First drive in the snow...

[camrycev6]

Howdy all,

Well I knew it would be bad...but I never expected it to be this bad!!

I have been delaying getting winter tires (Why? Just busy with other crap I guess...) and I almost regretted it yesterday.

We got about 4-6 inches of snow in the Baltimore area yesterday and I was going home. At first, there were no issues --- I grew up driving in the country in snow --- so I know how to handle it. The problem was when I had a good sized hill about 90-100 yards long. I got some speed before hitting it, but it wasn't enough. About 20 yards from the top, in third gear, I started spinning and pulling hard right. I had to downshift and I was able to straighten it out...but I was still slowing. Now 2nd is spinning....downshift again.... 1st gear with maybe 6-8 yards to go.... spinning now and moving about 2 MPH. I just held it there spinning away (You can just smell my poor tires burning up...) and I just barely made it. During all this a cavalier blew by me in the oncoming traffic lane --- thanks dude.

Time to go shopping for tires and rims....

[ZooMIN3]

well, at least you avoided any mishaps. get yourself some good winter/snow tires and you'll be good to go. glad you got home safely.

-J

[camrycev6]

Thanks... I was seriously worried I was going to be stuck. Now I have to decide if I spend $1000 on new tires and rims, or just buy a used 4x4... Time to go shopping!

[Foolish]

or just buy a used 4x4...

Considering how fabulously DC/MD/VA drivers perform in the snow, this may be your best option! Your snow tires can't save your MS3 from their idiocy!

[camrycev6]

I couldn't agree more.... God they are bad! I decided to try some inexpensive tire chains first. They were only $37, and if they don't work, I figured that another car might be the best choice. I priced the cheapest snow tires, 16" rims, and required TPMS for the new snow tires, and it came to a little over $1100. I can get a old used 4x4 for $2500. Might be worth it.

[Foolish]

If you lower your standards, you could pick up a 4X4 for $1100. :D

[SharkDiver]

You could just buy a set of snow tires for your stock wheels or get a good set of all seasons.You dont have to have another set of wheels just for snow tires even tho that is nice to have.

[camrycev6]

If you lower your standards, you could pick up a 4X4 for $1100. :D

I could care less what it looks like on the outside. Can you find a reliable 4x4 for $1100? I don't know....

Regarding swapping the tires with the existing rims...you still need to buy the TPMS. That will still cost you $700 for all of it. I just want to see how this chain works. (Actually it is a cable designed for passenger cars.) I like the idea of a $37 fix.

[Sacrilicious]

i got my wheels (17" alloy) + tires for about 860 from tirerack and just decided to leave out the TPMS. all it does is leave the TPMS light on, which isn't that big of a deal...:D

[WildChild]

You could go even cheaper with this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-2007-OEM-Ford-Fusion-17-x-7-Wheels-and-Tires_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ66483QQihZ009QQit emZ190181049951QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW) combo. I have these on my car and they work very well.

[Foolish]

I could care less what it looks like on the outside. Can you find a reliable 4x4 for $1100? I don't know....


$1400 pathfinder 4X4 (http://baltimore.craigslist.org/car/500533576.html)
$800 manual Celica (http://baltimore.craigslist.org/car/500675021.html) - probably just as good if it has all-seasons on it.
$900 Escort Wagon (http://baltimore.craigslist.org/car/499014191.html) - 5-speed! I had 2 Escorts, they were unstoppable in snow!
$1500 4X4 Explorer (http://baltimore.craigslist.org/car/498533345.html)
$700 4X4 Explorer (http://baltimore.craigslist.org/car/498533345.html)

:D ...no affiliation, I apparently just like shopping for cars, even if they're not for me!

[AJ08]

yea i couldnt make it up a hill heading to my friends house.. i new it would be hard but wow..... a vw jetta just drove right past me

[redspeed3tk]

ha i found out that you can do sweet donuts with the speed and not in reverse just pull the ebrake to start and turn haha snow drivin is good unless ya dont pay attention and hit boost .. blizacks lm22 on stock wheels

[camrycev6]

$1400 pathfinder 4X4 (http://baltimore.craigslist.org/car/500533576.html)
$800 manual Celica (http://baltimore.craigslist.org/car/500675021.html) - probably just as good if it has all-seasons on it.
$900 Escort Wagon (http://baltimore.craigslist.org/car/499014191.html) - 5-speed! I had 2 Escorts, they were unstoppable in snow!
$1500 4X4 Explorer (http://baltimore.craigslist.org/car/498533345.html)
$700 4X4 Explorer (http://baltimore.craigslist.org/car/498533345.html)

:D ...no affiliation, I apparently just like shopping for cars, even if they're not for me!

Thanks for the ideas... We wil see how the chains do... If they suck...I will seriously be considering a beater winter car.

