Snow driving experience with my 370z (AK370Z)(w/blizzaks TR Motorsport C2 ) w/video
 

You're about to see a video. In the video, you'll the SAME road I took about one year ago. It was snowing lightly and I was on my sports package (19" RAYS) rims/tires. Not even half mile driving into the road, I was able to spin out my 370z 180 degrees! :( . It was at night but traffic was still pretty busy. I have had people drive around me for at least 5 minutes as I was trying to get traction.

It was a VERY scary experience. I didn't drive my car for at least 3 days (since I was in shock)

End of 2009, I ordered a set of winter rims/tires. I went with Blizzaks LM-25 with TR Motorsport C2. You can learn more about the setup HERE : http://www.the370z.com/wheels-tires/...cs-ak370z.html

This time around (last week), with my winter setup, I had a totally different experience. These blizzaks and thinner tires from Tireracks were wonderful. I had NO traction issues what so ever. I was driving with a whole new confidence I never had before! As you can see in the video, I drove on about 2-4" of snow. Sometimes it was even more. I had no problem taking off, turning or even braking. These tires have grip that defies the laws of physics! Me being in a RWD car, I was able to keep up with SUVs and trucks with these tires.

Few snow driving tips
a. I always started my car on 2nd gear. After driving a little, I was able to drive away with no wheel spin even on acceleration.

b. During turn, it's safer to just let the car cruise through the turn (instead of pressing gas). As soon as you become straight, slowly hit the gas pedal.

c. Always keep some snow gloves in your trunk. I underestimated the cold and was cleaning my car without gloves. Within 3-5 minutes, I lost feeling to my hands! (14 degrees temp doesn't help either)

In conclusion, I want to recommend these tires (Blizzaks) to everyone that plan on driving the Z all year long (including winter season). These tires have phenomenon grip in snow/sleet/icy/wet conditions and will save your Z from an accident. My setup ONLY costs 5% of the Z purchase price but I feel that it's one of the best investment I made to the car till date.

You can use the link in my sig to go to tirerack and purchase the rims/tires. It's an affiliate link and will help out the forum if you do.

Thanks for reading. Now time to watch the video :driving:

Do you mind if I do some editing to sell products on ebay uk?

:bowrofl: sure.

http://www.the370z.com/images/smilies/bowrofl.gif
Seriously, I'm sure the snow drivers will appreciate this! :D

I hope so. I was looking for a video of 370Z driving on snow on blizzaks before buying my rims but I didn't find any. This video should help out any perspective buyers or current blizzak owners that didn't see snow yet.

Nice one AK! I have the exact same wheels and tires, I have been in similar weather and I can only come to the same conclusion: best investment in the Car by far!

:iagree: . The difference is night and day! I never thought I will be able to drive a RWD sports car in snow. :tup:

Some pictures

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...w/DSC03007.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...w/DSC03014.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...w/DSC03009.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...w/DSC03022.jpg
(yes frost, I'm putting my copyrights on the body panels now! Though I highly doubt anyone will steal this pic :icon17:)

I won't drive in snow. I did that in the 300ZX. That was bad enough. Yikes!

rofl, you need to watermark the entire pic!

NOW this comment makes sense to me but when I first saw it, when you posted it, I was like wtf:confused:

rofl. yes, reading in another thread is required.

so it appears..lol


Either way, great info AK. It's amazing that you were able to go out in that storm last month in the Z. This is great news!:happydance:

lol as much as I hate california, Id rather live here than in a place that can die from simply walking a mile or so without proper attire due to the harsh wether. F that! I lived in Logan, Utah for my senior year of highschool and the first time it was below zero (with the wind) I walked outside, tried to breathe, but I couldn't inhale the rediculously cold air. In fact it hurt! Much respect for you sir. much respect

I see those pics of AK's car in the snow and I want to cry. We just had a big snowstorm down here and my car in no seeing the snow. I prefer to walk to work.

OMG you're giving me seizures! Get a camera mount! :rofl2:

I liked seeing that Durango spinning it's tires while you scooted on by him :tup:

Drive up some mountain roads and I'll be sold.

Yeah.. I was def happy about not spinning out! BTW, this video is from 3 days ago :tup:

Well, sorry Mr. GO PRO :p. BTW, did you make any new video yet with the cam? (other than the one in your office :rolleyes:) I want to see a video with different mounts and such :excited:


lol.. you must work very close! BTW, just coming from the Touchless car wash. It uses Pressurized water to clean the car, undercarriage etc. It waxes and dries as well. Pretty neat machine. Here's some pictures from today

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/DSC03028.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/DSC03025.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/DSC03030.jpg

:tup:

I just made my first little 1min or so clip today with a mount attempt. Not perfectly happy with it, but YouTube is processing the HD now. My 32GB card came in today so I'll be changing things up a lot and trying different things, including mounting it to the rear strut bar. Only have 4 more days to get it figured out.

