Iowa got hit with a monster snowstorm.....I just realized that this car really isn't good in snow compared to other cars, especially with the low profile tires. I may have to get snow tires sometime.

Couple questions: I have the 6MT and does our cars have the computerized rev limiter? I got stuck multiple times and there were times when I accidently got close to the redline.

There was this one time when I just really couldn't get out and I had the truck to help me get it out. He seemed like he knew what he was doing because he said he always helps people get their cars out. He wrapped his rope around a "bunch of bars" by the rear driver side tire to pull it out and I am worried that it might have broken something, although it drives fine.

 

NO rev limiter on 6mt !!! danger warning- no overrev allowed at all- minimum $2500 damage

the bars would be control arm and steering arms- strong but bendable
Read owner book for driving in snow advice like using 2nd gear to start in and whatever traction control system your year has--need to understand its thinking

 

I HATE SNOW!!!..... but I need new tires too....

 

the michelin stockies are awful in snow.. dont even bother attempting it... just go out and bite the bullet, buy snow tires. it will save you alot of stress!

 

I'm in western Illinois suburbs so we got hit with the same thing, I feel like the car does great in the snow...I have Conti Extreme Contact DWS all weather Z-rated tires.

 

What?! Every car has a rev limiter , if not your statement would be true and companies won't allow that to happen just for that reason. I also have a 6mt and can tell you it has a rev limiter. I believe its 6,800

 

It's called keep VSA on..

 

Yes the VSA rocks, it will not let your car go where it doesnt need to.

 

+1 Yes, my TL-S also has a rev limiter...to prevent costly damage from over-revving. I've banged off of it a few times by accident because the car is so quiet....until I installed a CAI, could barely hear it when shifting.

OP....get a good set of Winter tires, then the TL performs decently in snow.

 

I drive just fine on snow and ice, mostly ice, in my TL. It's actually really good compared to my 99 TL lets say and my 2000 corolla.
Get winter tires and you are all good.

 

It's not the car, blame the tires. I know of BMW's (rwd) and S2000's that do very well in snow/ice with snow tires.

 

If you've got the stock MXM4 tires, that is the problem. They are horrible in the snow, it's like driving a damn ice skate. Dump them ASAP.

 

I thought you needed to have the VSA off if you are stuck?

 

if the gen3 has a rev limiter on MT, then why do they overrev and blow up on a missed shift incident? (Im gen2)

Please paste the vsa section from gen3 owner book for others to know procedure
Each year may vary in how the system works
Pushing a button turns the tcs/vsa OFF

 

TL is the snow=the only time im happy its front wheel drive

 

lol i turn my vsa off cuz i like full control over my car especially in the snow

 

Who's "they"? I suspect some other issue is causing engines to blow up versus over revving.

From page 257 of my manual ('08 TL-S), titled "Engine Speed Limiter":

"If you exceed the maximum speed for the gear you are in, the engine speed will enter into the tachometer's red zone. If this occurs, you may feel the engine cut in and out. This is caused by a limiter in the engine's computer controls. The engine will run normally when you reduce the RPM below the red zone."

 

a little off topic, but do any of you guys with the splash guards notice a lot of snow gets trapped between them and the tires? I might be wrong but I feel I lose traction because the snow the tires spits out does not exit underneath the car they hit those splash guards and slows down and jerks the car a little. Though, I am probably over exaggerating a bit.

To the OP, a good set of tires will do wonders in the snow.

 

the rev limiter is only for upshifting ... but if u miss a shift downwards, mechanically the car will overrev because of the speed at which the car is going.

bottom line ... manual tranny cars do have rev limiters even the 3g tl, but it doesnt work the same way that it does in the automatic

 

Get a set of winter tires and wheels. That should help you a lot + you don't have to keep changing the tires if you have dedicated wheels.

 

I put on winter tires recently and the difference is like day and night.

With the all seasons it came with (michelin mxm4) it was so easy to lose control. With my winter tires I can drive confidently and it sticks.

The first thing to do after you get the winter tires is find some deserted streets and try sliding around a bit to know exactly how your winter tires will respond.

 

Def get snow tires, On my 03 TL-S i got Michelin xice-xi2, definitely recommend these tires, worth every penny( long story short, i drove through storm from NY to cleveland with highway covered in deep snow. no joke didnt slide once.) For my 07 TL-S about to put on Blizzak LM22 that i got from a friend. so dont know how blizzak would be.

I am sure you can pick up TL wheels for like $250 or $300 locally or maybe cheaper, that way you can have a winter set.

