Snow traction?

[Annorax]

Hi everyone,

I'm considering a new style Honda CR-V AWD for my next car (which might not be for a while, but looking anyway) and it fits all of the criteria on my wish list. However, I live in MA where it snows a good deal and I was wondering how these are in the snow/dirt/sand/mud/etc... I'm not a hard core off-roader, but I do want to be able to drive in bad weather if I need.

Thanks for any info. :)

[Carbuff2]

The Honda's Real-Time 4WD system is an excellent blend of capability and low rolling resistance. :D

Unless your driveway is long and steep (and potentially unplowed when you must traverse it) the CR-V will get you through anything.

True snow tires will add to the grip at the expense of some road noise.

Miniutedriver (also from MA) has posted a great deal about the capability of his V, you might search for some of his posts. Fox22 also off roads quite a bit and he lives near Toronto...

[MiniUteShopper]

I live in Mass as well ( Beverly ) and I have always been able to get where I needed. Last winter I had the original tires and did well in the snow and this winter I had all terrain tires and did even better. I ( as well as most on this forum ) will be kind of biased in favor of the CR-V. We all have them and we all like them enough to frequent this board, so while this might not be the best place for unbiased opinions, its a great place for CR-V fans.

Honda's all wheel drive is not 4 wheel drive. Its a minor but important distinction. Under normal circumstances you have a front drive car, when the front wheels spin, the back wheels temporarily get power to get you through. With that in mind, anything that had power going to all 4 wheels, all the time, would probably offer better snow capability, like a Subaru. However, I have never approached the limit of my CR-V in a regular snowstorm, on paved roads. Granted our last 2 winters weren't like 04/05 but it wouldn't matter. A CR-V with good all seasons is good enough for almost everyone. A CR-V with dedicated snow tires is much more than enough.

( My experience is with a 2006 CR-V, but I believe the all wheel drive in the 2007 is the same or better )

['Curly Q Links']

SEARCH 'snow'

SEARCH 'traction'

90% of the answers will be what I would have told you. There will be links provided and pictures too. That's the joy of SEARCHING. The answers are already waiting for you.

:shock:

[mrtn]

the V is an excellent snow performer, never had any problems, never been stuck (had the V for 5 years, 6 months of snow in a year). i've pulled passenger cars out of the ditch on plain ice and bulldozed through knee-deep snow like a walk in the park. like most of the users, i suggest you get a separate set of dedicated winter tires. it's a totally different world compared to All-Seasons (which stands for Equally Bad in All Seasons)

http://mrtn.gt.ee/honda/photoshoot/HR-V_talvepildid_10.jpg

[Annorax]

Thanks to the three people who actually provided helpful and polite answers.

Most posts on any forum can be answered by searching through old posts. I did a search and found some information, but I wanted to make my first introductory post contain a real question I had to start a conversation that I could be a part of instead of a boring "hi I'm new lol!" post, but perhaps I should have done that to avoid such comments.

[alirose4]

Thanks to the three people who actually provided helpful and polite answers.

Most posts on any forum can be answered by searching through old posts. I did a search and found some information, but I wanted to make my first introductory post contain a real question I had to start a conversation that I could be a part of instead of a boring "hi I'm new lol!" post, but perhaps I should have done that to avoid such comments.

I too thought the same thing when I started posting. But I also got tired of the people that didn't bother looking for a prior post and instead just asked their question. Another great thing about looking for a old convo is everything is right there. You don't have to wait for people to read and then answer... It get the questioner the info immediately...
Rather then a boring "Hi, Im new..." Why not post pics of your car? Everyone want's to see that!! :D

[z1000]

s...............w

[ajk]

Most posts on any forum can be answered by searching through old posts.
A good way for old timers to help new posters is to provide links to old posts. I try to do this now that I have a few weeks under my belt.

I agree that existing posts don't always provide all the answers, or sometimes they assume new posters know more than they do (as much as the true blue car buffs who frequent this forum).