I wish we had a carwash like that around here. The pressure doesn't look too high so I wouldn't be worried about my spoiler. Also, the biggest reason, no tire rack to activate it. On your Blizzaks I'm sure you're fine but with 10.5" wheels I can't fit between most of those without screwing things up royally. (No worries, I haven't tried yet, not that dumb.)

:excited:

That's what I like about this wash. I just drive to a flat platform and the washing nozzles go around the car. There's no tire racks/puller. There's no way I'd go to a car wash with those things! (even with winter rims)

Wish there was a "Dealer Locator" for those.

Video # 1 is up in the OG room. Gotta work on some others.

Is that touchless car wash in South Jersey? I'd love to get all the salt off from under my car, I'm sure there are spots I miss doing it by hand and I'd rather not wait for a heavy rainstorm. :p

Wow AK, I figured that was the storm from a couple weeks ago. I forgot about the storm from a couple days ago, maybe because it was just horribly cold here and it didn't drop but a few inches that disappeared by 3PM, haha.

The reason Blizzaks are so good is because they are made of a soft rubber that resists getting rigid in cold temperatures. But I must caution you....though 99% of the time they will hold the SNOWY road and get you through with ease I would not get too overly confident. ICE is not SNOW and Blizzak can get squirrelly on ICE.

Do the Blizzaks kick up the same amount of salt/debris that the potenzas do? I almost have to cringe sometimes when I hear the stock tires launching the road salt and debris into the wheel wells and undercarriage.

more logs on the fire
 

:D Awesome.

After watching, two questions remain:

Haven't people stated in other threads that putting the base rims on the Sport Ed. 370Z is a no-no? Obviously you've done it. I'm confused. :confused: I thought there was some reason, E.g. brakes too big, etc. Anybody else heard that? Is it safe to call BS, :bs:or are there legit concerns about putting the 18" rims on a Sport Ed.?

Is it possible to just (have my tire shop) remove the Summer tires, and put the Blizzaks on the 19" Rays until Spring, and just swap tires and use the same rims?

Many Thanks :tiphat:

In Australia the Z only comes with Base wheels, but you can get sports brakes, so it'll fit

Well for one, those rims aren't the stock 18"s but they do clear the BBK of the sport package as AK has the sport package on his Z. Some 18"s will not clear this BBK, however I believe the base 18"s DO clear the BBK of the sport package since the Aussies do not get the 19" rays on their sport package but instead get the same 18"s we have here while getting the BBK...

Beat me to it! :tiphat:

Is there drifting in the video? If not, then BORING!!! ;)

heh I bought exactly same set up after seeing your "my winter tire/rim set up" post in 2009 November. I was contemplating to put them on until we got the first layer of snow.. exactly same experience u had with SP wheels+tires on..... It took me at least 15mins to get back up to my house!! (I gave up going to my lectures that day after sliding around the first corner out of my house)

Now, i drive with so much more confidence with winter tires on! I noticed i lose grip here and there but VDC saves my *** when that happens... :)

My Z will probably never see snow :tup: If I lived in those condition my sports car of choice would probably be WRX STI, or maybe I would just have both, and store the Z away in the winter :icon17: I will say though, It has been raining here in Cali a lot lately, the Hankook Ventus V12 tires are excellent in wet conditions, probably not for snow though, but virtually no hydroplaning or sliding out compared to the Nitto NT55 on my Mini and the stock Bridgestones.

Great tires, they always worked good on the 350 as well.

Just make sure to switch back to your other tires in time, as they wear down real fast when the weather warms up

Welp, looks like NJ is about to get hit with our billionth major storm this season. Can I borrow your tires Ak? :(

You guys have been getting our snow for a change, normally it's the North that gets hammered.

I know, right? It figures, right as I buy a RWD car...

I was in the market for a STi too!

Oh well, I'll cry less when spring comes.

haha sure :ugh2:

So, looks like we are getting 12-18" of snow between tomorrow and saturday :rolleyes: . It sucks ...

hey AK i commented on another one of your forums somewhere but i wanted to post one here too..so with those rims you had no issues fitting them over the sport package breaks? i have the sp as well and want to make sure they will fit no problem. I am assuming they do. thanks

Also any thought on the lm-60 vs lm-25s? and did you use the 225 size all the way around? Thanks.