Dave Holmes

My sister is considering purchasing a Focus after several years driving a
Subaru AWD. Handling in the snow is a large concern for her. I haven't had
much trouble with my Focus wagon, but I don't get nearly as much snow in a
winter as she does.

So, I thought I would ask the group: how does your Focus handle in the snow?

Thank you.

Craig

"Dave Holmes" wrote...

> My sister is considering purchasing a Focus after several years driving a
> Subaru AWD. Handling in the snow is a large concern for her. I haven't had
> much trouble with my Focus wagon, but I don't get nearly as much snow in a
> winter as she does.
>
> So, I thought I would ask the group: how does your Focus handle in the
> snow?
>
> Thank you.

I have a 2001 ZTS with the 205/50/16 tires and the answer is that this is
no snow car. I've not tried getting the 14 or 15" wheels and putting snow
tires on it.

Craig (in surprisingly snowy Flagstaff AZ)

FanJet

Dave Holmes wrote:
> My sister is considering purchasing a Focus after several years
> driving a Subaru AWD. Handling in the snow is a large concern for
> her. I haven't had much trouble with my Focus wagon, but I don't get
> nearly as much snow in a winter as she does.
>
> So, I thought I would ask the group: how does your Focus handle in
> the snow?

Just an observation: If there's to be a car in the median, it'll be an SUV,
truck or Subaru in approximately that order. With decent driving and snow
tyres, Foci are excellent in the snow.

John R Cambron

FanJet wrote:
>
> Dave Holmes wrote:
> > My sister is considering purchasing a Focus after several years
> > driving a Subaru AWD. Handling in the snow is a large concern for
> > her. I haven't had much trouble with my Focus wagon, but I don't get
> > nearly as much snow in a winter as she does.
> >
> > So, I thought I would ask the group: how does your Focus handle in
> > the snow?
>
> Just an observation: If there's to be a car in the median, it'll be an SUV,
> truck or Subaru in approximately that order. With decent driving and snow
> tyres, Foci are excellent in the snow.

I will also agree with above statement, however my experience is
with all season radial tires and I find it to be quite good.

I will remind all that no matter what type of tires one may have
on their vehicle be it FWD, RWD or AWD you may be able to go in
the snow, but sure as hell are not going to be able to stop as
if your were on just wet or dry pavement. This is why you see all
those truck and SUV in the ditches.

--
John in the sand box of Marylands eastern shore.

GeoffP

"John R Cambron" <*cambronj@chesapeake.net*> wrote in message
news:11dc0mm8qjc87ce@corp.supernews.com...
>
>
> FanJet wrote:
>>
>> Dave Holmes wrote:
>> > My sister is considering purchasing a Focus after several years
>> > driving a Subaru AWD. Handling in the snow is a large concern for
>> > her. I haven't had much trouble with my Focus wagon, but I don't get
>> > nearly as much snow in a winter as she does.
>> >
>> > So, I thought I would ask the group: how does your Focus handle in
>> > the snow?
>>
>> Just an observation: If there's to be a car in the median, it'll be an
>> SUV,
>> truck or Subaru in approximately that order. With decent driving and snow
>> tyres, Foci are excellent in the snow.
>
> I will also agree with above statement, however my experience is
> with all season radial tires and I find it to be quite good.
>
> I will remind all that no matter what type of tires one may have
> on their vehicle be it FWD, RWD or AWD you may be able to go in
> the snow, but sure as hell are not going to be able to stop as
> if your were on just wet or dry pavement. This is why you see all
> those truck and SUV in the ditches.
>
> --
> John in the sand box of Marylands eastern shore.
==
My Daughter has had a 2003 Focus wagon for 2 years. It has the Pirelli low
profile tires but is still very good in snow ( I live in Canada)
I have never driven a FWD vehicle that wasn't good in snow though.
All wheel drive (Subaru) is the greatest, but as John (above) pointed out
all vehicles equipped with the same type of tire stop in about the same
distance on snow and ice.(Forget antilock for now.) The reason 4WD's have so
many accidents is that the traction is so good the driver forgets how
slippery the surface is until he hits the brakes. The very worst vehicles
for stopping on snow (In my estimation) are very heavy SUV's/pickups, with
fat tires.
Geoff.

FanJet

John R Cambron wrote:
> FanJet wrote:
>>
>> Dave Holmes wrote:
>>> My sister is considering purchasing a Focus after several years
>>> driving a Subaru AWD. Handling in the snow is a large concern for
>>> her. I haven't had much trouble with my Focus wagon, but I don't get
>>> nearly as much snow in a winter as she does.
>>>
>>> So, I thought I would ask the group: how does your Focus handle in
>>> the snow?
>>
>> Just an observation: If there's to be a car in the median, it'll be
>> an SUV, truck or Subaru in approximately that order. With decent
>> driving and snow tyres, Foci are excellent in the snow.
>
> I will also agree with above statement, however my experience is
> with all season radial tires and I find it to be quite good.
>
> I will remind all that no matter what type of tires one may have
> on their vehicle be it FWD, RWD or AWD you may be able to go in
> the snow, but sure as hell are not going to be able to stop as
> if your were on just wet or dry pavement. This is why you see all
> those truck and SUV in the ditches.

For sure. It'd also help if idiot sales droids stopped referring to SUVs and
trucks as cars. They're not and their handling surprisingly proves the
point for lots of people.

Dave Gower

"Craig" <wpyr@REMOVEMEworldnet.att.net> wrote

> I have a 2001 ZTS with the 205/50/16 tires and the answer is that this is
> no snow car. I've not tried getting the 14 or 15" wheels and putting snow
> tires on it.

That's the key. Get 195/60 15 winter tires on steel rims and you'll be
amazed, and keep your alloy wheels out of the salt. 185/70 14s will work
even better, but of course cornering will be less sporty. But what the heck
are we talking about snow for? It's 90 degrees outside!

phinegan

I've been pleasantly surprised with how well my '05 wagon does in the
snow - surefooted and predictable. I'm no tire geek - just the stock
Eagles on 15' alloy rims. YMMV!

Dan

Josef Erbs

Dave Gower schrieb:

> That's the key. Get 195/60 15 winter tires on steel rims and you'll be
> amazed, and keep your alloy wheels out of the salt. 185/70 14s will work
> even better, but of course cornering will be less sporty.
Hi
mine are 185/70 14 and they work fine. No problems while others with
summer wheels are writing circels in the snow.

But what the heck
> are we talking about snow for? It's 90 degrees outside!
>

I hope you don´t count in Celsius :-)
About 30 degrees Celsius inside here an 22:39 hours. Saarland, Germany.

bye
Jupp

Dave Gower

"Josef Erbs" <josef.nospamdeletethis.erbs@t-online.de> wrote in message
news:db6ijh$cfi$02$1@news.t-online.com...
> Dave Gower schrieb:

That's the first time in my life I've "schriebed", and it didn't hurt a bit
:<)

> I hope you don´t count in Celsius :-)
> About 30 degrees Celsius inside here an 22:39 hours. Saarland, Germany.

Of course in Canada we use Celsius too, but saying it's 32 would look like
snow weather to our U.S. friends, and some actually think we get snow in
July! In fact most of the past week it's been as hot here in Ottawa as in
Houston.