Winter tires, what?

[Rossman]

The owners manual says (pg 186) if you put on winter tires, regardless of type, you can't drive faster than 50km/h?

Surely that can't be right??

[buckets]

perhaps they mean in wintery conditions like on snow.

[Klinn]

During previous discussion about this on the forum, we thought that they were talking about restricted speed while using snow chains on your tires. Well, they're not really "chains" any more, but you know what I mean.

[ANTiSOViET]

I honestly thought that was what they were holding the sales for...but I checked when I got the manual and yeah it still says it. I don't understand why but it makes me worried that if the black box says I was going 55 with "snow" setting on and something falls off if I toasted my warranty. Seems like a poorly worded scapegoat if you ask me.

[Rossman]

Originally Posted by Klinn

During previous discussion about this on the forum, we thought that they were talking about restricted speed while using snow chains on your tires. Well, they're not really "chains" any more, but you know what I mean.

Sorry I should have searched for previous discussions!

Thanks!

[Khyron686]

It's talking about chains. Snow tires are usually rated for up to 140km/hr. Can be a problem on the fast highways on those midwinter "summer" days.

[stateless]

Originally Posted by ANTiSOViET

I honestly thought that was what they were holding the sales for...but I checked when I got the manual and yeah it still says it. I don't understand why but it makes me worried that if the black box says I was going 55 with "snow" setting on and something falls off if I toasted my warranty. Seems like a poorly worded scapegoat if you ask me.

The snow setting is only necessary for lowering torque to start the car moving on a slippery surface... once the car is moving, the snow setting is no longer necessary.

[ANTiSOViET]

It was a hyperbolic hypothetical, I am just saying what happens if they see a "traction interrupted" trip on the computer while the speed was over when you bring it in on a snowy day? Warranty over?

[mashal]

A slip means nothing, when I test drove the frs (still waiting on mine) I drove it hard around a corner and both traction and skid light came on .. It's a super sensitive system , some guy noticed the same thing driving on an off ramp .. I'll see if I can find his post

[driver01]

Originally Posted by stateless

The snow setting is only necessary for lowering torque to start the car moving on a slippery surface... once the car is moving, the snow setting is no longer necessary.

all snow setting does is remap the curve for the throttle.
It makes it less sensitive on the first part of the travel.

[stateless]

Originally Posted by ANTiSOViET

It was a hyperbolic hypothetical, I am just saying what happens if they see a "traction interrupted" trip on the computer while the speed was over when you bring it in on a snowy day? Warranty over?

nah, even if it is recommended against, unless they could prove that it led to whatever warranty problem occurs (and snow tires are not going to directly cause a warranty issue, regardless of speed), it's not going to void the warranty. Plus the computer doesn't tell them what tires are on the car at any given time, so nothing would be proven.

They are just covering their own asses from being sued if someone spins out on snow tires and blames Subaru for not warning them (the electronic nannies are probably not bulletproof over 50 km/h on ice). If they thought someone might get their tongue burned while sucking on the exhaust pipe, they'd put a warning in the manual for that too.

[RandomHero]

Originally Posted by stateless

nah, even if it is recommended against, unless they could prove that it led to whatever warranty problem occurs (and snow tires are not going to directly cause a warranty issue, regardless of speed), it's not going to void the warranty. Plus the computer doesn't tell them what tires are on the car at any given time, so nothing would be proven.

They are just covering their own asses from being sued if someone spins out on snow tires and blames Subaru for not warning them (the electronic nannies are probably not bulletproof over 50 km/h on ice). If they thought someone might get their tongue burned while sucking on the exhaust pipe, they'd put a warning in the manual for that too.

Agreed. The even go so far as to tell you what containers can and cant go in the cup/bottle holders! make damn sure its a can or cup in that cup holder cause a bottle isnt covered during a crash! lol

[Bill]

Originally Posted by mashal

A slip means nothing, when I test drove the frs (still waiting on mine) I drove it hard around a corner and both traction and skid light came on .. It's a super sensitive system , some guy noticed the same thing driving on an off ramp .. I'll see if I can find his post

I'll vouch for this... happened to me a few days ago...