Quote:
Originally Posted by MercFan
My mom's Toyota Camry has fairly new set of Michelin HydroEdge tires - they are pretty awsome in the non-winter months but when I drove the car today during a good size snow storm the car felt like a toboggan - I mean, we were all over the road... these things are slicker than snot in snow... In fact after parking the car in her driveway with a slight incline the car slid back good 10=15 ft before stopping...  |
I got to tell you a story that I'm sure you'll appreciate.
The '86 SDL has the Hydroedge as well. About 20K on the tires.........excellent in dry and just as good in rain. I normally drive the SD in the winter, but due to ongoing reasons, it remains a garage queen, much to my general chagrin.
Anyway, the storm arrives on Sunday and I take the SDL home through the snowstorm and arrive home with it about 6:30 p.m. It did the usual slip and slide through reasonable snow, but nothing that worried me about it.
Parked it and waited out the blizzard.
On Tuesday, I cleared the driveway with the snowblower and the wind was generally kind to the SDL, no snow around the tires whatsoever. Looks like a clean shot next day for my trip to CT.
Come out Wednesday morning and start it up. Ready to go. Put it in reverse...........nothing. Car doesn't move 1". WTF. Put it in forward. It moves forward about 1/2". Add rpm's and it sounds like it's in neutral. WTF is going on here. Rev it higher and listen for wheelspin...........no sound.
Could this thing have lost the trans overnight? I'm doubtful but it's not making any effort to move.
I look out the driver's door and observe the LR tire..........no movement when revved in gear. Damn.
I go out and check the RR tire for the position of the weight, return to the driver's seat, rev it in gear, and recheck the weight. The weight moved.
I'll be damned..........these tires are so hard that they polished a round circle in the think coating of snow/ice.
I was by myself, so I didn't want to risk pushing it while in gear. Had to resort to some plywood jammed under the RR tire to finally get it out. Took 30 minutes total and I easily missed the 7:30 ferry.
I'm dead serious when I tell you that these tires couldn't extricate the vehicle from a perfectly clear driveway with 1" of snow/ice under the tires.
So, I definitely agree that the Hydroedge is positively dangerous with regard to traction in snow/ice.
I have to take it to NYC today..........and I'm dreading it...........because my back is out and I cannot shovel if it gets stuck. Might have to put it in the garage and just pay.