New CX-5 Owner - AWD question

[Nikyret]

This is my first full winter in my 2024 Carbon Edition, and first time with AWD. Previous car was a FWD 2006 Mazda3. Sometimes when I'm pulling out on to a snowy road, the CX5 fishtails, like it's a rear wheel drive.

Does anyone know if there's more power suppied to the rear wheels (e.g. 30 front, 70 rear)?

Can this be adjusted?

Any driving tips for this issue? It's kind of fun at times but on long curves, I'm afriad to give it gas because I don't want it to fishtail. Thank you!

 

[N7turbo]

The max torque split is 50/50 and it is automatic based on steering angle, windshield wiper use, throttle position, inclination, and other things.

It's interesting to me that you've fishtailed. Usually I just push sideways toward the edge of the road because it's so slippery that turning doesn't do anything

 

[SimpleCanuck]

Loaded question: Are you using winter tires, or 3-seasons (especially if they are the OEM's)?

 

[a69mach1377]

OP, did you try the driving mode designed for these conditions?

 

[N7turbo]

OP, did you try the driving mode designed for these conditions?

What would that be?

 

[GFrosty]

Loaded question: Are you using winter tires, or 3-seasons (especially if they are the OEM's)?

That was my first thought: tires.

"while pulling out on a snowy road ... fishtailing"

Got to have tires appropriate for the conditions. And snow/ice/crud can seriously challenge the grip of the factory-supplied tires on the CX-series vehicles. No feature of a car can easily compensate for tires that aren't up to the situation in question.

Assuming a CX-5 with AWD and the traction-control system engaged, the car ought to perform quite well on sketchy surfaces ... assuming the tires themselves are well-suited for those conditions.

My own vehicle: 2016 CX-5 AWD GT. Past 5yrs, the Nokian WR G4 all-weather tire; the past 6mos, the Nokian AW02 all-weather tire. Driven in all sorts of conditions, including down to nearly 0ºF, on ice, snow, sleet, mixed crud, rain, hot/dry up to 100ºF. With AWD + TCS, the tires are hard to break loose, unless I'm using far too much throttle for the conditions.

 

[clownshoes2]

Michelin Defender II's on my 2017 CX-5 and I can get it to cut loose. Similar to the above, you gotta hammer it a bit in order get the rear end to come out.

 

[N7turbo]

Here the snow packs down into hard ice after a couple of days and there is no tire that can get adequate traction on that.

 

[RedBaron]

there is no tire that can get adequate traction on that.

Well... there's always: What Are Studded Tires And Are They Worth Buying? - SlashGear

 

[N7turbo]

Probably not legal here, especially where you leave one uncleared area of town and you're on a main road which was cleared before it froze.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

I’ve had great traction and stopping distances over the years with my Blizzaks on compact snow and ice. I travel a snowy mountain pass almost every weekend in the winter.