Z in the snow?

JohnnyBgood · 11-13-2009, 10:36 AM

Planning a road trip to New Mexico next month, and will almost surely be encountering snow/ice. I have the option of taking the Z or my wife's Element. (Front drive, no traction control.)

I want to take the Z b/c of the nav and t/c, but am weary of driving on the summer tires. I'm also too cheap to buy a set of winter tires just for one trip.

Anyone have any experience driving in these types of conditions yet? Think I'll be ok for one week on the Bridgestones?

Mergnthwirker · 11-13-2009, 10:43 AM

Below 30F degrees, the stock Bridgestones on your sport will suffer from a hard tread, and your traction even on dry pavement will suck. If the Element has all-seasons, you would be better off in that.

A couple of weeks before I put snows on my Z, I experienced this first-hand coming out of a roundabout. All summer long, I've been nailing the throttle coming onto the straight after this circle. At 35F degrees, the back end came right around on me (easily caught) and overall the traction on the circle was perceptibly less good. That's without any snow at all. I would highly, highly recommend that you avoid driving the stock summer tires in snow!

Rhinetom · 11-13-2009, 10:45 AM

You’re not going to like this but, here goes. Being from the Midwest, I never drove a sports car in the Winter. You can be a careful driver, have adequate traction but, it’s the other drivers that will slide into you. Additionally, road salt kills metal. I would look into renting a 4X4 SUV.

370Zsteve · 11-13-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyBgood

Planning a road trip to New Mexico next month, and will almost surely be encountering snow/ice. I have the option of taking the Z or my wife's Element. (Front drive, no traction control.)

I want to take the Z b/c of the nav and t/c, but am weary of driving on the summer tires. I'm also too cheap to buy a set of winter tires just for one trip.

Anyone have any experience driving in these types of conditions yet? Think I'll be ok for one week on the Bridgestones?

Don't do it! Take the front-wheel-drive Element! Save the Z! Snow, salt, geez.

MightyBobo · 11-13-2009, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 370Zsteve

Don't do it! Take the front-wheel-drive Element! Save the Z! Snow, salt, geez.

X2. Your tires are going to be ***, unless you replaced them with quality all-seasons.

YamahaR6 · 11-13-2009, 10:58 AM

Don't do it! Let's keep the Z insurance low.

JohnnyBgood · 11-13-2009, 11:08 AM

Thanks for the quick responses. Looks like I'll be taking the box then.

MightyBobo · 11-13-2009, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyBgood

Thanks for the quick responses. Looks like I'll be taking the box then.

A wise choice.

Modshack · 11-13-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyBgood

Thanks for the quick responses. Looks like I'll be taking the box then.

Yup...Best plan..

SOFLY00 · 11-13-2009, 11:19 AM

dont think you wanna take that chance with a nice car like that!

cajunz · 11-13-2009, 11:20 AM

Yep, take the Element. Woke up today to snow. The Z goes to the hanger at the airport as soon as the roads dry a little.

CrownR426 · 11-13-2009, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SOFLY00

dont think you wanna take that chance with a nice car like that!

+1

But some of our members are ballin that they don't see the z as a dream come true.

j.arnaldo · 11-13-2009, 11:55 AM

...350Z in an permanent Summer here!!! My 365-day-a-year DD! Greetings, guys!
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ____________
Flawless '04.5 White Pearl Touring Coupe: Seamless AT, no feathering, no oil heating/consumption issues, no starting problems, NO PROBLEMO!!!

spearfish25 · 11-13-2009, 05:49 PM

Z with summer tires in snow is a bad plan.

To all who claim that road salt will kill a Z....we'll find out soon enough. What about a Z do you think is different than any other car that has no problem surviving a road-salted winter? I've driven a number of cars through Chicago winters and had no corrosion problems.

Modshack · 11-13-2009, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

To all who claim that road salt will kill a Z....we'll find out soon enough. What about a Z do you think is different than any other car that has no problem surviving a road-salted winter? I've driven a number of cars through Chicago winters and had no corrosion problems.

Honestly? After looking closely at the chassis and undercarriage parts of the Z, I wouldn't subject it to a salty winter... Like Z's before it I don't think it will age well in those conditions...

11-13-2009, 10:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
JohnnyBgood Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Austin Posts: 55 Drives: 2016 Sport Tech 7AT Rep Power: 16	Z in the snow? Planning a road trip to New Mexico next month, and will almost surely be encountering snow/ice. I have the option of taking the Z or my wife's Element. (Front drive, no traction control.) I want to take the Z b/c of the nav and t/c, but am weary of driving on the summer tires. I'm also too cheap to buy a set of winter tires just for one trip. Anyone have any experience driving in these types of conditions yet? Think I'll be ok for one week on the Bridgestones?

11-13-2009, 05:49 PM	#14 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Z with summer tires in snow is a bad plan. To all who claim that road salt will kill a Z....we'll find out soon enough. What about a Z do you think is different than any other car that has no problem surviving a road-salted winter? I've driven a number of cars through Chicago winters and had no corrosion problems. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

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11-13-2009, 10:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mergnthwirker Base Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Connecticut USA Posts: 243 Drives: '09 370Z PW MT6 S Rep Power: 16	Below 30F degrees, the stock Bridgestones on your sport will suffer from a hard tread, and your traction even on dry pavement will suck. If the Element has all-seasons, you would be better off in that. A couple of weeks before I put snows on my Z, I experienced this first-hand coming out of a roundabout. All summer long, I've been nailing the throttle coming onto the straight after this circle. At 35F degrees, the back end came right around on me (easily caught) and overall the traction on the circle was perceptibly less good. That's without any snow at all. I would highly, highly recommend that you avoid driving the stock summer tires in snow!

11-13-2009, 10:45 AM	#3 (permalink)
Rhinetom Base Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: United States Posts: 92 Drives: 09 370Z auto, red Rep Power: 16	You’re not going to like this but, here goes. Being from the Midwest, I never drove a sports car in the Winter. You can be a careful driver, have adequate traction but, it’s the other drivers that will slide into you. Additionally, road salt kills metal. I would look into renting a 4X4 SUV.

11-13-2009, 10:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
YamahaR6 Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 527 Drives: A Car Rep Power: 17	Don't do it! Let's keep the Z insurance low.

11-13-2009, 11:08 AM	#7 (permalink)
JohnnyBgood Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Austin Posts: 55 Drives: 2016 Sport Tech 7AT Rep Power: 16	Thanks for the quick responses. Looks like I'll be taking the box then.

11-13-2009, 11:19 AM	#10 (permalink)
SOFLY00 Banned Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NY Posts: 148 Drives: g35 6mt Rep Power: 0	dont think you wanna take that chance with a nice car like that!

11-13-2009, 11:20 AM	#11 (permalink)
cajunz Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Vernal, Ut Posts: 92 Drives: '09 370Z MB 6MT Rep Power: 16	Yep, take the Element. Woke up today to snow. The Z goes to the hanger at the airport as soon as the roads dry a little.

11-13-2009, 11:55 AM	#13 (permalink)
j.arnaldo Banned Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 937 Drives: Nissan 350Z, 2004 Rep Power: 0	...350Z in an permanent Summer here!!! My 365-day-a-year DD! Greetings, guys! __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ____________ Flawless '04.5 White Pearl Touring Coupe: Seamless AT, no feathering, no oil heating/consumption issues, no starting problems, NO PROBLEMO!!!