Well I live in brooklyn nyc and there was 24 inches of snow. I went driving thru the streets yesterday. The main streets are ok but the smaller side streets are bad with cars stuck everywhere. I have a 10rxh with 19inch bridgestones and driving in hybrid snow mode. There was minimal slippage but I got worried when I was rolling down unplowed side streets where the snow piled up high. As I was rolling over the snow I hear squeaks and sounds of the ice/snow rubbing against the bottom. At some points I thought I heard sounds of things snapping apart. How bad can thick snow damage the undersides of our cars and should I be worried? It's not the first time I have driven on snow like this but this is my brand new baby rx. Can mechanical parts underneath have bent? Also can the floor of the car be cracked or bent? I was just worried when I heard squeaks and snap crackle pops especially when going over large piles of snow.

 

You're probably ok driving over snow, I would think the worst that could happen is you getting stuck on top of compacted snow (been there before ). Do you have AWD? It would be possible to damage the exhaust if the snow was already dense, had pebbles/debris or there was something underneath the snow obviously. Every time I bottom out I thoroughly check the undercarriage/rocker panels/exhaust etc., so I wouldn't blame you for doing the same.

You never know what's on those nyc roads so take a close inspection especially if you heard some type of snapping.

 

The snap and cracking noises could be the plastic covers underneath getting moved around by the snow. I'm sure it made it into various little crevices too. Fortunately the snow is still very light and fluffy. But I would recommend having your RX checked to be safe like everyone else is saying. I'm sure it's ok. Lousy job they did in the city and outer boroughs

 

Sending those sanitation dump trucks to clean up minor streets would suffice. That and making MTA equip their buses with snow chains.