TL's winter capabilities?
#1
TL's winter capabilities?
I'm looking for your guys opinions on how the TL reacts to snow, storm, long winter situations, as you all own one. I'm interested in picking one up for myself as my daily driver/winter driver, as I already have a summer car, but somewhat leary of its winter abilities. so i'm looking for opinions??
is its good choice, or should i stick with just getting another suv, thanks guys
is its good choice, or should i stick with just getting another suv, thanks guys
#2
I drive an 02 CL type S and it does just fine....TL should do about the same....driving habits = success or failure in winter driving..........
#4
Man of God.....
This Car Is GREAT in winter!!
Just buy your car two sets of rim's and tires! I like the Blizaks for the winter. Eagle F1's for summer. It make my drive safe and predictable.....
#5
I do have a 04 6MT. I live in Montreal, Quebec, Canada which have a shit load of white powder for more than 4 months per year. Im doing 80% highway 20% cities to get to my job for a total of 60Miles per day. Last winter in the TL was a real charm. The car is heavy enough to stay on track, does react to hard wind and VSA just give the edge. I was running on pretty width tire which probably didn't helped me on highway (235/45/17). But I never felt insecure driving in storms.
My only complain, the VSA need to be desactivated sometime to get out of local road that has not been cleaned up in the morning. The VSA was almost stoping the car when driving through snow pile...
Have fun !
My only complain, the VSA need to be desactivated sometime to get out of local road that has not been cleaned up in the morning. The VSA was almost stoping the car when driving through snow pile...
Have fun !
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#8
I live in VT and with the stock Bridgestones my 6MT TL was the worst car I have ever driven in the snow. For the first time ever I went out and bought snow tires...Night and day difference...With 4 Nokian Hakkapeliitta RSi's the TL provides handling that lets you drive beyond the road conditions if you choose to...I typically find myself slowing down because my brain tells me I am driving a little fast for the conditions not because the car tells me I am.
Bottom line...With the right tires the TL is a great winter car.
Bottom line...With the right tires the TL is a great winter car.
#9
AZ Community Team
I live in VT and with the stock Bridgestones my 6MT TL was the worst car I have ever driven in the snow. For the first time ever I went out and bought snow tires...Night and day difference...With 4 Nokian Hakkapeliitta RSi's the TL provides handling that lets you drive beyond the road conditions if you choose to...I typically find myself slowing down because my brain tells me I am driving a little fast for the conditions not because the car tells me I am.
Bottom line...With the right tires the TL is a great winter car.
Bottom line...With the right tires the TL is a great winter car.
#11
FTW
Here's my .02c
Living in MN and having tons of snow every winter, I'm going to say the TL is Par to Sub Par using non-winter specific tires. The ground clearance isnt great and to get the max benefit I think snow tires is the only way to do it correctly.
Living in MN and having tons of snow every winter, I'm going to say the TL is Par to Sub Par using non-winter specific tires. The ground clearance isnt great and to get the max benefit I think snow tires is the only way to do it correctly.
#12
Judging by your name, I assume you are a fellow Canuck. I'm in Toronto, and if this winter is anything like last winter: Get yourself a good set of winter tires.
Don't listen to anyone who says you don't need them. you do.. I'm sure if you're lucky you can get by on all-seasons. Lord knows I have. It's that one time where inches mean hitting something or braking in time, that you'll be glad you had winter tires.
Don't forget that it's not just about snow. In cold temps, the rubber on all-seasons gets too hard, reducing braking and handling. I put my first set of winters ever on last year, and I couldn't believe I was driving without them all these years.
Don't listen to anyone who says you don't need them. you do.. I'm sure if you're lucky you can get by on all-seasons. Lord knows I have. It's that one time where inches mean hitting something or braking in time, that you'll be glad you had winter tires.
Don't forget that it's not just about snow. In cold temps, the rubber on all-seasons gets too hard, reducing braking and handling. I put my first set of winters ever on last year, and I couldn't believe I was driving without them all these years.
