How are the stock 17" wheels in the snow?
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(I guess you Floridians can sit this one out)
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The tires are the Michelin HX MXM4's, right? If so, they'll be decent... just don't expect miracles.
If you have to deal with a lot of snow (and being next to the Lakes, I'd assume you do), I'd highly recommend some snow tires... Bridgestone Blizzak's, etc.
If you have to deal with a lot of snow (and being next to the Lakes, I'd assume you do), I'd highly recommend some snow tires... Bridgestone Blizzak's, etc.
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L live a in maine and know about snow. So far 6 to 8" of snow are no problem
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261 Posts
The stock tires are just fine in the snow, and evn better in wet conditions, I have them and the
Michelin's are excellent. And I live in Michigan.
Michelin's are excellent. And I live in Michigan.
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Drove home last week during a snow storm. Another guy I work with has an '03 Taurus and we communicate by cell phone to point out speed traps and lurking state police cruisers on I-91 south of Hartford.
He was behind me and called me saying that he couldn't go over 40 MPH because the Taurus (normally OK in the snow) was sliding all over due to ice underneath the snow. I looked down at my speedo and noticed I was doing 50 MPH and the car felt very stable with no instability whatever. I immediately slowed down a little because of the other cars around me.
Short answer - Fusion is excellent in the snow compared to other FWD cars. Those fat tires seem to help immensely. I'm very satisifed with the stock rubber.
He was behind me and called me saying that he couldn't go over 40 MPH because the Taurus (normally OK in the snow) was sliding all over due to ice underneath the snow. I looked down at my speedo and noticed I was doing 50 MPH and the car felt very stable with no instability whatever. I immediately slowed down a little because of the other cars around me.
Short answer - Fusion is excellent in the snow compared to other FWD cars. Those fat tires seem to help immensely. I'm very satisifed with the stock rubber.
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[quote author=bartman1 link=topic=40663.msg616103#msg616103 date=1142270977]
Short answer - Fusion is excellent in the snow compared to other FWD cars. Those fat tires seem to help immensely. I'm very satisifed with the stock rubber.
[/quote]
Remember, thinner tires are superior for snow, fatter for dry, in general.
Short answer - Fusion is excellent in the snow compared to other FWD cars. Those fat tires seem to help immensely. I'm very satisifed with the stock rubber.
[/quote]
Remember, thinner tires are superior for snow, fatter for dry, in general.
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True but -
When there is slippery road conditions UNDERNEATH the snow, the fat tires give you more contact area on the slippery surface. More friction = better traction. In deeper snow - say 4 to 6 inches, skinny tires will cut through it better with a higher pressure per square inch. In show during very cold conditions, this would be the desirable tire type, because the cold ground stays dry. But when snow falls on warmer ground, the snow initially melts then freezes as snow continues. My experience - better traction with more surface contact.
When there is slippery road conditions UNDERNEATH the snow, the fat tires give you more contact area on the slippery surface. More friction = better traction. In deeper snow - say 4 to 6 inches, skinny tires will cut through it better with a higher pressure per square inch. In show during very cold conditions, this would be the desirable tire type, because the cold ground stays dry. But when snow falls on warmer ground, the snow initially melts then freezes as snow continues. My experience - better traction with more surface contact.
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I don't necessarily disagree... but I don't screw with it that much, either. Easier to just keep close to stock, so I do end up with relatively fat tires (215/50VR17 Michelin HX MXM4 All Seasons for winter (stock tires for the 6) and 225/45ZR17 Cooper Zeon 2XS ultra high performance summers)
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the Fusion with 17's though does it really matter, the 50's help tremendously
like they say in any weather, obviously no one here in the north states knows
what summer is yet in our cars. but I have driven with 13" 70's and 14 & 15" 75's never noticed a difference
in tire performance only in the cars themselves, the 13's on a RWD stick Chevette, and 14's on a FWD Buick Century
and 15's on an S-10 & Ranger (RWD obviously) and no matter what size FWD is better on snow, you could have
wagon wheels and it would still be better than RWD, but if I may pun and catch phrase, "wider is better", but like I said
it dependes on the cars platform & suspension as well at the tires.
like they say in any weather, obviously no one here in the north states knows
what summer is yet in our cars. but I have driven with 13" 70's and 14 & 15" 75's never noticed a difference
in tire performance only in the cars themselves, the 13's on a RWD stick Chevette, and 14's on a FWD Buick Century
and 15's on an S-10 & Ranger (RWD obviously) and no matter what size FWD is better on snow, you could have
wagon wheels and it would still be better than RWD, but if I may pun and catch phrase, "wider is better", but like I said
it dependes on the cars platform & suspension as well at the tires.
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