 

you sir usually have some good things to say. this was not one of them....


all cars have rev. limiters.

difference between manuals and autos is that manuals can MECHANICALLY over-rev. if you are in too high of a gear for your speed. this is done by mis-shifting, not from keeping your foot on the gas too long. the rev limiter will cut the fuel flow and will keep your revs below redline.

That said, its very difficult to misshift in the TL, the gates are pretty spaced and the clutch is soft.

 

you answered your own question....they mis-shifted. cutting fuel flow during a mis-shift will do nothing becuase its not the fuel that causing the engine to rev. so high.

 

To the people that say the TL is bad in snow obviously arent very experienced with driving in snow/icy conditions. The car does just fine like pretty much any other front wheel drive car. The stock Michelin tires work just fine for my 07 Type S. I literally drove on sheets of ice this morning going down some untouched roads inbetween corn fields.
If your that bad at driving in the snow or just plain old scared then sure get a set of winter wheels/tires it will help, but the TL does just fine in the snow.

James

 

agreed...i also live in iowa(dubuque) and i get around just fine on yokohama pros...i mean i can def tell a difference but i still get around all of dubuques hilly terrain!

 

I drove in that Iowa snow storm with an 05 TL six speed with Goodyear Response Edge tires. Worked great on the ice and snow. What will stop you will be a road that isn't plowed and snow is six to eight inches deep, snow tires or not, you'll get stuck. The limited slip differential makes the six speed very good in most snow and ice conditions. But, if you start plowing snow you're toast!

 

Do the LSD on our 6spd help on snow or ice? Don't have much snow here in oregon, but just curious cuz i'm thinking of taking it to mountains. Any thoughts or experience?

 

Last year i was pulling out of a gas station on my "All seasons" and my VSA kicked in and cut power..the wheels weren't moving because i couldn't get traction. Knowing when to turn off VSA is a big help sometimes.

Right now we are having blizzard conditions in SW Michigan, luckily i bought 205/60 16 with blizzak w60 and they are worth every penny. There is 2+inches on the main roads and more where the drifts are building up and i have had no slippage what so ever, i drive with a huge grin on my face because i can't believe the traction dedicated winter tires/rims provide.

The stock tires are wide on the TL and the narrower the tire the better driving in snow/ice

 

at one point last year, when it snowed in Washington, i parked my car around midnight at the top of our slightly inclined driveway. the next morning, i came out and found the car at the bottom of the driveway, stuck on ice. it stayed there for about a week...760 sport bridgestones SUCK. albeit, they were summer tires...haha

 

Wow...you're a superstar!

Winter tires will make a huge difference in the handling of any car be it FWD, RWD or AWD over all seasons. The compound and tread design of a Winter tire is designed specifically for snow/ice conditions. I grew up driving in snow and I notice a tremendous difference between A/S and dedicated snow tires. Sure you can slip and slide your way through Winter with A/S or even Summer tires, but why would you want to?

That's just a silly statement.
It's all about the tires. Any car will perform better in snow with the proper rubber.

 

+1M get winter tires

 

Car & Driver's recent comparo of Michelin winter & AS tires..



Michelin Pilot Sport A/S





Michelin Pilot HX MXM4




Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3




Michelin X-Ice Xi2







http://www.caranddriver.com/features/09q4/2009_winter_tire_test-comparison_tests

 

simple the MT is a mechanical connection and as soon as you let the clutch out the trans will spin the engine past redline even when the ECM has cut fuel

Fuel cut only works when the car is in gear and you are accellerating towards fuel cutoff.

The AT car will lock out out of a lower gear if ECU determines that engine speed will exceed redline.

 

Great article from car and driver. I've recommended the Michelin Pilot Alpin many times for a sport sedan like the TL. The Primacy Alpin is the new name for that tire but it's the same tire.

Unless you regularly drive up to the mountains to go skiing you are probably better off with a performance winter tire like the Pilot Alpin or Dunlop Winter Sport, they are very slightly worse in deep snow than something like the Michelin X-Ice or General Altimax Arctic, but they are much better on dry/wet paved roads, and feel no different than a regular all-season tire even at high speeds.

 

Its not really a silly statement as its obvious any car will be better in snow/ice with snow/ice tires. I know that, I was just simply stating that with my experience in snowy conditions the TL on stock Michelins actually does pretty well (or atleast equivalent to any other FWD car).

Not tryin to be a superstar, but I was sort of disagreeing with the guys that say the car is horrible because it is not. Now a RWD high HP V8 is bad in the snow. A FWD family sedan is fine.

James