86/BRZ for winter daily driver?
 

Good day guys, so I've done a lot of research and finally purchased an 86. I love the car to death. And I've been watching a lot of youtube videos on the 86/brz either doing really well in winter, or videos with them just being stuck. Of course winter tires are a must. But there aren't any videos testing it to its limits.


What I mean limits, what is the threshold limit in inches of snow?

I can only attest to about 2-3 inches of snow max, and the car did great with a set of 205/50R17 Blizzak ws-80's. I drove this car every day in northern Ohio this winter and had zero issues. @Tcoat can attest to Ontario snow levels. Even when you start plowing snow with your bumpers, with good tires and gentle pedal and steering inputs, this car is golden.

The max I have plowed through on a continuous road was about 16 inches of light fluffy stuff. The worst was about 12 inches of heavy wet stuff. I have plowed through drifts that were well over my hood. I am lowered by 1 1/2 inches. Have not once even come close to being stuck.
I have had to stop in deep snow to help push AWD vehicles out of my way so I could carry on down the road.
The people that get stuck are the ones that insist that all season or even summer tires are fine in the cold or can't learn to be light on the gas pedal.
Get the snow tires of your choice and go for it.


And now for the pics that so many people must be getting sick of seeing!

I had no problems driving through really shitty snow weather 8-10" .. as long as you have a decent set of dedicated snow tires. I live in RI by the way, so one day it will be a blizzard, the next it will be sunny, then we'll get a sleet storm the next day, then it will rain. It's weird and shitty but I've never had an issue getting stuck with this car.

Only one winter on the car so far but 10 inches of medium heavy snow was not enough to stop it, as long as you follow the caveats above about tires and technique.

The best part, though, is the control you have. Once the tires start breaking free and you lose neutral steering it's undoubtedly the easiest car to manage I've driven in 40 years spent on upstate NY roads.

The threshold depends on the driver, NOT the car.

I've only gotten stuck once with mine; there was an ice patch under the snow, and I was going uphill, and she just wouldn't go any further. Front was hung up on the snow and the rear wheels were on pure ice. That was in my own driveway for goodness sake.

Otherwise, it's been a way better car in the winter than I ever expected it would be, even after lowering it.

I may finally be able to park it for this winter, but honestly I will miss having fun with it in the snow. A big empty parking lot with a light dusting of snow and all the electronic nannies turned off is TONS of fun in this car.

This^^ This is by far the easiest car to control when it breaks loose. The balance of the car and the way it steers makes me enjoy snowy commutes to work.

I live in Western MA. I used to live in a hilltown at 1600ft. Routine 3-6" snows 'down the hill' were usually 8"+ up top.

I ran stock suspension, a busted up spare FRS bumper, and altimax arctics in 205/65-16 on some old Subaru RS wheels. The car does really well as long as you take your time, and don't insist on 'I'm slowing down, therefore more throttle'

Never once did I get stuck, or fail to make it up the hill. You will have less forward momentum control than a GOOD AWD car, (think Evo/STi driveline,) but good winter tires and mindfullness and you will do just fine! Take your time, find a few parking lots to learn the cars low traction limits and you'll have a blast every time it snows.

I'd usually get home from work in the BRZ, then hop in the FXT and go hammer around and tear up the parking lots. I'd take the FXT if I knew it would be snowy both ways, and generally just horrible weather. :happyanim:

Like pretty much everyone mentioned, with good snow tires you'll be fine.
Use light throttle inputs. I had a ton of fun in winter with this car even with cheaper Sailun winter tires.

Good to hear from the guys that are lowered that they still got around fine in winter.

I daily the vehicle in the winter for 2 winters only been stuck once, and that's because of dirty, slushy crap after everyone gone out of their parking spot. But fresh, packed snow, the car has a surprising amount of traction. Gentle on throttle, be alert and you will survive.

Even the best AWD is no better than a RWD if they don't put actual winter tires on it. Those extra wheels don't make up for driving on hockey puck summer or A/S tires. One of the cars I had to push out of the way was an STi on shiny new all seasons. It was minus 10 out and those tires may as well have been solid steel. He was amazed that I was just cruising along with no issues in my RWD.

Fun as hell in the winter. Currently looking for a cheap used FRS as a winter beater.

I live in the same city as Tcoat. Last winter was my first with the BRZ, but not the first with a rear wheel drive car (learned to drive in an early '80s Pontiac Parisienne). The BRZ is actually one of the best cars I've driven in snow. The balance is perfect, so with a good set of snow tires (I've got Nokian Hakka R2s) I never had any trouble. It's not as good as my Audi (which also has good snow tires - Pirelli Winter Sottozero III), but that shouldn't come as much of a surprise.

that's pretty amazing, now I need to know the exact tires you have!

Yeah, I missed 'all things being equal' (re: tires.)

I'm a firm believer in winter tires.

I have a set for my FXT, my BRZ, my wifes crosstrek, and a spare set of cheap mastercrafts on 16" steelies juuuuust in case.

Mine has been through 5 winters now, only been stuck once... it was in a parking lot in over a foot of new snow. I didn't feel so bad because there was also a bunch of small SUV's stuck too.

4 winters and counting. Only got stuck going up my driveway with deep snow (around 8"). I didn't plan my entry correctly.

YESSS I've been looking for someone with those tires, I'm purchasing a set in the next couple of days. My first winter with the RS2.0 but after reading all these posts I'm kinda excited.

I drove mine last winter with Chinese winter tires.

The day I got my winter tires, I walked out and it was snowing really really hard! The parking lot my car was in, had about 5 inches of snow. I was sailing rather than driving. It took me 5 hours and a half to get back home (was in Scarborough and had to get back to Oakville/ misssauga/ Milton border (9th and Britannia)). Throughout the drive, I experienced uphills/ downhills, bumper to bumper traffic and rock solid snow. The struggle was minimal even when I was going over 50 kph. I was impressed at how the car handled the rough weather.

The only thing you need to pay attention to is that, your car is rwd. Don’t treat it like it’s an all wheel drive. Take very slow turns and be gentle with the gas pedal.

Also, whenever you find an empty parking lot, make sure you delay your plans, go in and practice making them donuts ;)!


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If I can't find a Winter beater for myself before month end, I will most likely drive mine in for this Winter season...I was thinking of getting a set of x-ices, but I want to know what brands our other fellow Ontarians use..

Been running xice 3's for two season's and never had a problem at all! Just be careful on your throttle and you'll be more than ok.