We just had our first decent snow since I have owned my RA and that thing just plows through. I replaced my original summer tires with all seasons last year so there is some wear on them but it didn't seem to matter at all. I took it out with about 6 or 7 inches on the ground and some roads hadn't been plowed yet. I was really amazed how well it just goes. The next morning we had freezing rain on top of the snow and the roads were really bad but I had to work. No problem at all for the RA. My co-workers were like "you made it in with your commute" haha yep good ol' RA. Needless to say, I'm impressed.

 

Yep. All seasons do a great job. Should you ever buy a set of winter tires you will be amazed though, that's really when the awd system on this car shines.

I have a set of winter tires i run from December to February, I love when it snows and I'm at a stop light next to a truck or SUV, the light turns green and I just pull away like there is no snow on the ground. I've gotten a few looks, like what the hell?? From the other drivers.

I've since replaced my summer tires with just a set of all seasons, this is my daily driver and I don't go to the track, I live in Illinois so I don't have winding roads or hills that i would really benefit from straight summer tires. The all seasons do perform 10 times better then the Yokohama advans in the snow, but they still don't come close to a dedicated set of winter tires.

 

Where are you from? We also had freezing rain all yesterday and I'm running studded snow tires and I felt so confident the way my RA ran, while people were flying off the road.

 

I'm with ya, just bought my RA last month and so far couldn't be happier with how it performs in nasty weather. I was going to get new tires right away but my tire fund was spent at AMS...priorities right.

 

The best thing about our AWD in the winter is how it does in the corners on snow. As long as you expect it to kick the back out a little bit, it is amazingly controllable.

 

Careful though, with all season tires your stopping distances will be just as terrible as any other cars.

I'm running some performance all seasons here in Canada and I still really want winter tires. I do ok, but every time I put my foot down on the power I fish tail if it's icy or loaded with fresh snow.

If it helps, I find Gravel mode works best on hard but slippery surfaces, and Snow mode is mostly for very fresh snow or deep snow. If the streets are plowed and salted, I use Tarmac mode. It just rides smoother and I think it's more fuel efficient.

 

+1 for the impressed with winter performance crowd. Up here in toronto we've been getting it a bit rough. first a Snow storm that put about 20-25cm of snow down. Then freezing rain yesterday, and now ever MORE freezing rain (now being called the worst freezing rain fall in Toronto's history).

All I can say is "Wow" with the RA so far. I put some performance winters on (hankook icebears) and it just grips like hell. And I've owned an subaru legacy with AWD as well, so it's not like I'm comparing to another fwd or rwd car. AWC just takes it for me

 

Have you ever seen Jeremy Clarckson, on Top Gear, compare the EVO 8's AWC versus the Lamborghini AWD system? There is obviously something superior about the AWC. And that was 2 generations of EVOs ago.

 

The car was great with High-Perf All-Seasons until you hit boost in the snow, then slip would occur... Toss some snow tires on!! Holy Crap, its incredible in the snow now & on ice!! I bought some 17" Wheels to fit the snow tires I had. Fit is great.
17 inch Touren TR60 Black Wheels Rims with Blizzak WS60 tires

As the ski shuttle, it is unstoppable now shooting back and forth to the mountains.

Settings: Trac OFF, SNOW, SPORT = TONS OF FUN!!

Come spring I need to buy some new High-Performance tires for the stock 18s with a high-wear rating. I am going to have the rims blasted and powder coated this winter.

 

Just so you know, the ACD modes do nothing when cruising with no power applied. The only thing they do is change the lockup strategy of the center diff when there is front/rear slip on power.

 

Question for you "snow going" Ralliart's:

Do you cover your intercooler with anything to protect the fins from damage?

I was thinking a couple zip-ties and cardboard. Slightly reduced performance but to protect the IC from any damage. I'm lowered and I'm a bit worried some deeper snow may just turn my car into an AWD snow plow.

 

Never heard of anyone doing this. What I can tell you though is that blocking a car's airflow is always a bad idea.

 

+1 and i think it would look ridiculous with the cardboard.

 

If I was going to do anything like this, I would go with a fine mesh. Something with small enough perforations that air can allow airflow but block any rocks and debris. Would have to find a way to mount and install with clearance away from the intercooler and would have to change it out due to wear. It would be a more elegant solution than cardboard

 

anyone have snow drifting videos?