First "F" winter drive impressions

5753 Views 15 Replies 8 Participants Last post by johnsy, Dec 24, 2010

johnsy

Discussion Starter · Dec 21, 2010 (Edited)

AMAZING!...so coming out of the "IS300" to the "F" I was a little concerned about having that power inder the hood in the snow here in Minneapolis, but that concern soon faded with my first snow drive in the F. 25 mile commute...
all in snow mode on Blizzaks
- on flat ground, the car is strong and steady didnt get loose at all.
- on down hill, stopping is precise.
- on up hills and up hill stops the car held strong and just by relesing the brake the car pulled itself confidently up hill without hesitation or sliding.
This is a very general description of the over all experience but i thought i would share at least that with you folks. I was very impressed.
ohh and before you ask i have no TPM sensors on my winter package so those dash lights are on for that reason...

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1 - 16 of 16 Posts

Kingkrs

· #2 · Dec 21, 2010

I have some experience with winter driving my F but with some Bridgestone re-11's. While these are excellent tires, they are absolutely awful in the snow. We don't get that much snow out here in Seattle area to warrant dedicated snow tires.

I noticed your picture and it looks like HWY 55 is that right? Just asking because I was born and raised in MN and drove that road many many times.

GO VIKES!

johnsy

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 21, 2010

Kingkrs said:
I have some experience with winter driving my F but with some Bridgestone re-11's. While these are excellent tires, they are absolutely awful in the snow. We don't get that much snow out here in Seattle area to warrant dedicated snow tires.

I noticed your picture and it looks like HWY 55 is that right? Just asking because I was born and raised in MN and drove that road many many times.

GO VIKES!

WOW! not sure how you pulled that out of that picture but your right highway 55. Im a designer for Polaris.

Kingkrs

· #4 · Dec 21, 2010

Yeah I miss the big snow days in MN. I remember the 91 snowstorm and love the snowfall. If I were to move back to MN then I would have to consider selling the F. Lets hope that I am able to keep her and get another vehicle to drive in the snow by that time.

Actually I can see the highway sign and make out a 55. other than that I can't tell what is what. I am in the army and have not lived in MN since 03.

Gymkata

· #5 · Dec 21, 2010

I am rolling on Continental DWS tires, which are not dedicated winter tires like the Blizzaks. They have done reasonably well in light snow though. Last week I was unfortunate enough to be in Virginia when it snowed a few inches unexpectedly. It was the worst traffic I have ever seen, and it took me 8 hours to drive home 50 miles bumper to bumper.

The ISF does well in the snow except starting on steep hills...and creeping forward in the snow in a bumper to bumper traffic jam. The front brakes seem to hurt the slow speed snow performance. When I would stop, the front brakes would lock at 1 mph and the car would slide forward and a little to the side a foot or so. When starting up again I had to abruptly let off the brake, not gently let off...otherwise the front brake still had a little pressure on it and the rear end would start to push the car sideways at idle.

Kingkrs

· #6 · Dec 21, 2010

Gymkata said:
I am rolling on Continental DWS tires, which are not dedicated winter tires like the Blizzaks. They have done reasonably well in light snow though. Last week I was unfortunate enough to be in Virginia when it snowed a few inches unexpectedly. It was the worst traffic I have ever seen, and it took me 8 hours to drive home 50 miles bumper to bumper.

The ISF does well in the snow except starting on steep hills...and creeping forward in the snow in a bumper to bumper traffic jam. The front brakes seem to hurt the slow speed snow performance. When I would stop, the front brakes would lock at 1 mph and the car would slide forward and a little to the side a foot or so. When starting up again I had to abruptly let off the brake, not gently let off...otherwise the front brake still had a little pressure on it and the rear end would start to push the car sideways at idle.

I was considering getting those tires as my replacements when my Bridgstone's wear out. How do you like them for all other type of driving? Wet, dry and cornering? As compared to a higher performance summer tire.

Thanks!

ISF500

· #7 · Dec 21, 2010

I live in Florida so snow is not an issue whatsoever. What type of tires would you guys suggest? I've been driving with the original tires that came with the wheels since 2008. I now have about 32,000 miles on them. I check the tread every week, at this point. I'm just not sure if i should go replace them with the same tires or is there something out there that's better than the original. Advice feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!

evil teo

· #8 · Dec 22, 2010

ISF500 said:
I live in Florida so snow is not an issue whatsoever. What type of tires would you guys suggest? I've been driving with the original tires that came with the wheels since 2008. I now have about 32,000 miles on them. I check the tread every week, at this point. I'm just not sure if i should go replace them with the same tires or is there something out there that's better than the original. Advice feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!

i would look into either the michelins ps2 or the continental dws.