#13
Keep Right Except to Pass
I'm looking for your guys opinions on how the TL reacts to snow, storm, long winter situations, as you all own one. I'm interested in picking one up for myself as my daily driver/winter driver, as I already have a summer car, but somewhat leary of its winter abilities. so i'm looking for opinions??
is its good choice, or should i stick with just getting another suv, thanks guys
is its good choice, or should i stick with just getting another suv, thanks guys
Likewise, on the snow shown here atop the unpaved car park at the condo where we were staying, the car did fine. However, I had to be selective about where I parked. We got 25 cm of fresh snow the first day there and I ran into trouble when I parked in a space that wasn't already cleared out. I imagine snow tyres or chains would have solved this problem, but as it was I put Ms1995hoo in the driver's seat and I then pushed the car out.
Driving following the 25 cm of snow required a little care before the plow came through. The condo car park's exit was right at the base of a hill and the TL would not go up the hill on all-season tyres (not enough momentum). It did fine when I went around in the other direction (the road through Village-Mont-Tremblant is basically a long loop) because the momentum at 50 to 60 km/h was sufficient to carry the car up the hills.
My overall impression was that if you live in an area where snow tyres are the norm, then the TL will do fine IF you put snow tyres on it. If you live in an area like DC where we get the occasional big snow dump every couple of years but otherwise generally get mild dustings (that nonetheless fuck up the traffic for hours due to the idiots on the road), all-season tyres are fine as long as you (1) know how to drive in the snow and (2) are prepared to recognize the car's limitations in heavier snow and know how to work around them.
#14
My overall impression was that if you live in an area where snow tyres are the norm, then the TL will do fine IF you put snow tyres on it. If you live in an area like DC where we get the occasional big snow dump every couple of years but otherwise generally get mild dustings (that nonetheless fuck up the traffic for hours due to the idiots on the road), all-season tyres are fine as long as you (1) know how to drive in the snow and (2) are prepared to recognize the car's limitations in heavier snow and know how to work around them.
Like I said before, everyone has stories of how they drove through blizzards with all-seasons, and they were fine. For me, it's an insurance policy. Last year someone pulled in front of me on the 401 (second largest hwy in North America) and hammered their brakes. I credit my winter tires for giving me the grip required to avoid rear-ending him. There was no snow on the ground, but the temp was around -2 celcius. I have no doubt that if I had all seasons, I would have been sitting in his trunk.
You can't put a price on safety. Especially now that I have a son. I'd spend money on Winter tires any day over cosmetic mods, CAI's, etc etc.
#17
Keep Right Except to Pass
Not quite! Those pictures were taken at Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, which is about 140 km northwest of downtown Montreal. I live in Kingstowne, VA, which is about 12 miles south of Washington, DC. The pictures were taken on a ski vacation in 2006. We seldom get anywhere near that amount of snow here in the DC area, although we did get 20 inches dumped on us over the Washington's Birthday weekend in 2003.
#18
Keep Right Except to Pass
Yeh, my reference to chains was more of a general comment for those people who live in an area where they might be legal and who might need them in a pinch. I'd never use them unless I had absolutely no choice in the matter.
#20
iScrape going into
Not quite! Those pictures were taken at Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, which is about 140 km northwest of downtown Montreal. I live in Kingstowne, VA, which is about 12 miles south of Washington, DC. The pictures were taken on a ski vacation in 2006. We seldom get anywhere near that amount of snow here in the DC area, although we did get 20 inches dumped on us over the Washington's Birthday weekend in 2003.
#21
I drove my car on hankooks radial K106 (they were on the car when I got it) and now some arizonians silver editions and I have yet to encounter any problems in the winter........the car handles well and as long as you drive safely, you will not have issues
#22
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Ottawa, Canaduh!
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Come to Ottawa, if you want snow!
