Anybody planning on driving your Z in winter?

m4a1mustang · 03-04-2009, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK370Z

Sucks to be that guy

!

J/K that's me! DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT drive 370Z in snow. It's lights, it's got way too much power and the tires that it comes with freezes (loses traction) if temp drops below 32 F! Please use public transportation or a beater if you live in a state that gets a lot of snow.

If you really want to drive your Z in snow, I highly suggest you to do the following:

a. Get some really good snow tires.

b. TWO 50lbs sand bags in the trunk.

c. Get some snow driving tips (i.e. slow acceleration, no acceleration during turning, 2nd gear start etc)

I will never drive my Z in the snow, again. Lesson learned.

Hehe, I will be driving my Z in the snow. I drove both my Mustangs in the snow so I have quite a bit of experience with powerful RWD cars and snow. It's not too bad, you just have to be very careful, and hopefully have some pretty decent all seasons at least. I've never driven with snow tires... just good all seasons.

A little light snow isn't that bad. Obviously deep snow is going to be tough and make it more likely for you to get stuck... but if there are only a couple inches on the road and you absolutely have to get somewhere, you should be able to make it!

ENT-Z · 03-04-2009, 06:30 PM

I'm going to try to drive mine (as in my future Z, wish I had one right now) most of the year. But when it actually snows I'm going with my wife's car and she can stay home (Audi w/ quattro - it would've eaten up that snow in AK370z's pics). I would like to put some 18s with snow tires or all seasons on, but I'm worried they won't fit over the big brakes on the sport package....

Goose · 03-04-2009, 08:06 PM

Good point on the Sport package brakes. I didn't realize there might be a clearance issue with 18" wheels.

Jackyll · 03-04-2009, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goose

Good point on the Sport package brakes. I didn't realize there might be a clearance issue with 18" wheels.

Yeah, I read somewhere on here and in a magazine the other day that the base 18s don't fit over the sport brakes. Gonna have to get another set of 19s or just have the tires unmounted/mounted every winter

clamphibian · 03-04-2009, 09:37 PM

I've driven mine in the snow a few times. Its pretty awful with the stock tires. Hard to get goin but once you're up to speed it does alright. Traction control isn't much help either.

Mergnthwirker · 11-29-2009, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackyll

Yeah, I read somewhere on here and in a magazine the other day that the base 18s don't fit over the sport brakes. Gonna have to get another set of 19s or just have the tires unmounted/mounted every winter

This is not true. The base 18" wheels DO fit over the sport brakes. I bought another member's 18's to mount my snow tires (Blizzaks) for the limited amount of winter driving I'll do with my 370Z. They fit just fine! In fact, in some markets (Australia?) these are the wheels included with the sport package. Don't believe everything you read in a magazine!

There are some advantages to a sports car in the snow. For one, you have a much better sense of what the traction actually is, which helps you avoid a false sense of security. Here in the northeast, I constantly see upside-down SUV's whose owners had no clue that their speed exceeded traction limits.

The Z's low center of gravity, sensitivity of controls, and stability in corners make it a BETTER daily winter car than most SUV's. Unless you live in a climate with constant snow cover on the roads, the majority of winter driving will give you cold, damp, occasionally slippery conditions, where having better control and feel offered by the Z is a real advantage for everyday driving. Why deprive yourself of this joy because you are afraid of a few days when you MIGHT have issues?

Matt · 11-29-2009, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mergnthwirker

This is not true. The base 18" wheels DO fit over the sport brakes. I bought another member's 18's to mount my snow tires (Blizzaks) for the limited amount of winter driving I'll do with my 370Z. They fit just fine! In fact, in some markets (Australia?) these are the wheels included with the sport package. Don't believe everything you read in a magazine!

There are some advantages to a sports car in the snow. For one, you have a much better sense of what the traction actually is, which helps you avoid a false sense of security. Here in the northeast, I constantly see upside-down SUV's whose owners had no clue that their speed exceeded traction limits.

The Z's low center of gravity, sensitivity of controls, and stability in corners make it a BETTER daily winter car than most SUV's. Unless you live in a climate with constant snow cover on the roads, the majority of winter driving will give you cold, damp, occasionally slippery conditions, where having better control and feel offered by the Z is a real advantage for everyday driving. Why deprive yourself of this joy because you are afraid of a few days when you MIGHT have issues?

Whether everything you just said is fact or pure conjecture, +1 because it sounded cool!

Beatboy · 11-29-2009, 09:51 AM

I drove my 330 ci RWD through the snow every winter. It gets bad out here some times especially since there are so many curvy roads with hills. I got stuck in the snow once coming back home during a blizzard. I had sport tires. I got the winter tires, and I was fine after. I just drive slow and I don't slip at all with the snow tires.

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03-04-2009, 06:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
ENT-Z Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 460 Drives: 09 MB 6MT 370Z Rep Power: 17	I'm going to try to drive mine (as in my future Z, wish I had one right now) most of the year. But when it actually snows I'm going with my wife's car and she can stay home (Audi w/ quattro - it would've eaten up that snow in AK370z's pics). I would like to put some 18s with snow tires or all seasons on, but I'm worried they won't fit over the big brakes on the sport package....

03-04-2009, 08:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
Goose Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: the cornfields of Ohio Posts: 8 Drives: boring '08 Yaris Rep Power: 17	Good point on the Sport package brakes. I didn't realize there might be a clearance issue with 18" wheels.

03-04-2009, 09:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
clamphibian Base Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Milford, MA Posts: 24 Drives: 85 Citation x-11 Rep Power: 17	I've driven mine in the snow a few times. Its pretty awful with the stock tires. Hard to get goin but once you're up to speed it does alright. Traction control isn't much help either.

11-29-2009, 09:51 AM	#8 (permalink)
Beatboy Base Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 7 Drives: 2001 330 Ci silver Rep Power: 16	I drove my 330 ci RWD through the snow every winter. It gets bad out here some times especially since there are so many curvy roads with hills. I got stuck in the snow once coming back home during a blizzard. I had sport tires. I got the winter tires, and I was fine after. I just drive slow and I don't slip at all with the snow tires.