A Brodozer is the most dangerous vehicle to have behind you in snowy/icy conditions.
Subaru AWD vs Blizzard
- Thread starter loneryder
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edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
I would say it is tight race.
People tend to get a little over- confident in AWD equipped vehicles. Back when I had my '95 Legacy wagon...I put Goodyear all season Z-rated radials on it right away. At the time, living in a state with 4 seasons, ice storms were the norm along with black ice.
On those days that my job was called off due to the campus being closed for a snow day?
A box of O'Reilly's branded snow chains were pulled out of the hatch and applied. Tightened and adjusted after 4 miles of slow roll.
Then I would visit the bottom of the hill that led to campus, the mall(s) and shopping centers all across town with a recovery strap and haul out those fancy 4x4's, bro'-dozers and SUV's that got stuck in parking lots for $25/pop.
If I had to fix up your spare and then still take you all the way to a service center of your choice? $125/shot.
My "tiny-little-twee" 2.2 liter fired Scooby made me *bank* because she could creep into and haul out on the worst days.
As said above though, yeah... it's ready to high center on anything taller than 9". I wouldn't tug you out of a snow covered field with landscape unknown.
She put down plenty of traction, but slowing is a different dynamic. With chains I wouldn't go faster than 20~25mph. Even with the chains and seemingly sure footed acceleration, she was considerably more sluggish on the brakes. ABS would still trigger and all that lets you do is steer directly into your next accident.
So don't fear a Subaru in your rear view so much unless you can't see it's headlamps.
On those days that my job was called off due to the campus being closed for a snow day?
A box of O'Reilly's branded snow chains were pulled out of the hatch and applied. Tightened and adjusted after 4 miles of slow roll.
Then I would visit the bottom of the hill that led to campus, the mall(s) and shopping centers all across town with a recovery strap and haul out those fancy 4x4's, bro'-dozers and SUV's that got stuck in parking lots for $25/pop.
If I had to fix up your spare and then still take you all the way to a service center of your choice? $125/shot.
My "tiny-little-twee" 2.2 liter fired Scooby made me *bank* because she could creep into and haul out on the worst days.
As said above though, yeah... it's ready to high center on anything taller than 9". I wouldn't tug you out of a snow covered field with landscape unknown.
She put down plenty of traction, but slowing is a different dynamic. With chains I wouldn't go faster than 20~25mph. Even with the chains and seemingly sure footed acceleration, she was considerably more sluggish on the brakes. ABS would still trigger and all that lets you do is steer directly into your next accident.
So don't fear a Subaru in your rear view so much unless you can't see it's headlamps.
My only Subaru is a WRX, so it doesn't have much ground clearance.... And it's just eight months old so it can sit clean and dry in the garage all winter. I've seen too many Youtube videos of kids modifying their WRXs and I notice the car is already a rustbucket... No thanks. I have a couple pre-rusted beaters for driving in salt season. FWD + good snow tires does just fine in almost all Illinois winters.
Used to see crashed Subies all the time in Vermont.
Three common factors in most loss of control crashes during snow in Vermont:
1. AWD
2. ”Flatlander” plates (not from Vermont).
3. All season tires.
Somehow people think that their magic AWD makes up for zero traction from all season tires.
Most crashes in winter conditions are the result of an inability to stop or turn. AWD doesn’t help with either.
Good tires make all the difference.
I used to drive around the wrecked, fancy, new AWD in my old, RWD Volvo that had four winter tires.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
My neighborhood Facebook page is excellent insight into peoples mindset.
Fall comes, bunch of people moved from CA, TX etc. and unavoidable question: “we just moved here, how is driving in winter:”
One offers answer like: get snows. All you need, and then you get baratted:
- get AWD.
- Get Subaru.
- AWD is all you need. Never got stuck.
- all seasons. Just don’t go out while snows (bcs. life works like that).
- I have truck. Monster in snow.
Then few weeks back we get ice/snow storm during rush hour:
- Don’t go out. Even my AWD truck cannot move.
- I was all over the road.
- so many accidents. This is impossible to drive on.
- people, this is serious. My Subaru cannot stay on the road.