As far as the TL's handling in snow....no better or worse than any other FWD sedan. Definitely better with a set of dedicated snow tires...that is a must! I wouldn't even think of running AS in Winter here.
But if I had my pick between a 4WD SUV and the TL in Winter....I'll take 4WD...hands down!
#23
Thanks for all the replies. I should have mentioned where im from im taking after reading the posts, from Manitoba, so yes I know all about what a real winter is, with lots of snow so i have my winter exp. belt already. Winter for me like those pics shown of Ottawa, thats what our winters are like.
I've been in this decision making stage for about a month now, and the lists slowly keeps getting smaller of choices to replace my current daily. I'm quite loyal infiniti owner, so the FX series keep catching my eye, but besides that its down to the TL, MDX and FX's now as others have been removed. awd is not the most important thing to me, as driving style is more important i believe but it doesn't hurt also where i live.
I defn won't be doing much modding to it besides few cosmetic things as my summer ride takes up that extra cash. An uncle of mine owns a TL and he seems to have done well with it out here, and im pretty sure he just uses A/S tires.
It's becoming quite the complex debate around here on what to get, as fit into my lifestyle is most important factor as well as gas mileage. Won't be going brand new unfortunately, most likely an '06 as i would like to save a little in hopes to spring a new summer car if I can get away with that, but that might be wishful thinking
I've been in this decision making stage for about a month now, and the lists slowly keeps getting smaller of choices to replace my current daily. I'm quite loyal infiniti owner, so the FX series keep catching my eye, but besides that its down to the TL, MDX and FX's now as others have been removed. awd is not the most important thing to me, as driving style is more important i believe but it doesn't hurt also where i live.
I defn won't be doing much modding to it besides few cosmetic things as my summer ride takes up that extra cash. An uncle of mine owns a TL and he seems to have done well with it out here, and im pretty sure he just uses A/S tires.
It's becoming quite the complex debate around here on what to get, as fit into my lifestyle is most important factor as well as gas mileage. Won't be going brand new unfortunately, most likely an '06 as i would like to save a little in hopes to spring a new summer car if I can get away with that, but that might be wishful thinking
#24
Pfffft! You guys in T.O. don't know snow....
Come to Ottawa, if you want snow!
As far as the TL's handling in snow....no better or worse than any other FWD sedan. Definitely better with a set of dedicated snow tires...that is a must! I wouldn't even think of running AS in Winter here.
But if I had my pick between a 4WD SUV and the TL in Winter....I'll take 4WD...hands down!
Come to Ottawa, if you want snow!
As far as the TL's handling in snow....no better or worse than any other FWD sedan. Definitely better with a set of dedicated snow tires...that is a must! I wouldn't even think of running AS in Winter here.
But if I had my pick between a 4WD SUV and the TL in Winter....I'll take 4WD...hands down!
#26
Defn. needing something like the TL now, as girl just bought a g35 which in my eyes means im going to be doing the winter driving now mostly.
On another note, is there a way to find pictures outside of the gallery on this forum? I'm trying to track down some pictures of 2 cars i found in a clearing the taillights thread, a really clean and cleared silver TL and what looked like a black, cleared and tinted TL. Pretty much the looks I would want. thanks
On another note, is there a way to find pictures outside of the gallery on this forum? I'm trying to track down some pictures of 2 cars i found in a clearing the taillights thread, a really clean and cleared silver TL and what looked like a black, cleared and tinted TL. Pretty much the looks I would want. thanks
#29
Burning Brakes
Winter does suck on paint. I think I'm parking mine this winter. And like everyone said, it's in the tires. As for clearance, I push snow all winter, and that just lets me know I'm in the lowest car that has driven by that area! Not a hard feat since everyone drives SUVs and rock flinging trucks. I live in the city so they plow the streets pretty quick. It really doesn't matter how much it snows because if there is snow, there is usually ice. But, we also have a Subaru with winter tires too. And with that, we can almost go anywhere.
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