IS Tyre traction in the snow

[Andy_IS200]

Guys, I heard from a friend that the standard Bridgestone tyres fitted to the IS are terrible in the snow even with the traction control, has anyone any experience of this ?

[vince-com]

Any rear traction car on snow is terrible !

I don't want to think about Yokohamas on snow, even on wet they're not terrible…

BTW what will do in this situation the ESP system?

To go to the Alps this winter, I will surely by a snow system.

[Rob]

well as the IS has summer ltyres fitted as standard then of course its not going to be good in snow! - get some winter tyres on then ur fine.

[Andy_IS200]

Thanks but I love the look of summer tyres and the grip they get, perhaps a halfway house tyre for performance that still gets traction would be good. If going to the Alps I think you'd definitely want winter tyres or chains even depending on when you travel, I guess the ideal is two sets of wheels for summer and winter usage.

[lexicon]

Originally posted by Andy_IS200

Guys, I heard from a friend that the standard Bridgestone tyres fitted to the IS are terrible in the snow even with the traction control, has anyone any experience of this ?

They're dire - I've had rear-drive cars before, but nothing prepared me for just how bad it was gonna be!!!

Not good in mud either - I got stuck at Knockhill the other week. Good job they had a tractor handy :tumble:

[javadude]

rwd + yokohamas + snow + slight incline = forget it and walk

[andrewr]

Bridgestones are bad. Winter 2000 was my worst experience of going sideways, backwards and little forward movement then I learnt having a VERY worn back tyre was most to blame (obvious really when I looked at it, accounts for some great sideways manouvers). My "snow" button has been my friend since, however I do question how useful that light on the dash is that says "I've got NO traction". As if you didn't know with that kerb coming all too rapidly toward you :-)

[dark_is200]

yep, the standard tyres are awful in the snow - spun my car at about 60 on the motorway when it was 3 weeks old. not my fault - motorway was clear apart from a patch of about 20 metres which caught me out, i was lucky, car missed everything and ended up pointing the right direction doing about 40. called police who weren't too interested. others were not so lucky - fairly serious accident later in the day that was on the local news.

[Chris.S]

I won't take mine out in bad weather now,not after last year when I had it broadside on just slush.

So I've bought a little runaround just for winter (keeps the IS safe and warm in the garage)

[Andy_IS200]

Seems we all have the same problems in snow, I just bought a second car and will use that this year when the weathers bad and leave my IS locked up indoors.

Andy

[Mojo]

Has anyone tried using GoodYear Eagle F1s?

I had Bridgestones as standard on my last car and found them to be ***** so I changed to GoodYears and they were way better.

Just got my IS200 and it seems to have Dunlops on the moment and I don't rate them too much so far.

Just wondered if anyone else had experience of F1s on IS200s?

Mojo

[Andy_IS200]

Mojo, I used to have Eagle F1's on a previous car and found them quite good, but it was FWD as opposed to rear wheel drive - haven't tried them on the IS yet. Taken the simple and approach of leaving the IS in the garage when it snows but enjoying it fully for the rest of the year

[Mojo]

Andy,

My last car was AWD but never got a chance to try the F1s in the snow, only the standard Bridgestones and they put me backwards through a wall when I was trying to tip toe down a hill :o

After that I've never liked driving in snow and tend to ring in to work and claim "SNOW DAY!" and go back to bed :D

Mojo

[Andy_IS200]

Hey Mojo, like the idea of 'Snow Day's' perhaps we can declare a Team Lexus Snow Day when the weather get's bad and all take the day off. :lol:

[Mojo]

With living in Yorkshire and having a house built on a hill as steep as a cliff it doesn't take much snow to prevent me even getting the car out of the garage.

It's great for sledging to the pub though ;)

Let's start a campaign and claim our right for SNOW DAYS :D

[Andy_IS200]

I'm in !

:lol:

[JMRussell]

When we see some snow I'll let you know if it's an IS thing or if the LS is as bad. Haven't had any weather bad enough for a few years to even notice.

[Andy_IS200]

That's why I moved to the south, less chance of snow and more chance to enjoy the IS.

Snow day will be declared when it comes though!

[tonb]

being so far north - I vote for making it snow weeks :D