My mother doesn't believe that trans ams/f-bodies aren't good in the snow. back me up
#121
I had to daily drive mine for two years in Chicago. So I know from my personal experience that they suck in the snow and on ice BUT are manageable with the right tires and driving skills. I was running BFG KDWS and they did ok. Pulled a few 2.0 60's with them at the track too
But now that I don't have to drive it in the snow anymore I am more then happy to store it five months out of the year.
But now that I don't have to drive it in the snow anymore I am more then happy to store it five months out of the year.
#122
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 32,396
Likes: 1,818
From: Schiller Park, IL Member: #317
They are decent tires for very light snow, but not really the best choice for a winter F-body tire. They are still geared more towards being a Z-rated performance tire than a straight up snow tire. Did you have them in the 245/50/16 or 275/40/17 size? It's best to run the skinniest tire possibile, like the 225/55 series, so the weight of the car isn't spread across as much tire. You'll get a deeper bite on a 225 tire, espeically once you've got some weight in the trunk area.
#123
I ran the 245/50R16. I know they were not the best snow tire but they were rated for snow and I did ok with them. Granted it was slow going and I got passed a lot by civics and other fwd cars
But still they got me around even with as much as an 18" snow fall one of the two winters.
But still they got me around even with as much as an 18" snow fall one of the two winters.
#124
#128
Hehe a couple weeks ago I blew past a ricer on the highway in the snow. He was in the right lane probably doing something like 40 or so and while there was snow on the road it wasn't too much so I swung out in the left lane and whipped past him at 65. Don't know why but it just gave me some glee doing it lol
#129
TECH Resident
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 896
Likes: 1
From: Holmes County (thats right Amish Country), OHIO
Nice kill... HAHA....
Seriously though. Tires+Rims+ Sand+cost of repairs if you wreck it are greater then the cost of a beater. Shoot if you wreck a beater take the plates scratch the VIN and call for a ride then leave it.
Like I said before a car that gets sideways on dry pavement will be quite crappy on snow...
+1 for beater
Seriously though. Tires+Rims+ Sand+cost of repairs if you wreck it are greater then the cost of a beater. Shoot if you wreck a beater take the plates scratch the VIN and call for a ride then leave it.
Like I said before a car that gets sideways on dry pavement will be quite crappy on snow...
+1 for beater
#130
Hehe a couple weeks ago I blew past a ricer on the highway in the snow. He was in the right lane probably doing something like 40 or so and while there was snow on the road it wasn't too much so I swung out in the left lane and whipped past him at 65. Don't know why but it just gave me some glee doing it lol
#131
Seriously though. Tires+Rims+ Sand+cost of repairs if you wreck it are greater then the cost of a beater. Shoot if you wreck a beater take the plates scratch the VIN and call for a ride then leave it.
Like I said before a car that gets sideways on dry pavement will be quite crappy on snow...
+1 for beater
Like I said before a car that gets sideways on dry pavement will be quite crappy on snow...
+1 for beater
So in the end you don't actually need to spend any extra money but you do need to spend a LOT of extra time getting from A to B right after a snow fall. There were times I had to go 20 mph and got passed by civics and Neons. But I always got where I was going and I never got into an accident. No matter how you slice it the winter beater is an extra, albeit worthwhile, expense because you are adding a new vehicle to your insurance policy and you have to pay for the second cars purchase, repairs, maintenence, ect.
Winter beaters are awesome for those of us that can afford them. But I wouldn't and didn't let it stop me from buying an LS1 even when I couldn't afford the extra car.
#132
snow tires.. 16x7" rims with 215/60 snow tires and knowing how to drive a RWD car is all you need. most all the guys that are saying its impossible are all trying to drive on summer only high performance tires. Drivers puts cars into ditches not the cars themselves... I've driven f-bodies in the snow since 1995, never gotten stock, never been in a ditch, good tires and knowing your car are all you need. I don't drive all slow either I just drive with traffic.
In fact.. Here is a video of my car after 8" of snow. It doesn't look that deep in the video but at some spots I could feel the snow plowing against the air deflector.
http://www.fquick.com/videos/LS1_F-body_in_snow___/4727
In fact.. Here is a video of my car after 8" of snow. It doesn't look that deep in the video but at some spots I could feel the snow plowing against the air deflector.
http://www.fquick.com/videos/LS1_F-body_in_snow___/4727
#133
buy a beater, I mean a serious beater! find 500 dollars and see what you can find that runs thats a fwd and have fun with it. Your car could be driven in the snow and you would be fine but honestly its not worth it. I drove a 2wd little nissan in Kodiak, AK this past winter that was a lil 4cyl 5 spd with studded tires and I had a shitload of weight in the back so it did pretty good as long as I had momentum. but find a fwd car, liability only and drive it like its your nice car and you will be fine.
#135
A few miles later the highway was totally covered (all the plows decided to get off at main st exit I guess ) so at that point I was doing 30 at the most along with everyone else as traction was definitely compromised. Still didn't slip but I didn't want to push it.
#136
I had to drive in the snow in December on the southside of chicago, as long as you are careful you can easily get around, though I would recommend putting some weight in the hatch for some traction, I have snow tires and it still walks right off the road if I try starting on a snow packed road.
#137
I'll be honest with you: I hate driving my beater FWD car in the snow. It's boring. (Yes I have snow tires on my winter beater) All this talk of driving Fbods in the snow makes me want to wake mine up from its winter slumber and powerslide to my hearts content! If they didn't use so much salt on the roads around here I'd definitely be driving my camaro in the winter. I'm so sick of driving a POS "winter car" that I'm almost ready to trade it for a set of snows for the camaro!
#138
a high horsepower rear wheel drive car is horrible for snow. If you want your car to be safe in snow you need a nice heads/cam set up. Thats what most f body drivers do in the snow. I really hope we can help wake your mom up and maybe she can help out with the heads/cam set up if she cares at all about her kid.
#139
This is my favorite post in the thread. Don't forget guys that a free flowing exhaust will also keep the underside of the car warmer and help with traction in snow too. A larger rear end like a 12 bolt or a 9 inch is also a must in winter weather. I was sliding like my car was on skates until I got my 12 bolt.
Are you kidding me? Warmed exhaust: bang::bang
Dont give out bullshit advice if you dont know what your talking about
#140
I had to daily drive mine for two years in Chicago. So I know from my personal experience that they suck in the snow and on ice BUT are manageable with the right tires and driving skills. I was running BFG KDWS and they did ok. Pulled a few 2.0 60's with them at the track too
But now that I don't have to drive it in the snow anymore I am more then happy to store it five months out of the year.
But now that I don't have to drive it in the snow anymore I am more then happy to store it five months out of the year.
Get a real winter tire, thats size right and throw some weight in the back and its perfectly fine in the snow
Spend the money on a set of steelies that fit or somthing and get real good snow tires ment for rain/sno only