4X4 or AWD vehicle where it's apparent they thought they could operate their vehicle in snow and ice like it's sunny and dry. They were obviously wrong.

Cheers,
Kermee

ALAN553

You will never get "stuck" in this truck. That being said if you think a 5000lb+ truck with a high center of gravity "handles" well on ice and snow, you have bought the wrong vehicle. you want great handling in the snow and ice....get an Audi. When the car starts to slip in a turn...never brake, you touch the gas, and the car just goes through corners.

cdew002

We don't have snow here in Alabama, but most of the guys that get stuck in the mud think their tricked out 4x4s with mud boggers will go anywhere. That just isn't the case.

Well put, Kermee.

SouthernSS

limitations in traction are always the tires

rominl

iTrader: (4)

tires recommended from lexus doesn't mean it's the best in snow. i would think tires from factory are all season. if snow, i would think snow tires give you best performance

Vims

+100 I used to drive on icy and snow roads for 9 month in a year. Yes i used snow tires for that.
When i moved to the west coast i never changed my tires to snow tires, because it is only ~2 weeks in Vancouver. I always have all season tires installed on my vehicles and never had problem on the road only because of my driving skills, I built in the past. Snow tires is not panacea if you can't operate vehicles on snow / ice properly. It does help to improve traction, but still you have to feel your car. What i would advice is to take some lessons from someone who is really experience on the icy roads. IMHO

RickC5

Technolgy and even wizardry cannot and will not counteract simple physics. If you exceed the ability of your vehicle to maintain traction, you will likely have problems. That's why you see so many 4WD and AWD vehicles in the ditch--those systems give you a false sense of security. IMHO, if you wind up in the ditch, that's where you deserve to be.

If you want a better snow/ice vehicle, get one with an AWD system that is FWD most of the time, with the rear wheels providing additional traction as the fronts lose traction. Honda's AWD systems work this way and they are wonderful in snow as long as the vehicle is equipped with good winter tires.

JuLeX47

It's operator error.

EricGreen

LOL - beat me to it.

4 wheel drive does not equal 4 wheel stop.