Driving 07' Denali In Snow

cu005588 · December 10, 2008

Hello all! I'm driving my 07' Denali to the mountains next weekend and am a little sketched out. AWD is something I don't have much experience with. My last car was a 98' Z71 Xtra Cab. That was great for snow. It would be much better if the Denali was All time AWD or had a switch for AWD. Anyway, has anyone had any experience driing in the snow with a AWD GM SUV? Any feedbak would be greatly appreciated. Also, I had a set of 295/40-24's on it. Can't find snow chains to fit those shoes (not that I really want to put chains on those wheels anyway).

Thanks in advance

Rick

hockeyfan39 · December 10, 2008

Should have no problems with the AWD in the snow. Its AWD you dont need a switch for it, its just always in 4WD. If your going to be in a lot of snow winter tires would be a good idea but sounds like your just going for the weekend so assuming you have some sort of all season tires should work just as good as the 98. Put a little weight in the box if your worried.

my07silvy · December 11, 2008

24's will not work well in snow...put the stockers back on for the weekend..Thats just my opinion!

ChrisNJ · December 11, 2008

One problem I had was since it is always AWD it gives me a false sense of security starting out in the morning, and I crashed last winter. I am used to RWD trucks with selectable 4x4, so I was always able to judge the road conditions by leaving it in RWD and then going to 4WD if I needed it. However when I pull the AWD Denali out of the driveway it just takes off as if there is no traction issues, so last winter when the road was icy I really didn't know it, went too fast and off the road and smashed a tire/rim on a big rock that saved the truck from a big oak tree.

ChrisNJ · December 11, 2008

And yes, wide 20's and 24's are not good snow tires at all.

Bish · December 11, 2008

I personally am not that impressed with the new T-case used in the 07/08/09 Denalis. It is an open differential type which REQUIRES the use of traction control and stabilitrac to transfer power. It actually brakes the slipping wheel to redirect more power to the front. The pre-07 units were better in the snow IMO. Don't get me wrong, it works fine, I just don't like the fact that it starts braking wheels when it slips. If you really start to slide, it will simply brake you to a stop. To me, it feels like the front end will start pushing then you hear the braking and then it grabs and pulls through a turn. On my 01 Tahoe, I could just keep on the gas and power through a sliding turn.

Having said that, I have never gotten stuck or had any dangerous situations and it is more than adequate in the snow. I got used to it after some time in the snow and now it feels fine. I also grew up learning to drive in the snow so I have a high confidence factor even in a 2wd vehicle and have never gotten stuck in almost 30 years fof driving.

mdrew · December 11, 2008

That’s interesting. I too am of the opinion that the previous Sierra Denali’s did better in snow / ice that the new ones. I’ve been trying to convince myself that my 08 does just as well as my 05 did, but that’s just not true. My 05 was the most sure footed vehicle on snow / ice that I have ever owned. I can’t even blame this on my tires, because I am using the same winter tire on the 08 that I did the 05.

However, to the OP, AWD in my opinion is better than 4WD or Auto 4WD. I’ve had them all. The reason I have an SD is for that very reason – the AWD. They do extremely well in the winter. Having said that though, you can’t expect ANY vehicle to drive for you and you can’t expect to stay out of the ditch if your truck is wearing ice skates. With those 24’s you are running, there is a high likelihood that you’ll end up in the ditch or eat someone’s bumper if you get into icy road conditions. The stock 20’s that come on these trucks sucks as well. You need good winter tires. There are a few pretty good tires available that come in 20” this year.

Raymond Lowe · December 13, 2008

I wouldn't dream of trying to drive in winter with 20"+ wheels. Most of these would be shod with wide "performance" all-season tires that would likely put your ass in a ditch somewhere. The stock Goodyear LS2's on 20's that came on my SD are where they belong during winter - in storage!

The AWD vs 4WD debate will likely rage on forever but my vote is AWD. I've had lots of 4X4's. I've hunted extensively and put thousands of miles off-roading in the mountainous bush of B.C. I can think of plenty of spots where 4X4 is better, for example, crawling up very steep inclines and one wheel rolls on a rock. The other axle keeps the forward momentum until it hooks again. If you were on the verge of not making it, AWD would probably do you in about that point. However, in winter on pavement, AWD is sooo much nicer. All 4 tires remain firmly planted no matter how tight the corner and how much grunt you're feeding it. There's nothing but smooth, quiet power to the ground. All my 4X4's produced vibration and noise in 4H after even a few years old and a little as 20-30K on the clock.

The Denali? Shod with Michelin X-Ice 265/75R17's, this thing's a rocket on snow and ice. The transfer case is not exactly an "open diff". It uses planetary gears to split torque 60/40 (rear/front) and it has the G80 locker, as do all NBS SD's. It takes a considerable amount of throttle to get the traction control to engage. Only happened once and by then I was doing 30mph (in about 3 seconds) across the ice/snow covered parking lot. The guys where I work were all gawking in disbelief.

If you're going to drive a 400+ HP truck in the snow, best get the proper tires... If you live in Quebec, you don't have a choice

Bostonsfavson · December 13, 2008

I personally am not that impressed with the new T-case used in the 07/08/09 Denalis. It is an open differential type which REQUIRES the use of traction control and stabilitrac to transfer power. It actually brakes the slipping wheel to redirect more power to the front. The pre-07 units were better in the snow IMO. Don't get me wrong, it works fine, I just don't like the fact that it starts braking wheels when it slips. If you really start to slide, it will simply brake you to a stop. To me, it feels like the front end will start pushing then you hear the braking and then it grabs and pulls through a turn. On my 01 Tahoe, I could just keep on the gas and power through a sliding turn.

Having said that, I have never gotten stuck or had any dangerous situations and it is more than adequate in the snow. I got used to it after some time in the snow and now it feels fine. I also grew up learning to drive in the snow so I have a high confidence factor even in a 2wd vehicle and have never gotten stuck in almost 30 years fof driving.

All true. To the OP: your AWD system is more than up to the task. It's the tires that will betray you.

marko · December 14, 2008

Just remember two simple rules:

1. AWD or 4WD will not help you stop any faster

2 Your AWD will not help anybody else on the road have better traction.

Adjust your speed and spacing accordingly. Drive defensively and you will have no problems.

2000DV4.8 · December 14, 2008

Just remember two simple rules:

1. AWD or 4WD will not help you stop any faster

2 Your AWD will not help anybody else on the road have better traction.

Adjust your speed and spacing accordingly. Drive defensively and you will have no problems.

+1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

VMax2007 · December 14, 2008

Just remember two simple rules:

1. AWD or 4WD will not help you stop any faster

2 Your AWD will not help anybody else on the road have better traction.

Adjust your speed and spacing accordingly. Drive defensively and you will have no problems.

+1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

Oh shut up Dan, you "goodie-two-flipflops".