Patrtiot 4X2 qualities in the snow?

Hogdad · Oct 6, 2008

Hi all,

Winter is closing in on the New England states quickly and with that, a fair amount of snow.

I ordered my Pat as a 4X2, but am curious as to how it will handle 8 to 12 inches of fresh snow?

The factory tires are Firestone 215R60X17 M&S.

I have had good luck with my last two front wheel drive Buicks. Can I expect the same from Miss Pat?

suzq044 · Oct 7, 2008

Probably similarly to your other FWD vehicles, probably with a bit less power though, considering you had buicks, they were probably at least v6.

Mortaric · Oct 19, 2008

I'm curious too about how my 4x2 Patriot will handle this winter. I've always had 4x2 vehicles so I don't think I'll have a problem. I'm leaning toward snow tire for the first time to help reduce those "close calls" that have happened in really bad snow in the past.

ilflyya · Oct 19, 2008

I think safer driving in inclement weather conditions will help, whether you have a 4x4 or not. I've seen a Wrangler stranded on the median of I-70, facing the wrong way to the road in a snow storm. I figure that the driver was over confident in their 4x4. I've had 4x4s before and I was still able to slip and slide around. Just slow it down, be ahead of the vehicle, and give yourself more time to get to your destination

I will say from experience that a 4x4 will help you get out of a snow bank, which I had to hit because someone ahead of me decided to cut me off in the icy conditions (that's the reaction thing I was talking about

)

luffing · Oct 19, 2008

I'm not sure of the weight differential in the Patriot (front v. rear), but, I think you'll do just fine with what you have. FWD has always shown me to be far superior to RWD in slick, snowy conditions.

patnorth23 · Oct 19, 2008

Winter driving is a test of a drivers common sense. It has very little to do with the vehicles 'ability'.

drumboz79 · Nov 20, 2008

the snow came down today in toronto, so i went out for a spin this evening and it was great. i do have snow tires on also. i did not turn ESP on either. The jeep stuck to the ground and handled great!!

Hogdad · Nov 20, 2008

Would I have better overall traction in the snow with my Pat 4X2 if the ESP was turned off or left in the on position?

It appears that the ESP is always on in my 4X2 because the button says push for "ESP OFF".

Am I correct in assuming that?

Hogdad

patriotpierre · Nov 20, 2008

drumboz79 said:
the snow came down today in toronto, so i went out for a spin this evening and it was great. i do have snow tires on also. i did not turn ESP on either. The jeep stuck to the ground and handled great!!

The ESP is on what you can do is turn it off partially or fully. But it's on automatically when your start your Pat.

Copper · Nov 20, 2008

Hogdad said:
Would I have better overall traction in the snow with my Pat 4X2 if the ESP was turned off or left in the on position?

It appears that the ESP is always on in my 4X2 because the button says push for "ESP OFF".

Am I correct in assuming that?

Hogdad

Overall, better traction with ESP left on... according to my wife's aggressive driving behavior.

Correct assumption in that your ESP is always on unless you turn it off.

drumboz79 · Nov 20, 2008

oh... i thought it only turned on when i pressed it and it lit up on the dash

jessi · Nov 21, 2008

its different for 4x2's

when the light is on the dash, it is off,
when its not on the dash, its on.

theres only full on or full off for the 4x2'ers.

Hogdad · Nov 21, 2008

You're right.

I re-read the Operator's Manual concerning ESP.

4X2 has two positions. Always on, and Partial Off.

If the 4X2 operator is starting off in deep snow, or encounters deep snow and expects the front wheels to spin, it might be advisable to push the ESP button once to "Partial Off. This will eliminate the ESP system to "take over".

4X4 has three positions. Always on, Partial Off & Full Off (normally used in extreme off road conditions).

