If this car is your daily driver, how is it doing this WINTER? With the potholes.....

[Chimpo]

Originally Posted by shaunsweeney

When I traded my rubicon in for the frs I made them cute me a check for $1k for a winter set. Went with 16" steelies wrapped in continental extreme winter contacts. The car is manageable in the snow. I live on a very steep hill and if it isn't plowed and more than an inch or two I can't make it up. Makes me miss the jeep. Luckily winter doesn't last forever.

I too use the Conti's and have been less than impressed with them so far. Driving around the city in an inch of fresh snow and the car is fine. But I work 45 minutes outside of the city (I.E. BFE) and they have a difficult time plowing / succeeding at life. Once it gets a little deeper and somewhat rutted it's white knuckle time. Putting some weight in the trunk helped the rear from being too "skatey", but the front never feels better than driving on marbles. I've used snow tires on a couple of FWD cars and an STi and never ever had ANY confidence issues even in the absolute worst of road conditions (I know... apples to oranges to grapes).

It's been bad enough that I'm very seriously thinking about getting rid of the car to get back in a WRX, etc etc.

[shaunsweeney]

Yeah may just be the car for you because the tires feel ok to me. It feels like a very light rwd sports car with snow tires to me. Exactly what I expected. This car was never designed to be great in the snow even with proper tires.

[aghuman]

Im running Continental EWC 205/55/16 for a little extra mushiness. Put em on black oem steelies for around $800. I have yet to get stuck or have a scary moment and I drive quite a bit to say the least. When I want to have fun I can easily do so but when I want composure this car doesn't disappoint. Winters are a must IMO, just for your own curiosity go out and feel the rubber on any all season tire when it dips below 0 degrees and it will be hard as a rock as compared to the nice mushiness of a winter tire that's meant for that temperature. Havent had too much of an issue with pot holes either, I hit a bad one the other day that made me cringe but overall its been fine.

This did make me reconsider lowering my car though since I have already scraped snow several times.

Aside from the tires the only other thing I did was buy weather tech mats.

[Sirsimon]

We had a freak (for Portland, OR) snowstorm hit a week after I picked my car up, so I've been running on stock sized Blizzaks for most of my break in mileage. The car was great in the snow and ice (we had over 8" where I live), but they don't plow here. At all. So my issues came down to clearance. Even the manhole covers had so much ice around them that I had to swerve around them like I was doing a slalom. It was fun, but a little annoying. That said, what the cold snap and snow left us with is a TON of nasty potholes that likely won't get dealt with until late spring. Some of these things are really evil, not very wide but super deep. I do my best to miss them all, but have occasionally partially caught one. The wheels and tires have held up well. On another note, I'm so impressed with the Blizzak's performance in the rain and cool mornings that I can't get myself to swap back to the Primacy's yet. We're still mid to low 30s most mornings, and the winter tires just plain have much more grip at those temps. After this next weekend (supposed to drop down to the low 20s at night) I'll look to swap back for the spring.

Also, like the above poster, I was really excited to put some lowering springs on my car until driving in the snow. Now I'd be more likely to wait and save for some nice coilovers, so I could raise her up if needed.

Cheers,

DJ

[Optimus Prime]

Originally Posted by Nevermore

I put some stock sized Hankook winter i*Pikes on the stock wheels and they are handling winter pretty well.

I can't speak for the ipikes on my FRS, but they're awesome on my 06 impreza. Thing is unstoppable in anything under about 10 inches.

[Zzzquil]

Originally Posted by Lizai

I live in Michigan too. Do you think it's a good time changing back to all season tires?

I would probably wait a couple of weeks more. I will be switching mine around March 15 if the weather permits

[BRZZZZZZZZZZ]

No problems so far, biggest complaint: traction control allows too much slide/oversteer even when fully on.

[Deadspool]

Potholes are practice for cones.

[Lizai]

Originally Posted by Zzzquil

I would probably wait a couple of weeks more. I will be switching mine around March 15 if the weather permits

Right. that's what I am thinking now. If the forecast is not too far from reality, it should be around 40F mid March. Can't wait.

[Burrcold]

Pot holes and the toll this winter has taken on f'ing up the roads, is making me cringe just a bit when driving. Not teeth shattering, but I feel like the suspension is being hit hard especially when it's really cold. You get that very numb thump when going over rough patches, and it's not the nicest feeling.


Oh well, come spring I'll get the suspension and wheels checked out, and probably get an alignment. Can't wait to put the PSS's back on!