Hi,

Don't know if anyone can answer, but I hear from many people how good Subarus are supposed to handle in snow.

I brought a used 1999 Impreza wagon last year as a winter car, and have been very unimpressed with the handling of the car in icy conditions. In fact, I think my Hyndau Sonata was better, at least I never came close to spinning 180 degrees in the Hyundai, which I did with my Subaru last year.

We just got our first snow storm, backed out of the driveway, and wheels in the rear spun like crazy.

I am wondering if there is something worng with the AWD system?

I seem to be able to spin the wheels way too easy, and going around corners, I must be very careful (in the Front Wheel drive car I had before I could let up on gas and brakes and the rear would freewheel and get right in line, when I spun the Subaru, it seemed the rear was "engaged" when I spun with no gas or brakes).

It is an automatic.

Seems fine on dry roads, except perhaps it occasionally feels like it "downshifts" (which I didn't think an automatic would do).

Seems like it wants to spin out on curves in snow.
Rear Wheels seem to spin easily when the ice comes.

Is this expected? Or could these be symptoms of a problem? If it could be a problem, how to diagnose?

Thanks,
Larry

2 questions:

1. What tires are currently on the car.

2. How many miles are on them.

^^^
What he said. Also, what Subaru wagon do you have? the big one or the little one...

One more thing, if all is working right, you don't let off the gas in an AWD car. Let is pull you out of the turn. By letting off the gas you are helpin the rear to come around.

Rear wheels only should not be spinning, especially in an auto. Auto's are 90-10 power split front to rear until slippage occurs.

No car handles well on icy roads, the surface is too slick. Drive the Impreza with the same speed and caution as you did the Hyundai and you should be all right. AWD does not equal glue like traction in snow.

Oh Yeah, tires...

I had All season Pozentas (bad spelling) last year which came with the car (used). After the 180, I got new All season tires, inexpensive Fulda Carat Assuro I think.... M+S rated though. Changed tires didn't change the handling much. I always used All seasons on the FWD cars I owned, without trouble.

Larry

Hmmmm, don't let up on the accelerator? My normal reaction when I start to skid to to let off the brakes and accelerator... Are you saying I should keep on the accelerator when I start to skid a subie? (I assume Lightly is the key word here, when I start to skid I am very interested in keeping in control and decelerating at the same time (which can be tricky, I thought free wheeling wheels have the best lateral friction in slippery conditions, no brake, no acceleration, neutral gear)).

Perhaps on an automatic I am better to keep a light amount in the accelerator to get this free wheeling state?

And the rear wheel spinning bit?? I'd take it to a dealer and have the AWD system checked to be sure it is operating correctly. Believe it or not your tires may also be at fault. I have never heard of that brand nor seen it in any catalogs. Hard to give you accurate advice there. You likely did do the right thing in ditching the Potenza's. They were likely the the RE92 variety and the tread may have been on it's last legs on a 99 if the dealer didn't put brand new ones on. The RE92's on my RS went 2 winters and by the end of the second they were getting sketchy on snow and in the rain.

BTW yes, lightly on the gas is the key. Too much and you just plow forward much like FWD. Good practice is to find an unplowed empty parking lot and try a few manuevers and get a feel for how the car reacts. Easier than the street and you need not worry about hitting anything.

I had a look at your Fulda tires. Fulda's website (http://www.fulda.com/servlet/WYSPages005?&pg=car.tires_summer.tires_carat.assuro&db=wysful/gwfwys62en.nsf&dt=&) says the Carat Assuro is a summer tire, which may explain your problem in the snow. Perhaps the Kristall series would better suit you if you like the German rubber.

I get a lot of snow in the Midwest. I put Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22's on my car last year. Winter driving hasn't been the same since. :devil:

I get a lot of snow in the Midwest. I put Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22's on my car last year. Winter driving hasn't been the same since. :devil:

I'm curious as to what snow tires people are putting on their imprezas and OBS'. We get plenty of snow here in Cleveland and I'm not sure a high performance snow would be the best way to go for me. I've had Lm-22's on another car(BMW 325Ci) several years ago and they did pretty good. But I now live in a part of town that is considered more in the snowbelt for lake effect snow, so I get hammered at times. Maybe I need the WS-50's? Although I hate to think of the dry handling those provide. I've also had the MZ-02's and they sucked in the dry and in the wet.

Dunlop Wintersport M2's on the RS. Performance snows, H rated so they aren't mushy on dry roads or warm days and get good tread wear. Also good in the rain and slush. I found regular Q compounds to be like driving on 4 round nerf balls.

yeah, i'd be pretty unimpressed with summer tires in the snow too.

I had a look at your Fulda tires. Fulda's website (http://www.fulda.com/servlet/WYSPages005?&pg=car.tires_summer.tires_carat.assuro&db=wysful/gwfwys62en.nsf&dt=&) says the Carat Assuro is a summer tire, which may explain your problem in the snow. Perhaps the Kristall series would better suit you if you like the German rubber.




haha no wonder, you are lucky to not have killed yourself w/ summer tires on.

Ok i guess most have clamped onto the pretty obvious, but no one here has mentioned that the 99 Impreza didnt come with a rear LSD like most everyone elses car that is newer. 2000 and up came with one and do make a huge difference. Of course the summer tire issue would do it too.

WS-50's are far superior in snow/ice conditions.
M2's are great for all around stuff but wont do anything for you in icy conditions or even slick snow.
LM-22's are prob a bit better for all round winter purposes.

Owned all these tires and driven them to the fullest potential. My choice is still the WS-50. Max traction in snow/ice and predictable in even dry weather conditions.

Billyqua
rally driven.......................

Owned all these tires and driven them to the fullest potential. My choice is still the bald RE-92. Zero traction in snow/ice and unpredictable in even dry weather conditions.

Billyqua
rally driven.......................


:lol:

funny thing is, i've seen this kid do stuff on those tires that i could only dream about doing with studded tired.

hahah thanks MIke, you punk.

:tries and post pictures of me driving the moms RS in the snow=bald RE92's and auto:

Billyqua
rally driven.......................

Before someone else posts it, CHECK YOUR FUSEBOX. Make sure you dont have 1 too many fuses. You can put the car in FWD mode (on the autos) for when you have to run a donut. Although this wouldn't cause the car to come around on you, it would cause AWD to not work.

But the tires are probably more of a factor.

The fwd indicator in the cluster would light up it the fuse was in.

A rear viscous lsd does next to squat in the impreza. The difference is far from huge. The thing only has 20% lock-up and wears out after a few years anyway. YMMV.

Snow traction is all about the tires. I would take a rear drive with 4 good snows over an awd car on worn all-seasons any day. Get some cheap Kumho snows and you will be way better off.

Most important interface between the car and the road? Tires. Most ignored and abused part of the car usually? Tires.

Summer tires in the winter? So many reasons not to do that. The summer tire rubber compound will never get warm enough to actually work the way they were designed to. The agressive summer tread pattern is designed to move rain off of pavement and isn't forgiving enough for the more random nature of winter roads. Plus it probably is not siped at all to deal with ice particles or to remove the water that lives on top of ice.

What state do you live in so that I may not drive near you. :)