anyone drive their TL in the snow lately? at all? often? i'd like to know how the TL traction control works in the snow.

thanks

 

Not lately but lots last winter. The only time I got the VSA to kick in was on some starts. Occasionally it would limit wheel slip when accelerating. I have a 6MT with 4 snow tires. I generally consider the VSA light coming on to mean I'm being a doink (fooling around) or pushed to hard. Plain and simple the TL, with snow tires, is pretty simple to drive in the snow. So, if you are thinking the VSA system is something that you will "use" to increase traction while driving in the snow then your looking at it the wrong way. It's there more to limit you if you push too hard. Best to know the limit and not cross it rather than relying on a system. Perhaps on the AT, without the LSD, it will offer some benefit in getting going on really slick roads.

 

Lots of snow and ice here. The only time I noticed the VSA kicking in was on black ice intersections where it would kick in and out. The dealer told me that if I was getting stuck in the snow to turn the VSA off as it would limit the front wheels from turning and thus it's difficult to get out of snow if the wheels aren't allowed to turn.

On a side note, I had my car in for it's first oil change at the dealer and they parked the car in the parking lot. When I went to pick up the car, I put it in reverse and instant wheel spin. The tires must have been warm when they parked the car and created small icy indentations under the tires. I tired turning off the VSA but that did not help. Next option was to rock the car. Rocking the car via shifting the trans from D to R does not work very well in the TL because of the amount of time it take to shift. I had to go forward, brake, reverse, break, repeatidly until I got a little momentum and finally got out.

 

How do the Michelin HX MXM4 do in the snow?

 

also looking in on those/pirellis/dunlops...would also like to know

 

I would rate them marginal at best. My wife got stuck in the snow a few times with those tires. I've had to come out and rescue her.

Like I was saying in a previous thread... I've had better snow performance with Yokohama AVS db (even though they aren't rated much better in the snow), Michelin Pilot Sport All/Season, and Continental ContiExtremeContact. I've had the best performance with the Continental ContiExtremeContact...

 

The Michelin tires are OK. I was worried that I would have to buy winter tires but the factory tires have enough traction on snow and ice to make them acceptable, maybe not the best but at least I don't have to buy an extra set of tires and rims. The funny thing is that I got stuck yesterday in front of my driveway. We have a fair amount of snow that hasn't been cleared off and I drove to slowly and got hung up. With my wife's jeep, tried to pull forward into the driveway but no traction on the hard packed snow on the cement. I used my eye bolt into the front bumper as the manual instructs us but the car was at an angle and it bent the bolt. Your only supposed to pull it from straight on. Unthreading the bent bolts cause black marks on my white bumper so now it looks damaged. Hopefully I can get the marks off so it will look like it did before. Had to hook the jeep to the back of the TL and it pulled out with no problem. By the way, a new eye bolt costs $12 dollars and change Canadian. Pretty good markup on this item.

 

Snows is the only way to goes.

 

how bout low profile tires? i got some z rated tires when i got my 6MT. i wonder how'd they do? anyone have some insight on this???

thx.

 

I have been told to absolutely NEVER do that in a Honda product (AT). You can completely trash the tranny because of the way the gear packs are set up. It has something to do with reverse and overdrive sharing a common part in the tranny, and you put it under too much stress.

BTW: I was told this by a Honda mechanic, and was also told it may not still be an issue with the newest transmission. But, he didn't know for sure. I'm going to err on the side of caution.

 

It does depend on the tire and "Z" rating alone won't tell the story. But, since you have posted the "how's it in th snow" question in the first place and followed up with more questions I'm guessing, just guessing, that you have some concern about your particular tires.

In general wider, lower profile tires will not do as well as narrower, less low profile tires. The problem with the MT is that you can't go to 16" rims (won't clear brakes) so you have to stay at 17". This means there is less room to play with tire sizes. You can vary a little but not enough to get any appreciable benefit like the guys running 16" in the winter. Basically us MT guys, who use snow tires, end up running the best snow tires we can in the OE size (or very close to OE size).

My "insight" is your tires are going to truly suck in slippery conditions and you should consider snow tires if you are able to get them. Sorry but that's what I'm thinking. OK, many will say "I get by OK without them." but the truth is their traction plain sucks, blows, etc. compared to if they got some real snow tires. I'm not saying you can't drive the TL on your current tires in the snow but rather that [good] snow tires will make all the difference in the world. Snow tires on all four rims will not make you "invincible", or be magic, but will make improve things greatly. Snow tires will not handle as well when it is dry but it's a small price to pay for how much better they are in the snow. Plus if you keep your car a long time the added price of snow tires, over time, isn't really that bad. (As long as you don't jump all over your snow tires and wear them out fast)

Learn all the back roads in your area and get snow tires. Then you will never be the guy that spends 3 extra hours getting home in a storm. You'll just take the road less traveled with grip and confidence.

 

I experienced the VSA kicking in when I was going up a hill in the snow last winter in Quebec (I kept my speed up, but the traction just wasn't there). I do not have snow tyres because we don't get enough snow in the DC area to warrant the expense and the nuisance; I was driving on a new set of Pirelli PZero Nero M&S. We got 25 cm of snow that day, and it was the only time in 9 days up there that the VSA kicked in, even in a snow-covered car park. But I could definitely feel, as I was driving, that if I lived in a snowier place than Virginia it would be necessary to have the snow tyres. The Pirellis are NOT an adequate substitute if you drive in any significant amounts of snow on a regular basis.

 

I ended up getting Nokian WR's for the white stuff. It has helped tremendously compared to my all-season EL42s (or my Toyo Proxes).

If I understand the OP; he has performance tires that come as an option on the 6MT? If so, get snows or at least all-seasons.

 

Goodyear Ultra-Grips.... W rated snow tire that's incredible on wet roads and on snow... rubber stays soft and keeps you planted. I used them last winter and was very happy. The Mich. OEs are terrible and get worse as they wear down... mine would spin on wet if I started a little too fast.... I hear good things about the BS Pole Position 950s for non-snowy areas.