Newbie to RWD and Ice/Snow, any suggestions??

[flyboy]

[quote=Shark_Bait88;2830540]

Originally Posted by flyboy

Holy balls! Get these, and I will be super jealous http://anchorage.craigslist.org/wto/5948125727.html

I have a weird thing for the funky old Ponitac wheels, the Sunfire had some awesome (read: ridiculous) designs. I really want a set for winters. Might make a change for next year.

If it's not your cup of tea, which I can't understand why it wouldn't be, a lot of VWs have 5x100 patterns as well.

I would love white wheels! I already emailed the person...

[Casey10s]

One of things I try to do when I get a different car is to take it to an empty parking lot after a good snow and before the parking lot is plowed. Do some donuts and heavy braking to see what the car does. That way, it reduces the surprises that could occur with actual driving on the road. Also, it is fun. Never had a problem with anyone complaining.

[flyboy]

Attachment 148816

Attachment 148817

Hey guys, finally got my ride home. Got new steelies and Hakkas 8- 205/55/R16. That is glued to the road. But I was driving sensibly too. With the stock it was sliding all around. But with the Hakkas their are stable and fun to drive.

I am keeping the stock tire in the car for now. Folded the rear seat and like 3 in front and 1 in the back!

Thank you all for the great advise and suggestions here! Appreciate it all. I have attached the picture, just need the car to be cleaned up now.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by flyboy

Hey guys, finally got my ride home. Got new steelies and Hakkas 8- 205/55/R16. That is glued to the road. But I was driving sensibly too. With the stock it was sliding all around. But with the Hakkas their are stable and fun to drive.

I am keeping the stock tire in the car for now. Folded the rear seat and like 3 in front and 1 in the back!

Thank you all for the great advise and suggestions here! Appreciate it all. I have attached the picture, just need the car to be cleaned up now.

Just wait until you get to blast through some deep fluffy stuff and everybody walking nearby stops and stares. It will make you giddy!

[Overdrive]

Be careful with leaving the wheels stacked in back like that. Sudden driving inputs can cause them to shift around, and in an accident the one on top will become a really heavy (deadly) projectile. If you can find a way to get them all to lay flat or mostly flat, that'll be safer.

[flyboy]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Just wait until you get to blast through some deep fluffy stuff and everybody walking nearby stops and stares. It will make you giddy!

I was doing it yesterday. It was fun to be the only coupe RWD among SUV and trucks!

[flyboy]

Originally Posted by Overdrive

Be careful with leaving the wheels stacked in back like that. Sudden driving inputs can cause them to shift around, and in an accident the one on top will become a really heavy (deadly) projectile. If you can find a way to get them all to lay flat or mostly flat, that'll be safer.

thank you, I agree. It is just temporary, I will move it somewhere. But do you guys know if you can fit two tires with wheels in trunk with rear seat not folded?

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by flyboy

thank you, I agree. It is just temporary, I will move it somewhere. But do you guys know if you can fit two tires with wheels in trunk with rear seat not folded?

Doubt it. Why do you want to haul wheels around anyway? Stack 'em up in a corner until spring.

[Overdrive]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Doubt it. Why do you want to haul wheels around anyway? Stack 'em up in a corner until spring.

I'm assuming as a way to have extra weight in the back. Plenty of other ways to do that, but it's not a terrible idea.

You probably can't fit two wheels with tires on them in the back without dropping the seats, but you could toss in a 50 lb bag of kitty litter instead. Weighs more than a pair of wheels with tires most likely, takes less space, and if you're ever actually stuck anywhere, you can toss some litter under the drive tires and give yourself a little extra grip. Just make sure you've also got a way to close the bag afterward, heh.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Overdrive

I'm assuming as a way to have extra weight in the back. Plenty of other ways to do that, but it's not a terrible idea.

You probably can't fit two wheels with tires on them in the back without dropping the seats, but you could toss in a 50 lb bag of kitty litter instead. Weighs more than a pair of wheels with tires most likely, takes less space, and if you're ever actually stuck anywhere, you can toss some litter under the drive tires and give yourself a little extra grip. Just make sure you've also got a way to close the bag afterward, heh.

Weight in the rear may help reduce the risk that you will get stuck but can work against you if you do start to slide. I will take the smaller risk of getting stuck over adding mass to the rear of the car to help it spin like a top down the road any day. I have found that one of the things that makes this car so easy to handle in slippery conditions is the balance. Adding weight to the rear messes with that balance and can make it unpredictable. Adding weight to the rear of pickup trucks works because they are so forward weight biased to start with. Our cars are not.

[phrosty]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I will take the smaller risk of getting stuck over adding mass to the rear of the car to help it spin like a top down the road any day.

Just bring a small shovel with you and you won't have to worry about getting stuck

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by phrosty

Just bring a small shovel with you and you won't have to worry about getting stuck

I have driven through 8" to 14" snow in my lowered car with 3' of clearance 30 or more times over 3 winters and have not come close to being stuck once. Have barely even spun the tires.

If I ever do get stuck it will be because I high centered and no small shovel in the world (or weight in he trunk for that matter) will save me from that.

[Overdrive]

Originally Posted by phrosty

Just bring a small shovel with you and you won't have to worry about getting stuck

True, too.

I really don't think 50 lbs or less is going to upset the car that much (it's basically like carrying your kid in the back seat), but I do get your point, TCoat. There's a limit to everything.

[Overdrive]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I have driven through 8" to 14" snow in my lowered car with 3' of clearance 30 or more times over 3 winters and have not come close to being stuck once. Have barely even spun the tires.

While that's actually pretty great, this is pretty much begging for an obligatory YMMV. For every one of you, there's another dozen people who find a way to get stuck.