Drive Mode Question

[therealveal]

Forgive me if this has been asked a million times. I have a 2022 GT2 with all-season tires. On my way to work this morning I spun out on an icy road going very slow (I'm sure the actual spin was due to me panicking). Very scary stuff. My question is, what is everyone's opinion about the best drive mode for snow/icy conditions? I was in eco mode and I dont have a heavy foot so it was surprising. And I know...there is not really anything you can do about ice. Just wondering what other ppl do. All responses are very much appreciated!!

 

[ChaneRZ]

Eco mode and winter tires.

 

[D.J.]

Winter tires...

is yours AWD or RWD?

 

[therealveal]

I have AWD. It was in ECO. Im in WA state so winter tires aren't REALLY needed. Hence, me getting all season.

 

[D.J.]

WA state so winter tires aren't REALLY needed. Hence, me getting all season.

To each their own I guess. I am a winter tire advocate.

ECO mode was likely your best chance.

Heavy snow closes roads in WA, OR, shuts off power

PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) — Heavy snow and high winds forced officials to close dozens of state roads in Oregon on Monday and shut Interstate 84 through the Columbia River Gorge, while blowing snow also closed Interstate 90 over the Cascade Mountains in Washington.

apnews.com

 

[JSolo]

Studded tires are best for ice. Winter tires may be better than all seasons on ice.

Stay off untreated roads during icy conditions?

 

[D.J.]

Studded tires are best for ice. Winter tires may be better than all seasons on ice.

Stay off untreated roads during icy conditions?

Test for traction often and reduce your speed(more) - as traction dictates.

All my comments in the thread are of course - blind - I wasn't there.
Upload the dashcam video for more accurate comments from the community.
Also - get a dashcam!

 

[therealveal]

Lol. I would love to stayed off that road. Unfortunately, I work on a military post and with limited access. I should've just stayed home. We don't get deep snow where I'm at. Certainly not enough for studded tires. Some years we barely get snow. The all season works great in the snow! It was the ice that slapped me around. LOL. Anyone use custom settings during the winter?

 

[MerlintheMad]

I always try to determine the amount of traction I've got. A little punch on the throttle will show that (not on a curve, of course!). If there is any possibility of ice, just slow down a lot, brake early, leave double distance between you and the guy in front, pump the brakes when slowing/stopping.

A/S tires are crap on ice. Winter tires are not enough less worse to make this an argument for allowing yourself to go faster. Just go slowly. Nobody in a place that treats their roads, so that they are 99% dry a day later, is going to drive on studded tires on the off chance that a patch of ice is waiting.

When the weather is nasty and the roads are getting covered in snow, or the aftermath thereof, I prefer to use Smart mode: you are in Eco most of the time in that mode, and it is asserted that the car "memorizes" your driving style in Smart and anticipates based on what you are doing. I can always use all the help I can get.

 

[JSolo]

No matter what electronic gadgetry you have in the car, it won't make up for lack of traction between the tires and road.

DJ's comment above is solid.

Many years ago I found myself on an icy road in a rural area in my camaro (with snow tires). The fastest I could go was idle in 1st gear (6mt) - 5mph or so. Very disconcerting drive. Came up on a trooper on the side of the road and hoped I wouldn't crash/slide into him or the car in front.

Valuable lesson learned.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

Eco mode,winter tires, be careful, and try not to panic. That all i can think of.

 

[Stephen Brubaker]

I own a 2019 AWD. I have 2 sets of wheels and tires. Right now the snow and ice tires are on the car. I only drive the Stinger in winter if I have to. Normally I drive my CX-5 during winter. But, if I have to drive the Stinger, it has the right tires on it.

 

[Devin]

I've been driving around the Seattle area the past week and it's been interesting. Mine had handled great, and for the most part I was driving in Eco, but later I used custom hoping to get a semi-even AWD split and aggressive shifting so that the car would hold lower gears longer. I am a big fan of engine braking on compact snow and ice.

 

[therealveal]

I've been driving around the Seattle area the past week and it's been interesting. Mine had handled great, and for the most part I was driving in Eco, but later I used custom hoping to get a semi-even AWD split and aggressive shifting so that the car would hold lower gears longer. I am a big fan of engine braking on compact snow and ice.

Excuse my ignorance but I have no idea what engine braking is. Lol. I've read a couple of places where ppl are using custom..setting the AWD to comfort or eco and everything else to sporty and that has helped with winter driving. Thoughts?

 

[D.J.]

There are really only 2 AWD setings.

More deets here - A user got this info directly from Kia, and to my knowledge - it is true.

Custom Drive mode ... AWD settings???

Again... the reply from Kia for the custom awd settings are as follows. “Comfort: 40FR/60RR The front bias ranges from 10% to 50% depending on driving conditions, but primarily tries to stay around 40% front ECO: 40FR/60RR The front bias ranges from 10% to 50% depending on driving...

stingerforum.org

“Comfort: 40FR/60RR The front bias ranges from 10% to 50% depending on driving conditions, but primarily tries to stay around 40% front

ECO: 40FR/60RR The front bias ranges from 10% to 50% depending on driving conditions, but primarily tries to stay around 40% front

Sport: 20FR/80RR The front bias ranges from 5% to 50% depending on driving condition, but primarily tries to stay around 20”

 

[Deviate]

I've been driving around the Seattle area the past week and it's been interesting. Mine had handled great, and for the most part I was driving in Eco, but later I used custom hoping to get a semi-even AWD split and aggressive shifting so that the car would hold lower gears longer. I am a big fan of engine braking on compact snow and ice.

Using the motor braking is ideal, used to do it when I lived in snow prone areas. Now my ignorance question for you, why not use the paddles to stay in a lower gear? I only ask because of driving a manual in the snow (RWD pickup), for me always worked best. Again that was what worked for me. I have no clue what my Stinger would be like.

 

[D.J.]

Excuse my ignorance but I have no idea what engine braking is

Decelerate by downshifting, using the flappy paddles in the case of our Stingers.

The engines compression + friction + inertia = engine braking.

 

[nhcowboy28]

Studs > snow > winter perf > all season > summer.

Or…. Buy a jeep.

 

[RM7]

I have AWD. It was in ECO. Im in WA state so winter tires aren't REALLY needed. Hence, me getting all season.

They are if you are driving on ice...

AWD gets you moving...too easily in some cases.

 

[Devin]

Using the motor braking is ideal, used to do it when I lived in snow prone areas. Now my ignorance question for you, why not use the paddles to stay in a lower gear? I only ask because of driving a manual in the snow (RWD pickup), for me always worked best. Again that was what worked for me. I have no clue what my Stinger would be like.

Paddles work great for this as well, probably even better. However I was being lazy and wanted the car to do it for me.