Does Anybody Find The Wheel Wells Get Packed With Snow.

[CKaelin]

I can't wait to find out how my YARIS handles the snow! Bring it on! Big jump from the ol Tacoma...

[SIPNGAS]

It handles well in the snow. I've been really happy with that, actually.

And it would be sweet if I could work from home when it snows! lol

[Bob_VT]

Originally Posted by SIPNGAS

It handles well in the snow. I've been really happy with that, actually.

And it would be sweet if I could work from home when it snows! lol

Well put your computer in a closet and turn off the heat! It will be just like being at work.

The problem with small cars is not so much the snow plowing or snow build up...... the Yaris is so light it floats and high centers in deep snow...... the deep snow that is penetrated comes up over the hood and at night blocks the lights!

[talnlnky]

Originally Posted by Mordarvia

Maybe its just me but does anybody find they are always clearing snow out of the wheel wells.

yep... worst car i've driven in terms of snow getting stuck in the wells.

It actually affected my driving on highways... gave me a wierd vibration at 60+mph.

I bought my yaris on 12/27/07, and last year where I lived at the time we had 93 inches of snow... this year I should not have to deal with any snow... yay!


The yaris isn't bad in snow... until the snow gets to be more than an inch or two deep. at that time it cakes in the wells, and effects your driving.

People ask if "this car is better than that car when driving in the snow"... I find such questions very silly. From my experience, cars have little bearing, and that tire constructions, and wear make up for 90% of weather a car will handle well or not.

In highschool I drove an 86Jeep cherokee... RWD, no weight in the back... HORRIBLE combo.. and the 4wd wasn't great either... in fact i hardly used it cause it seemed to make things harder usually. But that vehicle was able to move about more freely than any other car I've ever own in snow... (ice is a different story).
It also had big tires with treads over 1inch deep.

Next I had a mazda 626, automatic FWD... even put studded tires on it... did much better in ice, and starting to move... but when there was more than 1 inch of fress (not compacted) snow, especially at highway speeds, I would miss the relative ease of driving the jeep with its big tread tires.
The mazda did feel like it could start/stop on the dime with the studs tho. (ran cooper tires)

yaris... small tires, similar to the mazda in terms of tread. Running the Stock Potenzas. Had them siped right after I drove the car off the lot. I got through last winter on those stock tires... I think 8 years of winter driving experience got me through that... but i doubt I'd be able to do it with the tires this year due to wear (less tread) if it was a similar winter.
Yaris to me is the least safe feeling car i've driven in the snow so far... but it also has had the worst tires of any car i've driven in the snow...

I'm sure if I somehow put those jeep tires, or some studs on it that i'd have felt much safer and capable last winter.

[ChinoCharles]

I remember last year I was driving and my car just started vibrating like crazy at about 40 MPH. I had to pull over and I was scratching my head wondering what the hell was going on. Turned out all the snow in my wheels (the wheels themselves, not the wells) had my car unbalanced. I knocked the snow out and it was fine.

I really hate the white stuff.

[gid]

yup , I would pullover and use handle of snowbrush to poke the ice / snow out of wells and along rocker panels .

[talnlnky]

Originally Posted by Bob_VT

Well put your computer in a closet and turn off the heat! It will be just like being at work.

The problem with small cars is not so much the snow plowing or snow build up...... the Yaris is so light it floats and high centers in deep snow...... the deep snow that is penetrated comes up over the hood and at night blocks the lights!

hehehe... I had that problem (hi-centered and stuck) in my 1/4 mile long driveway about... ummm 4 times last year... hehe. 4+ inches = death to the yaris.

[gid]

Originally Posted by ChinoCharles

I remember last year I was driving and my car just started vibrating like crazy at about 40 MPH. I had to pull over and I was scratching my head wondering what the hell was going on. Turned out all the snow in my wheels (the wheels themselves, not the wells) had my car unbalanced. I knocked the snow out and it was fine.

I really hate the white stuff.

snow / ice or dirt ( mud ) do collect on inner rims . Best to use car wash every week or so to get it out . Winter is a nuisance .

[ROCKLAND TOYOTA]

Originally Posted by SIPNGAS

Nice...lol

you're always there thinking positively. LOL

Matt or Ryan..any problems with your car lowered and it turning into a mini snowplow? I was scooping snow anyway, I'm not sure how much another 1.5 inches is really going to matter.

trying to be honest rather than tell you its insignificant and not to worry about it.KOU and i had a discussion on this and the under shield he fabricated SHOULD solve mine and his problem seeing as no one else has experienced this.......

[dybbuk]

So far it's been far better then my old Grand Am's I used to run. I find the ABS in this Yari way less obtrusive then what the Grand Am's run. Of course after I ripped the ABS wire apart the car started handling much better. lol

[thebarber]

Originally Posted by gid

snow / ice or dirt ( mud ) do collect on inner rims . Best to use car wash every week or so to get it out . Winter is a nuisance .

ive got an arseload of snow in the rims on the aveo right now....too many ebrake slides the other day in the snowy parking lot

now if i get about 40mph, everything vibrates! whoops!