1st time driving in the snow....

[Magic Marker]

Today was the very first time I've driven the B9 in the snow and the first time I've driven any AWD in the snow. I have to say it makes me feel confident with the Subie AWD system, but I did notice the rear gave way a little around a corner. Nothing that I couldn't correct, but I didn't think that would happen in an AWD SUV.

Just something that I've observed.

Comments?

[njjuliano]

Its got some wide tires, not so snow friendly. You got snow that stuck? We didnt get jack. This Tribeca has not seen snow yet.

My fave on Subaru's AWD is the start from stop on heavy snow. Car just moves, where everyone else spins.

[bionicbadger]

Do you have winter tires? That makes a big difference in grip on snow.
And AWD doesn't mean you can't have fun and swing the rear out.

Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vescNfYYMY

[Magic Marker]

Do you have winter tires? That makes a big difference in grip on snow.
And AWD doesn't mean you can't have fun and swing the rear out.

Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vescNfYYMY
No winter tires. Just the stockers. I guess I'll just have to take corners a little slower.

[hawker800mech]

I did notice the rear gave way a little around a corner. Nothing that I couldn't correct, but I didn't think that would happen in an AWD SUV.

Just something that I've observed.

Comments?

That's what you get when there is 45/55 torque split. My old WRX and current Legacy don't have the rear end swinging out with their 50/50 split. It can help, though. I turned onto my street yesterday and the front end slid and wouldn't turn (no cars in the area). So I popped the throttle and got the rear end to come around to help with the turn-in. My wife's Legacy with narrower tires with a bit more aggressive tread pattern worked better in the snow later that day when we went back out. Too bad you have to spend about $1000 for wheels and snow tires for the B9. If the snow keeps up, I may have to look into it.

[Magic Marker]

We don't plan on getting another set of rims and winter tires. No garage, so no space to store them. Does anyone know if 2005 and up WRX/ LGT's have the same 55/45 split in power?

[Riceman]

I have a 2008 and I hate these tires it comes with.
They are absolutely horrible in the winter.
We had a real big snow fall a few weeks ago and the brand new Tribeca got stuck in the snow! It was shameful! Our 2001 Outback had no problems at all (it does have new tires (Bridgestone Potenza G all season's)).
At first I thought it was because the Tribeca is so much heavier but then I looked up the tires. They have horrible ratings especially for the snow.

[ralliartist]

I love driving in the snow. Even on the stock tires. I turn the traction control off just so I can slide the big suby side ways around curves and such. It's so much fun! And when I turn the traction control back on, She's planted to the ground. I don't know why everyone complains about the stock tires in the snow.

[Magic Marker]

I drove the B9 with stockers in Boston when 6 inches got dumped on the city. I had to go out first thing in the morning and had a fun driving the unplowed city streets. The B9 did amazingly. No issues with traction or stopping. It was fun, but I had to watch out for the cabs that were fishtailing everywhere.

[mcharette]

the oem eagles are worthless in the snow... you'd best get some better tires, then you'll have no problems...

[evlB9]

I may have posted this before but..... My feeling on the sock tires. PLEASLENTY SUPRISED. When I first saw them I was not impressed. This is the 2nd winter with them and don't let the Dayton, Oh location fool you. Evey 3 weeks starting in December we drive to South West NYS to visit family, on top of a back road hill and go skiing. Next week will be the 2nd trip to Colorado, Avon, with it. We have seen FEET of snow, ice and all that winter has to offer. I feel the Subaru AWD system is so flawless that it will get around on racing slicks.... OK maybe not that good! But I was amazed how well the Good Years have done. That being said, I've never liked Good Year (they don't last long enough) I will be replacing them by next winter. Ideas anyone? I'm thinking Nokian (is that right?)

[mcharette]

I may have posted this before but..... My feeling on the sock tires. PLEASLENTY SUPRISED. When I first saw them I was not impressed. This is the 2nd winter with them and don't let the Dayton, Oh location fool you. Evey 3 weeks starting in December we drive to South West NYS to visit family, on top of a back road hill and go skiing. Next week will be the 2nd trip to Colorado, Avon, with it. We have seen FEET of snow, ice and all that winter has to offer. I feel the Subaru AWD system is so flawless that it will get around on racing slicks.... OK maybe not that good! But I was amazed how well the Good Years have done. That being said, I've never liked Good Year (they don't last long enough) I will be replacing them by next winter. Ideas anyone? I'm thinking Nokian (is that right?)

