At which point should you use SLIPPERY Mode?

When you engage slippery mode, it shows water, snow, and ice on the dashboard. But isn't intelligent four-wheel drive (or AWD) already engaged in Normal mode?

Would you use it when the road is wet or wait until there is a least snow on the road? I'm really questioning the line people have been determining when to engage slippery mode.

I would assume all the individual modes are more sensitive and accustomed to those conditions. Whereas normal is an all rounder?


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I used slippery mode once or twice in heavy rain and using the 4-wheel-drive display on the dash you can see that the power goes more evenly to front and rear wheels rather than rwd bias with front assist in normal, eco and sport modes.

Same as hbalek, I use it in heavy rain. It seems to balance the 4WD differently than normal.

All kinds of things happen in the "Slippery" mode. Most noticeable is Transmission shift points and bias between axels...

Not to ressurect an old thread but I concur with everyone above. I've used slippery and deep snow/sand modes in snowstorms before and it definitely helps with reducing wheel slip while accelerating. Looking at the AWD display it shows that while accelerating the power is balanced between front and rear axles. No rear axle bias like in sport or normal. Slippery also seems to skip 1st gear and starts in 2nd from a stop, as the higher torque in 1st can cause wheel slip. I'm not sure if it does that in deep snow/sand mode. I believe trail changes shift points for more torque and increases engine braking from what I can tell. I would imagine it also includes the balanced power distribution among both axles but I never really checked before. I don't use it that often.

I always wondered if eco mode deactivates cylinders. It seems to me that it's plausible, but I haven't found any documentation stating that. Definitely the noticeable part is the shift point changes along with throttle response modifications. Even while cruising in 10th at higher speeds there's a noticeable difference in throttle response. Honestly I don't see that much of a difference in fuel economy, especially at highway speeds, maybe 1 or 2 mpg (I average about 20mpg in daily driving). I could see how possibly in more urban stop-and-go environments it may be more useful as it changes accelerating patterns significantly.

I'm certainly no expert in this but these have been my observations over the last year with my ST.

Cheers

Yeah when I was at the ST driving experience, they said slippery mode can be used in rain. Mainly heavy rain.

from my experience, eco is really only helpful in city driving. Keeps rpms down and honestly just makes you less likely to gun it. That in of itself helps with fuel economy.