Impression of first time on slippery road

[WildHorse]

The first winter storm is approaching east coast. I'm seeing cold rain but not wintery mix yet. Overnight temperature is in mid-20s so there might be a little ice on road ( but unlikely since it is raining right now but not yesterday or last night).

Now I was driving to work. On the first downhill with a turn, my Maverick slipped, swung to both sides three times. My speed was about 25-30 miles. It caught me a little off guard.

I should be a little more careful because the light rain usually makes the most slippery road. But still in comparison with my Subaru Outback with a set of almost end of life cheap tires, I'd say my Maverick AWD acted a little more.

Since this my first pick up (although still a car based one), I don't know if it is fair to compare it with a sedan/wagon. Comments are welcomed.

After that, I drove much slower and I could feel the slipping on every turn. So I switched to "Slippery" mode. After that, I could feel the driving difference immediately. I could feel the low vibration/buzz more, which is the typical feel as if I turned on the 4L mode on a 4WD SUV I drove before.

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[CSmith]

Are you on the stock Pirrelli tires? Those are not too good in rain and snow. The mode helps, too.

 

[WildHorse]

Are you on the stock Pirrelli tires? Those are not too good in rain and snow. The mode helps, too.

Stock 18" Michelin.

 

[710-oil-614]

Addressing your Subaru comparo -

Subaru's Symmetrical AWD system (in MOST of its applications) splits power 55/45 (front/rear) at all times unless it senses wheel slippage it can direct more power to the front or rear (but both axles are open and the wheel with the least traction gets all the power first before the brake is applied and power transfer to the other wheel).

So in short - your Subaru is true AWD in that all 4 wheels are receiving power all the time unless it detects slippage.

The major difference with the standard AWD system on the Maverick and a Subaru is that the Maverick is FWD only until it detects slippage and then it will engage the rear wheels. Like the subaru - both differentials are open and a wheel with less traction will receive all the power first until the computer recognizes slippage and then will brake that wheel pushing power to the other wheel but the differential itself is not doing the work - the brake of the slipping wheel is.

Slippery mode - getting into this mode will drastically improve your traction because computer is not waiting to ID slippage. This is the closest you'll get to a locked AWD system in the standard AWD system. The system is a dry-clutch friction system so it is subject to overheating and will disengage before that occurs. The buzz/vibration you are hearing is the dry clutch engaging the rear differential and your ABS system pulsing each wheel to mimic a locked AWD system for maximum traction. Slippery I believe also cuts throttle quickly to avoid slippage.

Today's systems are so good at analyzing and detecting slippage that the Subaru might have had all 4 wheels engaged milliseconds before the bronco Maverick did.

More than likely the Subaru would have also slid in that situation and/or in combo with the Pirellis Michelins.

Mav's standard AWD system is pretty impressive for on road use.

 

[wax87]

Stock 18" Michelin.

what drive mode did you have selected?

 

[WildHorse]

what drive mode did you have selected?

Started with normal but now in slippery after I got the swing as I mentioned.

 

[Transplant]

Tires. Period. Regardless of what comparison you want to make to any vehicle, tires are really the only determining factor in how well your vehicle will perform.

 

[CSmith]

Stock 18" Michelin.

You need a tire meant for slippery conditions. Those Michelins should be good for rainy surfaces but will likely be unable to handle ice well. You sound like you are in an area where snow tires are a good option.

 

[CSmith]

Addressing your Subaru comparo -

Subaru's Symmetrical AWD system (in MOST of its applications) splits power 55/45 (front/rear) at all times unless it senses wheel slippage it can direct more power to the front or rear (but both axles are open and the wheel with the least traction gets all the power first before the brake is applied and power transfer to the other wheel).

So in short - your Subaru is true AWD in that all 4 wheels are receiving power all the time unless it detects slippage.

The major difference with the standard AWD system on the Maverick and a Subaru is that the Maverick is FWD only until it detects slippage and then it will engage the rear wheels. Like the subaru - both differentials are open and a wheel with less traction will receive all the power first until the computer recognizes slippage and then will brake that wheel pushing power to the other wheel but the differential itself is not doing the work - the brake of the slipping wheel is.

Slippery mode - getting into this mode will drastically improve your traction because computer is not waiting to ID slippage. This is the closest you'll get to a locked AWD system in the standard AWD system. The system is a dry-clutch friction system so it is subject to overheating and will disengage before that occurs. The buzz/vibration you are hearing is the dry clutch engaging the rear differential and your ABS system pulsing each wheel to mimic a locked AWD system for maximum traction. Slippery I believe also cuts throttle quickly to avoid slippage.

Today's systems are so good at analyzing and detecting slippage that the Subaru might have had all 4 wheels engaged milliseconds before the bronco Maverick did.

More than likely the Subaru would have also slid in that situation and/or in combo with the Pirellis Michelins.

Mav's standard AWD system is pretty impressive for on road use.

