Winter Driving in our new MKC

Indeed, the slush plays some games with the sensors and cameras. The reverse sensor has made some mistakes about rear obstacles with the ice buildup I've had in my location.

How about winter tires?

Our MKC has 19" rims with Michelin 245/45/19s on it (all weather). I've been pretty disappointed with their winter performance, particularly stopping distance. The AWD gets it moving, but it really tends to slide around on braking. I should note that my driveway is pretty steep, and I'm in the ice belt in MI.

I was surprised to see there are some winter options in this rim size. Dunlop Winter Maxx, Dunlop Winter 3DS, as well as Blizzak LM-32 winter options available in this rim size. I'm rather torn on paying a lot more for a set of 17" wheels with Blizzak WS-80 tires, which I have on another car and they're pretty incredible or just getting these tires for the existing rims. I know the LM-32 is really an all season tire with some winter enhancements, but how are the Dunlop Winter Maxx? Are these lighter duty winter tires worth an investment, or will they be underwhelming versus a more hardcore winter tire and rim setup?

What have others done? I'm not expecting to drive through snow drifts and deep snow, and the AWD works well, it's really just about helping with that stopping distance.

I'm in Maine and we've been bombarded with snow over the past couple of weeks. The road crews are doing their best to stay ahead of the accumulation...but the snow has been falling almost non-stop. My MKC has not weathered the storm very well at all. Snow/ice build-up in the wheel-housing is constant and impossible to keep up with (we have a heated garage and the build-up melts off, then comes right back as soon as I hit the road). I've had to forego travelling on cleared roads with speed limits in excess of 45 mph (the shimmy is intense above 30 mph). Have to make frequent stops to remove the build-up. I've been a Michigan driver and a Maine driver all my life, and while this winter has been unusually intense -- it's not the worst I've ever experienced. But it has been the most challenging that I can recall where my car is concerned. Yesterday my wiper blades and turn signals stopped working. I'll keep you posted on what my service center recommends as a fix. I know this sounds like a rant (apologies). In general I absolutely love my MKC...but this winter I'm really missing my 2011 Ford Edge

Your eyes in most cases are self cleaning. Your eyeglasses or Sunglasses, man made, require cleaning and depending were you live some areas more often than others. So yes sensors or cameras must be clean to perform their best. You can't see out the windshield very good when it is dirty, wet, snow covered or iced can you?

The 2016 MKX has a cover and washer for the front camera.

In regards to snow build up in the wheel wells. If the temps and snow happen to be conducive you're going to get a buildup in the wheel wells including a wheel. My Jeep's wells were fully packed a quarter inch from the tires for a few days last year. That has nothing to with balance of the wheels. If there is an offset build up of snow or ice in the barrel of a wheel you may or not, feel in the steering wheel , it's only temporary till it melts or is removed. No way around that once in a great while problem.

I have the 19 inch Michelin's, their an all season, not going to do as well as snow tires in snow. I did not feel there was any problem stopping. No rubber will perform well on ice. The snow tires will not perform as good on dry pavement and usually come with speed limit warning. One must chose what tire is best for their needs. I have not purchased snow tires sense all season tires became available. Not enough need in my locale.

For an AWD the MKC is just fine. You want to go 4 wheeling in the snow buy a Jeep, they wrote book.