Pic of your GT86 - RIGHT NOW!

[spcmafia]

Originally Posted by Wally86

First thing I do on a warm day is wash the undercarriage with the pressure washer. I didn't get to wash last saturday due to rain but if it warms up, I'll at least wash the underbelly. I bought fluid film but didn't apply it LOL

Whenever I get warm days, is because is raining. Im just going to take the car to a touchless wash even if its cold outside.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Wally86

Nothing in the trunk as of yet but I was thinking about that. I left the snow on the roof and trunk (minus a view to the third of four brake lights) to help give SOME weight on the rear. I guess I'll put something in the trunk tonight as we're expected to get 2 more inches tomorrow night.

You realize by doing that all you are really doing is raising the CG a little, and really hacking off the people behind you as you shed your load onto their windshield, right?

It's not going to help much with traction. Don't be that guy.

[soundman98]

lol. left snow on the roof for "reasons" besides being lazy...

i don't know how dense the snow is around your area, but without a doubt it's nowhere near as dense as that reasoning...


a. 1 60-pound sand bag is going to weigh more than most any snow on the roof

b. i've never been in any snow situation that 1 sandbag makes a difference

c. any weight on the roof will be somewhat distributed to the front wheels-- for any weight to directly effect the rear axle, it needs to be behind the axle...

[Wally86]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

You realize by doing that all you are really doing is raising the CG a little, and really hacking off the people behind you as you shed your load onto their windshield, right?

It's not going to help much with traction. Don't be that guy.

The car is already low enough to be a shovel and most of the snow hung on for the 15mph ride.

Originally Posted by soundman98

lol. left snow on the roof for "reasons" besides being lazy...

i don't know how dense the snow is around your area, but without a doubt it's nowhere near as dense as that reasoning...


a. 1 60-pound sand bag is going to weigh more than most any snow on the roof

b. i've never been in any snow situation that 1 sandbag makes a difference

c. any weight on the roof will be somewhat distributed to the front wheels-- for any weight to directly effect the rear axle, it needs to be behind the axle...

I legitimately believed it would help. First RWD car. First time dealing with preconceived notions. I wish I could say laziness but not cleaning ice off my window is how I hit a 70 year old man in the street and almost got sued out of oblivion. Now I make sure my windows are super clean. I really thought the snow weight would help.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by soundman98

lol. left snow on the roof for "reasons" besides being lazy...

i don't know how dense the snow is around your area, but without a doubt it's nowhere near as dense as that reasoning...


a. 1 60-pound sand bag is going to weigh more than most any snow on the roof

b. i've never been in any snow situation that 1 sandbag makes a difference

c. any weight on the roof will be somewhat distributed to the front wheels-- for any weight to directly effect the rear axle, it needs to be behind the axle...

I should say this was really heavy snow. I can see a cars worth being 60lb at least.

If we assume 46/54 in a 2800lb car, 60lb over the rear axle is ~2% change in distribution. More if it is placed behind the rear axle. However, the further back it is, the more weight is taken off the front. If someone is going to add weight, I would add it as far forward in the trunk as possible.

What would be better than extra weight is reducing tire pressure a bit.

Also, +1 to don't leave snow on the roof if possible. I have seen people brake and then the melting snow moves forward onto their windshield. Also, driving behind them is pretty dangerous.

[Wally86]

Originally Posted by Spuds

I should say this was really heavy snow. I can see a cars worth being 60lb at least.

If we assume 46/54 in a 2800lb car, 60lb over the rear axle is ~2% change in distribution. More if it is placed behind the rear axle. However, the further back it is, the more weight is taken off the front. If someone is going to add weight, I would add it as far forward in the trunk as possible.

What would be better than extra weight is reducing tire pressure a bit.

Also, +1 to don't leave snow on the roof if possible. I have seen people brake and then the melting snow moves forward onto their windshield. Also, driving behind them is pretty dangerous.

