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P100D with variable height suspension on 19” all-season Pirellis: We live in Mammoth Lakes CA, where the typical storm is measured in feet. Driving into the unplowed driveway from the lightly plowed street, the car rode up on the snow and high centered to where I had no more traction. I lowered the suspension and packed the snow under the car, raised suspension and backed up and took another run until I high centered again. Lather, rinse, repeat and I was in the garage a few minutes later.overnight, a foot of snow had piled up.
I pulled out of the garage and put the gear on Drive and the car is now stuck.
I shoveled the snow out of the way for the tires but the all season tires just don't have enough traction. .
I drove my wife's X3 to work.
Freeway was pretty bad as well.
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I was looking forward to another RWD in snow (instead of FWD). Tesla 3 in this regard only is a huge disappointment. Sprung for different tires this year -- Michelin X-Ice -- much improved but still inadequate. After 4 decades of winter driving, this is one of the least suitable cars I've had: poor traction, none in a few inches even with SlipStart.
<--- Crosstrek and Model YI see a few contradictory oppinions here. I currently have a Subaru Crosstrek, and plan to move to Model Y LR AWD when they start selling them in Europe.
Will I have much worse snow driving? I mean, modulo lower ground clearange (6.6" vs. 8.6"), I don't know what to expect - is the MY computer doing bad things, e.g. the regen issues I see mentioned above?
Thanks in advance!
I've lived in Minnesota for the past twenty years and had FWD cars and AWD cars, neither of which ever needed snow specific tires. Will the Model 3 AWD really need them? If yes, why would it perform so much worse than a compact car like a Civic or Elantra that is a FWD?
with proper tires I believe I would have been able to drive it today. The snow has started melting but I still could not get it moving.It depends a lot on your expectations and experience. Model 3s aren't inherently any worse than any other car especially in AWD form. In fact it's got a very quick reacting traction control system that brakes a spinning wheel within a rotation or two.
The issue is the eco-centric stock tires. They're just not good in the very cold and snowy weather. If you can afford a model 3 AWD there's zero reason why you wouldn't buy a set of wheels and snow tires, especially in places like Minnesota.
Some people would say the car sucks if they feel the tires slip at all, some live on hills or areas with more ice than others, some people are used to sliding around all over the place, and a car is "good" if it can get to the destination at the end.
I've lived in Minnesota for the past twenty years and had FWD cars and AWD cars, neither of which ever needed snow specific tires. Will the Model 3 AWD really need them? If yes, why would it perform so much worse than a compact car like a Civic or Elantra that is a FWD?
I was looking forward to another RWD in snow (instead of FWD). Tesla 3 in this regard only is a huge disappointment. Sprung for different tires this year -- Michelin X-Ice -- much improved but still inadequate. After 4 decades of winter driving, this is one of the least suitable cars I've had: poor traction, none in a few inches even with SlipStart.
Two things:I've lived in Minnesota for the past twenty years and had FWD cars and AWD cars, neither of which ever needed snow specific tires. Will the Model 3 AWD really need them? If yes, why would it perform so much worse than a compact car like a Civic or Elantra that is a FWD?
The large flat underbelly is a huge disadvantage in the snow. All that surface area Makes it very easy to get high centered.Big advantage for Tesla in deep snow is their flat floor from front to rear. It allows sliding smoothly across pretty deep snow. Much better than typical ICE vehicle with suspension, fuel tank, differential, exhaust items hanging down to catch on things.
Yeah, no way you can drive a car with 5.5” of ground clearance through 12” of snow.Snow tires make a huge difference. I have no problem plowing through 12" of fresh snow. I don't worry about traction, just hidden icebergs that could damage the bumper.
Fuel efficiency in deep snow really takes a hit though. I have burnt though more than 10kwh in 10 miles without ever breaking 30mph.
Yeah, no way you can drive a car with 5.5” of ground clearance through 12” of snow.
My LX570 on 33’s aired down to 20-25 PSI with 11” of ground clearance can make it through 12” of fresh, my buddy’s 80 series on 35’s does it much better