this is a good topic to discus...I don't think there's enough info in the manuals about snow mode and whether snow mode should be left on at times other then pulling away in snowy conditions, and the reason I'm saying this is does the operation of snow mode and traction control interfere with each other's operation...I know that some 4 wheel drives have various modes to use with their systems and in some of those modes they are only to be used when needed to get out of situations that require it and it's not to be used for normal driving.
Yep it definitely helps. Last winter lesser cars like a Civic/Corolla would get stuck here in this apartment complex. Management doesn't get plows out here fast enough, and last year was just heavy in terms of snow.
yeah that's the system controlling your car for you...besides my Venue which is my new daily driver I have a 1999 Camaro SS which I've always put it away for the winters...the second winter I had it I had moved to a house that has a cement driveway that's on about a 30 degree slop up to the garage...every winter I put the car on jack stands in the garage so that I can start it up at least once a week and run the car for about 5 kilometers because being on jack stands the wheels are off the ground and when running the car like this every thing turns/runs except the 2 front wheels and doing this keeps every thing in top running order...so when I moved, that winter I didn't put the car on jack stands and one day the weather was good and I thought I'd run the car out of the garage and go back and forth on the driveway just to move everything on the drive train...there was just a bit of a few patches of ice on the driveway...my car has traction control and ABS and is a 6 speed manual transmission, and when I tried to drive it back into the garage the traction control kicked in but both rear wheels were on the icy surfaces and even though most of the driveway was bare cement I couldn't get the car past the icy spots and as well the tires on the Camaro are not like regular cars...I tried using higher gears to decrease the wheel spin and my traction control kept knocking my speed back on the icy patches and the traction control actually pushed my accelerator pedal back which it will do if I try to accelerate too much on wet roads...luckily my cross road neighbor's drive way was clear and directly in line with mine and the only way to get my car up my driveway and into the garage was to build up speed from the driveway across the road and once I got to my icy section I lifted off the gas and had enough momentive to coast back into the garage. 🤣
Yes - my old Tercel was a standard and in snow mode, the Venue feels like a smoother downshift. I'm learning that there are many things working in tandem to keep us safe . Coming to a stop at an icy intersection and my Venue applied my brakes more aggressively than I was. Having said that, I'm still considering winter tires. I haven't had to make an emergency stop in this car yet but I know the difference snow tires make.
Because I'm retired I'm sticking with the tries the Venue came with, which are snow and mud tires...I don't have to drive in sever winter weather...when these tires need to be replaced I'll get the all weather tires that can be used year round and they have the snow flake symbol on them...by the time my tires wear out the all weather tires will be even better then they are now...one interesting thing about SUV's is that they come with tires rated for them versus a normal car tire and since the Venue is really classified as a type of SUV and not a car, is why I suspect the Venue has a snow and mud tire...tires are rated for many types of use and I suspect the SUV's are mostly rated for the weight they can carry and their use, and I think our Venues have the stiffer suspension because of the weight they can carry when fully loaded with people and or cargo.
Yes, the IVT gradually changes gear ratio to slow you down similar to a manual but not so much in steps.
Traction control off when stuck because it will just spin the stuck tire?
