Well I finally got to try out my maxima in the snow and all I can say is that I will not drive unless I have to. Out of all the cars I have owned my Maxima is the worst in the snow. I have two new tires in the front and 9/11 tread in the back so I am fine that way. I might get a pair of snow tires next year I really didn't think I would need them but I slide everywhere.

What does everyone else think of their max in the snow?

 

from what ive heard, its mostly in the driver (no offense), and the max isnt as bad as a lot of cars in the snow

edit: and please tell me you didnt get the craptenzas again..correct?

 

ouch

 

my opinion is clear:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=383906

or, if it's not clear....I think the maxima is fine for what it is...a high-powered FWD car. better than my inegra was...about the same as my accord coupe was...

 

i got craptenzas with like 10% tread left on the front tires and my car is fine in the snow, as long as u dont accelerate hard off the start or take corners doing 80 and leave ur self an extra 100 ft for stopping u shuld be fine, wich is all common sense in driving in snow neway

 

well i didnt really mean it like that (hence the reason i said "no offense") but thats just what ive heard....i would have no room to talk anyays, cuz i live down here in tx where it NEVER snows (actually there was some snow here when i was on vacation)...i'll just have to wait and see until next winter (i'm moving to NY)

 

Best FWD car to do doughnuts in the parking lot

 

well i think besides this year i have u all beat i live in north dakota due to airforce used to be in ny and from alot of experience last year -60 avg 2 feet snow a month and in ny i had craptenzas they i thought were ok now i have dulop snow tires well lets put it this way i can drive 24 7 with no headachs on how iam gunna get somewere or if i will get there cause well i dont get stuck and i stop awsome the protenzas werent that bad either but i played very safe and cautious with them but i have to say it is the driver and i think a maxima kick a** in the snow the protenzas stink for alot or all of us but my buddy has a subaru with these tires and it awd and he slips and slides everywear i didnt so i dont know DRIVER thats all i got to say good luck in the snow

 

The max is no snowcat. Get a good set of snow tires. Nokian if money is no object, or Pilot Alpins, Blizzaks or Dunlop M3s for the rest of us mortals.

 

I would never get stock craptenzas or whatever those things are... I have Goodyears in the front and Eagles I beleive in the back in very good condition... Offense not taken, but I think that the car is bad in the snow.

 

maxima+snow=me not happy

 

when i got my new falken 512's my car was out accelerating everyone else (on my way to vegas). BUT, that was because most of the drivers were from So. Cal and rarely drive in the snow in the first place. Hell, snow in that area is only like a small drizzle compared to what people are getting everywhere else.

 

I can't wait till my 512s wear out so I can buy some snow tires.

 

I think my max is awesome in the snow, MUCH better than my ranger i had before it, the maxima is one of the heavier sedans, which makes for better traction.

 

I love it!

 

Worst car I ever owned in the snow. I have the Potenzas though. Even my 95 and 99 Max were bas in the snow. Now my Accord was good in the snow. My minivan is awesome in the snow. Max with its wide tires and high hp sucks... skinny tires are better for the snow.

 

I agree my accord was good in the snow and that is what I am comparing it too...

 

My Maxima is awesome in the snow, no seriously, it is... it ain't no AWD, but I have no problems with it... with my nice, wide, out of spec Falkens.... oh wait, y'all said its the driver... yeah, I agree with that too....

 

Irish, i swear your maxima looks tougher than everyone elses... i think its the rack and the fact its black.

 

ok...well I'll admit that I took some photoshop "liberties" with the tint in the second pic there..... here in Va. we can't have it that dark...just wanted to see what it would look like if I had 20% instead of 50%

 

That could be the problem. Your tires haven't worn down enough to actually be at maximum traction.

 

If I am not mistaken the maxima comes with the Potenza RE-92's stock. If this is the case, that IS YOUR PROBLEM. I have a WRX (awd and known for its awesome snow performance) and my car sucked terribly in the snow with stock tires. My moms grandprix with all seasons did better than my wrx with worn down RE-92's. Then I upgraded and picked up a pair of high performance all seasons (Falken Ziex 512's) and my car is nothing short of amazing/awesome/unbelievable in the snow. Granted its a wrx, but the RE-92's are just THAT terrible. Its a night and day difference in driving between the 92's and a decent set of tires.

 

the only times my car sux in the snow is when i have the TCS on.
i turn it off and i can freely manuever the car. Tcs keeps keeping the rpm below 2k, doesn't give me enough power sometimes.