Gymkata

· #9 · Dec 22, 2010

evil teo said:
i would look into either the michelins ps2 or the continental dws.

Don't you mean Continental DWs? He probably won't need the DWSs in Florida.

doinitbig1123

· #10 · Dec 23, 2010

i have always had great luck with perrillis, had them on my 07gs430 n 08is350 n got roughly 40k miles on them.those where all with aftermarket wheels tho.

Gymkata

· #11 · Dec 23, 2010

Kingkrs said:
I was considering getting those tires as my replacements when my Bridgstone's wear out. How do you like them for all other type of driving? Wet, dry and cornering? As compared to a higher performance summer tire.

Thanks!

I would definitely recommend the DWSs if they are the only tire you are going to run year round. They handle well in all conditions. They don't have quite as much dry grip as a Max Performance Summer tire, but are much better in the rain and light snow. Also, IMO the DWSs communicate what they are doing pretty well at the limit of traction.

newbiedude

· #12 · Dec 23, 2010

/You guys living in MN and other midwest/east coast snow states are brave to buy the IS-F!!!

I would totally be thinking Audi if that was my situation

phlabrasca

· #13 · Dec 23, 2010 (Edited)

newbiedude said:
/You guys living in MN and other midwest/east coast snow states are brave to buy the IS-F!!!

I would totally be thinking Audi if that was my situation

I live in Chicago. Had to ditch the IS-F for an Audi S5. I really do miss the IS-F in many aspects, but the S5 in terms of daily driving and "performance when you NEED it" is much more reasonable. I've got the S5 with the stock tires on now and have had no problem on icy roads, and it's been through two blizzards and handles well even with moderate/hard acceleration.

Come summer time, I'm going to miss it though.

Although the S5 is without a doubt the sexiest luxury vehicle on the market now, that explains why they only stay on the lot for an average of 12 days.

johnsy

Discussion Starter · #14 · Dec 23, 2010

phlabrasca said:
I live in Chicago. Had to ditch the IS-F for an Audi S5. I really do miss the IS-F in many aspects, but the S5 in terms of daily driving and "performance when you NEED it" is much more reasonable. I've got the S5 with the stock tires on now and have had no problem on icy roads, and it's been through two blizzards and handles well even with moderate/hard acceleration.

Come summer time, I'm going to miss it though. Although the S5 is without a doubt the sexiest luxury vehicle on the market now, that explains why they only stay on the lot for an average of 12 days.

Awww man its too bad about getting rid of your F. my lady just moved up this year from ohio...she had an audi, bought it new and the first 7 months she had it it was in the shop 8 times. so before she came to minneapolis we got her in an 2010 IS 250 awd. She will never go back

. As for me I have been here a total of 4 winters and drove the IS300 for those winters...without incident and on all season tires, and the F handles light years above the IS300 in the snow. if you look on the side of the road its alot of SUVs and overconfident drivers with AWD that are in the ditch...im not saying all but they are there. Its fairly flat around here and they maintain the roads best they can too so its not that big of an issue to drive in the snow.

phlabrasca

· #15 · Dec 24, 2010

johnsy said:
Awww man its too bad about getting rid of your F. my lady just moved up this year from ohio...she had an audi, bought it new and the first 7 months she had it it was in the shop 8 times. so before she came to minneapolis we got her in an 2010 IS 250 awd. She will never go back . As for me I have been here a total of 4 winters and drove the IS300 for those winters...without incident and on all season tires, and the F handles light years above the IS300 in the snow. if you look on the side of the road its alot of SUVs and overconfident drivers with AWD that are in the ditch...im not saying all but they are there. Its fairly flat around here and they maintain the roads best they can too so its not that big of an issue to drive in the snow.

To be honest there's like maybe 4-5 situations in the year where the AWD is REALLY necessary in Chicago. Audis do have more problems than Lexus, that's a given, but thus far I've had none. I could list the pros and cons of each car, but it's all pretty obvious. I love different aspects of each car.

johnsy

Discussion Starter · #16 · Dec 24, 2010

phlabrasca said:
To be honest there's like maybe 4-5 situations in the year where the AWD is REALLY necessary in Chicago. Audis do have more problems than Lexus, that's a given, but thus far I've had none. I could list the pros and cons of each car, but it's all pretty obvious. I love different aspects of each car.

Agreed! i dig the AUDIs too dont get me wrong.

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