BRZ in snow

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Euclid

That being said, rhoyle's narcissism is pretty awesome. I'd think a CIO living in a snow state would be intelligent enough to understand the "insurance" a set of snow tires provides.

Everybody with a C in their title is like that.

[racecaresuaceb]

Alright, let's try to break this down logically...

Factors:
1. Snow depth/fall in inches: 1 - 3
2. Snow depth/fall in inches: 3 or more
3. Ice
4. Speed traveling

My experience on the Michelin Primacy HP's:

Can I drive about in factor 1? Yes and but the rear slides accelerate or brake suddenly. Slight inclines can be tackled but the ABS still kicks in if braking deep and the rear is slippery. And I don't above 40mph.

Can I drive in factor 2? Only on level ground. Slight inclines are impossible and the TC refuses to send any power to the wheels.

Where I live, the plows are pretty good, so, the only issue I have is getting out of the parking lot even if it snows 3 inches or more as long as there is no ice.

I intend to DD in every weather, so, I will get performance winters for next winter.

This is an awesome car, no way, I am staying away from it.

[swift996]

The only issue I've had is getting traction. Typically from a stop where I'm going up hill. Otherwise the car drives fine in the snow.

I guess I was just shocked at how bad the car fights for traction in certain circumstances. I let the traction control do it's work. I might need to carry a bag of sand if I think I'll be in a situation. Obviously, I just try to avoid loosing momentum in certain situations but sometimes you get caught at a light.

In DC it doesn't snow enough for me to get winter tires. However, maybe when I wear down the OEMs and put my new wheels on I'll get some winter tires put on the OEMs.

[be6sti]

Originally Posted by swift996

The only issue I've had is getting traction. Typically from a stop where I'm going up hill. Otherwise the car drives fine in the snow.

I guess I was just shocked at how bad the car fights for traction in certain circumstances. I let the traction control do it's work. I might need to carry a bag of sand if I think I'll be in a situation. Obviously, I just try to avoid loosing momentum in certain situations but sometimes you get caught at a light.

In DC it doesn't snow enough for me to get winter tires. However, maybe when I wear down the OEMs and put my new wheels on I'll get some winter tires put on the OEMs.

Same here on the problems with getting going.. I just make sure I don't have to stop on a hill


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[jmaryt]

Originally Posted by racecaresuaceb

Alright, let's try to break this down logically...

Factors:
1. Snow depth/fall in inches: 1 - 3
2. Snow depth/fall in inches: 3 or more
3. Ice
4. Speed traveling

My experience on the Michelin Primacy HP's:

Can I drive about in factor 1? Yes and but the rear slides accelerate or brake suddenly. Slight inclines can be tackled but the ABS still kicks in if braking deep and the rear is slippery. And I don't above 40mph.

Can I drive in factor 2? Only on level ground. Slight inclines are impossible and the TC refuses to send any power to the wheels.

Where I live, the plows are pretty good, so, the only issue I have is getting out of the parking lot even if it snows 3 inches or more as long as there is no ice.

I intend to DD in every weather, so, I will get performance winters for next winter.

This is an awesome car, no way, I am staying away from it.

good luck! believe you will be all right if ya baby the thing. this will test your patience,but it can be done.

[jmaryt]

Originally Posted by racecaresuaceb

Alright, let's try to break this down logically...

Factors:
1. Snow depth/fall in inches: 1 - 3
2. Snow depth/fall in inches: 3 or more
3. Ice
4. Speed traveling

My experience on the Michelin Primacy HP's:

Can I drive about in factor 1? Yes and but the rear slides accelerate or brake suddenly. Slight inclines can be tackled but the ABS still kicks in if braking deep and the rear is slippery. And I don't above 40mph.

Can I drive in factor 2? Only on level ground. Slight inclines are impossible and the TC refuses to send any power to the wheels.

Where I live, the plows are pretty good, so, the only issue I have is getting out of the parking lot even if it snows 3 inches or more as long as there is no ice.

I intend to DD in every weather, so, I will get performance winters for next winter.

This is an awesome car, no way, I am staying away from it.

Originally Posted by swift996

The only issue I've had is getting traction. Typically from a stop where I'm going up hill. Otherwise the car drives fine in the snow.

I guess I was just shocked at how bad the car fights for traction in certain circumstances. I let the traction control do it's work. I might need to carry a bag of sand if I think I'll be in a situation. Obviously, I just try to avoid loosing momentum in certain situations but sometimes you get caught at a light.