Wouldn't you want to increase tire pressure to thin up the contact patch making it easier to get through the snow? Is everything in my brain wrong? LOL

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by soundman98

lol. left snow on the roof for "reasons" besides being lazy...

i don't know how dense the snow is around your area, but without a doubt it's nowhere near as dense as that reasoning...


a. 1 60-pound sand bag is going to weigh more than most any snow on the roof

b. i've never been in any snow situation that 1 sandbag makes a difference

c. any weight on the roof will be somewhat distributed to the front wheels-- for any weight to directly effect the rear axle, it needs to be behind the axle...

Adding weight to the back just creates instability in the front. It is a tradeoff. You can have a slightly lower risk of getting stuck or a moderately greater risk of spinning like a top due to the extra weight in the rear. Which would you rather have? Adding weight makes sense for things like pickup trucks or 1976 Buicks that have a huge front to rear weight bias but will have virtually no impact on overall traction in a car that is already almost 50/50.

DO NOT reduce tire pressures. Not only does it reduce overall traction it reduces stability so you get the worst of both worlds!

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Adding weight to the back just creates instability in the front. It is a tradeoff. You can have a slightly lower risk of getting stuck or a moderately greater risk of spinning like a top due to the extra weight in the rear. Which would you rather have? Adding weight makes sense for things like pickup trucks or 1976 Buicks that have a huge front to rear weight bias but will have virtually no impact on overall traction in a car that is already almost 50/50.

DO NOT reduce tire pressures. Not only does it reduce overall traction it reduces stability so you get the worst of both worlds!

Alright, how does a ~1-2psi drop in tire pressure reduce grip and stability in snow?

Also, I never had any problems with the FRS understeering in the snow. That's usually manageable by driving an appropriate speed. I have had problems with not being able to make the car go in a straight line, or go to at all due to oversteer in the snow, which isn't something one can really affect by just going slower.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Alright, how does a ~1-2psi drop in tire pressure reduce grip and stability in snow?

Also, I never had any problems with the FRS understeering in the snow. That's usually manageable by driving an appropriate speed. I have had problems with not being able to make the car go in a straight line, or go to at all due to oversteer in the snow, which isn't something one can really affect by just going slower.

You are making your tire wider and softer.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

You are making your tire wider and softer.

Yes. That's the point.

[soundman98]

i think it really depends on the snow we're talking about. lake effect, and lower snow belt regions are entirely different than mountains. all of my experience is in the lake effect stuff, which is mostly melted off the roads within 2-3 days.

in the slushy melty crap, the pizza-cutter approach tends to make a difference to cut through the snow to the surface to grip. but i can see how in colder consistent temps, flotation on top of the snow hardpack would more more desirable.

but i don't think anyone can get any decent floatation out of a 45-series tire that most of us would run..


my first few years driving, i had my parents 2wd single cab ranger, but through various dealership connections, people would trade in trucks and leave sandbags. so i had essentially an unlimited free supply of sandbags. the first few years, i dragged around somewhere close to 600 pounds of sandbags, even went so far as to build an jig to hold the bags centered over the rear axle.

after a couple years of dragging the bags in and out of the truck, and eventually replacing the spring shackles after they rotted out, i got tired of it, and started throwing 3 bags/120 pounds in. what i found was that the truck was just as capable with 120 pounds in it as it was with 600 pounds. it stopped a lot better at least!

only difference was that a 2wd pickup needed some extra weight in the back just to even out the weight of the truck, otherwise it wanted to tiny dancer and pirouette everywhere.

contrasted to pickups, these cars have amazing weight distribution. i did try 2 sandbags the first winter with this car, and found almost no effect. it doesn't change any handling characteristics enough to justify even free sandbags.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Yes. That's the point.

What works for snowmobiles and tanks is not so effective for 4 wheeled cars.

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

What works for snowmobiles and tanks is not so effective for 4 wheeled cars.

hmmm

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

What works for snowmobiles and tanks is not so effective for 4 wheeled cars.

Works better than trying to apply what works for ice skaters to 4 wheeled cars.