Author Topic: car slipping despite installing snow tires (Read 1049 times)

mchatha · « **on:** January 17, 2011, 10:34:58 pm »

Hi,

I got brand new TOYO OBSERVE G-02 plus tires installed on my 05 Camry, however surprisingly it still slips a lot in the snow. My experience with TOYO tires have been complete disappointment comparison to YOKOHAMA ig20 which I use with my 96 Camry.

My question is that could there be something wrong with my car? I mean even at 40 Kph when I dont apply brakes slow enough the TOYOs dont work and car slips. I bought this car as used and am wondering if there is some other problem with it.

Any suggestions...

Regards.

rrocket · « **Reply #1 on:** January 17, 2011, 10:37:48 pm »

Do you have the correct air pressure? Are those ice or snow tires?

UmroAyyar · « **Reply #2 on:** January 17, 2011, 10:39:36 pm »

Yeah, check the tire pressure. Sometimes tireshop rookies increase the pressure to 40+ psi.

Make sure its not more than 30-32 psi.

rrocket · « **Reply #3 on:** January 17, 2011, 10:40:42 pm »

Quote from: UmroAyyar on January 17, 2011, 10:39:36 pm

Yeah, check the tire pressure. Sometimes tireshop rookies increase the pressure to 40+ psi.

Make sure its not more than 30-32 psi.

Also...directional tire??

Trainman · « **Reply #4 on:** January 17, 2011, 10:42:58 pm »

From http://www.1010tires.com/tires/reviews/Toyo/Observe+G-02+plus

Toyo Observe G-02 plus

Price Range:     CAD $105.99 to $395.99

Designed with an aggressive unidirectional tread pattern for superior performance in extreme snow and ice conditions, the Toyo OBSERVE G-02 plus winter tire technology was specifically built to handle Canada's most brutal winters.

Features:

   * Lamella crystals, called Fraipontite, help "vaccuum" away moisture from under the footprint allowing better direct contact between the tread compound and the road surface.
   * Silica in the tread compound helps rubber retain it's softness in low temperature conditions and resists hardening with age.
   * Improved Microbit Technology with the larger walnut shell particle, increases traction and braking on compacted snow and ice.
   * Increased sipe density further improves water evacuation resulting in improved levels of ice traction.

The hype is good, so I would check tire pressures too.

DKaz · « **Reply #5 on:** January 17, 2011, 10:45:34 pm »

I have to chime in here, I HATE my Toyo Observe G-02 Plus... I wish you read my posts before on how much these tires suck compared to what I used before, the Yokohama iceGuard iG20s. I'm planning to sell my tires off on Craigslist at a fire sale price next year and going back to my beloved iceGuards...

rrocket · « **Reply #6 on:** January 17, 2011, 10:48:40 pm »

Quote from: DKaz on January 17, 2011, 10:45:34 pm

I have to chime in here, I HATE my Toyo Observe G-02 Plus... I wish you read my posts before on how much these tires suck compared to what I used before, the Yokohama iceGuard iG20s. I'm planning to sell my tires off on Craigslist at a fire sale price next year and going back to my beloved iceGuards...

Tell us how you really feel though.....

HeliDriver · « **Reply #7 on:** January 17, 2011, 10:49:21 pm »

If they're brand new, give them some time to wear in. New tires need to wear off the slippery mold-release lubricant.

And your post wasn't too clear, but are you saying the tires skid under braking? If so, you need to check your car's ABS.

EV Dan · « **Reply #8 on:** January 17, 2011, 10:57:47 pm »

Quote from: DKaz on January 17, 2011, 10:45:34 pm

I have to chime in here, I HATE my Toyo Observe G-02 Plus... I wish you read my posts before on how much these tires suck compared to what I used before, the Yokohama iceGuard iG20s. I'm planning to sell my tires off on Craigslist at a fire sale price next year and going back to my beloved iceGuards...

...whose score are just below the Toyo according the CR

And no, I don't work for the mag, just happen to have an online subscription.

DKaz · « **Reply #9 on:** January 17, 2011, 11:02:19 pm »

^^^ I have CR as well, I expected the Toyos to perform as well as the Yokohamas but really they don't. The Toyos got good scores for dry and wet weather capabilities but they just don't perform in real world snow and ice.

I have about 15,000km on these tires give or take. The thing is they still look brand new, no tire is less than 10/32". The lack of wear leads me to believe that the rubber compound just isn't soft enough. I was told to lower the tire pressure though, I may try it out next snowfall but nothing but rain is forecasted the next week. If still not good, well I know I can still sell these tires for a decent price.

To sum up my experience...

