anyone drive their vert in the winter?
I've got a 99 with M6 and Goodrich KDW's. The car, even with 100lbs in the trunk, with these tires, is HORRIBLE in the snow. I live on a relatively flat cul de sac, and took 20 minutes to get into my driveway - it kept on slipping and sliding - I'm considering getting snow tires for it to see how they work out. I'd not drive it if we get more than 4" though.
TECH Regular
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 400
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque
Fortunately we have beautiful weather most of the year. We rarely get snow and it's usually top-down weather all the way through January. Gotta love New Mexico.
That being said, I've driven my '02 (with factory tires) in snow and ice. IT SUCKS!!! I love the cars (obviously), but my experience has been they don't fair well in incliment weather. Don't get me wrong, I can drive my car well....and knowing it's center of gravity and how it likes to drift makes it managable to "understand" the car, but it doesn't grip worth crap (especially in stop & go traffic).
As a note....yes my car does have traction control. It's worthless.....I just turn it off and control the car myself.....it's more predictable.
Thanx,
Mike
Treasurer, Burnin' It Up: The Firebird & TransAm Club of New Mexico
2002 WS6 Convertible
1992 WS6 Convertible
1991 WS6 Hardtop 350
1988 GTA Hardtop 350
1986 WS6 Convertible
1984 WS6 Convertible
1983 WS6 Convertible
That being said, I've driven my '02 (with factory tires) in snow and ice. IT SUCKS!!! I love the cars (obviously), but my experience has been they don't fair well in incliment weather. Don't get me wrong, I can drive my car well....and knowing it's center of gravity and how it likes to drift makes it managable to "understand" the car, but it doesn't grip worth crap (especially in stop & go traffic).
As a note....yes my car does have traction control. It's worthless.....I just turn it off and control the car myself.....it's more predictable.
Thanx,
Mike
Treasurer, Burnin' It Up: The Firebird & TransAm Club of New Mexico
2002 WS6 Convertible
1992 WS6 Convertible
1991 WS6 Hardtop 350
1988 GTA Hardtop 350
1986 WS6 Convertible
1984 WS6 Convertible
1983 WS6 Convertible
Guys, it's all TIRES. Toss a set of narrow Blizzaks on these cars and they'll truck right through snow and ice. Simply adding wieght on summer tires pretty much does squat.
Ground clearance for big snows remains your enemy, and you don't want that crap sitting on your top.
But I drove a '93 (no TCS) with Blizzaks 100 miles a day for three Indiana winters, and never got stuck or spun out. You do have to be careful, but tires make a world of difference. Summer tires have no grip and no progressiveness in snow. I wouldn't WANT or RECOMMEND to do it, but it is possible.
Like I said your main enemies are ground clearance (drifts and chunks) and other drivers.
Plus, it's a good excuse to buy new rims and use your old ones for snow tires.
Ground clearance for big snows remains your enemy, and you don't want that crap sitting on your top.
But I drove a '93 (no TCS) with Blizzaks 100 miles a day for three Indiana winters, and never got stuck or spun out. You do have to be careful, but tires make a world of difference. Summer tires have no grip and no progressiveness in snow. I wouldn't WANT or RECOMMEND to do it, but it is possible.
Like I said your main enemies are ground clearance (drifts and chunks) and other drivers.
Plus, it's a good excuse to buy new rims and use your old ones for snow tires.
[QUOTE=tici]I was thinking it was much colder!
Is it because of the gulf current?[/QUOTE]
its a hot sea current that runs all the way from mexico gulf and brings us hot sea and air and makes is bareable to live here, when the current isnt hitting iceland it gets **** cold out here but that seldom happens. and becouse i live on the sout west corner i get all the hot currents hitting the shores over here and the winters are prety mild for example i only saw 14 days of snow last year and it hasnt even snowd once this ear.
and no i didnt have a TT Stealth Just FWD but i have heard that the 4WD cars are a blast do drive in the winter
Is it because of the gulf current?[/QUOTE]
its a hot sea current that runs all the way from mexico gulf and brings us hot sea and air and makes is bareable to live here, when the current isnt hitting iceland it gets **** cold out here but that seldom happens. and becouse i live on the sout west corner i get all the hot currents hitting the shores over here and the winters are prety mild for example i only saw 14 days of snow last year and it hasnt even snowd once this ear.
and no i didnt have a TT Stealth Just FWD but i have heard that the 4WD cars are a blast do drive in the winter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: maryland
snow tires makes a world of difference. the other is about driver's ability. if you're not used to snow driving, then starting out with a 350hp RWD front-heavy car is not a good idea.
a guy in Switzerland or Michigan saying it's a piece of cake, does not make it so for someone who've never driven in the snow (and how much snow).
then there's the chance of some idiot losing control and plowing into you when you're as careful as can be.
a guy in Switzerland or Michigan saying it's a piece of cake, does not make it so for someone who've never driven in the snow (and how much snow).
then there's the chance of some idiot losing control and plowing into you when you're as careful as can be.
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: maryland
btw, 2 snow tires on the rear of my 5.0 Mustang gave me more traction than my 95 Accord with all seasons tires. just as long as i don't make sudden jabs on the gas and spinning out with the 300 lbs of stock torque.
i have a set of Blizzaks for the winter, havent ran into any problems sliding around, but of course you have to stay off the gas, i havent had any problems with my convt. either...just wish i didnt have to drive it in the winter
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Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Knox-Vegas
After much agonizing, that is my plan...for now...
There is not usually much snow in Tennessee, a friend here who did it said it is awful about 3 days a year...
I had a 4 wheel drive Jeep that slid off the road going down hill on ice, so if it's that bad for a day or two, I just won't drive --- being self employed I won't fire myself for missing work, so I can get away with it, I hope...
***My theory is that if I drive with the top down every day, as it gradually gets colder, I'll become acclimated to the cold, and be comfortably topless at 18 degrees...
There is not usually much snow in Tennessee, a friend here who did it said it is awful about 3 days a year...
I had a 4 wheel drive Jeep that slid off the road going down hill on ice, so if it's that bad for a day or two, I just won't drive --- being self employed I won't fire myself for missing work, so I can get away with it, I hope...
***My theory is that if I drive with the top down every day, as it gradually gets colder, I'll become acclimated to the cold, and be comfortably topless at 18 degrees...