Winter Driving?

[Suberman]

Originally Posted by jonboy99

First winter with a RWD car here in southern ontario. Had one snowfall so far and took the brz out with some 16" Xi3s. It was the best fun i've had in ages. That's pretty much my winter mode, bar a block heater. Will try the weight in trunk thing if traction is a huge issue but otherwise want to try and keep the weight distribution standard.

And following what others have already said - yes traction control has to be switched fully off. Not because it's necessary most of the time but because it's fun with a capital F!

With 0W 20 synthetic oil in the sump you don't need a block heater anywhere South of 60. You could benefit from a battery heater or, better yet, a proper sized battery. The stock BRZ battery is pathetically inadequate for Canadian winter driving. Get the optional 550 CCA battery installed preferably under warranty.

[jonboy99]

Yeah, i'm sure you're right - one thought was to try and get the gearbox oil a bit warmer as for the first five minutes of driving gearchanges into 2nd are horrible. My commute is only 15 minutes so that's a third of total fun i'm missing out on. No idea if it'll make a difference or not, we'll find out in a few weeks. Total pain in the *rse to fit as well (had to drop almost the entire exhaust).
Not much cash left for batteries, #humfrz has just made me buy a new axleback.

Originally Posted by Suberman

With 0W 20 synthetic oil in the sump you don't need a block heater anywhere South of 60. You could benefit from a battery heater or, better yet, a proper sized battery. The stock BRZ battery is pathetically inadequate for Canadian winter driving. Get the optional 550 CCA battery installed preferably under warranty.

[Suberman]

Originally Posted by jonboy99

Yeah, i'm sure you're right - one thought was to try and get the gearbox oil a bit warmer as for the first five minutes of driving gearchanges into 2nd are horrible. My commute is only 15 minutes so that's a third of total fun i'm missing out on. No idea if it'll make a difference or not, we'll find out in a few weeks. Total pain in the *rse to fit as well (had to drop almost the entire exhaust).
Not much cash left for batteries, #humfrz has just made me buy a new axleback.

Interesting thing about that second gear. I find only the first couple of very cold shifts are a bit baulky. I try for the deliberate shift to neutral, pause very briefly then a firm shift into second reduces the graunch.

I suspect this gearbox may take significant mileage to break in.

[ZionsWrath]

Originally Posted by Suberman

No magic summer tires have no grip at freezing temperatures and no grip on snow or ice. Period. No grip, not just inadequate grip.

You need at least all season tires to drive in winter conditions. To drive in winter on summer tires is just plain negligent. You can't stop safely from any speed.

You can drive in cold temp with summer tire as long as it is dry. Plenty of people do it, have done it, and will continue to do it. Especially people with Euro luxury cars. Look at benz and BMWs and see how many have their summer still on in the winter because they have no clue there is even a difference.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by ZionsWrath

You can drive in cold temp with summer tire as long as it is dry. Plenty of people do it, have done it, and will continue to do it. Especially people with Euro luxury cars. Look at benz and BMWs and see how many have their summer still on in the winter because they have no clue there is even a difference.

Lots of people do lots of stupid stuff.

[Wolfking]

The Michelins that came on my car are worthless with snow on the ground. I'm looking at well rated a/s tires! Otherwise, no snow , no problem!

[Suberman]

Originally Posted by Wolfking

The Michelins that came on my car are a worthless with snow on the ground. I'm looking at well rated a/s tires! Otherwise, no snow , no problem!

I fit a set of Michelin Pilot A/S Plus tires to my SAAB Aero to use as a summer tire. I got to try them out as winter tires in our first snowstorm. They were quite unbelievably good. I think this tire would be useable for mild winters until the ambient temperatures dropped below about minus 5C.

The newest Continental ProContact tires on my XF Jaguar V6 SC AWD are also competent winter tires for traction.

The safety limit for winter tires is always stopping ability. No all season tire can stop as short as a proper winter tire in winter conditions.

[TONYpepperon1]

You guys are making me nervous now. I can't afford tires at the moment. After reading this I feel like I'm gonna slide off the road into an icy death lol.

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by TONYpepperon1

You guys are making me nervous now. I can't afford tires at the moment. After reading this I feel like I'm gonna slide off the road into an icy death lol.

death? highly unlikely

but with crappy tires you will be a high risk road hazard than otherwise.. esp during the heavy snowfall/low temp days.

unless you stick to grandma driving during low-traffic times and snow-less days, you may very well be another victim of a fender bender this winter.. or be one of those idiots that sprawled sideways in the middle of a hill unable to go in any direction, blocking 2 lanes of traffic.

[mabviper]

Buy used if you can't afford new. I've seen all seasons tires go nowhere in a few inches of show... Summer tires will not fair better.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[daiheadjai]

Fooled into switching to snow tires last week by the drop in temps and slight snowfall...

Now finding the car is a lot less fun with the skinnier 16s (205/55R16 Continental WinterContact) I got due to less lateral grip, but the smaller wheels and lighter weight do appear to make it more willing to rev/pickup, and steering is noticeably lighter.

Waiting for a big snowfall, and an empty parking lot.

[Suberman]

Originally Posted by daiheadjai

Fooled into switching to snow tires last week by the drop in temps and slight snowfall...

Now finding the car is a lot less fun with the skinnier 16s (205/55R16 Continental WinterContact) I got due to less lateral grip, but the smaller wheels and lighter weight do appear to make it more willing to rev/pickup, and steering is noticeably lighter.

Waiting for a big snowfall, and an empty parking lot.

That's why I fit 225/45x17 Pirelli Sottozeros and will fit the same sized summers.

215 is a tad skinny and 205 even skinnier.

Snow performance isn't affected much by tire section in reality.

[Suberman]

Originally Posted by TONYpepperon1

You guys are making me nervous now. I can't afford tires at the moment. After reading this I feel like I'm gonna slide off the road into an icy death lol.

You can't afford not to fit winter tires. Truly, the stock summer tires are dangerous. You should be nervous even considering driving on snow or ice, very nervous. Don't do it.

[mrceltic]

Originally Posted by TONYpepperon1

You guys are making me nervous now. I can't afford tires at the moment. After reading this I feel like I'm gonna slide off the road into an icy death lol.

If you can afford new 18" wheels and tires for summer, you can afford a set of four cheap snow tires, or at least a set of used all-seasons.