Then I added: I just got back from skiing with 5yr old. Excellent powder day
Recently someone was complaining that their AWD crossover didn't feel safe when driving over 35mph on snow packed roads. I tried to diplomatically get the point across that maybe they shouldn't be driving over 35mph on snow packed roads. It fell on deaf ears. They still maintain that having AWD means they should be able to drive at full, posted speeds in the snow. 
"Get snow tires" isn't as fun and exciting as "Get a fancy new AWD vehicle"...
IMHO people with AWD get moving in difficult conditions a lot easier. People with FWD /RWD don’t bother.
The issue is AWD/4wd don’t do significantly more for stability, turning or stopping.
The issue is AWD/4wd don’t do significantly more for stability, turning or stopping.
I had winter tires on my 2007 focus zx3.. Friend kinda laughed me off winter tires why would you want those..
Got the standard "I never needed winter tires, I'm a good winter driver etc from her..."
a year later she totaled her car did a 1440 degree spinout on interstate and ended up facing wrong way into traffic.
Went and plopped 35k on a used PILOT... I'll take my 500$ set of winter wheels+tires.
Yes they can be overkill.. but still cheaper than an accident.. even with insurance.
Coworker just got a newish malibu but had to call off because "Her car was no good in snow"
if its more than 2-3 inches it wont move.
I of course suggested upgrading her tires... "but why these have plenty of tread"
uh so you can actually move.. you know they make tires that are better for winter??? /facepalm.
Got the standard "I never needed winter tires, I'm a good winter driver etc from her..."
a year later she totaled her car did a 1440 degree spinout on interstate and ended up facing wrong way into traffic.
Went and plopped 35k on a used PILOT... I'll take my 500$ set of winter wheels+tires.
Yes they can be overkill.. but still cheaper than an accident.. even with insurance.
Coworker just got a newish malibu but had to call off because "Her car was no good in snow"
if its more than 2-3 inches it wont move.
I of course suggested upgrading her tires... "but why these have plenty of tread"
uh so you can actually move.. you know they make tires that are better for winter??? /facepalm.
Well, in your defense my grandpa was always right. Canadians are smarter than you s Americans since they are smart enough to use snow tires in winter.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Oh, not all of us, lol. There's more than the odd guy/gal who runs all seasons. However, we do get a discount on our insurance if we run dedicated snows. They are mandatory in Quebec BTW.
My wife a hospital health care worker commutes 35 miles each way and has braved blizzards in a 96 Civic, 2005 Subaru Legacy GT wagon and now 2018 Tiguan. All running all-season tires however we pay attention to winter ratings. Never once off the road and makes it on time but leaves a little earlier.
Her preference is more intense storms with less people on road so she makes it there more timely as fewer accidents and people slowing down for cars off road.
I just ordered 4 Blizzak WS90 with steel winter wheels and generic plastic hub caps for this Subaru, it will go anywhere.
Considering this is the second hilliest city in the USA and gets lots of snow it is a good test for the AWD, my old scooby with snow tires went by a 4WD ford truck on a steep hill that was stuck and moving all over the place in 8" of snow,
Considering this is the second hilliest city in the USA and gets lots of snow it is a good test for the AWD, my old scooby with snow tires went by a 4WD ford truck on a steep hill that was stuck and moving all over the place in 8" of snow,
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This. Tires are a major part of it. A friend's sister bought a brand new WRX in 2018. In her first snow storm with it she bounced it off a guard rail, and later bought some winter tires for it.
Yes because anyone with that type of vehicle (or SUV) thinks that they can re-write the laws of physics.. amazing.. The part that you have to worry about in the winter driving is *ALWAYS* the other driver!
people who are proud of driving in winter conditions with all seasons tires should be ashamed. just because it is legal, does not mean it is the smart thing to do. the subaru awd system is very good, but d'ont blame it if you drive in winter with all seasons or summer tires. premium winter tires will make even a small vehicle like a kia rio quite capable in winter. they will make a premium vehicle like an audi Q7 unstoppable in winter. where i live, winter tires are mandatory and police will even make road block to check tires. if you are caught without proper winter tires, they will remove your vehicle from the road on the spot and it will cost you. i have a lot of fun driving my awd turbo mazda 3 in winter. it is very capable only limited by it's ground clearance. i have michelin x-ice snow on it. they are fantastic winter tires.
