Who says summer "performance" tires aren't good in show/ice?

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Descartes

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
13,968
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I do. After ~1200 miles of driving in more adverse conditions than I've experienced in my lifetime, and this is what my car looks like. I fully acknowledge how profoundly stupid it is to actually attempt to drive a RWD car with such tires in blizzard conditions, but I hadn't anticipated such opposition.

The Z handled as best as it could, and I was able to permeate the blinding shower of snow like a blue bolt of lighting through clouds. I wouldn't suggest trying it though.

Anyone care? I didn't think so.
 
H

His Lord Uberdude

Senior member
Nov 15, 2004
532
0
0
Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
I keep hearing that RWD cars are bad for driving in snow, why is that?

(Keep in mind I live in Texas...:p)
Click to expand...

It's because there's no weight on the rear tires, unlike FWD, in which case, you have the whole engine pushing down on the tires, giving better traction
 
NutBucket

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,177
647
126
Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
I keep hearing that RWD cars are bad for driving in snow, why is that?

(Keep in mind I live in Texas...:p)
Click to expand...

Not enough weight over the traction wheels. Even in the rain, its not a bad idea to throw some bags of sand/rocks in the back of your truck.

(Assuming you have a truck since you live in Texas....:p)
 
N

n0cmonkey

Elite Member
Jun 10, 2001
42,936
1
0
Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
I keep hearing that RWD cars are bad for driving in snow, why is that?

(Keep in mind I live in Texas...:p)
Click to expand...

The more weight over the tires that do the spinning, the better traction you should have. At least, that's how I understand it.

"Performance" tires on FWD aren't good in the snow either. :eek:
 

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
I keep hearing that RWD cars are bad for driving in snow, why is that?

(Keep in mind I live in Texas...:p)
Click to expand...
Becuase there's no weight on the rear wheels (it's just trunk space). In a FWD car, the engine's weight is resting on the drive wheels, so it's much easier to get traction. That's why you often see bags of sand in pickup truck beds in winter.
 
S

SynthDude2001

Lifer
Mar 19, 2003
18,289
2
71
Four identical replies posted in the same minute. :Q :thumbsup:

That makes a lot of sense though, I'd just never thought about it (or need to) before. :)

Edit: And no, I don't have a truck. I thought I'd be different. :p
 
H

His Lord Uberdude

Senior member
Nov 15, 2004
532
0
0
Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
Four identical replies posted in the same minute. :Q :thumbsup:

That makes a lot of sense though, I'd just never thought about it (or need to) before. :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, well I was first. :p
 
NutBucket

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,177
647
126
Originally posted by: His Lord Uberdude
Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
Four identical replies posted in the same minute. :Q :thumbsup:

That makes a lot of sense though, I'd just never thought about it (or need to) before. :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, well I was first. :p
Click to expand...

Bastage!
 
D

Descartes

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
13,968
2
0
Originally posted by: jumpr
So you made it to Cleveland? :)
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Yeah, barely. I'm enjoying it so far. I'll be here for about 8 months, and I'll be living downtown. So far my impressions are quite high; I'm liking this city...

Thanks!
 
N

n0cmonkey

Elite Member
Jun 10, 2001
42,936
1
0
Originally posted by: His Lord Uberdude
Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
Four identical replies posted in the same minute. :Q :thumbsup:

That makes a lot of sense though, I'd just never thought about it (or need to) before. :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, well I was first. :p
Click to expand...

I included extra information. :p
 
S

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
sounds like they aren't summer tires then.

mine I can't even get moving with a light dusting.
 
R

Rent

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2000
7,127
1
81
I drove through the Texas ice on bald Contis that my SVTFocus came with.

Not fun, but it managed (oh, and I don't have traction control either) :Q :)
 
D

Descartes

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
13,968
2
0
Originally posted by: spidey07
sounds like they aren't summer tires then.

mine I can't even get moving with a light dusting.
Click to expand...

Potenza RE040s.

It's not as though I was cruising along with no problems. The highways were plowed very well, but I had significant trouble on exits, on-ramps, normal streets, etc. It wasn't fun. I took a cab to work the first two days.
 
H

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,986
11
81
Originally posted by: His Lord Uberdude
Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
I keep hearing that RWD cars are bad for driving in snow, why is that?

(Keep in mind I live in Texas...:p)
Click to expand...

It's because there's no weight on the rear tires, unlike FWD, in which case, you have the whole engine pushing down on the tires, giving better traction
Click to expand...
Not "no weight", just less weight.
 
Zenmervolt

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
44
91
Originally posted by: Descartes
I do. After ~1200 miles of driving in more adverse conditions than I've experienced in my lifetime, and this is what my car looks like. I fully acknowledge how profoundly stupid it is to actually attempt to drive a RWD car with such tires in blizzard conditions, but I hadn't anticipated such opposition.

The Z handled as best as it could, and I was able to permeate the blinding shower of snow like a blue bolt of lighting through clouds. I wouldn't suggest trying it though.

Anyone care? I didn't think so.
Click to expand...
What kind of tires?

If they came with the car, they ain't "summer" tires, they're performance all-seasons.

ZV

EDIT: I stand corrected looking at the link. Where did you buy the car? I've never seen a car sold new in the midwest without all-seasons. Dealers just won't do that in those parts of the country from my experience.
 
B

Brutuskend

Lifer
Apr 2, 2001
26,558
4
0
It's not what you drive or what's ON what you drive, but HOW you drive that matters.

I used to drive my Javelin with 10 inch tires on the back through snow storms all the time.

Just takes a light foot. ;)
 
B

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
29,470
1
81
I've never driven a sports car on snow but for rain, Kumho ASX's are about as good as I've found in an all-season, ultra-performance tire...and they're not expensive at all either.

I've found the best thing to do is to get a cheap beater for days when it's snowing/raining/icy. You have to figure that the money you spend on some cheap, old, FWD Honda will make up for the increased depreciation of your sports car due to the extra miles, extra rust, and extra dings (esp. if you get into a cold-weather accident)

Unless you're the type of guy who just absolutely has to be seen in a pimpin' ride everywhere he goes ;). Uh...some snow-bound S-drivers I've talked to seem to like Blizzaks so if you absolutely have to drive a sports car on snow, you can try those.
 
J

jvarszegi

Senior member
Aug 9, 2004
721
0
0
With the recent snows in the Northeast US, I finally had enough of my 320HP Camaro, and turned it in for an Impreza WRX. The new car is really fun to drive-- not that the other one wasn't, but after two 180-degree spins on the highway I'd had it.
 
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