I recommend either of these two... I'm thinking of getting the continentals though...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=Road+Venture+APT+KL51&vehicleSearch=true&partnum=555HR8KL51&fromCompare1=yes&place=1&speed_rating=H&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y&speed_rating=(Y)&minSpeedRating=H

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Continental&tireModel=CrossContact+LX&vehicleSearch=true&partnum=555HR8CCLXXL&fromCompare1=yes&place=3&speed_rating=H&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y&speed_rating=(Y)&minSpeedRating=H

[B9LTD83]

I've had the Dunlop SP Sport 5000's for over 30k miles. I've only experienced little wear. I still have 80% left on my tires and the traction in the snow is outstanding. It's had really great ratings, and for the cost, ya can't beat it. :tup:

[evlB9]

Thanks for the info. Ive had Continentals in the past, on my Escape, and they were great in the snow.

I recommend either of these two... I'm thinking of getting the continentals though...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=Road+Venture+APT+KL51&vehicleSearch=true&partnum=555HR8KL51&fromCompare1=yes&place=1&speed_rating=H&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y&speed_rating=(Y)&minSpeedRating=H

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Continental&tireModel=CrossContact+LX&vehicleSearch=true&partnum=555HR8CCLXXL&fromCompare1=yes&place=3&speed_rating=H&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y&speed_rating=(Y)&minSpeedRating=H

[Magic Marker]

Ok, got ~ 5 inches of fluff in North Jersey. I didn't get the best traction with the stock Eagles. Just had to drive a little slower. No garage = no snow tires.

[mcharette]

Ok, got ~ 5 inches of fluff in North Jersey. I didn't get the best traction with the stock Eagles. Just had to drive a little slower. No garage = no snow tires.

Having the same storm now, had 2 inches this morning, car struggled up a slight incline of my driveway... Eagles just spin and spin, I had to turn off VDC so I could spin my way up... Horrible, cannot wait till spring and I get new tires that actually do what they should do!

[mcharette]

this has to be by far the worst year for me with my subie... I dont know why i waited this long to get new tires... Just on a simple slop, the awd system has such a hard time searching for a tire with traction... Mostly because these tires cant grip a thing on any surface... The very thin sipes just clog with snow, and its like riding with bald tires haha... I'm amazed by the few of you that say you can get by... The tread is low, but not so low that its dangerous... Im not even near the wear bars yet...

[2manysubies]

The stock tires that is on the 06 are horrible in the snow, never had this trouble with either of my wrx's or wife's legacy wagon. Call me cheap, I have always put Kumho high performance all season's on them and they have made a world of difference. I will have to look into finding something for the B9, if someone didn't know, they would drive one and not want it ever again. For those that think it is wide tires that make you slide, I also own a 99 suburban, she doesn't move funny at all in the snow. I was following a ford F-150 or 250 on same entrance to mall at same speed, ford went through turn and subaru started to understeer, granted, I still have the tires that came with the car off lease, but at 26k of miles I wouldn't have thought you would get next to no grip.

[hawker800mech]

The stock tires that is on the 06 are horrible in the snow, never had this trouble with either of my wrx's or wife's legacy wagon. Call me cheap, I have always put Kumho high performance all season's on them and they have made a world of difference. I will have to look into finding something for the B9, if someone didn't know, they would drive one and not want it ever again. For those that think it is wide tires that make you slide, I also own a 99 suburban, she doesn't move funny at all in the snow. I was following a ford F-150 or 250 on same entrance to mall at same speed, ford went through turn and subaru started to understeer, granted, I still have the tires that came with the car off lease, but at 26k of miles I wouldn't have thought you would get next to no grip.

I recently bought Continental CrossContact XL on my 07 a couple months ago and love them. I couldn't handle the stock Goodyears for one more winter.

[MNSteve]

No winter tires. Just the stockers. I guess I'll just have to take corners a little slower.
Our Tribeca has survived 1.5 winters with the stock tires. Haven't gotten stuck yet-knock on wood.

The Blizzaks arrived the other day from the Tire Rack. I'm now waiting for the wheels (2008 Tribeca wheels-2000 miles on them) and TPMS to arrive. They should be ready for the usual March snow dumps.;) By then the Tribeca should be out of the repair shop with two new passenger side doors (beware of young female drivers talking on cell phones :mad:).

