Snow question

GaleForce

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kenchan

hey layla- the tires that come with the Z are NOT suitable to drive in snow... even with the VDC (traction/yaw control) turned on.

pick up the car when the roads are clear. i am not kidding.

GL!

Mitco39

Let me Google that for you!

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Cmike2780

Man, so many wise-*** comments in one thread. Just help her out and be done with it.

Put simply OP, the OEM tires are designed for summer driving. Once the temperature drops to freezing, the rubber hardens and loose a lot of grip. Any snow on the ground is only going to make it worst. Once they clear the road, you'll be fine...but I would go easy on the throttle. It's not impossible to drive with summer tires in very light snow, but I would avoid it if you can. A dedicated winter setup is best as some have suggested, but you can also your tire setup to All-Seasons if you're mostly doing normal daily driving.

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kenchan

already did, post #14. or take me out of your iggylist and you wont miss the goodness.

Mitco39

LOL I didnt realize she was a female, I thought we were just poking fun at a guy. Not that a chick couldn't handle it or anything.

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2007 Chevy Duramax - EFILive Tuned By Me
2010 40th W/ Nav - Boosted Performance - UpRev Tuned By Me
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My Build --> http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...39s-build.html

kenchan

Mt Tam I am

I do not think I could if I tried.

Never having driven in snow myself, I comment, living so close, couldn't she just drive at a snails pace, up one gear all the way home? Perhaps using her flashers to let others know she is in a jam. I do not envy her position.

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gplw

A 370Z is absolutely fine to drive in the snow with winter tires. I have Bridgestone Blizzaks on. The car is predictable, and handles very well. (Last Monday I was driving to work in knee high snow in the unplowed side streets and even with a low skirt on the front (of the car!) because I have the sport model, the car was fine.)

A 370Z is absolutely unfine to drive in the snow on the summer tires. If you Do have to drive it I agree with the previous advice to take it as slow as you can, put on your flashers, and go easy on the throttle.

kenchan

mr.tam- i dont know where where the op is, but in my area, if there's a car that was going down a snowy road at a snail's pace, guaranteed rear-ended.

if there's any on-ramps, it's like watching an ant trying to get out of an antlion's trap. it's a very very sad sight.

Mt Tam I am

Figures. Flashers apparently make a target out of it. I knew that their was more too it, than is obvious to a Californian. Enough from the ignorant.

I also figured that when the OP admitted to a boyfriend, she'd left be on her own. Glad to see a gentleman or two.

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seizer8

It took my Z over to best buy for an appointment after about an inch of snow. I have Michelin Super Sport tires. All I can say is I wouldn't do that again. It's only a couple of miles away, but I got stuck three times in the parking lot there. Best to get a set of winter tires. At the very least a good set of sporty all season radials.

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Layla16

Thanks so much to everyone for their responses! I think I definitely might need to invest in winter tires at some point. I feel a bit foolish for buying a car that should probably not be used as the primary vehicle, but I couldn't resist. I'm obstinate.

Though I did google this question along with browse the forum for similair questions, I hoped to get the chance to both introduce myself and get a more personalized response by creating a new thread. I like forums for the fact that you can interact with people

I realized the snow looked a lot more intense from a second story window than it really was. It ended up being basically rain. I took it very slow in case it was icy, and people were definitely annoyed by me. It's better to be melodramatic than find myself in a lovely position as the one showed above lol.

And I have not yet mastered driving this car in heels. I will though, mark my words!

And thanks for the info on snow tires. That makes me feel like if I get them this car will be a little bit more realistic as my primary vehicle. Hopefully there won't be too much winter left though :/

Augustus

The key here is, what tires are on your Z?

It's a 2009, so it's very possible that the original tires have been replaced by now. The OEM tires on the 370Z are "summer" tires, and they are ridiculously useless in the snow. Not just tricky to drive in the snow, downright dangerous. Especially if you have hills, you're basically doomed. Park it until it melts. Leaving it in a parking lot overnight is a far better option than crashing it on your way home. Or having to leave it in a ditch overnight.

Go look at the tires. Make note of the name on the sidewall or take a picture & post it. That would let us help you more.

If the previous owner replaced the OEM tires with all-season tires, you stand a fair chance of doing "OK" in the snow, assuming the roads are generally plowed (and your tires aren't bald). Compared to your FWD Tiburon, the main difference is that the back end of the Z will want to rotate whenever you give it gas. The car will *want* to spin out with every hill & crown in the road surface. You must carefully modulate the throttle and steer into the rotation - back end swinging to the right, turn the wheel to the right. One tip, try starting from a stop in 2nd instead of 1st. Yes, it's a bit harder on the clutch but it's a bit easier to get moving on an extremely slippery road. Sometimes in 1st you will just sit & spin. Braking is mostly the same with RWD, but give yourself a TON of extra room and go SLOW. Especially if you're chancing it with the summer tires - you have almost ZERO braking ability. Seriously scary. The Z has wide tires, summer or all-season, and they're not ideal for snow.

But yes, dedicated snow tires are probably the best way to go in the winter. Same rules as above apply, but you've got a bit more traction to play with.

If this is really your first experience driving a RWD car on snow, I would highly recommend that you drive around the school's parking lot for a while to get the hang of how the car behaves. Give it some gas as you turn and watch what happens. Be honest with yourself and your skills as to whether you can make it home. And have a plan for if you get stuck.

Good luck!

kenchan