BRZ/FR-S in the snow?

[GoldDust]

Yeah I wouldn't recommend using the stock tires in the snow, even if it's light. We rarely get snow where I live, but it snowed last month, and even in snow mode the car was useless. I actually had to turn off traction control to get the car moving from a complete stop at a light because otherwise I was sitting there with my tail end sliding around with no forward momentum.

[mattyd97]

Originally Posted by was385

so unless your dad's car has snow tires, it will probably be a bit worse (if you end up with snow tires).

Well, I guess that's good for me then, I'm pretty sure my dad has stock tires on his car.

[Mikepage]

This Car is just perfect in snow condition with the proper tires like others say. I use Michelin x-ice Xi-3 and I love it, very secure on ice and very good on snow too.

Enjoy and take care!

[snapplepat]

Im in wisconsin... nothing crazy, 6" mainly, our little road doesnt get plowed till after everything else is cleared up. Makes it through just fine with my conti extreme winter contacts. I got 205/50/17 on stock rims. They do very well on ice and stopping too. Dry performance is surprisingly good for a winter tire.
Stock tires... Light dusting and i found out that the road that looks flat by my house is actually a hill and got stuck.

[dxero]

Living here in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. Get snow tires for sure. If your area has alot of hills, studded in the rears can help. Up here I've been driving the BRZ to almost -40 which turns everything to just ice. For now I have X-Ice 2s all around but I can still feel the back end letting go a little when I'm going up a slightly steeper hill.

Next winter, I'm going to get studded ones for the rear. Only time it really sucks to have the car out is when we get a couple inches of snow and the roads haven't been plowed yet.

Other than that, if the temps are around -10 or so, regular winter tires are great and will work! The BRZ is sooo much better than the old 89' 240sx I had back in the day. Used to always carry a shovel in the back of the old hatch just in-case

But yea just drive carefully to the conditions of the road and you should be fine!

[chrisl]

Originally Posted by dxero

Used to always carry a shovel in the back of the old hatch just in-case

That's never a bad idea - I carry a shovel and a tow strap in my Outback all winter, just in case. It's cheap, easy, and really nice to have for that time that the snow on the road was deeper than you expected...

[mrdanyo]

As a Canadian who's been driving for over 10 years now without any accidents, I'd have to say that this car was the first car I've ever had to drive this slowly in during snowfall. I'd have old ladies in their Corollas overtake me sometimes in the passing lane, but that's what you gotta do sometimes. Better safe than sorry.

Echoing what some others have said earlier, drive until you think you're driving too slow and you're probably going at the right speed. Ease on the pedal instead of having a heavy foot and you'll be okay. Go slow into turns unless you're ready to fishtail. On uphills and steep ramps... I hope you're religious; pray for safe passage.

As a total unbiased opinion, I would have to say this car kinda stinks in the winter. You'll get stuck often and you'll fear more than you enjoy, but the other 3/4 of the year... you're gonna have the best driving experience of your life (so far). So if you're one that's able to suck up 1/4 of the year for the remaining 3/4 (like I am), then you won't go wrong with the twins.

[Ganthrithor]

Originally Posted by immaculate

It's certainly passable during winter with snow tires but by no means is it great. I bought brand new Blizzaks this winter for my BRZ and was disappointed. In light snow it did fine, but if the plows didn't get out fast enough and the roads/tire tracks started to get icy, it became scary.

The car struggled mightily on any kind of incline. During one of the worst storms I was on the highway approaching a hilly section where cars were slowing to a stop. Once I was forced to stop and restart I could not get traction, spent about a full mile opposite-lock.

My advice would be this, if you need the approval of your parents to buy the car, I'm guessing you're fairly young, which I would then assume means you probably don't have a ton of winter driving experience. This is not a good winter car, and if you don't know what your doing, you can easily get in trouble.

