Almost wiped out

kqw · 01-19-2005, 09:28 AM

Lost my head and headed out to the post office in the light snow ( about a 1/4 inch.)

It's about 25 degrees out and the snow was freezing on the ground which I realized 2 miles down the road.

Slight and I mean Slight down grades going 5 mph had me going side ways. I slowed even further, idle only in 1st gear, and the weight of the car was still pushing me off line.

Made it back home but....I don't recommend S03's even in the slightest snow conditions.

Whew.....

cowtown · 01-19-2005, 10:07 AM

What is this "snow" you speak of?

Glad you made it home.

Glasgow 911SC · Glasgow 911SC's Garage

My Conti Sports seem to be ok in the snow. They're never going to be as good as dedicated snow tyres though.

Beethoven · 01-19-2005, 10:17 AM

I have my Blizzaks on and actually find myself waiting for snow so I can have some fun. Car handles great in snow.

kqw · 01-19-2005, 10:21 AM

I hear you....I guess we cannot complain so far. This is the first day this winter where driving the 911 is not recommended. I don't feel too bad though as I saw a couple of SUV's loosing grip on the road.

I've kept a log over the years and where we live, it averages about 5 days during winter where the weather makes driving hazardous.

}{arlequin · }{arlequin's Garage

I'm about to leave work early.... gonna slap my blizzaks on the Rabbit and have some fun

kqw · 01-19-2005, 10:32 AM

Sounds like a good idea. Before they salt the cul-de-sac, I think I'll do some donuts. Whoo hoo....

KTL · 01-19-2005, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Beethoven
I have my Blizzaks on and actually find myself waiting for snow so I can have some fun. Car handles great in snow.

Another ringing endorsement for winter tires. Anybody doubting winter tires' ability needs to give Helmut a call. His 911 wears winter tires and they are so worthy that he looks forward to snowfall. That pretty much says it all. They DO make a world of difference. I love mine on my AWD Laser.

MotoSook · 01-19-2005, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KTL
Another ringing endorsement for winter tires. Anybody doubting winter tires' ability needs to give Helmut a call. His 911 wears winter tires and they are so worthy that he looks forward to snowfall. That pretty much says it all. They DO make a world of difference. I love mine on my AWD Laser.

LOL! Back in the days when we were poor, Dad use to put used snow tires (bought from the used tire rack of the corner grease pit) on our Pinto! Can you imagine what life would have been like w/o snow tires on a Pinto in a Midwest winter? Well, we might have had heat after the rearender anyhow

(It's a true story...really.) LOL!

crashmy911 · 01-19-2005, 10:47 AM

I put my plow on the jeep and almost had to use the porsche to go out and get some more pins luckly my neibhor drove me over to the local hard ware store.

kqw · 01-19-2005, 10:52 AM

Now doubt that snow's are quite effective in the snow. However, justifying winter tires and rims to be able to drive an additional 5 more days in the winter is hard for me to do. BUT...

Today, if I would have smacked a curb or someone smacked me, that justification would be hind sight......

Ohhhhhhh...just looked out the window (home office window looks over a back road) and a Mustang just wiped out....

I guess those goodyear high performance tires are just as bad in the snow....

greglepore · 01-19-2005, 10:58 AM

Yeah, somehow I ended up with a Jan inspection, and my appointment was today, so off I went. Luckily, I got there before it started, and the shop is going to sit on it until Friday. Yikes-driving home over rolling roads on Azenis would not have been my idea of fun.

kqw · 01-19-2005, 11:14 AM

You are lucky Greg....It looks like it's going to be a while until they gravel or salt the main roads. The secondary roads are going to be bad.

Oh well

KTL · 01-19-2005, 11:31 AM

Geez Souk. You really have seen it all. Your family had a Pinto? When i'm done with my Michelins, i'll send them your way so you can relive fond old memories..............

Don't feel too bad. When I was a kid, a neighbor had three Pintos.

Fox,

You gotta spread the cost of the winter tires over the years to make them even more justifiable. I've had mine for three seasons now and the $400 for tires and steel wheels delivered to my door from Tire Rack seems more like a steal of a deal every year that goes by. Kinda like added insurance too.

Every car I look at buying (i'm in the market for a new daily driver), I now always consider what i've got to do to get winter tires for it. Meaning, what size can I get and/or can I downsize to smaller dia. wheels? Can I get steel wheels and plastic covers or do I need to get alloy cheapies or OE takeoffs?

I saw a E46 M3 with winters on it the other day. While it looked downright silly with E36 M3 split 10 spokes and narrow tires, I thought highly of the fella for being wise enough to ditch the sporty, spendy and potentially winter-dangerous factory 18" setup for some winter month safety.

MotoSook · 01-19-2005, 11:34 AM

Kevin, I think we had two at one time, plus a Pontiac T-1000 4-door! LOL. We had three Pintos total..one was a woody station wagon! I'm not kidding bro.

The T-1000 Pontivette was my first car that I shared with my dad.

KTL · 01-19-2005, 11:47 AM

I now have even more respect for you my friend.

The Pontivette.

A guy in high school called his the "T One Triple O."

adomakin · adomakin's Garage

the last time it snowed over here (2yrs ago) I jumped in my old 69 911 and spent about half an hour looking for a nice virgin car park to play in. found it and promptly started to hone my throttle drifing skills. five mins later a new scooby crunched up and we then took it in turns to have a slide around-me with the tail out on and off the throttle, him in a loopy four wheel drift-no words exchanged-just a gentlemens agreement! it all came to an abrupt end though when a 17 yr old came steaming into the car park in some ****ty hatchback at about 40mph and slapped into the side of the scooby. driver and passenger jumped out and legged it! scooby driver was nearly physically sick.

Andy

john_colasante · 01-19-2005, 12:07 PM

The 911 is a great snow car as long as you have skinny snow tires on it. The only drawback is lack of ground clearance. You can become beached on a snow drift.

stefang · 01-19-2005, 12:17 PM

Actually winter in the northeast will have about 100 days where SO3s are no good. Snow has nothing to do with it, temperature does. High perf summer tires aren't made to be out below 40deg F, they loose a lot of their traction. At least run high perf all seasons if you don't want to have an extra set of wheels/tires.

Stef

Pete000 · 01-19-2005, 12:21 PM

Over 80 here today, Sorry can't relate....