Other than this, i believe it all depends on the driver.

 

Blizzaks on my ride still, till I swap out to my 18" SSR Comps and summer rubber in about a month n half Maxima is great in the snow with snow tires. My Legend on the other hand goes throught the snow with OE Michelins without a problem eighter. In the snow the skinnier the tire the better.

 

is that snowrack permanent? or can you take it off when you don't want it on? i was thinking of buying one next winter but if i had to drill holes then i would have second thoughts on that. is it on magnets or rope?

 

LOL...that's okay, we all take our liberties. Oh, and those G35 rims look INCREDIBLE in that second pic.

 

When my max sees snow, it runs in the garage and tells its brother to go out and play. (see my sig) hehehe

 

Winter driving is 90% between the drivers ears.

The other 10% is snow tires.

 

I have to agree with my friend in Montreal. Obviously a big torquey fwd is not ideal for snow. But this winter I switched from turbo awd to the Max and, even with 4 good new snow/ice tires, I find it an unsettling drive sometimes.
However, a light right foot and lots of anticipation and patience goes a long way to making it a safe drive on the few really horrible days. The biggest risk, as always, is too little distance between cars. (if you think the Max is crap in the snow, imagine what's it's like in the POS cars around you...)

 

I agree... My max does great in the snow.. you just have to use common sense.. the TCS sux for the reason that it cuts my engine power when i slip.. the VQ has given me all the power I needed to run over all the snow we have been getting in the NE

The new toyos help too

 

The Max is terrible in the snow. You definitely need to invest in snow tires for these cars.

 

It's all about the driver. My Max is pretty good in the snow, even when it's 3 inches deep. I think my mom's Sable wagon is a little better in the snow, it's a little heavier. I had a helluva time trying to break the rear end loose on that thing when it snowed last week (left pedal e-brake).

 

Got snow here almost 1/2 of the year and with good winter tires I just love my Max in the snow. A car sucks in the snow cause of wrong tire choice for the conditions and how you drive the car, period.

 

My Maxima isn't very good in the snow and I have Continental Contisport A/S's. The tires work great in braking, but spin way to easily while accelerating. I honestly prefer RWD in the snow because I have more control.

 

I drive 2 cars in the snow: 2k3 GLE and 1997 Pontiac Grand Am.

Both have traction control and V6 engines with autos.

By far, the Grand Am is better because:
It has NARROWER TIRES.

For the winter, go with a narrower, 15" or 16" rim with skinnier snow tires on it.

You will be better off than with the wide tires.

thanks

Vic

 

maxima is ok on the snow, even with the craptenzas, a long as you dont drive too fast and dont take turns as you would normaly. and give enough room for the car infront of you, you should be fine. we had 2 snow storms in the past week, i drove through both of them, had no problems. maxima doesnt suck in the snow, actually i was driving my friends accord, and i did a 180, for no reason. it is all in the driver. you gotta be more careful.

your joking right?...

 

My Maxima is just fine in the snow. Never had any trouble. Thankfully I never had the pleasure of driving with the Craptenzas in the snow, but the car has handled the snow pretty well.
I think most of it does have to do with the driver though

 

Best tires for 16's or 17's have to be Dunlop Graspic DS-2's - they're cheaper than Blizzak's on TireRack also - awesome! Car's in Upstate NY and we have 10 inches this morning - no problems! no spinning!

 

This was a very entertaining thread--and most of you are partly right..

My 01 Maxima SE with the craptenzas on them are HORRENDOUS in snow. even just 2-4 inches and it becomes a sled. A V6 with good torque and 225's on them is 80% of a bad car in the snow. Add the horrible Potenzas, and I am currently driving the worst car ever in the snow. I drove it up 110 (for long island people) recently and It was interesting.

Now for the idea which alot of people say "its the driver, not the car"

Umm no. You can put Mario Andretti in the car and the car is bad. It's the better driver which can keep the car in control and have less of a chance of getting stuck/spinout/crash.

That being said...Im PRAYING for no more snow on Long Island b/c Ill be getting new tires this summer. The extremecontacts probably.

 

There is an apparent contradiction in your statement here....

You're saying its not the driver, but the car... but you then conclude that the better driver has a greater chance of keeping the car in control in the snow.... so which is it?

Btw, I really don't think ya don't need to be a race car driver to drive in the snow... all that's needed is some experience in the snow and common sense....