While the ABS systems in most production vehicles are tuned to be overly aggressive, snow traction has more to do with the tires than the ABS system. I didn't hear anyone mention whether the road surface was rutted or bumpy when the ABS kicked in? If the ABS system is too aggressive, you'll notice it most on uneven road surfaces. In winter, if roads aren't completely plowed or salted, you often get uneven ice buildup on roads that can cause the ABS to kick in when it isn't really wanted or necessary. The rapid loading/unloading of the tires on uneven road surfaces is the only situation where ABS should significantly reduce braking ability. Better tires for the conditions should still help though.
I realize I am posting on an old thread but questions like the OP's really bother me. I am new to this forum and just bought a 2013 CX-9 GT base package. I am going to buy Michelin snow tires tomorrow for a set of 17" wheels I have left over from my previous car. I live in NJ where we rarely see as much snow as Michigan and I still buy snow tires. I am 56 year old father of two and have been modifying and DIY repairing my cars for over 40 years. I grew up driving in the mountains of western PA and Vermont and learned the value of proper winter tires. As a young man, I made it through many a winter in a beat up Dodge Dart slant six with posi rear and good snow tires. I have since owned all wheel drive Celica All tracs, Jeeps, Pathfinders, Mitsu Outlander and now, the CX-9. I bought winter tires for all of them. Winter tires cost less than my insurance deductible and even a mild finder bender can cost upwards of $4000 to repair.
What I don't understand is how otherwise intelligent folks can rationalize that their all season tires will be just fine in true winter conditions. As has been stated in other posts, all season tires with all wheel drive will probably get you going in snow and ice but they will not help at all when it is time to stop in snow and ice. They also will not do much for steering if the road has significant ice mixed with the snow. Folks who do just fine on all season tires in winter either don't drive until the roads are plowed and salted or they have been very lucky. Sooner or later, they will hit conditions where the all season tires are not 'just fine'. The OP did when he wondered if his ABS was at fault. A good friend of mine was like this with his AWD Chrysler mini van. He lives in Nashua, NH and one day, he was stuck driving on a slow downhill left turn in Nashua that was mostly ice because the salt trucks had not hit this road yet on that particular morning. He did a slow slide into a retaining wall and the damage was well over $5K to his mini van. I know from experience that a good set of Blizzaks would have given him enough traction to avoid that crash. This guy has a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering and has designed and built some amazing things but he could not bring himself to spend a few bucks for winter tires in New Hampshire.
If you have young kids like I do, this decision should be even easier to make. I leaned to drive in low traction conditions in cornfields after the farmer had harvested the crop. His sons and I would stage our own private demolition derbies with 'field' cars we bought for next to nothing. It was actually a great way to learn how to drive in marginal conditions but in this day and age, it is all but impossible to get this experience in the Northeast. My 15 year old daughter will not have an opportunity like that and I would not dream of putting her in a car in winter conditions without proper winter tires. I will take her to a local empty parking lot to teach her about driving in low traction conditions but I will not take a chance on her safety with all season tires. 95% of the time, she will not need them but I don't want to risk losing her to that 5% when she may be stuck in bad weather.
The other thing that really bothers me about those who think all season tires are 'just fine' in real winter weather is that they are putting me and my family at risk if we are on the road at the same time.
What I don't understand is how otherwise intelligent folks can rationalize that their all season tires will be just fine in true winter conditions. As has been stated in other posts, all season tires with all wheel drive will probably get you going in snow and ice but they will not help at all when it is time to stop in snow and ice. They also will not do much for steering if the road has significant ice mixed with the snow. Folks who do just fine on all season tires in winter either don't drive until the roads are plowed and salted or they have been very lucky. Sooner or later, they will hit conditions where the all season tires are not 'just fine'. The OP did when he wondered if his ABS was at fault. A good friend of mine was like this with his AWD Chrysler mini van. He lives in Nashua, NH and one day, he was stuck driving on a slow downhill left turn in Nashua that was mostly ice because the salt trucks had not hit this road yet on that particular morning. He did a slow slide into a retaining wall and the damage was well over $5K to his mini van. I know from experience that a good set of Blizzaks would have given him enough traction to avoid that crash. This guy has a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering and has designed and built some amazing things but he could not bring himself to spend a few bucks for winter tires in New Hampshire.
If you have young kids like I do, this decision should be even easier to make. I leaned to drive in low traction conditions in cornfields after the farmer had harvested the crop. His sons and I would stage our own private demolition derbies with 'field' cars we bought for next to nothing. It was actually a great way to learn how to drive in marginal conditions but in this day and age, it is all but impossible to get this experience in the Northeast. My 15 year old daughter will not have an opportunity like that and I would not dream of putting her in a car in winter conditions without proper winter tires. I will take her to a local empty parking lot to teach her about driving in low traction conditions but I will not take a chance on her safety with all season tires. 95% of the time, she will not need them but I don't want to risk losing her to that 5% when she may be stuck in bad weather.
The other thing that really bothers me about those who think all season tires are 'just fine' in real winter weather is that they are putting me and my family at risk if we are on the road at the same time.
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Yes. If anyone lives in cold climates such as Wisconsin, Michigan, etc, you need 2 sets of wheels/tires. For me, our roads have winter conditions about 7 or 8 days out of the year. Not worth winter setup. I had blizzacks on my passat for winter back in VA. They are night and day in snow. And regarding rocket science..... my father flew Boeing 767 aircraft and would call me to ask me how to turn on his TV. For some reason well gifted people don't always have street sense.