This helped me to better understand the ESP System.

upwithpatriots · Nov 24, 2008

I will have had my 4x2 Sport 5 speed for 1 year next week. I have never turned off the ESP. After driving in snow & ice conditions in the midwest (with the stock 17" rubber) I've found that the handling is average. Uphill starts from a dead stop were the trickiest, easy to spin. I'm sure some good snow tires would make a world of difference. Like the others said, it's all about how you drive it, and every vehicle handles differently. Suprisingly my previous 02 Elantra GT 5 speed handled the snow and ice like a pro, without much change in my driving style. But I'm still learning on the Pat, the difference is now I can go through much deeper snow!

UPKEV · Nov 24, 2008

I suspect you will do fine in most snow with just FWD. My neon kicks butt in the snow, most of its challenges come in to play when he runs out of ground clearance and starts plowing the front fascia, then I am getting into trouble. Good tires helped alot. I went from Goodyear LS which were okay, to Dunlop signatures on my neon and he is a beast in the snow now (until he runs out of ground clearance)...and you have 2 inches of ground clearance over him.

ilhe4e12345 · Dec 2, 2008

About a month maybe a month and a half ago i was getting out of work one night. I work the third shift as an IT Tech for a Wellcare company. In the city it was just a light snow, nothing on the ground. I drove out of the city and on my way home it really began to come down. Within 10 minutes it went from light snow to 13 inchs of snow...it was kind of scary.

Anyways i was driving in my Pat, keep in mind it is a 4 x 2, and honeslty i never felt so safe. This snow was hammering down, could barely see cars spinning everywhere but i kept on going with this beasty. My tires spun once for a second and that was when i took a side road off to get to my house faster.

My jeep was extremely impressive and this was stock everything. Stock tires, stock rims no add-ons. I dont think im even gonna buy snow tires this year becuase of how well this thing did. I love my Pat and this was a good test for it. If any of you were wondering how the 4 x 2's fair in the snow, trust me....even with stock everything these beasty's can handle anything.

I love my Pat, and im so happy i got it

Hogdad · Dec 3, 2008

Thanks for the update, and the positive feedback regarding your Patty 4X2 in the snow.

I recently had the opportunity to try Patty in some light snow here in Connecticut and confirmed the ABS works fine, as well at the ESP watching the panel warning icons light up.

Davecat · Jan 21, 2009

NW PA first winter in the 08 Patriot, stuck once, Dah my fault dropping front wheels into a ditch while parking. FWD has plenty of traction going but ANY vehicle has trouble stopping in snow & ice.Overall satisfied even though mileage has been suffering due to warm up times.

Hogdad · Jan 22, 2009

Hi all:

We have now had about 30" of snow in Connecticut this winter, with a few storms of 12 plus inches each.

Patty 4X2 works fine in the snow with the five speed manual. It's certainly not 4X4 but it does the job well with careful driving.

The ESP Icon Light has come on in deep snow when the front wheels start to spin, and the system wants to take over, but with the push of the ESP button to relax the system, I have control once again. Pretty good design.

I have found it very interesting that I can start in first gear, let the clutch out with foot off the throttle, and Patty will crawl through 12" of dry snow without a slip, even up and incline, all by herself with no extra throttle needed. I just steer.

She's a gorilla! I respect this vehicle.

Jeepasaurus Tex · Jan 26, 2009

My 4X2 has been fabulous in the snow this year. I've never felt this good about a FWD vehicle in the snow.

Unlike some others, I really prefer RWD if I'm only gonna have two wheels pullin', but that's me. I never owned FWD cars until very recently, had 70's V-8 RWD's and pickup trucks mostly. I don't normally like the way FWD handles in slick conditions at all. That said, the Pat is a dream. Handles the snow like a champ. Stock everything. I am very impressed.

Patrtiot 4X2 qualities in the snow?

Hogdad

suzq044

Mortaric

ilflyya

luffing

patnorth23

drumboz79

Hogdad

patriotpierre

Copper

drumboz79

jessi

Hogdad

upwithpatriots

UPKEV

ilhe4e12345

Hogdad

Davecat

Hogdad

Jeepasaurus Tex

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