[IS300 Fanatic]

For those of you who have driven your IS300 under heavy snow and icy conditions, how did it fair?

I'm getting 205/55/H16 Blizzak LM-22's for my IS and this will be the first winter season I've had this car as well as the first winter season I will be driving a rear wheel drive vehicle. I'm not really concerned because of the TRAC and SNOW modes available (as well as my new LM-22's), but I wouldn't mind any personal experiences a fellow IS driver can offer...

Thanks.

[ October 16, 2001: Message edited by: IS300 Fanatic ]

 

[croddy]

I drove in pretty heavy snow last year with goodyear Ultra Grip winter tires. The car was better than my old 240sx, but certainly not as good as my wifes beater corolla with fwd and skinny little tires. The Goodyears are certainly not as good as a tire as the Blizaks, so I think you will even much better off. Take it easy and use caution and you will get around ok.

 

[Kel3]

sucks

 

[is300girl]

in a word........

SHI TTY!

get a beater car for the winter.

 

[Killerfred]

The IS handles GREAT in the winter, but only if you have winter or all season tires. Otherwise, you'll be slipping and sliding like a polar bear on ice skates.

 

[SophieSleeps]

Originally posted by Killerfred:
The IS handles GREAT in the winter, but only if you have winter or all season tires. Otherwise, you'll be slipping and sliding like a polar bear on ice skates.

MISTAKEN!!

 

[Killerfred]

Originally posted by SophieSleeps:

MISTAKEN!!

I don't think so. I'm not driving in the north country, but I did drive with over 2 inches of loose and packed snow on the ground. I had no problems with the handling of the IS in these conditions with Winter Tires. It also helps if you know how to drive your car in these conditions, i.e. test it out in an empty parking lot.

 

[IS300 Fanatic]

I agree. I don't think it will be a big problem. I've driven alot in blizzard conditions in other cars, but I was just wondering if the additional low end torque and rear-wheel drive will cause any big problems.

 

[sphantom]

i donno about anyone else, but my '02 IS300 5spd has a button marked 'snow' which effectively dumbs down the transmission and engine so that sudden bursts of acceleration or deceleration are smoothed out to retain traction..

 

[wazzup]

I've got Blizzak LM-22's for winter driving. Made a big difference compared to stock in the snow. Made it through all of last years Chicago winter as my daily driver. (Wife gets the suv for winter)

It felt more sure footed and the stock rollers. But you still have to be careful. If you don't have a beater or an suv and your IS300 is your only choice then you MUST get winter tires.

 

[Firebird_EOU]

With your Blizzak LM-22 on did you still use the SNOW button?

 

[IS300GTE]

mine too, but i bet it still handles like dick in the snow, this car shouldn't even see snow, its a crime.

anyways, the snow button retards the hell out of the timing, and the traction control is extra pissy with it depressed.

Originally posted by sphantom:
i donno about anyone else, but my '02 IS300 5spd has a button marked 'snow' which effectively dumbs down the transmission and engine so that sudden bursts of acceleration or deceleration are smoothed out to retain traction..

 

[crazycanuck]

not worthy

I used LM-22's (17s) on my IS last winter in Toronto, Canada. I don't think I'll put this car through another nasty winter. If you get anything over a couple of inches, which we often get up North, the car performs rather poorly. Although, the narrower 16 LM-22s would be a little better in the snow.

I'm picking up a front drive junker to get me through 4 - 5 mths of the white stuff.

 

[s0yb0mb]

I'm stil going to drive the 4 hour drive to vt in all conditions, snow or ice or whatver... I have 2 year old michelin alpin pilots (16") and hope they will last this season.

its all how you drive the car. Its a sport sedan, so snow is not an optimal driving condition, but it can get where you need to go.

I drove 13 hours (usually 4, but including a 5 hour nap on the side of the road) last winter when we got socked w/ a 2 foot dump on the east coast... I was one of the only cars on the road... but I got there

 

[kuuligan]

totally sucks. the IS hates driving on ice.

 

[HoustonLex]

totally sucks. the IS hates driving on ice.

what car likes driving on ice?



With snow tires on, Im sure the IS is as good as anything. I drove a Volkswagen Jetta with all-seasons for years through the white stuff and always got around. FWD with all seasons cant be that much better than snows with RWD.

 

[k-lo]

I used to have an S-10 Xtreme with the 4.3 V6 RWD. That truck had 245/45's on it and I only got stuck once!! I usually only put about 150 lbs of sand in the bed too. I know for fact that once i get some winters on my IS with traction and snow mode on I'll feel tons safer and more confident. Oh by the way i live in the snowbelt of Ohio, and we get crazy winters. I don't want to drive my car in the winter either, but that's because it's new and I hate putting a car through snow and salt.

 

[Platinum288]

I run 16" Nokian Hakka Q's for the Calgary winters. I live in an area with lots of hills and the Nokians do a great job. I only use SNOW mode when theres at least an inch of snow on the ground or if it's icy.

 

[dchang98]

When you guys say IS300 sucks in winter driving, did you drive it with all-season tires, or sports/summer tires? I just got mine with all-season tires, and am wondering if I should go out and get some winter tires instead... :roll:
Thanks!!

 

[kuuligan]

sorry, i was using sport/summer tires. which is why the car treats snow/ice so badly