We’ve had over 12” of snow. After a few days, the vehicles polished the roads down to a white, icy glaze with ruts that looked like the bottom of a riverbed. The “snow” doesn’t even resemble snow- but blocks that looked like it came out of an Ice House. My smart was so squirrely with the stock tires; the rear kept on fishtailing towards the curb on crowned roads.
Now if the roads were just snow… it would have been fine. But this icy riverbed stuff was something the stock conti’s couldn’t grip on to. So (like in other posts), I ordered a set of ‘steel snow wheels’ and had a set of BLIZZAK’s installed on all four. Now it can run through just about anything without any problems. The only thing stopping me now is snow so deep it lifts up my smart off the wheels.
I’m very happy with my new BLIZZAK’s as it gives me piece-of-mind.
We've had an uncommon amount of snow here - most since the 50's. I found that with the stock tires and 5,000 miles on it, running in the snow was better than I expected. It was about the same as my Honda wagon only the stopping and steering were easier with the ABS braking. I didn't think it would be as good as our 4 wheel drive Honda wagon, but I'm pretty impressed. I just wish I could drive around as much as I'm doing without running up the miles.
So, are we sledding or able to navigate? I'm dying to know.....
I'd like to hear from people who didn't buy snow tires and left their dealer with snow on the ground.
We got caught out as a heavy snow fall moved in... By the time we started back to our home, there was about a 3" cover on the roads, and no snow plow action. We live on a steep grade (10%), and normally depend on an SUV in winter. But, we ventured past an Accord stuck at the bottom of the hill, and started up, ESP light flashing away. After a few seconds, the car bogged down, and I thought it would simply die. Instead, the ESP kicked out, and we inched up the hill with the rear wheel spinning. Once home, there was a "hot" smell from the rear, but everything seems to be working. Most cars with ESP have a switch to disable it for just this reason... I wonder if the smart automatically kills traction control at some point to save the brake shoes? I couldn't find anything in the owner's manual about it.
After waiting 18 months for my delivery I finally got mine here in Chicago last week, in the middle of a blizzard!
I'm lucky that the dealer is only 2 miles from my house, but I had to drive to all my friends homes to show off my new baby.
I had no problem driving in the snow. At times, the snow was at least 6" deep in the street and this little car plowed through it like butter. Granted, I'm quite used to driving in these conditions, bit with all the car's features it made it very easy to get around.
Now all I have to worry about is my Smart being swallowed up by Chicago's giant pot-holes!
Yes, make certain to get the "green mouthwash" out of the washer fluid bottle before it freezes solid, and get in some of the good pink stuff that is good for below -20F. You would think that a dealer in a northern state would know that.
I'm doing well with the pot holes, but there are so many of them so early in the season!
I like to call them Hubcap Killers. Are watching Fox Chicago News right now? some political news & snow!
As for me, we have all weather radials on the Envoy, it slips occasionally when it's in 2WD when it snows because plow trucks take about 3hrs to come out.
CHICAGO & CHICAGOLAND FULL PLOWING AND SALTING IS BACK!!!
Doing hot laps on a friends snowmobile track. Fuse 11 pulled, Hakkepelittas chewing away, tail hanging out. Got stuck when I stopped up a hill and tried to get going again. Pic is the rescue sled a Skidoo Elite....
Doing hot laps on a friends snowmobile track. Fuse 11 pulled Hakkepelittas chewing away tail hanging out. Got stuck when I stopped up a hill and tried to get going again. Pic is the rescue sled a Skidoo Elite....
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