I don't know how many of you live in states that have snow/ice conditions, but for those who do how is the Cherokee SRT handling it?

I live in New England and have had my SRT for just about a week... Have only had a chance to drive it in the rain so far but even in extremely wet conditions I didn't even notice a difference from dry roads. I suspect that with the stock tires it will not be very good in Snow or Ice and will be purchasing some Winter Tires and Rims for it next year. just my .02

The wheels are very expensive. I just quoted the rear wheel at the dealership, it was $1370. That could run upwards of $6k with tires, if you want the same wheels. I live in Chicago, and hope the tires will get me through all 4 seasons.

I live in Minnesota and we just had 7 inches of new, slushy snow on Monday. The roads were very icy & snow covered on Monday morning during my drive to the office. Also, I live on a street that is one of the last to get plowed.

My SRT went through it all like a champ. You do notice a bit more sliding than in my wife's vehicle (GMC Denali XL) and my previous vehicle (Audi A8), in particular on ice. The stability control system is very agressive however, making it almost impossible to slide or spin at all. Overall, I'd say there is no need to put snows on the vehicle for winter driving.

I live in Minnesota and we just had 7 inches of new, slushy snow on Monday. The roads were very icy & snow covered on Monday morning during my drive to the office. Also, I live on a street that is one of the last to get plowed.

My SRT went through it all like a champ. You do notice a bit more sliding than in my wife's vehicle (GMC Denali XL) and my previous vehicle (Audi A8), in particular on ice. The stability control system is very agressive however, making it almost impossible to slide or spin at all. Overall, I'd say there is no need to put snows on the vehicle for winter driving.


That is good news... I just remember on my '02 X5 sport i definitely needed the snows for the winter.

Don't know about the rest of you guys but I strongly believe in snow tires, or I should say the right tire for the given conditions. When it comes to stopping or turning it's all about the traction and not the drivetrain, henceforth the tires. I'm sure if you are able to gather enough speed you can go through almost anything. But we all (at least up here in New England) have seen plenty of cars on the sides of highways, on their sides or up to the window seals berried in a snow bank. Most of them weren’t trying to pick up speed, but rather desperately trying to stop or swerve.

Can some of us drive through snow storms on all-season Goodyears, probably. Can some of us drive our GC SRT8s without insurance, probably. But what happens during that 0.01% of the time when you MUST stop in 10 feet less than you are used to? You realize that you need snow tires, just like you need insurance.

Having said that I have to confess that on my BMW 540 6-speed, I have snow tires, but on my Yukon I have all season Bridgestones. I feel a lot more confident cruising at 50MPH on a snow covered interstate in the left lane (while everyone is clustered together in the middle, the only plowed lane) in my 540 than I do in my Yukon. But I feel a lot better in town, on side streets, with 16 inches of unplowed snow in my Yukon. I suspect that if I get a set of winter tires for my Yukon I would feel even better on the side streets, but why bother? It’s good enough.

Perhaps my point is that an SRT8 Jeep is more of a BMW than a Yukon and I would like to have snows for the winter and true summer tires for the summer. That will allow me to be confident, as well as extract full potential from every given situation. Plus Goodyear RS-As SUCK!!! They hydroplane easily, they have no grip once you wear off 25% of the tread and here is the kicker – they cost a ton. Unfortunately we’re stuck, no one makes tires in our sizes. Still at $339/front and $367/rear, each, there bound to be more manufacturers jumping in.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Eagle+RS-A

As of right now all of this is a mute point. Sorry for my longwinded 2 cents.

Here are some suck-ass videos of mine in the snow. Next time I'll get some of me playing a little. FYI, mine did just fine in deep snom. I also had no problems driving on packed down snow at speeds of 45-65 mph. Hope this helps.



http://i1.zvhost.com/1/g/g3hb3jp7.jpg (http://www.zippyvideos.com/2093993273616096/jeep_srt8_snow_video/*wheelus928)


http://i1.zvhost.com/1/s/s8tk5712.jpg (http://www.zippyvideos.com/2886920863614906/jeep_srt8_in_the_snow_2/*wheelus928)

My SRT went through it all like a champ. You do notice a bit more sliding than in my wife's vehicle (GMC Denali XL) and my previous vehicle (Audi A8), in particular on ice. The stability control system is very agressive however, making it almost impossible to slide or spin at all. Overall, I'd say there is no need to put snows on the vehicle for winter driving.
I tend to agree, especially if you're in a metropolitan area where the roads get decent attention during and after a storm. My most vivid experience with ESP was while driving a Mercedes C32 with the stock performance tires (Pilot Sports) on a highway. It started snowing and I let me guard down and was driving too fast... while entering a turn at 50mph the car snapped into an oversteer. I countersteered but before my foot reached the brake pedal the ESP already kicked in and shot me back straight down the road!

