How Well does Your Genesis Perform on Ice and Snow?

[CanukV6]

The V6 does not have a limited slip differential, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, even though one would think that having both wheels exert torque when in winter sounds like a good thing. It is not - especially on low traction surfaces.

If you have a normal differential, when one wheel slips it starts spinning and all the engine speed goes to that wheel and the other wheel just rolls on. This is good because it tends to keep the rear moving in the same direction as before the loss of the spinning wheel traction. Since the free wheel rubber is still rolling in contact with the surface the direction of rotation keeps the rear from moving sideways. It keeps the car from spinning since one wheel has traction, and one wheel has power.

With a LSD, the coupling of the two wheels together means that when one starts spinning it draws the other side into the same spin, and you end up with a good chance the rear is NOT going to keep in line (especially in a turn or even on the crown of the road surface). Both wheels have power, but neither have traction, and you end up sliding around without control.

The best thing to have in winter is not a LSD, its winter tires designed to provide traction in cold, snow and ice. It doesn't matter how many wheels have power if none of them have traction - look at all the SUVs in ditches every winter.

While I totally agree with your statement about Winter tires being the best aid to traction in snow and ice, I do take issue with your comments about LSD's. An LSD will allow more power to be delivered to the driving wheel with the most grip. If one wheel starts spinning then torque is reduced to that wheel and greater torque is applied to the remaining driven wheel. An open (normal) differential provides the same torque to both wheels regardless of their individual grip.

 

[VivienM]

Your STS was fwd, afaik did not have a Limited slip differential either, had a lot of weight on the front wheels to improve traction, and might have had tires that performed better in the snow.

That's for the pre-2005 Seville STS.

The 2005+ STS is RWD, has better weight distribution, and I think has a LSD in one of the option packages.

 

[Sayantsi]

Good to know - I thought all STS's were fwd.

 

[jwaters943]

As Vivien pointed out, the prior gen was FWD (and was known as the Seville STS & SLS). The current gen is RWD and is known simply as the STS (other markets like China get a more luxurious long-wheelbase version known as the SLS). It's a nice car and a damn shame we don't get it here. Pics: http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/11/more-on-chinas-cadillac-sls/

The only vehicle Cadillac currently sells that is strictly FWD is the DTS, formerly the Deville.

 

[healeybob]

Real easy to fix. I had a Mercedes sedan and it was terrible in the snow. I fixed it the same way I fixed the Genesis. Buy 4 Blizzaks, they stick like a go cart on a hot summer day. Absolutely amazing transformation. The reason I bought Blizzaks was I saw a demo at a Avalanche hockey game. They brought two cars out and raced them around the track. The drivers were volunteers from the stands. One car had Blizzaks and the other had another brand of snow tires. It was like night and day. Very effective demo. It will transform your car into a blast to drive, just like the summer.
BTW, I have a V6. You just need better tires.

 

[wallymn]

Any true winter tire will be massively better than the stock tires.

I and others have had great success with Blizzaks.

They offer two flavors.

WS-60 is a FULL winter tire, trade off is a loss of dry handling characteristics.

LM-60 is a winter performance tire, Trade off is less snow/ice traction than the WS-60.. But MUCH better traction than the stock all-seasons.

 

[Sayantsi]

While I totally agree with your statement about Winter tires being the best aid to traction in snow and ice, I do take issue with your comments about LSD's. An LSD will allow more power to be delivered to the driving wheel with the most grip. If one wheel starts spinning then torque is reduced to that wheel and greater torque is applied to the remaining driven wheel. An open (normal) differential provides the same torque to both wheels regardless of their individual grip.

I understand what you are saying and your statement has merit, but the problem with LSDs is that they are designed to put power down - its great on dry tarmac, but when traction is limited, they can be over the top.

When one wheel slips, the other gets pulled along - yes, you get more power down, but on ice, this can be dangerous as it will cause both tires to exceed the limits of traction, and sometimes you don't want that.

 

[CanukV6]

I understand what you are saying and your statement has merit, but the problem with LSDs is that they are designed to put power down - its great on dry tarmac, but when traction is limited, they can be over the top.

When one wheel slips, the other gets pulled along - yes, you get more power down, but on ice, this can be dangerous as it will cause both tires to exceed the limits of traction, and sometimes you don't want that.

Luckily, my Genesis came standard with an adjustable accelerator pedal and it's owner has an articulated and sensitive right foot.

If you mash the throttle pedal then it won't matter what type of differential or electronic traction control system you have, you will overcome the available traction on a slippery surface. An LSD allows greater control on slippery surfaces especially if there is different grip at either of the driven wheels. On a skating rink then only careful throttle control and sticky winter tires will help.

 

[xactstep]

My V6 Tech, with stock tires, did pretty darn well on ice and snow in the mountains last week. What a fabulous car!

 

[ASHDUMP]

GREAT PICTURES!!!! I want to drive in an area like this!

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[ASHDUMP]

Falken EuroWinter tires are doing just fine here in New England. Lots of snow and ice this year so far.

 

[mikec]

xactstep - was it you I saw coming down the Cajon Pass in SoCal Saturday afternoon? I was in the silver Genesis V8 in front of a black Genesis V6 for a few miles, then the black Genesis passed me and disappeared in traffic.

I was also returning from Utah...

mike c.

 

[xactstep]

hey Mike,

Yupp, that was me alright. Funny thing is, when I saw you in my rear view, I wondered if you were on this site Small world indeed!