As others note, tires make a huge difference. If you are running all-seasons that have some miles on them, or performance tires that aren't happy in cold temps, or that lack the siping needed to make them work in snow and ice, then it's the tires, not the car.

With my summer tires (Nokian NRVis in 205/55x16) on my '96 9000 I could barely make it up a very slight incline on a friend's driveway with only 1" of snow on the ground. That was before Thanksgiving--and before I put on my winter tires.

With the winter tires, Nokian WRs (205/60x15), the car goes up much steeper hills that are barely plowed or are unsanded ice and snow. Ditto in my wife's 9-5 Linear SportWagon with Dunlop M3 WinterSports (195/60x15). Had both cars out in a recent storm and they steered, cornered and braked fine, uphill and down. Threw them around, too, with no issues or drama. The 9-5 was better with ESP turned on than off, but in winter mode it was still fine, and the only hill my wife hasn't made it up was a neighbor's driveway that requires AWD if not well-plowed and sanded. But it's a 7% grade and you can't get a running start. (They have a 4WD truck and a Volvo Cross Country).

Tires make ALL the difference. It is NOT the car. AWD can help, but if you have worn tires you still aren't getting all you can out of the car.

• snow driving, stofo, Sat, 29 Dec 2007 02:14:24
  • Re: tires, sto, Wed, 2 Jan 2008 06:37:32
  • My friend has an AWD Subaru with all seasons, turrbo , Sat, 29 Dec 2007 21:59:11
  • its absolutely crazy to complain, jeremiah, Sat, 29 Dec 2007 18:40:12
  • What kind of tires?, Noel, Sat, 29 Dec 2007 09:40:36 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Second the motion, Ari , Sat, 29 Dec 2007 13:12:08
      • Unbelievable, OhSaabIAOh, Sat, 29 Dec 2007 14:37:03
        • See you later giant SUV!, JamieZ, Sat, 29 Dec 2007 18:24:16
        • Nokian WR, MissP93, Sat, 29 Dec 2007 15:06:30
          • Re: Nokian WR, Noel, Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:28:10
  • just 'drove' friends 9-3 in the snow with bad tyres-, nicknick , Sat, 29 Dec 2007 08:20:26
  • Re: snow driving, scottg, Sat, 29 Dec 2007 08:15:18
  • All about tires and skill....(nm), AdamB , Sat, 29 Dec 2007 07:20:22
  • Tires, bazil burns, Sat, 29 Dec 2007 07:05:42
    • Whoops, 225/50/16 Ecstas..., bazil burns, Sat, 29 Dec 2007 14:12:20
      • And you expected the Ecstas to work in the snow?, Noel, Sat, 29 Dec 2007 14:20:05
        • whoa there!! that is what bb said he did last winter!nm, nicknick , Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:55:08
          • Yeah, that was last winter..., bazil burns, Sun, 30 Dec 2007 06:58:14
            • Makes me wish I'd kept my old '84, Noel, Sun, 30 Dec 2007 09:50:32
              • Re: Makes me wish I'd kept my old '84, bazil burns, Sun, 30 Dec 2007 13:53:27
    • Amen!, SeeVTSaab, Sat, 29 Dec 2007 08:15:01
  • Perhaps you cheaped out on tires?, Chaz, Sat, 29 Dec 2007 05:13:17
  • Re: snow driving, B Millar , Sat, 29 Dec 2007 04:49:10
    • Re: snow driving, fusionrx, Mon, 31 Dec 2007 09:10:00
      • Re: snow driving, B Millar , Mon, 31 Dec 2007 11:25:20
  • are you flame baiting?, jp, Sat, 29 Dec 2007 04:26:57
  • Re: snow driving, Boston Baab, Sat, 29 Dec 2007 04:25:57

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