BSBL Squirrelly on Black Ice

[ebastow]

Today was the first time that I've driven my Bronco Sport Badlands on black ice. It's extremely squirrely! You can feel that you're going to spin out if you just steer wrong at all. Has anyone else experienced this? I just have Continental tires on it so they aren't the best for these conditions. Any tire suggestions, or just slow way down and no quick steer action?

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[Jmuns]

I would assume that any time you’re driving on any ice you should slow down and not make any quick actions. That will go a long way IMO.

Did you put those tires on your BL or did you buy it used? I would put some better tires on it for sure. Something rated well for snow and ice if that’s what you encounter frequently. The OEM Faulken Wildpeaks are good tires. 235/65/17 size.

 

[Mark S.]

Try the SLIPPERY setting on your G.O.A.T mode selector. It reduces throttle response and engages traction control more aggressively. I found it works pretty well in recent testing.

 

[ebastow]

I would assume that any time you’re driving on any ice you should slow down and not make any quick actions. That will go a long way IMO.

Did you put those tires on your BL or did you buy it used? I would put some better tires on it for sure. Something rated well for snow and ice if that’s what you encounter frequently. The OEM Faulken Wildpeaks are good tires. 235/65/17 size.

I just purchased it used and it has about 56,000 miles on it so I'm assuming that these are not the original tires, as they have decent tread still, but it looks like a road pattern not a all weather or all terrain.

 

[ebastow]

Try the SLIPPERY setting on your G.O.A.T mode selector. It reduces throttle response and engages traction control more aggressively. I found it works pretty well in recent testing.

I did put it in Slippery GOAT mode and felt like it helped some but it was still very sensitive to any kind of steering movement. I would assume that some better tires would probably help.

 

[ebastow]

I would assume that any time you’re driving on any ice you should slow down and not make any quick actions. That will go a long way IMO.

Did you put those tires on your BL or did you buy it used? I would put some better tires on it for sure. Something rated well for snow and ice if that’s what you encounter frequently. The OEM Faulken Wildpeaks are good tires. 235/65/17 size.

I purchased it used with these tires on it. It has about 56,000 Mi so I'm assuming that they are Replacements from the original. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Mark S.]

I did put it in Slippery GOAT mode and felt like it helped some but it was still very sensitive to any kind of steering movement. I would assume that some better tires would probably help.

It's a relatively light vehicle with a short wheelbase. Additionally, turning radius is quite small, so you don't need to turn the wheel very far to get a steering response. Were you driving on solid or patchy ice?

 

[Meanderthal]

I purchased it used with these tires on it. It has about 56,000 Mi so I'm assuming that they are Replacements from the original. Thanks for the suggestion.

Do you know if it has a lift installed? Have you checked the tires for any abnormal wear?

I ask these questions because my BS was very squirrelly on the snow/ice after installing a lift but before getting an alignment. On dry pavement it was fine but it did eventually show up in tire wear. That actually happened pretty quick.

Find an alignment shop that works on vehicles that have been modified, even if yours is stock. They will be more prepared and experienced to get the alignment right.

 

[Bucko]

So glad I don't have to deal with that in Florida.

Stay safe, and drive careful.

 

[ebastow]

Do you know if it has a lift installed? Have you checked the tires for any abnormal wear?

I ask these questions because my BS was very squirrelly on the snow/ice after installing a lift but before getting an alignment. On dry pavement it was fine but it did eventually show up in tire wear. That actually happened pretty quick.

Find an alignment shop that works on vehicles that have been modified, even if yours is stock. They will be more prepared and experienced to get the alignment right.

It is a standard Badlands, so it is lifted over the basic Bronco Sport, but all by Factory equipment, is what i understand. I will look closer at my tires to see if there's some unusual wear patterns that's great advice. Thank you

 

[ebastow]

It's a relatively light vehicle with a short wheelbase. Additionally, turning radius is quite small, so you don't need to turn the wheel very far to get a steering response. Were you driving on solid or patchy ice?

It was a pretty solid sheet of black ice this morning covering the entire Lane, but there were a few dry spots so that could have led to some of the feeling also. I agree with the effect of the short wheelbase and the Badlands version being fairly high up to probably contribute to this.

 

[Mwittke5857]

The only thing I found to work well in icy conditions is staying out of it!!

 

[RushMan]

It is a standard Badlands, so it is lifted over the basic Bronco Sport, but all by Factory equipment, is what i understand. I will look closer at my tires to see if there's some unusual wear patterns that's great advice. Thank you

From your picture, the tires appear to be Continental Cross Contact LX in 225/65R17 size.
Those are All Season type tires, not the AT type that comes on the Badlands trim.

 

[hellb0y]

Tires tires and tires….

the factory tires are terrible - do yourself a favour and upgrade to something like Michelin CrossClimate 2 if you don’t do off roading…

 

[ebastow]

Thanks for the help!

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