BRZ/FR-S and winter driving: Watch this video if you have any concerns!
 

Hey guys,

I know a lot of potential BRZ/FR-S buyers out there are coming from FWD or AWD vehicles and may have limited experience with driving a RWD car in the snow, or have been trained to think that RWD is "bad in snow". I would like to alleviate those concerns. I have driven RWD cars in snow for about 8 or 9 New England winters (this last one barely saw any snow, not sure if it counts!), and the two things that matter most when driving in snow are the following:

1: DRIVER SKILL

2: TIRES

Without adequate skill and the right tires, you are right to think that your car will handle poorly in the snow. But I promise you, if you purchase a set of FOUR winter tires and take the time to learn to control oversteer and use gentle, controlled throttle, steering and braking inputs, your BRZ/FR-S will be one of the best cars you've ever driven in winter!

I came across this demonstration video on YouTube. It does a great job of explaining what happens when you have the right and wrong (read: all-season) tires equipped. Watch and learn!


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Nice video.

I wonder if I can find one that's AWD vs snow tires. Both would be best but we'll probably be trading an AWD car (my wife's Legacy) for a BRZ if we get one.

Edit: Well that was easy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPu6F0lGixk

Yeah, we don't have that kind of snow here except for maybe two weeks a year and it;'s just not worth switching the tires over for two weeks a year.

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AWD does not provide any additional traction except under acceleration.

I wish people in chicago would figure out that AWD does absolutely nothing to reduce their stopping distance on snowy roads. It only really helps in getting you out of the ditch after you have already gone off the road :)

We don't get much snow either, but I won't be driving on summer tires in snow.

You know what, I plan on going back to driving school just so I can learn to drift better.
Wait that's not what they teach us?
But then why the hell is it every winter that everyone is trying to drift?

;)

For the minimal amount of snow we get, you going to have a dedicated set of winter tires? Or just have a set of track tires and a set of all season? We don't get much snow and if we do it doesn't stick around long enough to seem like a set of winter only tires would be worthwhile. Maybe if we lived up in MI/MN/upstate NY/VT I would.

If the avg temps are below 7C (45F) during your driving time (morning/evening) winter tires are better even if you never see a snowflake.

We generally have mild winters. Might get 1-2 snow falls a winter that stick around for a day or two. A set of Continental Extreme Contact DWS have served me well with no issues. If I had extended temps below 0C along with snow that stuck around for majority of the winter, then I would consider a stand alone set of snows. Hell even Texas can get a few snow falls. But I doubt anyone there will be running Blizzaks there. lol

As the BRZ comes stock with SUMMER tires, a second set of winter tires is needed if temps drop below 40 degrees or so. Even without snow, cold temps make summer tires have very poor grip. Anyone living in a multi-season state should invest in a second set of tires (and rims, for ease).

I always had all season tires for the snow - but I did choose the tires based on their snow rating. It would have been nicer to get a second set of tires, for both mine and my wife's car. If you're careful, all seasons are ok in the snow - but you gotta drive slower.

I thought the prius performance tires were all season tires? Hmmm...did not know that.

BTW, Thanks for sharing!

Interesting. I've never heard that before.

They are a very common OEM summer tire. They are not stock Prius tires. :slap:

Good post! :happy0180:

As long as you don't drive it when there's snow out.

I hate idiots who drive with all seasons in the snow. It's normally the same people talking to the cops after an accident.

Hahaha, yuuuup!

In places where it's just cold (below 45) and no snow you might be OK to keep the summers on, but consider yourself warned. I chanced it this winter and kept the Michelin Pilot Sport 3's on my Audi, but that's because I didn't want to spend $1000+ on snow tires for a car that I'm only keeping for 6mo. On the two or three days we did get snow, it was scary as hell even with AWD! On the rest of the days I was fine, but again that car has the best AWD system on the market, weighs about 1,000lbs more than a BRZ, and has wider tires.

wider tires in the snow =/= more grip
awd only helps you in acceleartion

derp

I was referring to the times I was NOT in snow, below 45 degrees. Derp yourself! :bonk:

Winter Tires?
 

I'm sure winter tires will do great. What I'm more concerned with is turning my car into a snow plow with it's 4.9" ground clearance.

Thoughts?

im a bit cautious also, the only time i fishtailed was in a rwd tundra, and most of my driving experienced are in fwd cars.

