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How much snow can it handle ?

Discussion in 'Model 3' started by SlimJim, Feb 12, 2021.

  1. SlimJim

    SlimJim Member

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    How many inches of snow have you driven your model 3 in?
    I will find out tomorrow.
     
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  2. flyingowl

    flyingowl Member

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    Tires make a difference
     
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  3. ChadS

    ChadS Last tank of gas: March 2009

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    #3 ChadS, Feb 12, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2021
    Two winters ago, I drove my P3D+ in about 8" of snow. I had changed the wheels to 18" and the tires to Pirelli Sottozero 3. They are more of a cold-weather performance tire than a snow tire.

    I didn't go far, but the car did absolutely fantastic, even though part of the way it was pushing/compacting snow because it was deeper than the car's clearance. (In most area I drove, other cars had already done so). I had snow socks with me (and kitty litter and a shovel), but did not put them on.

    I drove past a few stuck vehicles, including a tow truck; although to be fair the snow had been deeper - I didn't venture out until after a few days, when some had melted. In fact when it was at its deepest, a snowplow got stuck several times nearby, and the national guard was deployed in our neighborhood shoveling driveways.

    The snow:

    IMG_20190212_091944.jpg

    The snow tires and wheels:

    IMG_20181210_115042.jpg
     
    • Like x 7
  4. jeremymc7

    jeremymc7 Active Member

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    Check out Dirty Tesla YouTube channel. He's going a lot of BETA FSD snow driving right now, and without snow tires.
     
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  5. Uncle Paul

    Uncle Paul Well-Known Member

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    Big advantage for Tesla in deep snow is their flat floor from front to rear. It allows sliding smoothly across pretty deep snow. Much better than typical ICE vehicle with suspension, fuel tank, differential, exhaust items hanging down to catch on things.
     
    • Disagree x 2
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  6. jeremymc7

    jeremymc7 Active Member

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    Unless you had an ICE car with a flat bottom like my prior ICE, also AWD like my Tesla.
     
  7. leonar40

    leonar40 Member

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    You guys are brave. If there is standing snow that hasn't been plowed I'm taking my truck for clearance and truck tires.
     
    • Like x 3
  8. XPsionic

    XPsionic Member

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    no kidding. a lot of times snow on the road isn't ally fluffy and nice, they come in chunks and the car's front lip can take a beating. I hate those giant chunks of ice/snow that drops from the wheel wells of cars, lol.
     
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  9. drtimhill

    drtimhill Active Member

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    Yes that picture looks familiar .. and looks like it will be looking just like that for the next few days :)
     
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  10. natman316

    natman316 Member

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    nice, what wheels are those? Looks good!
     
  11. Hot Cha

    Hot Cha Member

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    The last time I drove my SR+ in significant snow was about this time last year. The storm was expected to drop about 6” and by the time I was on the road there was at least 3”. I was on the interstate, which is a mixed bag of partially plowed, some lanes not so safe.

    Side roads were not spectacular either, but my car forged ahead.

    I don’t have winter tires and the car handled admirably. No issues at all. I grew up in the “Chiberia” & Wisconsin area, so to me, this is second nature and I know when not to even bother setting out. Really deep snow for any car is going to be a problem and I’d rather take a day off than spend my day pulling my car out of the ditch.
     
  12. lawmangr

    lawmangr Member

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    About 10" a couple of weeks ago with winter tires. I have a SR+ with Michelin X-Ice tires. I "groomed" the snow on my driveway with the bottom of my car. I was so impressed that I put a brief video up on my Youtube channel because of it (miteslaguy) LOL
     
  13. ChadS

    ChadS Last tank of gas: March 2009

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    The wheels are 18x8 Monte Titano MT6 Vita, in matte titanium. Unfortunately while Tire Rack still sells those wheels, they no longer come in the proper size.
     
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  14. N54TT

    N54TT Member

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    Where’s the vid?
     
  15. SlimJim

    SlimJim Member

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    #15 SlimJim, Feb 13, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 13, 2021
    overnight, a foot of snow had piled up.
    I pulled out of the garage and put the gear on Drive and the car is now stuck.
    I shoveled the snow out of the way for the tires but the all season tires just don't have enough traction. .

    I drove my wife's X3 to work.
    Freeway was pretty bad as well.


    B07E5553-565A-4F4A-879B-FEF4A69FCD24.jpeg

    7836FEE4-E8D8-421F-B2BB-2694077C29A8.jpeg

    1CC0CD2E-ECE7-4D3C-8A6F-1B5DDDC99650.jpeg
     
  16. Snow Drift

    Snow Drift Pirelli P Zero Winter

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    You're stuck? It should be able to drive back into the garage. Did you use "slip start?"

    I assume that is a LR AWD, but still you need winter tires.
     
  17. outdoors

    outdoors Always roaming

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    With many cars there comes a point at which the car is literally resting on top of the snow. All the snow tires in the world will do you nothing. Then it becomes a dig out. As you pulled out of your driveway you can see the bottom of the car scraping the snow. Just a couple more inches and no momentum and you're done. I think you found that at the bottom of your driveway.

    Edit: I use snow tires. They do help stop that momentum.

     
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  18. SlimJim

    SlimJim Member

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    It is stuck. I put it on slip start and the 4 wheels go round and round.
     
  19. pb2000

    pb2000 Member

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    Yeah, the model 3 is too low to the ground for that much snow. Maybe if you had cleared the driveway out to the travel lane (if there even was one on your dead-end street), you might of had a chance, but switching from reverse to forward still might have tripped you up.

    Hopefully you didn't have the car in a warm garage, otherwise you might be frozen to the ground now.
     
  20. SlimJim

    SlimJim Member

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    How is ground clearance of model y?
     
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