What do you guys in the Northeast do in the winter?

sascuderi

Hello:

I am seriously considering getting the Z as my new car, but concerned about the winter.

I would need to use the Z as my daily driver but noticed they all come stock with summer tires only. Living in the Northeast this could be a problem!

For those in that live in areas that get snow and ice, what do you do? Keep it in the garage until spring? Use snow tires? Replace the stock tires with all season tires? Drive with the stock summer tires and hope for the best?

m4a1mustang

You can pick up a set of 18" rims and snow tires for around $1200, which is probably your best bet if you don't have another car you can borrow on snow days. At least two of our members have done this via TireRack.

All-Seasons are OK, but with the Z snow performance will be marginal at best.

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speedworks

I drive another vehicle during snow days (and the aftermath). Otherwise, if the roads are dry I use the summer tires, and they will grip fine once they warm up. Cold, they aren't dangerous, just don't be a lead foot. If you have to drive in the snow, you have to have another set of tires, and snow tires area awesome in that weather. But, they will wear quickly on dry pavement, especially if you delay changing them out as spring shows up.

If I had to drive my car every day, I would put snow tires on - in other cars I have enjoyed the Michelin Alpins.

PapoZalsa

If I had to drive the Z as a DD in the Winter I would have not bought the car.

I commend the guys who drive the Z in Winter(Snow) but not me. I'm to "picky" about my car, that is why I have a truck as a DD for Winter.

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kannibul

Even here in the mid-south, I won't drive my Z in the winter.

Had it have to be my only mode of transportation, I wouldn't have bought it...instead opting for a truck or SUV, which I have now, that I will drive should I need to in the winter.

Wife and I carpool in her Civic...and there's really not a reason to not carpool since we work fairly close to each other.

Urbanracer

I store my Z for the winter, I bought it with no intension of driving it in the snow. I have a maxima as a daily driver and the high performance all seasons are pretty sketchy at best in the snow. I would highly recommend winter tires if you plan on driving in the snow, particularly since its a RWD car. I have Dunlop winter M3's on my maxima, its a decent all around winter tire thats not noisy.

Winter tires usually run 1'' less in diameter then stock, are narrower for getting through slush and snow, and have a much softer tire compound for traction in the cold. Winter tires IMO are a good insurance policy, if they keep you out of one accident they were worth the money.

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areyouin729

I have plenty of PTO stored up

Zeto

Yea mine is stored in an indoor heated facility. It sleeps next to a ZR1, SLR AMG, 997 911 Turbo, 09 Viper and a Maserati Gran Turismo. It's in good company to say the least lol! I drive an Audi A4 in the winter.

Znewb

Just had a couple snow storms in NJ. I got snow tires on my z and it handled well enough.

kenchan

Snow tires will help significantly but i have to say it's pretty sad watching folks driving sports cars (roadsters are worse) in the snow all covered in corrosive icemelt and salt.

Just not the right tools for the right job.

Mine has been hibernating since 12/1.

spearfish25

Some of us can't afford the luxury of a winter car to replace the Z. So, my Z will tolerate snow, salt, slush...it's still a car. I have yet to see any proof that it's built differently and can't tolerate what any other car can take in the way of corrosion.

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azn1515

Although, I can afford a DD during winter, I most definitely agree. It is still a car..

spearfish25

A few more years and residency will be over. As long as Barack doesn't mess up my reimbursements, I'll have a winter car and summer sports car .

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2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

Pharmacist

i put winter tires on 18 inch wheels from the base model and drive it in winter. if anything, its actually safer to drive and handles better than the folks above me who talked about a truck or suv. with appropriate winter tires and vdc on, the car is safer and better handling than most other sedans and trucks out there on the road.

as for the whole thing about icemelt and salt, i wash my car very frequently, up to 2-3 times a week if the roads are covered with salt. that should cut down the corrosion. there's absolutely no reason why a 370z cannot work in the winter.

and one more thing, all season tires are no season tires. get proper winter tires for winter and summer tires for summer

spearfish25

I've been using a yard pesticide sprayer to rinse the car with fresh water after drives in the salt grime. Unfortunately, I think it's more for my peace of mind than any real benefit. I'm going to hit a local self-wash once or twice a week just to remove the road grime layer.

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2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z