This is the only time I can think of that ESP saved my ass. All the other times it kicked in, it has got in the way of enjoying the car... but it's worth having it in the long run.
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CUTELILNEO21 (http://www.girlcamfriend.com/cam/CUTELILNEO21/)

Thanx Grip,
That is exactly what I was looking for. :D

After seeing GRIPS videos, I'm even more excited to get mine! Thanks grip!

Also, I completely agree with Clueless about the right tire for the right situation. Unfortunatly, I'm sure the tire industry will come out with performance tires for our trucks before they come out with winter tires.

Grip nothing personal but after seeing your videos I WILL DEFINATELLY BE getting snow tires next season (hopefully something will be made by then). Your second video shows that you had to stop to make the turn into your neighbor’s driveway. I'm sure if you had more room and a bit more speed you would've seen major udersteer. As I said before, 4WD affords you a bit of traction in 0-whatever MPH, but it does nothing for stopping or turning. And as your video showed Eagle RS-As are just not up to standard for this kind of driving.

Grip nothing personal but after seeing your videos I WILL DEFINATELLY BE getting snow tires next season (hopefully something will be made by then). Your second video shows that you had to stop to make the turn into your neighbor’s driveway. I'm sure if you had more room and a bit more speed you would've seen major udersteer. As I said before 4WD affords you a bit of traction in 0-whatever MPH, but it does nothing for stopping or turning. And as your video showed Eagle RS-As are just not up to standard for this kind of driving.

I stopped so that the front fascia wouldn't scrape, which is customary now in the JGC SRT8.

I stopped so that the front fascia wouldn't scrape, which is customary now in the JGC SRT8.

I concede the point due to my erroneous assumption of your actions. Perhaps IF you get more snow, space and time we could see a better demonstration of the RS-As traction capabilities? I have a hard time believing that RS-As give you any meaningful grip in the snow. I had these tires on a powerful FWD sedan a few years back. I'm hoping for a bit of snow up here in New England (this season) so I can put my own doubts BACK to rest.

I had these tires on a powerful FWD sedan a few years back.

Grand Prix?

I concede the point due to my erroneous assumption of your actions. Perhaps IF you get more snow, space and time we could see a better demonstration of the RS-As traction capabilities? I have a hard time believing that RS-As give you any meaningful grip in the snow. I had these tires on a powerful FWD sedan a few years back. I'm hoping for a bit of snow up here in New England (this season) so I can put my own doubts BACK to rest.

One thing I forgot to mention was that if I lived up north I'd put winter tires on whatever I drove, regardless of the power or drivetrain. I did a 180 on a heavily crouded New York turnpike in November driving my old suv with summer tires. :eek: I traded the one wheel drive in for the SRT8, so I've seen an enormous improvment in snow/ice handling abilities. However, as I said before, I'd definately recommend getting snow tires for northern winter driving. It's hard to put a price on safety. :D

Unless you are just iching to spend money & waste time mounting tires 2x per year I don't understand the desire for snows. I live in Minnesota and have driven many types of cars in winter: VW, Audi, Saab, GMC, BMW and now Jeep. I've never put snows on and the only time I ever felt the need was with the BMW due to rear drive and HP tires.

I've also got a good friend who is a MN highway patrol - ask him about why people crash in winter driving and it's stupidity not what's riding on their wheels.

ya...for sure :)

Unless you are just iching to spend money & waste time mounting tires 2x per year I don't understand the desire for snows. I live in Minnesota and have driven many types of cars in winter: VW, Audi, Saab, GMC, BMW and now Jeep. I've never put snows on and the only time I ever felt the need was with the BMW due to rear drive and HP tires.

I've also got a good friend who is a MN highway patrol - ask him about why people crash in winter driving and it's stupidity not what's riding on their wheels.

Your BMW example just answered your own question as to why anyone would need snow tires! Stupidity is always the cause of all accidents, no mystery unlocked there! By the way, ask your cop friend what they have on their cars in the winter? Because up here cops have winters on their cars!

We can all drive on All-Season tires, it’s just that mediocrity sets in. But I guess depending on the car one drives, one might not even notice. Fortunately this isn’t a wobbly, numb on center, no steering feel Jeep, this is a serious machine. So personally, in the past, I chose to get the extra performance from a full summer tire (Bridgestone S-03 on my e39 540) and then not think twice when the snow came down, because winters where on. Plan to do the same, as soon as someone offers the choice for the SRT (on a smaller wheel).

Ok so how does it do in snow slush ice water you name it . The tires could be better but the thing just will not let you lose traction. Better tires I believe are always the way to go, but the traction control just won't let anything break loose. I live in Wyoming, have 2300 miles on a red one and frankly just don,t think It gets better than this. My hot rod I get to drive year around.

So who the hell makes snow tires that will fit thoses rims???:confused:

The best tires in the world won't prevent you from driving too fast for the conditions. Use your head and manage your speed and you'll be fine.

I dont bother using it in heavy snow, it is great in the rain.