MNSteve


http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Blizzak+LM-25+4X4

[WAKIZA]

Love the youtube video.Looks like fun...

[Linda Lee]

The stock tires seemed ok; except on ice, more than 1 foot of snow, muddy roads and then at 63,000 miles I hydroplaned. There was still plenty of tread on the tires, which is dangerous...it leads you to think they're safer than they really are.

I swear Subaru picked those awful tires because of good gas mileage and that must be all. TireRack users hated them. I just had Perrilli Scorpion Ice and Snow's installed. I don't get the gas mileage I got with the OEM's but I can climb or get through anything without a worry AND the B9 is more fun to drive than ever...just wish the mpg's were better.

[bionicbadger]

Its easy to spin/slide in the tribeca even with winter tires on if there is a bit of ice. Its easy to correct because of the AWD, but is easy to spin. If you shut of the traction control, its super fun to step on the gas and crank the wheel to the side, just make sure there is nothing close by to hit.

[LORE BECA]

45/55 IS NOT much different then 50/50 SPLIT should just get a little more juice to rear tires!

I think the main factor is the driver.:rolleyes:

[MNSteve]

I've "broken loose" the rear end with the traction control on. What fun :D! Of course, that was on a snow packed road. Cannot do the hand brake turn as the Tribeca has one of those foot operated e-brake.

[MNSteve]

The stock tires seemed ok; except on ice, more than 1 foot of snow, muddy roads and then at 63,000 miles I hydroplaned. There was still plenty of tread on the tires, which is dangerous...it leads you to think they're safer than they really are.

I swear Subaru picked those awful tires because of good gas mileage and that must be all. TireRack users hated them. I just had Perrilli Scorpion Ice and Snow's installed. I don't get the gas mileage I got with the OEM's but I can climb or get through anything without a worry AND the B9 is more fun to drive than ever...just wish the mpg's were better.

Yup, I've noticed that my gas mileage has dropped since the Blizzaks were installed (separate wheels and tires). They'll stay on until April (unless global warming revisits ;)).

[heavychemist]

Two winters ago we had close to record snowfalls. I was driving into work early one morning after a night of heavy snow (+25cm). They had blowed the highway but left a high ridge of snow completely blocking the onramp. The sedan in front of me was going slow and try to muscle his way onto the highway. Of course he could stuck. I simply turned to the left, gave it a little gas and when through the pile of snow with ease.

I love driving the Tribeca in winter. I have noticed that I can get the rear end to spin around, which was a little surprising after driving a FWD car for decades. I've adjusted my driving to compensate and really enjoy it. My wife doesn't though. I've..umm..surprised her a couple of times. Hehe

[boostsr20]

I never drive with traction control on in the winter. I'd rather steer through the spin than have it feel like its falling on its face. As long as the spin isn't too bad you'll get better pickup with it off.

[pnolansb9T]

I spent Christmas in Oklahoma City where we had a broke a 106 yr record snowfall with 50kt sustained winds and whiteout conditions-given.

I want to say that I travelled there totally unprepared for 14" of snow and wind. My windshield wipers were awful. We drove from Austin to OKC about a seven hour trip and skirted the storm. Next day we woke up at my sister-in-law's with snow so I decided to go find the girls some sleds and my wife a Starbucks.

I'm happy to report that finding the sleds and coffee was easy with the B9. Traction was a little slippery with 3" of ice on the road with dry snow but without mishap, I learned to slightly accelerate through the turn to pull the car around the corners.

The really BAD part of all this was that my wipers were junk from the Texas heat. The wiper blade removal design is sweet. You pinch and slide a gate open (familiarize yourself now) and the blade unit drops out. Reverse to reinstall. BUT---GET REPLACEMENTS NOW. Nothing on the shelf fits. You can buy $13 replacement refills at Subaru so I suggest you stock up. I went to OReilly's, AutoZone, NAPA and one other before finding a dealer 15 miles away that had one set left.

On the return trip, we drove from the Red River Border of Texas to Hillsboro South of Ft Worth with the new blades in driving snow with absolutely now problem. Between watching the outside air temp indicator, the Weather Channel on the iPhone and a iPhone Map, I was able to "see" ahead at the conditions I was driving into confidently. It was a great albeit stressful ride. The car did really well from 24°F to 42° for seven days.

My biggest critque of the Subaru is the lack of rear heated seats and poor rear heat circulation. Parents were fine up front but kids hate the leather seats on a cold morning.

Happy New Year
Patrick