Even though we have maybe 1 week of snow a year, We do get a lot of rain.
I live in Arkansas btw

Dont drive it in the winter.
Or
Put a shovel attachment on the front

Lmaoooooo. Ugh I'm starting to lean towards the 128i bimmer

lol... I've always driven low cars in winter (skyline, miata, silvia, etc... with coilovers or spring/strut combo)... Drive carefully, put winter tires, have fun. (And I mean REAL winters).

And you think that will somehow be better? I don't get it...

+1. My RWD winter car list includes an '88 Camaro, 2 MK1 MR2's (one lowered on ST springs), a MK2 MR2 (lowered on Tanabe springs), and an '89 BMW 325i. Get proper snow tires, be careful, use gentle and controlled inputs and have fun!

Decisions decisions
 

Well it looks like it comes down to what feels better on a test-drive. The BRZ or 128i.

I would hope the brz feels better. It will save me about $10-12k considering I go base on the brz. That's alot of gas money, insurance payments, the best winter tires, mods that don't void warranty, and plenty back into my pocket even if I wanted diff wheels.

Drove my Legacy in the mountains 2 winters ago up and down a mountain in TN on stock tires in a foot and a 1/2 of snow(wasn't much ice at the time). Had no issues.

I've driven my Porsche 911 in the snow and also when I had a RX8 and several RX7s and other RWD cars. It's a matter of skill and being smooth on your inputs. Obviously you can't go down unplowed roads with 8 inches of snow but I've never had any issues with my cars in the snow.

hmm. this wasnt what I was thinking for "winter driving" it was more of a concern if my car would become a snow plow truck :S

ill tell you this.
If you want a 1series, you'd want a 135. I wouldnt get a 128.

Plus a 1 series would feel substantially heavier than the BRZ/FRS.

I live in Wisconsin and have never had a problem. I've owned my fair share of low RWD cars that I routinely drove in the winter. Most notably two MR2s (both an MK1 and an MK2), an RX7('85), a few heavily modified VW bugs, and a 350Z. I felt comfortable with all of them in the snow. Just need to lower your speed to fit the road conditions. There are only 2-3 days per year that I drive my 08 Tacoma because the snow is too deep (but even that is a 2WD-RWD stripper). The only car I've had that I won't drive in snow is my 92 'vette. But, that's only because I plan to keep it for the next 40 years.

Hey Turbowned, what MR2s did you have? I haven't been on the forums much since I sold my last a couple of years ago. My brother in law has a Mk2 with the camry swap and just finished throwing on the TRD super.

Winters here in KY very greatly this year we only had 1 good snow, its was 5" deep dropped out of no where, but for the most part no snow. I plan on using my stock rims for some snow tires just in case, and if i dont use them well i store them n the house.

I drove my Lotus Elise (no longer have) with summer tires in a snow storm, which in Portland OR means inches of snow. :p It was probably the scariest time driving ever. I had to drive about 15mph all the way home. The guy at the gas station a couple weeks later said he saw a grey Lotus in a ditch when it snowed and he thought it may have been me. I was happy it wasn't! Lotus fiberglass body is so expensive. Yes I'm American and spell gray, grey. I just like it better. :happy0180:

The bigger concern is road salt, cinders, stone chips, and the higher probability that someone can slide into you. I would never chance it, get a winter beater if you can afford it.

On top of that you'll keep the mileage down by driving the car only during the better seasons.

Welcome to the club! :happy0180:

Nice!! That's a great swap. I had an '87 T-top, '89 Supercharged, '94 Turbo, and currently have a 20v blacktop-swapped '87 hardtop. I tried swapping a JDM 4AGZE in my current MR2 but the engine was a dud, and after that I couldn't find another good motor. Supercharger is definitely the way to go! I hope to put one on the BRZ after it's out of warranty.

As far as getting stuck in the snow is concerned, the standard LSD should help a lot. Having an open diff was the worst part of driving my ae86 in the winter, as the wheel with the least grip was always the one wheel trying to get you out of the snow.

Keep some sand bags in the trunk - you can also use the sand to add grip if you're really stuck, and laying down rubber floor mats under your wheels works as well. A collapseable shovel can be very handy too.

This is true; the LSD should help.

I wouldn't keep sand bags in the back of the car. It will increase the polar moment of inertia (upset weight distribution) and thus make the car more tail-happy. If something can be added temporarily when you're stuck, that's another thing entirely.

I plan to do the same with my BRZ. I almost put a super on my 89 Mk1 but decided to get my first Mk2 instead. I liked the Mk2 but have kicked myself for getting rid of that very clean Mk1.

Not exactly. It can provide substantial stability as long as the clutch is engaged, both when coasting and compression braking.