Winter handling

[Bruce W]

Should be just fine for slow-and-steady on most roads, in normal winter conditions with the OEM CPC tires. Anything remotely extreme such as heavy snowfall on sloped driveways or mountain roads would be a no-go without a better tire. In heavy rain, the OEM tire hydroplanes easier with FWD, at least compared to my old Subaru. The good thing is the Maverick regen helps control your downhill speed. Even with snow tires, it's about staying within the limits of traction. I'll be running snows, but still driving carefully.

Thanks. Good information. So hard to get just the right tire for all scenarios

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[SLINGSHOT]

Many years ago, I lived 20 miles north of the Northeast Iowa town that I worked in. In bad weather, the ditches would be adorned with four wheel drive vehicles. The drivers of those vehicles apparently believed that they were above the laws of physics. "Put 'er in four wheel low and hammer down," was their motto as they sailed into the pucker bushes.
Those of us in mere two wheel drive vehicles held fast to the theory that four wheel drive allowed you to enter the ditch twice as fast as two wheel drive.

 

[colinl]

I have an xlt,fx4,AWD except for the scorpion tires I love the winter handling here in Massachusetts. I wish they would have gave me the Wildpeaks.

I've had 2 variants of Pirelli Scorpion all-season tires and they both sucked, so it's not at all hard for me to imagine the Scorpion ATR also sucks. Wet traction was awful, let alone snow or ice.

The Falken Wildpeak AT3W is a great tire but it will cost you a few highway mpg to use any kind of real all-terrain. I like the BFG AT KO2 also, I have a tiny set on my son's suv, 225/70-16.

 

[nklem]

My sons was delivered in early March. Late Winter I guess in Maine. Zero issues with the OEM tires and few snow and ice events we had. He has a Hybrid.

 

[KevCuRaoi]

Can anyone give advice on what to expect for the Maverick handling in snow or on ice?

I put Blizzak WS90s on my hybrid Mav last winter, and was very happy with how it handled in snow and ice (near Buffalo NY). I used slippery mode when roads were snowy/slushy/icy.

 

[Jman79]

I always find this a loaded topic. Since the day I got my license it was pretty obvious how rain and snow affect a car... Any car. It was also pretty obvious how your driving style should change in those conditions.

Anything else said about AWD, 4WD, Tires, increasing bad weather performance should not affect the way one drives extra cautious in those conditions. Only a bonus to less potential to have to get out of your car to figure your way out of a pickle.

Personally, living in the NY and PA most of my 30 years of driving... Never needed more than FWD and 1/2 decent all season tires and I've driven through many storms and trips to Snowy Ski areas.

Throw in a set of quick chains to handle a rare pickle (2 times in those 30 years) and you should be fine.

Ohh - and of course as everyone else has said "drive sensibly for the conditions you're in".

Last little tidbit... Many people would view this as childish or immature.
1) Take your vehicle to an empty parking lot when it snows and cautiously play to learn how and when your car tends to break loose. Learning how your car handles in bad conditions will help you understand how to modify your normal driving.

2) On bad weather days when clear of other vehicles & people I will usually stomp my breaks at low speed before exiting a parking lot or side street. This will help me understand just how much I have to soften my normal driving behavior for the rest of the trip. Not all snow is the same.

 

[EhrMike]

I had a 2022 lariat ecoboost that was good on snow. Now I have a 2023 xlt hybrid and yet to see.

 

[icegradner]

Hybrid is fine in winter, just don't use all season tires. Use all weather or full winter tires, depending on weather conditions in your region. Went on roads that had not be plowed, but driven on, after we had 14" of snow last December, it was fine. Up hill fine. Ice? Dicey as always, take it easy.

 

[Gray Goose]

If you live in a hilly area that gets ice storms, AWD can be the difference between making it up the hill or waiting for the ice to melt (that sometimes takes months in MN)
As a kid in the 70s we used tractors with chains to pull cars up hills.

 

[MinntoMich]

S

Can anyone give advice on what to expect for the Maverick handling in snow or on ice?

Your from Tennessee, right? I live north and west of you and winter driving calls for moderation in speed and braking. The Continentals on my XL look like they would be acceptable in powdery snow or maybe even a little ice as the siping looks decent but I'm betting in a heavy, wet snow your would find it a challenge. They look like they would lack a biting edge and you'd just sit and spin. Time will tell for me but I plan on replacing them with Michelen Cross Climate 2's when they wear out or I'm fed up. Check them out. I have them on another car and I'm impressed. That isn't meant to be taken lightly as I've been driving in Minnesota winters since 84'. They are the best all season tire with the 3PM rating that I've ever had. They have been nearly as good as an actual snow tire. The price will set you off as there not cheap but I personally will say if you put them on and drive sanely in lousy weather you will get through. I think the treadwear rating is 60,000 miles and rotation is necessary. It has a directional tread pattern.

Honestly, best all around tire I've come across. Get them and you won't have to worry about winter traction because you literally have the best thing you could put on IMO.

 

[Bushpilot]

I like and usually use snow tires in winter. That said, we have done 2 winters on the factory Continentals, and haven't found them lacking. This is in a hybrid.

 

[FordHybrid]

I live in Washington state. Due to work I need to cross over the Snoqualmie Pass which is often restricted. I have a separate set of rims and tires [blizzak w90] for winter. Our Maverick XLT Hybrid has handled the ice/snow conditions just fine. Caution is the key attitude. In the 11 months that we have had the Maverick we have put on it 25K+ miles, so I think we have a bit of road and weather experience with the Maverick. We love it.

 

[rlynncorbett]

Can anyone give advice on what to expect for the Maverick handling in snow or on ice?

Snow tires were a must have for us. But we live at the top of a giant mountain in Alaska. Otherwise the MPGs went down a bit. Everything else handled great. We have a hybrid.

 

[snowcatxx87]

Winter Tires.

 

[paneubert]

Last little tidbit... Many people would view this as childish or immature.
1) Take your vehicle to an empty parking lot when it snows and cautiously play to learn how and when your car tends to break loose. Learning how your car handles in bad conditions will help you understand how to modify your normal driving.

2) On bad weather days when clear of other vehicles & people I will usually stomp my breaks at low speed before exiting a parking lot or side street. This will help me understand just how much I have to soften my normal driving behavior for the rest of the trip. Not all snow is the same.

I do this in my neighborhood/right outside my driveway. See what gassing it will do. Same with hard braking. My wife is not a fan. I would rather know the limits for the day right out front of my house rather than when I am trying to come to a stop (or get going again) at a busy main road "T" intersection where I might slide right into cross traffic. Or spin out/take too long to get going and get nailed by someone when trying to pull into the flow of traffic.

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