Snow
Acceleration on a flat - Adequate
Acceleration uphill while moving - Poor -- I've had all seasons do better.
Acceleration uphill from a stop - Forget about it.
Handling - Adequate
Braking - Good
Slushplaning Resistance - Adequate

Ice
Acceleration - Adequate
Handling - Adequate
Braking - Adequate

Dry
Acceleration - Good
Handling - Good
Braking - Good
High Speed Stability - Good

Wet
Acceleration - Adequate
Handling - Good
Braking - Good
Hydroplaning Resistance - Adequate

Compared to the Yokohama iceGuard iG20s:

Snow
Acceleration on a flat - Good
Acceleration uphill while moving - Good
Acceleration uphill from a stop - Adequate to Good
Handling - Adequate
Braking - Very Good
Slushplaning Resistance - Adequate

Ice
Acceleration - Good
Handling - Never consciously tested
Braking - Very Good

Dry
Acceleration - Good
Handling - Adequate
Braking - Good
High Speed Stability - Poor

Wet
Acceleration - Good
Handling - Adequate
Braking - Good
Hydroplaning Resistance - Adequate

I didn't give an Excellent to any of the ratings for either tire, but the Yokohama iceGuard iG20s were still a superior winter tire. I could give another proven winter tire a try in the quest to find the one I could give excellent ratings to, or just stick with the tried tested and true. If I lived in an area with less steep hills like maybe Toronto, sure I'd like these tires, but they're not good for Vancouver area.

Guy · « **Reply #10 on:** January 18, 2011, 08:21:03 am »

I have Toyo's Observe G02 + on the Volvo and don't like them either. I bought them based on very good reviews I read on this site. Very squirmy on dry asphalt, not that great on snow or ice. Gislaved, Nokia and General tires are much better in my opinion; altough the Gislaved NordFrost5 on the TL did not last long...

wing · « **Reply #11 on:** January 18, 2011, 08:44:02 am »

I've had G02's on some test vehicles they were so-so, never great though for sure.

Railton · « **Reply #12 on:** January 18, 2011, 08:48:58 am »

I had them on the RX-8. Their best feature was there longevity. Squirmy when on dry roads and warmer temps, not great in the rain but certainly better than hi-performance Summers in the cold and snow.
Railton

tortoise · « **Reply #13 on:** January 18, 2011, 09:01:01 am »

They've been around forever too and I don't think there has been any revisions. So it's an older tech, probably good for 90% of the people who'll appreciate the long wear.

mchatha · « **Reply #14 on:** January 18, 2011, 11:38:53 am »

Quote from: HeliDriver on January 17, 2011, 10:49:21 pm

If they're brand new, give them some time to wear in. New tires need to wear off the slippery mold-release lubricant.

And your post wasn't too clear, but are you saying the tires skid under braking? If so, you need to check your car's ABS.

Basically when I apply the brake the car slips in jumps... like the car would jump and then halt with a jerk and then slip again and halt with a jerk again.. its like on braking the tires try to stick to road but fail then try again and fail and finally manage to stop the car.

I have been driving these tires for a few thousand KMs and was hoping that they will improve but no luck..

I guess I have to check the tire pressure.

Thanks for all the help.

Mike · « **Reply #15 on:** January 18, 2011, 11:42:23 am »

Quote from: mchatha on January 18, 2011, 11:38:53 am

Quote from: HeliDriver on January 17, 2011, 10:49:21 pm
If they're brand new, give them some time to wear in. New tires need to wear off the slippery mold-release lubricant.

And your post wasn't too clear, but are you saying the tires skid under braking? If so, you need to check your car's ABS.

Basically when I apply the brake the car slips in jumps... like the car would jump and then halt with a jerk and then slip again and halt with a jerk again.. its like on braking the tires try to stick to road but fail then try again and fail and finally manage to stop the car.

I have been driving these tires for a few thousand KMs and was hoping that they will improve but no luck..

I guess I have to check the tire pressure.

Thanks for all the help.

Sounds like they are not gripping nearly enough and are triggering your ABS

-or-

Since you are driving a Toyota we can chaulk it up to unintended acceleration

wing · « **Reply #16 on:** January 18, 2011, 12:41:43 pm »

Have you ever had ABS before?

dash · « **Reply #17 on:** January 18, 2011, 03:04:00 pm »

I too have same tires, dismayed by performance, I assumed it was partly due to my car, you know some tires work better with certain models. I think they are more designed for heavy snow conditions, not typical TO weather (slush, ice, wet pavement) as they provided confident driving in heavy snow conditions. Wifey's van has X-ice and they work wonderful.

DKaz may be right, compound could be too hard, that's the compromise between transaction and tire wear.

kardood69 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 18, 2011, 06:08:49 pm »

Got them on my Jetta - can't complain about them really. Never had the feeling they didn't maintain traction, control, etc...

overtakeyouintheleftlane · « **Reply #19 on:** January 19, 2011, 08:01:43 am »

I have these tires and I love them! Ice traction is great. It's weak point is that it doesn't handle heavy snow as well as I thought.

Check your tire pressure when it's cold (not driven for 3 hours) and fill them up to the PSI level that's printed on the door jam. That should solve it.