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Best settings for tricky, snow-covered dirt roads?

Model Years 2018 to 2023
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5.3K views 5 replies 4 participants last post by  RAYJAY193B  
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#1 ·
Hi,

New-ish 2019 Crosstrek Touring owner here (as of May, 2019). I came from a 2010 Forester which was pretty good in tricky snow conditions, but did get me stuck in the ditch a few times. I live in a rural area and my driveway is off of a twisty, hilly dirt road. It IS plowed in the winter, but we often receive 4-6 inches at a time. What cannot happen is for me to loose traction getting up the hill with a bend just after my driveway. When I first got the Forester I was constantly getting stuck on this hill, until I found out about turning off the traction control and setting the automatic transmission to second gear. What I'm wondering is what are the best settings for the Crosstrek if we assume a hill and bend with deep snow? Traction control OFF and X-Drive ON? What about the CVT? Put it in 2? Any insight would be appreciated as we get closer to the start of snow season here in Northern Ontario, Canada.

Thanks!
 
#3 ·
If you are having that much trouble then the best setting would be a set of snow tires.This will allow you to just drive right in like it's nothing and you won't have to worry about settings.

As for traction control.If you are driving in conditions where traction is limited and you are likely to spin the wheels on acceleration,then you should turn it off.
 
#4 ·
one of my questions also , were you on the forester running 3 season tires or dedicated Snows, I myself run blizzacks on my cars for winter, there a studless snow tire, one thing with the blizzacks do not run them in warmer temps really soft compound but the pull great in the snow and ice
 
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#5 ·
I should have noted that I ALWAYS run snow tires in the winter. Blizzak WS80s. And yes, settings absolutely matter, even with snow tires. Before I found out about turning off the traction control, I would get the Forester stuck on that hill at least once a week. Wheels start to slip, traction control cuts power to the slipping wheels, and you STOP, and usually not before the car jerks wildly to one side or another as the wheels that still have grip keep on going. Worst case you end up in the ditch and need a tow. I want to avoid that with my new Crosstrek at all costs. I guess I'll just stick with turning off the traction control and putting the CVT in 2 and ignoring X-Mode when on my road.
 
#6 ·
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