Pretty good advice. Regardless of what car you end up getting, do get some snow driving experience under your belt (go to a deserted parking lot, frozen lake if you have those around in mid-winter, or other safe place and practice driving the car with low grip). Winter tyres help a lot but there are still plenty of conditions under which you'll have little to no grip (unless you have studs, I guess), and all cars are a little tricky to drive when that happens. Do get a good winter tyre. I drove my old car on Blizzaks (LM-60's I think) and they were pretty good. On actual ice you'd still slip and slide quite a bit, but for the most part they made the car pretty grippy. I've heard good things about Hakkapeliittas as well (http://www.nokiantires.com/tyre?id=1...kkapeliitta+R2) but didn't get the chance to try them before moving back to southern California.

Other than tyres the best thing you can do is just be mindful of the conditions and treat them with respect. It sounds totally obvious, but if you're anything like me the hardest thing is to just force yourself to drive slower than it feels like you need to. Leave more room around your car, pay close attention to what you're doing, try and keep an eye on what's happening a good long way down the road, etc. Leave early so you don't put yourself in the position of being in a hurry. You'll minimize nasty surprises this way.

The good thing about winter driving is that you can reward yourself for all your safe daily driving by finding a snowy, empty parking lot. Snow can be dangerous, but it can also be a playground! If I could get my GTI to oversteer on snow, anything is possible on snow :P

Oh, and-- maybe this goes without saying-- in addition to the shovel that people are recommending that you carry, carry a full set of winter clothes in the back (a warm-ass jacket, warm hat, and gloves). If you get stuck for any period of time you'll be super glad you brought them. I used to carry an MRE too (you can buy them at surplus stores) just for kicks. Never did end up using it, but what could be more awesome than a packet of hot food while you're stuck on the side of the road? And they're small-- I used to carry mine in the glove box.

[kberkel]

Not sure if anybody has done this, but I carry two sheets of cardboard in the winter. If you get completely stuck, stuff the cardboard under your tires and 90% of the time it'll help pull you right out.

I've heard people use floormats in a pinch, though that's just a last resort

[snapplepat]

Oh yeah forgot to mention, i put 140 lbs of sand and 50lbs of salt in my trunk. An expandable shovel as well just in case.

N dan, you running winter tires? I have no problems in my brz. Stock tires, forget about it, but dedicated winters work well. Ive passed up other cars n trucks stuck on hills. Its nothing compared to my sti with winter tires, but surprisingly better than i thought it would be.

[mrdanyo]

Originally Posted by snapplepat

Oh yeah forgot to mention, i put 140 lbs of sand and 50lbs of salt in my trunk. An expandable shovel as well just in case.

N dan, you running winter tires? I have no problems in my brz. Stock tires, forget about it, but dedicated winters work well. Ive passed up other cars n trucks stuck on hills. Its nothing compared to my sti with winter tires, but surprisingly better than i thought it would be.

Yup, running on Blizzaks and I have over 10 years of Canadian snow driving experience under my belt. I still fear for my life during snowfall + steep ramps/hills combination (especially when it's not plowed).

[glorydays]

Just completed my second northern ny/ Canadian winter on the stock summers. Had a few scary moments but no accidents. This car has no trouble in the winter you just have to be smart about when to use the nannies. Very impressed by this car

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by 2pt5RS

There's a button:

I have no such button. Is that on an automatic? (My BRZ is manual.)

[ntron1]

In the hands of a seasoned winter driver, the BRZ can be used in the snow with appropriate winter tires. My kids are 20, 19, 18 and 16 and they are only allowed to drive the 4 x 4 in the snow. My BRZ was parked for most of the winter and has never been on the road in snow or @ temps lower than 32F. This was just my choice to let it sit beside the Audi R8 and Mini Cooper as the winter was terrible this year.

I am fortunate to have the option to leave it parked but if I did not to have that option, I would not own a BRZ. Again, just my choice to only drive a 4 x 4 in the snow.

If you get an 86, good luck and think twice about taking it out on unnecessary trips in the snow until you have gained significant experience.