Unplanned Snow Drive In The 911

jyl · jyl's Garage

Snowed in Portland today, 2-3" and not melting off as of 7PM. Drove the 911 to work at 5AM, at 8AM looked out the window, and realized would be a fun drive home. On SO-3s. Crawled home at 15 MPH, sliding around more than I'd have liked, tailgated by city buses and idiots in SUVs. Fortunately I only have a 4 mile drive and it is all city streets.

So - with the Rangie not running - I have to drive the 911 this winter. I can stay home for a day or two of snow, but if we're going to get snowy/icy roads more than once in a blue moon, I need to find a solution.

Anyone have snow tires on their 911? Brand, size? (We have Blizzaks on the Prius, work great in 185/16-15.) What do you use for cheap-o wheels?

onlycafe · 01-16-2007, 07:20 PM

i have blizzaks on my '79sc. goes in the snow really well, however, on dry roads they are awful. no feedback at all and squishy to boot. next time i need snows i will try nokians.

pwd72s · 01-16-2007, 07:28 PM

My snow rig...

Joeaksa · 01-16-2007, 07:50 PM

Ran 195's all around on my 911, with a set of cast BBS wheels and loved every minute of it. Car ran like on rails...

jyl · jyl's Garage

Joe, does a later model 911 (i.e. SC and later) look goofy w/ 195's in back?

I guess if I am going to do the snow tire thing, I should make sure there is enough clearance for chains, in back anyway.

Suppose I can buy another set of cookie cutter wheels from a dismantler. I had a set, but sold them to vash. Bet they're still sitting in his garage taking up space.

Hey vash, wanna sell them back?

Joeaksa · 01-16-2007, 08:08 PM

John,

It did look a bit different but who cares? The smaller tires had a good grip, while a wide tire has less of a grip IMHO in conditions like this.

With the 195's you had room for chains but I never needed them. I still have my BBS and plan on keeping them just in case. Too hard to replace for what I have in them.

jyl · jyl's Garage

Yeah the Blizzaks on the Prius are very squirmy on dry roads. Also I recently read the special soft snow compound is used for only 1/2 the tread depth - need to confirm that, but am now worried how long we'll get out of the set. But, when new at least, they are great on snow and even on some ice.

Rot 911 · 01-17-2007, 05:48 AM

John same thing happened to me 5 years ago and I too was running S03's. I bought a set of 6" and 7" fuchs cheap and run the Dunlop Winter Sports in the winter. Excellent snow and dry traction. I just went with the standard 205 fronts and 225 rears and they seem to handle just fine. I didn't want to drop down to 195's because it is not often we see that much snow here in the winter and the winter tires see a lot of dry street use.

mtelliott · 01-17-2007, 07:04 AM

Drive mine in the winter hear in Denver, CO. I have blizaks and haven't had any problems in both dry and snow. It's gotten better traction than the wife's minivan (all season tires).

Of course, when it gets more than 4 inches on the road, I drive the 4-wheel drive truck. They do an awesome job on the main arteries around here but the side streets tend to get packed up and icy. Haven't had a problem yet.

Oh, and they are the normal 205/55/16 front, 225/50/16 rear.

Michael

Hugh R · 01-17-2007, 10:37 AM

Snowed here in SoCal just a few minutes ago.

onewhippedpuppy · 01-17-2007, 01:04 PM

My 911 was a blast on all season tires in the snow. Rearward weight balance makes for great traction, it was great to flick around corners.

stevepaa · 01-17-2007, 03:50 PM

http://www.spikes-spiders.com/productInfo/vehicles/

look at these. see if you have enough clearance

Tim Hancock · 01-17-2007, 04:24 PM

Well, for the first time ever, I am jealous of SoCal weather. We have had nothing but rain this "winter". I want snow d@mnit!

hytem · 01-17-2007, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by onewhippedpuppy
My 911 was a blast on all season tires in the snow. Rearward weight balance makes for great traction, it was great to flick around corners.

I would expect a 911 to be very good in snow with the right tires, i.e., all-seasons or winter tires. I haven't driven mine in snow, nor do I expect to, but I had a Corvair many years ago in Northern New England which was great in snow--with snow tires. Both cars are air-cooled rear-engined, rear-wheel drive, so the weight is in the right place.

I have driven my SC in cold weather this winter, and find the engine takes very well to cooler conditions. In fact, maybe better than summer. The engine seems to like to run a bit cooler. Heater works well, too.

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

lol...you wanna read about a 911 experience in snow and ice? read my thread in the tech forum about flying into denver this past saturday and leaving in my new 964 C4 cab, driving back to little rock through the ice and snow blitz..about 21 pics i think, too.

(New car) Huge thanks to Denver Pelican Jeremy (Gogar)! (pics)