Update: It’s handling much more predictably now. It seems the issue was likely due to the wheel speed sensors not knowing that the tires weren’t properly inflated due to an improper/lacking TPMS calibration. Since there aren’t actual pressure sensors in the tires this car has to make some assumptions that rely on having the tire pressure accurately set and then telling the car to reset it’s calibration. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I bought a 2023 ID.4 last summer and have to say overall I really like it. That said, it’s winter handling on roads and highways might be the worst of any car I’ve ever owned.
It has the OEM Pirelli Scorpion Zeroes, and all of the online reviews make these out to be really good all around tires. Tread depth is okay - my depth gauge shows it on the border between green and yellow all around, so about 5/32".
With snow packed roads it slides all over above 30 mph or so. On the highways I can’t go over 40 or 45 if there are slippery patches or the whole car skates sideways and begins to fishtail. Other cars are flying by me, and the other vehicles I own handle the roads more like I would expect.
Could this be due to the material of the tires being harder than other tires? Is the tread pattern not good for ice and snow? I’m really questioning the online reviews but not sure if different tires will be better or not.
Traction control cannot compensate for bad tires at all. It compensates for excessive power application by the driver and does not change how much traction exists between the tires and road surface.
After all of the comments here, and some more consideration, I’m now thinking/hoping that the issue stemmed from under inflated tires that were not properly recognized by the traction control system as under inflated (since no warning was on display).
I’ve properly inflated them and reset the system so now I’ll have to see how it handles.
If it uses a combined sensor for tire pressure and wheel speed as your other comment says, underinflation/miscalibration could cause traction/stability control to act up resulting in all manner of potential weird handling issues on low-traction surfaces.