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Snow driving?

60121 Views 47 Replies 23 Participants Last post by  Zach, 
Z
Hey all just wanted to ask if anyone has driven their terrain in the snow? Supposedly where suppose to get snow this weekend and wanted to know how well it drives in the snow and what too look out for besides idoit drivers:p. I think where only getting 2-4 inches of snow.
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K
Have had a fair bit of snow this year in southern Ontario and I can say it drives quite well. It's been through a terrible snow storm on the 402 and performed amazing. I don't have AWD either.
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B
We had a foot about a month ago and my 11 equinox AWD didn't even slow down. This even shocked me and stock tires too.
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J
We went from a AWD V6 Nissan Murano to a 11 Terrain I4 FWD. We have had a few 6inch snow falls, the Latitudes performed flawlessly. We do not miss the AWD at all. Driver skill is a huge part of it. I am originally from ND. I live in Southern Indiana now and the people around here are nuts.
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S
Piece of cake! Back in late Dec we got nailed with a 25 inch blizzard here in the NJ/NY tri-state area and then several other snow storms in Jan/Feb... my AWD V6 Terrain passed the winter with flying colors, no problems whatsoever handling in snow!



ZombieWolf said:
Hey all just wanted to ask if anyone has driven their terrain in the snow? Supposedly where suppose to get snow this weekend and wanted to know how well it drives in the snow and what too look out for besides idoit drivers:p. I think where only getting 2-4 inches of snow.
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Solrak69 said:
Piece of cake! Back in late Dec we got nailed with a 25 inch blizzard here in the NJ/NY tri-state area and then several other snow storms in Jan/Feb... my AWD V6 Terrain passed the winter with flying colors, no problems whatsoever handling in snow!
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+1, 2 NJ winters down no problems. I4 AWD
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J
Ohio had record snow falls in February. I never had any problems. I think the weight of the vehicle is what is helping the most...it just cuts through snow without any major issues. It almost would work too well and it was easy to start feeling cocky...I had to keep remembering to allow more distance for stopping.

The only problem I ever had was when I unexpectedly found myself driving through about six inches of slush and the car wanted to veer hard towards the curb. That would have likely happened with any other car.
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Z
thx for the info guys, hopefully we get a decent amount but any amount is good enough.
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B
ZombieWolf said:
thx for the info guys, hopefully we get a decent amount but any amount is good enough.
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Your wrong any amount is to much. :eek:
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D
i live in mid michigan we get lots of snow here. the nox went well in the snow. only problem was getting it moving. once i started taking it easy on initial movement all was well. i was giving it too much pedal and spinning a lot before. the weight really helps when busting thru drifts and plowed snow at the end of the driveway. very happy with my 2wd i4. :)
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Z
Bigdog9586 said:
Your wrong any amount is to much. :eek:
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Not when you enjoy the snow and love to drive in it ;D
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INNOCNT
Bigdog9586 said:
Your wrong any amount is to much. :eek:
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+1 to that!!! I am sick of winter already and would love to have all the snow gone & melted so i may put my summer tires & rims on ;)[/color]
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C
Wondering if anyone has put chains on the AWD GMC Terrain. Here in Oregon, traction devices are required sometimes to get up Mt. Hood to ski and snowshoe. Have a 2013 Terrain with stock Michelin tires. Considering studless winter tires but would rather not make the investment since I think the car does fine as is, ...but we do need to carry chains. Anyone driven with chains, and if so, did you put them on the rear tires? Thanks very much.
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R
I think that it has been discussed on this forum, and I think the conclusion is that GM strongly recommends against using chains on this vehicles. Don't remember why - possibly lack of clearance ???
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H
Yes with the new cars you are taking a risk on chains as if one comes lose it will rip the car apart with only a few revolutions. The plastic liners will take very little in the way of a hit and many cars have limited clearances in parts of the well. Even a lose chain can do damage.

You are better off with winter tires in this case.

GM used to require enough space be left for chains and it left their cars looking like the tires were way undersized. They did away with the rule and now there is little room on many cars for this. But that is the same on most makes anymore. You have to consider chains are only used on less than 4% of all cars anymore. Many of the newer tires today have done away with the need.
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S
Here is the info from the 2012 Equinox owners manual, shoul be close to yours.


Do not use tire chains. There is not enough clearance. Tire chains used on a vehicle without the proper amount of clearance can cause damage to the brakes,
suspension or other vehicle parts. The area damaged by the tire chains could cause you to lose control of the vehicle and you or others may be injured in a crash.

A Type S low-profile cable can be used only if the cable manufacturer recommends it for use on the vehicle, the tire size combination, and road conditions.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions. To help avoid damage to the vehicle, drive slowly, readjust or remove the cable if it is contacting the vehicle
and do not spin the vehicle's tires. Install the cables on the front tires only. Cables should not be installed on the spare tire or on the optional 19-inch tire.
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B
Chains are a hang over from decades ago that refuses to go away. At one time there not dedicated snow tires so model T's and model A's had chains added . Even though the 40's 50's,60's and 70 the bias tires of the day and rubber compounds did not offer winter traction. Vehicles were mostly 2WD as well.
Today's vehicles using tires with mountain/snowflake symbol rarely encounter conditions requiring chains. If conditions are that demanding then your vehicle should be a real 4x4 instead of a SUV.
Plough trucks, timber skiders and farm tractors are the primary users of chains today.
A tall narrow tire offers superior winter tractor vs a wide low profile tire.
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darkside
No problem here driving on ice and snow.
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S
I know when my son was moving to Washington state going up thru CA, OR & WA, he had to buy chains for the rental truck and got reimbursed when he turned in the truck.
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H
Yes there are some areas mostly in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and other areas that still require chains. I see some of these rules changing soon since so few vehicles can use them. They may require snow tires but Chains are going to be rare soon outside of some large trucks.
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