Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 snow first impression

[FracaSHO]

Finally got a little snow on the ground in my part of Chicagoland. About an inch. When I bought the car last January, it had the Eagle F1's. Not fun in the snow at all. But the Michelins performed as expected. A little understeer making a turn on the unplowed/unsalted side streets around my house, nothing different from my F-150. It honestly reminds me of driving my F-150 in this type of weather with BFG all terrains. Obviously the SHO won't handle as well in deep snow, but I feel safe and confident driving it. I know the rears don't get 100% power, but I feel like there are times when only the rears are spinning, like when drifting in an empty snow covered parking lot. And when I slid off the road last February, exactly 4 weeks after purchase, only the rear tires were moving the car when the tow truck driver backed the car off the curb and pulled a little forward to get it on the flatbed. Only the tie rods and steering were broke. I'm wondering if the computer has a fail safe mode for the AWD and disengaged the front diff.  On the lighter side, I ran a vehicle health report while waiting for the flatbed, came back everything working and OK. Made me laugh. What problems, if any, will the vehicle health report point out?

One more thing; There needs to be AWD 4X4 only lanes in the Midwest. Jus like carpool lanes in California, except for people smart enough to drive AWD vehicles in snowy weather. My best friend, who only drives Subaru's, and I came up with this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[DJE624]

LOL  Yeah, I was just out playing in the snow.  The Primacys aren't really great but they are ok I guess.  I like your idea of an AWD lane.  It sucks waiting for people to get moving.  On the other hand, I had to be careful not to go too fast.  I found out quickly that the ABS is working fine! 

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

How much snow have you 2 gotten in this storm?  More coming?

 

[DJE624]

Maybe two inches with another 2 or three more here.

 

[BiGMaC]

Well, all I have to say is... high was 61 here today under clear blu skies and no wind... so i washed the bull.  Headed for highs in the upper 60's this week.  Going to P.I.R. to drive an RS8 next week!  :wheelchair:

I feel for you guys!  :'(

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

Off Topic ... It was in the 80's and clear here in Naples.  It is TOO hot to go for a walk!!! Going to be 80+ all week. 

On topic... This is good news on AS-3's.  I think they will be my replacements for the summer Conti DW's.  I should just wear out those Goodyear RS-A's but  I just don't like the way they handle and wander.  They ride great though. I guess if I were smart, I would have my 2 sets of custom wheels equipped with Pilot Super Sports, and only use them locally and drive the Goodyears on our long trips and between FL AND IA.  Or.. if the AS-3's hook up decently at the strip... just get 2 sets of those.

 

[FracaSHO]

UPDATE;:

Had to go out after it stopped snowing. About 4 inches and the streets unplowed. Car and tires handled beautifully. I was worried I might miss my F-150 when it snows, but I don't. It's funny watching people pull away from a stop with their drive wheels spinning and spinning. My SHO pulled away from a stop with ease, unless of course I gave it too much throttle. Braking was superb as well.

Note:  turn off the traction control. Just hit the slippery car button once. It didn't really help and the sound it makes is annoying. Sounds like the ABS.

For all you guys bragging about your warm weather and feeling sorry for us here in Chicago... Don't feel bad for me. I love this weather. Personally I think Chicago is perfect. By the time you are sick of being hot, it cools off, and vice versa. My daughter is about to turn 1 year old and was obviously too small to take out in the snow last year. So I am looking forward to building her a snow fort to dive into.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[BiGMaC]

Don't get me wrong... I love Chicago.  Get there a couple of times a year... love the food and the river.  We move to Phx metro from the mountains (90 minutes from here)... my old house has had snow 2x in the last week.  We put up with 3 months a year that are too HOT!! .. It's a trade-off  :beer2:

 

[SHOdded]

All snow, or anyone test on ice?  Looks like we are going to be "black ice-d" around here all week at least.

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

I get my fill of Ice and snow at Christmas... and the drive to and from IA.  ABS & T/C are fine in snow... but on Black Ice or ice on downhill stops, just plain dangerous.  You're car won't stop!  Had a SAAB that I had to curb, to keep it from driving itself into a busy intersection with the brakes on full.  ABS over-rode brakes. 

 

[BiGMaC]

Yea, when we lived in the mountains here I had studded winter tires on the trucks and chains on the car.
When it's glaze ice nothing short of ice picks get traction and inertia even prevents effective cornering.  Most of the accidents we saw were in the areas where police weren't checking and "flatlanders" were driving AS tires bare....they never considered not being able to stop in most those cases.

 

[vernonator]

I get my fill of Ice and snow at Christmas... and the drive to and from IA.  ABS & T/C are fine in snow... but on Black Ice or ice on downhill stops, just plain dangerous.  You're car won't stop!  Had a SAAB that I had to curb, to keep it from driving itself into a busy intersection with the brakes on full.  ABS over-rode brakes.

That is for sure - hit a patch last winter driving home, slowing down to make a turn (doing MAYBE 25) and the ABS/TSC went off and I turned sideways and just slid down the road. AWD, TSC, Blizzaks be damned...at that point you are just a passenger along for the ride.

 

[SHOdded]

Need to grab some of those Nokian Hakkapeliitta tires for the ice!

 

[SpeedWagon]

About six weeks ago I started my search for 20 inch snow tires for my 2013.  All I could find were Nitto NT90Ws.  These have walnut shells in the tread so I will have to find some ice to play on.  The first thing I noticed was they ride a lot smoother than the Supercars and seem to be a bit quieter as well.  We don't usually get much snow here but when it does it packs down and is very slippery.