Snow Driving

[powerslide]

I'm looking forward to the 8-12" of snow that are forecasted for this afternoon into tomorrow. I regret that i haven't found snow tires and wheels I'm happy with yet, but I'm curious how well the AWD works with the stock tires.

One thing i have noticed is that when 1 tire hits a frozen puddle at a stop sign, the engine computer kills 95% of the throttle. Someone please tell me this can be defeated by turning off the traction control. My avalon did this too and it drove me nuts. I understood it on a FWD, but it seems unnecessary for it on a AWD.

 

[CanukV6]

I have already experienced Snow driving in my AWD without Snow-Tires. Traction wasn't an issue with the OEM All-Season tires, but braking is definitely a concern, so leave lots of space in front. I will be mounting Winter wheels and tires ASAP. I haven't noticed the problem you describe with traction on slippery surfaces, but the control system will reduce throttle if a driven wheel starts slipping.

 

[powerslide]

it wasn't too bad considering i have 14k on the original tires. I concur with CanukV6. I was able to get up my uphill driveway without problems, but the front broke loose into an understeer condition a couple times when cornering too fast. I definitely want to get snow tires. The vehicle dynamics were quite good. I jumped on the throttle in an empty parking lot, expecting to send the rear out, but it didn't. The whole car drifted a little but without much change in yaw. I didn't experience any of the "throttle nanny" problems I've experienced on ice.

BTW, I was changing my oil today and of all days for the parts desk to give me the wrong filter. Doh! Car was up on ramps and oil drained. Luckily the wife was home by this time so it was back out in the snow again.

 

[italiabrain]

I'm looking forward to the 8-12" of snow that are forecasted for this afternoon into tomorrow. I regret that i haven't found snow tires and wheels I'm happy with yet, but I'm curious how well the AWD works with the stock tires.

One thing i have noticed is that when 1 tire hits a frozen puddle at a stop sign, the engine computer kills 95% of the throttle. Someone please tell me this can be defeated by turning off the traction control. My avalon did this too and it drove me nuts. I understood it on a FWD, but it seems unnecessary for it on a AWD.

This sounds like you had two wheels on ice, one on each axle. In this case AWD with open front and rear differentials the car will initially behave as though it has zero traction and go through it's electronic sequence of attempting to cut power and brake the spinning wheels. Eventually braking of the spinning wheels should allow enough torque transfer to the side with traction to get you under way, but it's non-ideal compared to having an AWD system that also has a limited slip rear diff (or even better front and rear).

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the 3.8AWD USDM model has open front and rear diffs.

 

[powerslide]

I suspect you are correct. I was taking a right hand turn from a stop and the frozen puddle was on the right side of the car. The ECU definitely cut power for a few seconds because approaching traffic was coming faster than i anticipated and my "giddy up" was gone well after i was off the ice. Eventually it kicked back in.