In DC it doesn't snow enough for me to get winter tires. However, maybe when I wear down the OEMs and put my new wheels on I'll get some winter tires put on the OEMs.

amazing as this is,scion sends the car through with bridgestone (a.s.) around september on the frs. to the best of my knowledge,the brz offers no option. it's just the (h.p.) primacy tires. with the (a.s.) at least ya got a fighting chance with light snow cover. just sayin'

[jmaryt]

Originally Posted by be6sti

Same here on the problems with getting going.. I just make sure I don't have to stop on a hill


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yeah! weight definitely becomes a factor,especially with the summer tires.

[Turbowned]

All I can say is "wait, people still use the stock tires"? Mine are gonna be drift spares; that's about all they're good for!

[A5D5TRYR]

Originally Posted by jmaryt

amazing as this is,scion sends the car through with bridgestone (a.s.) around september on the frs. to the best of my knowledge,the brz offers no option. it's just the (h.p.) primacy tires. with the (a.s.) at least ya got a fighting chance with light snow cover. just sayin'

I picked up my FR-S in late December and it came with the Primacy HP's. I was kind of expecting it to come with the bridgestones because of what people have been saying on here but nope. Summers.

[jmaryt]

i thought this as well,as every frs i checked out at various dealers all had turanza (a.s.)
rubber on 'em. guess some of 'em slipped through.

[xxscaxx]

Wow, this car is COMPLETELY different with these WS-70's on.

All handling characteristics are just gone haha. I mean I guess thats what happens when you don't run a winter performance tire (like the WS-60), but oh well. I was just very surprised. If I rock the steering wheel back and forth, it literally feels like its floating. It must be because its a dedicated snow tire but i've just never experienced anything like that before. When I had my STi I had WS-60's on there, but its just crazy how you can go from such a sharp and precise steering & handling response, to a big pile of mush. Not to mention, the car is very wobbly on the highway.

now lets hope they do something in the snow

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by xxscaxx

Wow, this car is COMPLETELY different with these WS-70's on.

All handling characteristics are just gone haha. I mean I guess thats what happens when you don't run a winter performance tire

Yep.

I once bought dedicated snow and ice tires, too. And I would do it again were I to live in an area where the pavement is covered in snow for months at a time.

In an urban/suburban setting where plows and salt quickly clear the snow down to the pavement, I strongly recommend high performance winter tires as a superior -- to ME -- alternative. They maintain my sportscar handling traits that I love, the reason I bought the car.

If I rock the steering wheel back and forth, it literally feels like its floating. It must be because its a dedicated snow tire...

Yes, that's exactly why.

...its just crazy how you can go from such a sharp and precise steering & handling response, to a big pile of mush.

'Tis 'orrible, 'tis.

Not to mention, the car is very wobbly on the highway.

Ain't that the truth!

One must DRIVE the miserable thing in a straight line; the tires are forever nibbling and hunting at every tiny pavement imperfection and pebble, wandering all over the lane. You don't dare take your eye off of it. It quickly becomes very tiresome and annoying.

now lets hope they do something in the snow

That's the good news. As bad as they are on pavement, they are equally GOOD on snow and ice, amazingly so.

Another "good" point is that they are said to last around 7000 miles or less on pavement, so they should be worn out in a jiffy! Then you can rejoice and buy some proper high performance winter tires dedicated to cold weather driving and offering far superior snow performance to all season tires, while not sacrificing the crisp handling of your sports/GT car. That's what I do.

I currently have the latest Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 on our BRZ. They are excellent, offering decent snow performance with no significant sacrifice in performance on clear pavement. In fact, most people would never notice the change if not alerted to it.

I have the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 on our Mazdaspeed3 (turbo) and they, too, are excellent.

I ran Continentals on our Miata and they were excellent.

I recommend them all. They are decent in the snow, and so good on pavement that most people would never know they weren't summer tires. And they're durable. I'm not certain, but I think I got in the neighborhood of 30k+ miles from the Contis and Michelins. The Dunlops are new this winter on the new BRZ, but I anticipate similar durability from them, too.

Mount 'em up when the temps in the fall drop below 50 degrees F.

[xxscaxx]

Nice post. I ended up buying the 70's because they were a little cheaper and I wanted the extra insurance in case I get stuck in snow..but that sucks that they get chewed away so fast...especially for the price But oh well. I knew I should have just bought the 60's, but whatever

[brzninja]

Originally Posted by rhoyle

Are winter tires better in winter conditions? Sure. Are they absolutely necessary? Not for most. 20 degrees this morning and 2" of snow. I had no problem going the speed limit. It's a road, not a racetrack.

Ah, I used to think like you. Good luck making an unexpected stop with those stock tires.