'07 FWD Pilot snow performance

[shaggymatt]

I am trading my '07 EX-L RES on a '12 4wd EX Pilot tonight (I won't miss sunroof or RES, just the heated seats), solely because of the poor performance in the snow. But reading through some threads, it seems lots of people are content with the snow performance of the vehicle. Of course the dealer said there isn't anything wrong, you're crazy, they can't reproduce it because we don't get snow daily.

Tires. Nope not the problem. Brand new Michelin Xice 2, only put on when snow is forecasted. One day last year in the snow, going to work, I approach a very slight incline bridge, just a little hump over a single lane train track. I get a 1/3 of the way onto the bridge, traction control kicks in, car slides sideways and starts going backward down the bridge since traction control has now completely cut throttle. Passenger car, likely on all season radials, driver in hysterics drives past me. Try again, shutting off traction control. I limp my way over the bridge, but still not with much confidence. And this is repeated on most surfaces that have a slight incline, be it a bridge or street surface. Being passed by a car is embarrassing when you have winter tires on an SUV!

Yes. Tires were installed directionally correct. Same results with the all season radials as well.

How is your FWD Pilot in the snow?

[rocky]

Don't blame the Pilot for your poor decision only getting a FWD Pilot.
If you had AWD, you wouldn't have a problem.

[shaggymatt]

That Pilot was HANDS DOWN the worst vehicle I have ever driven in the snow, including RWD sports cars.

I actually had an '07 4WD, but made the dealer buy it back because it ended up being a rolling mouse house, which they had masked with standard dealer air fresheners, but when I got tired of smelling those and looked for them, I started finding the mice infestation.

Every other FWD vehicle I've had performed admirably in the snow for a FWD vehicle so I didn't think much of taking the Leather and Rear Entertainment upgrade over just the EX-L package I previously had.

[mmm666]

Honda Pilot awd vtm4 system works very good.

[pilotlite]

Hey Matt, It's Badanth funny seeing you here. The internet is a small place. You still into the VAG products? I am and I also have an '07 Pilot 4WD that is great in the snow. I think you'll be happy with your new one since it should work well in the snow too.

It's good to see you're still around and kicking. I wish you and yours a very Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year!

[shaggymatt]

Originally Posted by pilotlite

Hey Matt, It's Badanth funny seeing you here. The internet is a small place. You still into the VAG products? I am and I also have an '07 Pilot 4WD that is great in the snow. I think you'll be happy with your new one since it should work well in the snow too.

It's good to see you're still around and kicking. I wish you and yours a very Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year!

How, how crazy! Back at you!

Nope. I traded an Audi allroad actually on the '07 when it had a litany of problems. That was the last of my VAG products. Total love/hate relationship with that car. Fast as hell, with simple modifications, but as with most VAG products, nickel and dime issues all over the place. The air bladder suspension was a disaster.

[Acura2g]

I live in Vermont and have an 07' LX 4WD and an 08' VP 4WD. We live on a back road that rarely gets plowed before I leave for work. Many, many times, the 4WD system has impressed me. I went out during a snow storm, on purpose, to test out the 4WD system so I had an idea of what the Pilot could do just in the event I'm faced with a bad snow storm and had to get into town.

I have General Grabber HTS, btw (all-season tire)

I went up a steep incline with traction control on and got about 1/2 way up before I started going backwards. I have a rear backup camera, so I could see the ditch on both sides. I wouldn't recommend just driving up a steep incline without having a clue how you're going to get down.

I then tried it again, but this time with the traction control off. I managed to get 3/4 of the way up before I started spinning all fours.

Third time... VTM-4 lock on and traction control off. Made it up with little problems. It was slipping, but managed to get up.

My last venture for the night... Yes night, lol. I'm a crazy vermonter with nothing better.
I went down the steep incline, slipping with the ABS going crazy. I stopped the car, put it in reverse with VTM-4 engaged and crawled backwards up the incline. <--- extremely scary since the back end wanted to kick out. I managed to get it back up the hill and into the neighbors driveway before attempting to go down.

Moral of the story... 4WD version of the kicks ass, if you know what you're doing and know the setting to be in before you try to get up the hill. Just imagine what I could have done with snow tires or AT tires. I plan on getting the Grabber AT2 tires next year, so maybe i'll tell you. lol

If you have a FWD pilot, snow, & hill... = fail everytime. That's a lot of weight to throw up to the crest. I'm not surprised the car kicked you're ass. Less weight, lower center of gravity, and probably better torque/weight ratio. I had an Integra and a Legend in my life, and my integra could get up my hill every snow storm and my legend with TCS could barely do it. too much weight.

[xGS]

Originally Posted by Acura2g

I plan on getting the Grabber AT2 tires next year...

Interesting choice.

[macphanatic]

I wouldn't trust CR tire reviews. I had the Yoko Geolander's which are a top choice. Terrible in snow. We put the top rated General's (last year) on my wife's Explorer. Road noise, handling, and traction were far worse than the Michelin LTS M/S' that had 50,000+ miles on them when they were replaced.

[Acura2g]

Originally Posted by macphanatic

I wouldn't trust CR tire reviews. I had the Yoko Geolander's which are a top choice. Terrible in snow. We put the top rated General's (last year) on my wife's Explorer. Road noise, handling, and traction were far worse than the Michelin LTS M/S' that had 50,000+ miles on them when they were replaced.

Yeah.. Real interesting... most reviews on the Grabber AT2 are very good. I'm surprised it's last on anything.

[xGS]

Originally Posted by macphanatic

I wouldn't trust CR tire reviews.

Can you point to some flaw in their methodolgy?

[Acura2g]

Originally Posted by xGS

Can you point to some flaw in their methodolgy?

I can't... but, I usually go with Tirerack.com reviews. I believe in their testing

[xGS]

Originally Posted by Acura2g

I usually go with Tirerack.com reviews. I believe in their testing

So, the General Grabber HTS came out on top in a Tire Rack comparison test - just as it did in a CR test.
Yet, macphanatic found them unsatisfactory.
Can the CR and the TR tests both be wrong?

If the CR and TR tests both reached the same conclusion, then why trust one but not the other?

[Mountaincat]

Just joined the forum. Interesting discusion on traction in snow. I have an '05 EX-L which has awd and General Grabber tires on it. Last Christmas we got up to 10" of snow and I had to drive from Asheville to Atlanta airport to puck up my son---of course our friends at Delta had cancelled all flights into the Carolinas because of the mention of snow in the forecast. I live in Asheville at 3000' up a very steep road and driveway. I can tell you from someone who doesn't drive in snow that much that the Pilot was incredible getting up the mountain and our driveway that day. Just a side note I'd forgot to lock the rears but the Pilot just kept going---wouldn't have made it with those sorry Goodyear Integrity's that came on the car.

[macphanatic]

All I can tell you is from real world experience with them on my wife's Explorer. Serious downgrade in ride quality and traction. In fact, several people who didn't know that the tires were changed asked why the ride quality wasn't as good as it used to be. Don't know what else to say, other than we will never buy Generals again.