Don't get discouraged though, this forum is full of very knowledable friendly and helpful people. Having this community made my car ownership more enjoyable!

As far as snow: As a background - my previous car was a true all wheel drive all the time (Suburu).
CRV felt pretty steady on the road. But when I tried to get out of about 6 inches of snow bank without digging out (something that my Suburu could do), CRV (4wd & traction/stability control) did not go without a bit of digging out (and yes, I know how to rock the car and get out of snow living in New England all my life).

[Carbuff2]

sometimes they assume a new posters know more than they do (as much as the true blue car buff who frequent this posts).


HeeHee, My wife is always reminding me that I don't know much about IMPORTANT stuff... :lol:

Sometimes it's difficult to know the skill level (or ambition) of folks with issues....many of us like to DIY but there are also quite a few that don't.


As far as snow: ... CRV did not go without a bit of digging out.

You are correct that there are situations where a lockable differential/driveshaft could get you out where an open one wouldn't. I'd say one of the more difficult tasks in snow is to get out of a spot on a city street after you have been plowed in...the snow is deep and packed. And the V, after all, has open differentials...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_differential


To illustrate how a differential can limit overall torque, imagine a simple rear-wheel-drive vehicle, with one rear wheel on asphalt with good grip, and the other on a patch of slippery ice. With the load, gradient, etc., the vehicle requires, say, 2000 Nm (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton_metre) of torque to move forward (i.e. the threshold torque). Let us further assume that the non-spinning traction on the ice equates to 400 Nm, and the asphalt to 3000 Nm.

If the two wheels were driven without a differential, each wheel would push against the ground as hard as possible. The wheel on ice would quickly reach the limit of traction (400 Nm), but would be unable to spin because the other wheel has good traction. The traction of the asphalt plus the small extra traction from the ice exceeds the threshold requirement, so the vehicle will be propelled forward.

With a differential, however, as soon as the "ice wheel" reaches 400 Nm, it will start to spin, and then develop less traction~300Nm. The planetary gears inside the differential carrier will start to rotate because the "asphalt wheel" encounters greater resistance. Instead of driving the asphalt wheel with more force, the differential will allow the ice wheel to spin faster, and the asphalt wheel to remain stationary, compensating for extra speed of the spinning ice wheel. The torque on both wheels will be the same - limited to the lesser traction of 300 Nm each. Since 600 Nm is less than the required threshold of 2000 Nm, the vehicle will not be able to move.

Note that an observer will simply see one stationary wheel and one spinning wheel.



Hope the above didn't put anyone to sleep....:mrgreen:

[MiniUteShopper]

while its certainly no substitute for a locking differential, the traction control does a good job of maximizing the V's ability to put power to the ground. Since the traction control brakes the spinning wheel it sends torque to the other wheels. Note to the Original Poster ( OP): When you get feedback from others, see what year thier Honda is, and consider whether they had the traction control, which a new one would have.

[mrtn]

regarding traction control: the best one is between the pedals and the steering wheel and it's organic.

[sleeksilver]

regarding traction control: the best one is between the pedals and the steering wheel and it's organic.

Not for the average driver. Stability control is one of the best safety features in the past 10 years :)

[mrtn]

Not for the average driver.

and a PITA for the experienced one if you can't turn it off :P

[sleeksilver]

and a PITA for the experienced one if you can't turn it off :P

Very true :)

Toyota has the most hyperactive system I have ever encountered... It is really annoying when the thing is beeping at you when you are just starting to have fun :(

[Carbuff2]

Ahhh, "Topic Drift" --- one of the most difficult traps for the CR-V driver to free themself from! :roll:


++++++++

The V's stability control (VSA) can be turned off by the driver. There are some circumstances where it would cut the vehicle's momentum.

Unfortunately, ever since I've bought my V, we haven't had much snow in NJ, so it's all hearsay to me! :x