[happy and angry]

Wow. Seriously, just go to TireRack and get their 16 inch winter tire package for the car. You know what a 4x4 doesn't do well if it doesn't have good tires for the conditions? Turn. Brake. All it helps you with is moving forward. Plus you have to insure it and repair it if/when shit goes wrong, and it's going to cost you as much to buy a beater and keep it on the road as it will to get tires. The only difference is the tires will last you three or four seasons, AND you'll have a set of rims so that when you have to replace the winters, it'll be all of 400 bucks.

[jersey_emt]

Wow. Seriously, just go to TireRack and get their 16 inch winter tire package for the car. You know what a 4x4 doesn't do well if it doesn't have good tires for the conditions? Turn. Brake. All it helps you with is moving forward. Plus you have to insure it and repair it if/when shit goes wrong, and it's going to cost you as much to buy a beater and keep it on the road as it will to get tires. The only difference is the tires will last you three or four seasons, AND you'll have a set of rims so that when you have to replace the winters, it'll be all of 400 bucks.

Actually, having a beater listed as your primary vehicle for the winter and the MS3 as a 'pleasure only' vehicle would save a lot on insurance because of the multi-car discount.

[camrycev6]

Wow. Seriously, just go to TireRack and get their 16 inch winter tire package for the car. You know what a 4x4 doesn't do well if it doesn't have good tires for the conditions? Turn. Brake. All it helps you with is moving forward. Plus you have to insure it and repair it if/when shit goes wrong, and it's going to cost you as much to buy a beater and keep it on the road as it will to get tires. The only difference is the tires will last you three or four seasons, AND you'll have a set of rims so that when you have to replace the winters, it'll be all of 400 bucks.

I did that at first...I love TireRack. I didn't want to pay the $1100. (That was the cheapest option... with the TPMS. I can skip those as long as I don't mind the light and drop the cost about $300)

I, of course, would list MS3 as a recreational vehicle, and get minimal coverage on the beater. My insurance wouldn't change much. As far as the handling on the 4x4, that was never a concern. I know how to drive in the snow --- certainly better than 95% of the drivers around here. Putting snow tires on my MS3 won't make it turn, brake, etc. any better than a 4x4 with good all season / winter tires. Certainly not enough to matter in the conditions I would be driving it. I don't try to do anything too crazy with 8 inches of snow on the road.

You have a point on how buying the rims now allows me to replace just the tires later. Of course, I would think that one set of snow tires would last me the entire time I owned the car (say 5-6 years) because they would only be on it about 3 months a year. So really...that isn't a plus for me to have the rims. (Other than a small selling point when I got rid of it.)

Of course, there are other advantages in having two cars aw well. I have done it before in my life, and it was always great to have a backup, or "work horse" vehicle when you want to keep your other car clean and nice.

[bmman93]

Ya The Hill Thing Sucks! I Think The Brakes Are Worce In The Snow Too! It Dont Take Much To Get Them To Lock Up My Truck Wasnt As Bad At Stopping. It Was An Adventure Tho! Love That Baltimore Weather!

Will A 16 Inch Rim Fit Over Our Brakes? That Caliper And Rotor R Kinda Big!

[camrycev6]

According to tire rack it will...

[oskinosmee]

i too was stuck a few times this car sucks in the snow

[Crypt0wind]

Like many I tired the stocks "summer" tires in the snow, hell I'm from the midwest. I guess they weren't kidding about 3 season tires...

Installed my 215/50R-17 Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60 and 17x7.5 Sport Edition CD Silver, from Tirerack. Now diving in the snow is a pleasure, a whole new experience!

[AJ08]

yea next set of tires will be all season tires

[chufa]

I put mine on without TPMS. I don't mind the little light in the dashboard. Those Blizzaks I put rock.

[sfalexi]

Ya The Hill Thing Sucks! I Think The Brakes Are Worce In The Snow Too! It Dont Take Much To Get Them To Lock Up My Truck Wasnt As Bad At Stopping. It Was An Adventure Tho! Love That Baltimore Weather!

Will A 16 Inch Rim Fit Over Our Brakes? That Caliper And Rotor R Kinda Big!There was another thread where someone took the 16" rims and wheels off his/her other car and put them on. Said it fits over the brakes and works.

Alexi

[aquamar]

Hi Folks,

You can't seriously think about driving in any kind of winter weather with stock Potenza summer high performance tires. Do you want to die or kill someone? Good grief!!

You invested in a serious sports car; invest in some serious winter treads.

I want my MS3 to look sharp and drive hard 12 months a year. I live in Canada. We have serious winters 3 months a year and potential winter weather March-April and October-November. I can't put my summers on until the middle of April and I need to take them off in the middle of October. However, I still have a huge number of days in the shoulder seasons when I can drive the socks off this car.