Great explanation and thank you. I learned something today!

 

[AUDIOZONE]

Awd is new to me, so is a turbo. I always drove regular cab, rwd rangers with fuel inject. My first snow was in the first week I had my mav and not that much. I was pretty much unable to break traction without trying. It was new and I was new car skittish.

Yesterday we got a normal iowa snow, not a big one. I think 2 or 3 inches. But I missed the local news this morning. As the snow got started I was at a main, busy corner. A lowes, a ford dealer , and a toyota dealer there actually. A wide turn not a sharp one.

A green turned yellow and I was right up to it. I wanted to make a left turn. It was getting slick and the plows had not been out yet. There were cars around, but none in my direction of travel.

I did get the front to lose traction and push, maybe even a little sideways. It was enough to make me embarrassed about doing it in front of other people. Maybe 25mph? Probably on the gas. I had just left the lowes and wanted to get out of town. I was testing my limits, in a mild way. Out of town on 4 lane divided hiway it was 100% or close snow covered road. I locked up the brakes a couple times on purpose just to test the roadway feel. It has traction and accelerates fine. It definitely needs to keep some distance from the car in front. (In a perfect world , with other sane drivers around you)

The maverick is a real different feel for me. I am learning it. I probably should have waited on that yellow, maybe next time.

Xlt w/fx4, stock pirelli tires, normal mode.

 

[desmobob]

Also coming from a Subaru (currently with excellent severe snow service-rated Goodyear Assurance Weatheready tires) I find the Continental ProContact TX tires that came on my Maverick lacking in winter performance, which is no surprise.

When I had winter tires on it, I always told people my 2009 Forester was the closest thing you could get to a street-legal, four-passenger, heated cab snowmobile. It is still an excellent winter performer with the three-peak all-seasons mounted. The Subaru undoubtedly has an excellent AWD system. The Maverick's different, but 13-year-newer, AWD technology should be plenty good if it has good tires mounted.

I'm guessing the Maverick's OEM tires won't last long and by next winter or the winter after, I'll look for some better tires. Or maybe I'll find a set of cheap steel wheels for some dedicated snows...

 

[pa-outdoorsman]

The stock Pirellis on the FX4 package seem to receive universally poor reviews for snow and off-road use. I took delivery of my truck on Monday and already have a set of Cooper Discoverer ATs to go on. The truck is resting comfortably in the garage as it snows outside currently. Fortunately, I still have my old 2006 Escalade with 230,000 miles to drive in the slop, so the Maverick is going to be a bit of garage queen this winter. She'll only come out on sunny days with dry roads.

 

[Nw_adventure]

Addressing your Subaru comparo -

Subaru's Symmetrical AWD system (in MOST of its applications) splits power 55/45 (front/rear) at all times unless it senses wheel slippage it can direct more power to the front or rear (but both axles are open and the wheel with the least traction gets all the power first before the brake is applied and power transfer to the other wheel).

So in short - your Subaru is true AWD in that all 4 wheels are receiving power all the time unless it detects slippage.

The major difference with the standard AWD system on the Maverick and a Subaru is that the Maverick is FWD only until it detects slippage and then it will engage the rear wheels. Like the subaru - both differentials are open and a wheel with less traction will receive all the power first until the computer recognizes slippage and then will brake that wheel pushing power to the other wheel but the differential itself is not doing the work - the brake of the slipping wheel is.

Slippery mode - getting into this mode will drastically improve your traction because computer is not waiting to ID slippage. This is the closest you'll get to a locked AWD system in the standard AWD system. The system is a dry-clutch friction system so it is subject to overheating and will disengage before that occurs. The buzz/vibration you are hearing is the dry clutch engaging the rear differential and your ABS system pulsing each wheel to mimic a locked AWD system for maximum traction. Slippery I believe also cuts throttle quickly to avoid slippage.

Today's systems are so good at analyzing and detecting slippage that the Subaru might have had all 4 wheels engaged milliseconds before the bronco Maverick did.

More than likely the Subaru would have also slid in that situation and/or in combo with the Pirellis Michelins.

Mav's standard AWD system is pretty impressive for on road use.

Will have to see if slippery mode helps when in reverse- We have to back up a slight incline in reverse and have noticed the Mav gets a little janky when a wheel slips-

 

[BlueRaven]

tires, tires, tires. the factory tires on all trims suck in snow, no matter what people say. you need a proper snow/winter tire. we got 3-5 inches recently along with negative 20s. i did fine in it. the others with 3 season tires could barely do 20 mph. those people are terrible.

 

[TC in MN]

Tires. Period. Regardless of what comparison you want to make to any vehicle, tires are really the only determining factor in how well your vehicle will perform.

Yesterday afternoon driving on the freeway I got to experience how the Wildpeaks at3’s deal with ice and snow. Very happy with the tires, especially breaking for lunatic drivers whom must believe that lane changing is a right that does not need to consider others…..

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