Took ole Smurfette (the 110SE) to the Maine Celtics game last night and while we were in the arena (ok, highschool basketball gym. Stop laughing) we got about 3" of the white stuff dumped on us. Wife wanted me to drive back so I put it in the Snow mode. I noticed in the stop and go traffic of the post-game exodus, when it would start up and move from an auto-start-stop there would be a popping sound coming from the front axle area. Maybe even the brakes. When I turned it back to comfort mode, it wouldn't do it anymore.

Is this anything I should be concerned about?

This was the first time I drove the Defender in slick road snow conditions (its technically the boss's car). The powder was the white fluffy stuff that instantly compacts into a slick layer. Definitely need better tires. While it did fine, getting started going up hills and going around corners/curves I definitely lost traction even in snow mode. Since we're pretty much 1/3rd of the way through winter (it lasts until June up here) I'll probably wait to put some new A/T's on later this year.

 

Maybe it was the traction control (ABS) clicking while trying to get traction. Those OEM Goodyears are terrible in snow and especially slush.

I've been up your way many times this winter in snowy conditions to Lewiston and Sugarloaf. Michelin X-Ice winter tires make all the difference. Falken Wildpeak AT4W is probably your next best option if you don't want to run dedicated winter tires.

 

Definitely more than a click. I could feel it in the floorboard.

I will definitely be changing the tires this summer. I love the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss M/T's I have on my other rig but I don't know if the A/T's are the right tire for what the Defender's purpose is. Falken is probably the way to go but the TFL A/T tire review did not favor the Falken's AT4W over the KO3.

 

If living in Maine and not taking the Defender offroad, consider the Nokian WRG5 SUV for good winter traction.

This new Nokian tire also has my attention to avoid the winter tire changeover:

https://na.nokiantyres.com/all-terra...s-outpost-nat/

 

Were you putting your foot in it when you heard that noise?
Were you turning, or straight line?
Did you happen put the offroad screen up to see if you were breaking traction?

I drive in snow mode frequently and have not experienced a sound like that. Snow mode just seems to numb everything to keep traction and I find it works excellent.

 

Foot was on the throttle.
Straight line.
Didn't have the offroad screen up but I don't think traction was being broken based on what my butt was telling me.

 

Could have something to do with the auto braking system (maybe?). In hard, slippery surface mode (snow, grass, gravel) the vehicle will use its fast braking capability to not allow those wheels without traction to turn. It will do this for each wheel independently and starting from a "brakes on" point of logic.

When I use that feature, I always apply the throttle very gently and accelerate slowly and smoothly. I am not sure if you did the same and/or if it would make any difference. Using Launch Control is the formalized method to execute this moving from a full stop logic.

A bit of a mystery. I am interested to know how your testing proceeds.

And yes, the Goodyear tires are awful.......