I also HATE ugly black steel winter rims.

Solution: Inexpensive 18" alloy rims with Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22 215/45 low profile, high performance winter tires. Awesome! This combination sticks better in snow and on ice than my Protege 5. These are H-rated tires (130 MPH). When the pavement is dry between October and April, I can drive fast at well over 100 MPH. Don't try that on any cheap tire store 16" winter tire packages. So, do you want to drive fast whenever the pavement is dry? I do. Do you want to neuter your MS3 for 4-6 months a year? I don't.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Blizzak+LM-22

The cost for me, including installation, balancing and taxes was $ 1850.00. These will last me for 5 years easily.

The car looks great!! It sticks great in winter weather. It goes super fast on dry pavement year round.

If you can't stay lit all the time, don't burn at all.

[Stamperman]

I took the 17" wheels and all season tires off of my wifes 5 (I have a set of 16" snow tires on it now, they won't fit on the speed) and have driven 2 days this week in 3+ inches of fresh snow. They work really well. They aren't snow tires, but I think they are more than acceptable.

The car is actually fun to drive in the snow, and traction/stability control doesn't keep you from doing some really great hand brake turns!

[sfalexi]

Would it just be cheaper to just get winter tires tires and pay a store change the tires twice a season? Instead of buying a second set of wheels too?

[flipstylex]

You know what dude, it snowed on my area 2 that night, thats the reason why i could really use awd ;).... i live in NJ and we took sum hard snow ourselves.. i was driving on the eway, and i notice i was going 35 the most loL... so scared driving this thing in the snow ! As for winter tires, i guess i have to start looking....better find me good deals soon !!!

[aquamar]

Would it just be cheaper to just get winter tires tires and pay a store change the tires twice a season? Instead of buying a second set of wheels too?

I understand the temptation but you will seriously mess up your gorgeous, expensive 18" alloys by changing tires twice a year. Leave your summers on the stock rims, bite the bullet and buy some dedicated winter rims and tires.

BTW, it takes some careful consideration with a person who knows your MS3 and knows wheel and tire sizes (dimensions, offset, etc.) to get a tire/wheel match that will leave adequate space for your calipers and not result in tire rub in your wheel wells.

Good luck.

[sfalexi]

Thanks. Guess I might need a trip to a tire store to see what they recommend and then do my usual online shopping to see if I can buy it cheaper.

[Ms3InMd]

Haha this is pretty funny. I live in the columbia area and have a hill like you described except a little smaller as a driveway and it sucked to try getting up it. That's why I want to just park this car in the snow, but everyone says with nice tires it is good so maybe I will just try to get snow tires.

[Colleptic]

Good winters will change everything; I have Maxxis 225 40's with a Y speed rating. The tread is so aggressive, I can chew up almost all types or compacted snow. I can even corner on shear ice...slowly, but the point is not even my Blizzack on my last car could do that. Plus these tires look so mean, I have caught people checking them out as the walk by.

[henderan]

So happy with my purchase from Tire Rack (Michelin X-Ice + Kazera 17" KZV light grey, little over $1100). First car ever actually with snowtires... my old Maxima with all seasons couldn't get around this well.

Also, definitely not regretting not purchasing on TPMS. I can do without for the winter. Speaking of which, Tirerack was very helpful, they called me after my order to make sure I was not getting TPMS as well as would have called me if the rim I chose had a different offset, even though the wizard said it would fit the mazdaspeed3.

[SwampAss]

I couldn't agree more.... God they are bad! I decided to try some inexpensive tire chains first. They were only $37, and if they don't work, I figured that another car might be the best choice. I priced the cheapest snow tires, 16" rims, and required TPMS for the new snow tires, and it came to a little over $1100. I can get a old used 4x4 for $2500. Might be worth it.


DC bad
Maryland WORSE

no offense.


All the shitty drivers in Va are former MD residents. I drove my car with the fancy summer tires in snow last year. It was not pleasant. I did MUCH better than my 25 year old neighbor in his G35 wearing similar tires. :-p
I am still shopping for a new driver's seat insert as I have not been able to extract the piece of mine still wedged 'tween my 'tocks.

[camrycev6]

Swampass... No offense taken... I actually agree with you. I am not a MD native... I grew up driving back roads in good and horrible weather in KY. I like to think I know how to drive pretty well. Regardless, compared to the MD drivers, I am outstanding....

[SwampAss]

I grew up watching the dukes of hazzard and lived on miles of dirt roads. Nuff said.

[Sacrilicious]

i grew up on the prairie freezing my ballz off watching my breath freeze as it came out of my mouth...i win!

[camrycev6]

Although not common, I have been there and done that too. We have some strange winter's in KY. The jet stream drops sometimes and brings some nasty Canadian cold air down with it. We get at least one or two bad snow storms a year.