Driving your Rear wheel only 911 in the snow?

[F.G.]

so My SC is obviously rear only and it's the only car I have to drive on a daily basis (the Cooper goes with the wife to work) so it's my first winter with it and I'll take ANY Suggestions on driving, mods, alterations, links to threads I might have skipped over... Gimmie everythin ya got because I would really like to emerge out of this winter in one piece with my car in the same condition.

[DanielDudley]

Um, where do you live ?

[darrin]

dedicated snow/winter-only tires are KEY -- I use Nokian WR-G2 tires (205/55-16 on all wheels) for the winter on my stock 16x6 front and 16x7 rear fuchs. I bought 16x7 and 16x8 fuchs for my summer tires.

I have found the nokians to be a great balance for denver's winters as they perform surprisingly well in the dry weather we have for most of the winter but are confidence-inspiring in the snow/slush/ice.

Keep in mind that the rear end will get VERY light/squirmish when using the engine to decelerate.

[Dan J]

Park it and buy a beater You can buy an older Subaru for the price of winter tires and wheels
Your 911 doesn't really need a salt bath

[Quicksilver]

Limited slip is king...

But on to the easy things to change...
- Narrow tires, especially on the front work the best. Helps cut through the fluff/mush on the road.
- Snow tires are a major plus (but narrow is more important).
- Run the tire pressures in the upper end of the range. Less compliance helps push the tread down to the gripper surface below.
- Spinning tires equals polishing the surface and no grip.

I grew up in Alaska and I didn't have money for snow tires the first two years I drove. Narrow was the key piece to making a car work well in snow. Perfectly clean ice is a different story. For that you want siping, studs, and snow tire compounds.
The modern move to wide tires stinks in the snow but you can only purchase what is available...

[Hard-Deck]

Get a beater...save the classic

[F.G.]

I live in Bend Or. so due to the "environmentalists" they don't salt. also no money for snow tires :-( thanks for the great input though I'll be filling up my tires a bit before I leave tonight.

[pete3799]

Snow tires will be cheaper then a wrecker and body work......just say'n.

[Rot 911]

I run snow tires on my 911 in the winter, but I remember one year I was at work, it started snowing and I still had on my summer performance tires. I was careful, but got home safely. Even had some fairly steep hills to get up. If nothing else get some cheap all weather tires put on the back.

[darrin]

what tires are you currently running? -- the few times i've had the misfortune of driving my summer tires in cold/wet weather have been an edge-of-the-seat-nightmare. My prior pirelli p7000 all seasons were little better.

The main advantage of snows is that the rubber is formulated for cold weather, while summer tires generally turn into rocks at below 40 degrees

Going out on a limb here, but . . . If I had to only choose one set of tires for my denver daily driver, I'd go with the nokian wr-g2s -- virtually every summer tire would be better in the summer, but at least with the nokians I'd still be driving the car after the winter.

[ystarrev]

Strongly recommend not trying summer tires in snow/ice on a 911. I was a little early switching to the Kumhos one spring (Calgary spring can last from Feb->Aug, mind you), and a light dusting of snow appeared. Didn't want to swap back to the Nokians. When the car gradually started sliding off the crown of the road at a standstill I pulled back into the garage and swapped them back!

[F.G.]

ya I hear all of what everyone is sayin. I'd love to not be in the position I'm in. I have some 10 Y/O or so Dunlop sp sport 5000 front and sp sport 8000 rear, and there balder than I'd like to admit (1/4-1/2 inch of wear left.) I'm a bit of a unicorn in the community in that I bought the car when I was 24 (2 years ago) using uncle sams money that I got from being in the Marines. needless to say I'm a poor college kid that eats top raman and drives a 911 haha I'm in training to be a helicopter pilot (thank you Post 9/11 GI BIll) so as much as I'd love to get snow tires put on a set of BBS gold LM's that I don't have laying around or even get a sweet set of snow chains (https://www.mitasnowchains.com seriously cool!) I'm relying on the crushed lava rock they lay down for the ice and my honed driving skills for the snow (born and raised in Aurora CO) I know it's a bit of a pickle. also the engine compartment fan doesn't work for heat I did a little riggin so that it still uses the engine fan to blow past the exchangers and all but any tips on getting more heat out of it? also I haven't ever driven a rear wheel drive in the snow. tips? thanks everyone!

[p-cardriver]

I think you are taking an enormous risk and what you propose is unsafe for you and others around you. I understand the money issue, but summer tires are a bad option in cold weather if at all wet/snowy/icy, bald tires are never good, and old tires are dangerous in their own right.

I would suggest trying really hard to get a set of winter tires mounted up now, tirerack or others can recommend something for your conditions (more snow or more ice, for example). Then when you can get a second set of wheels and summer tires. The only real cost is the wheels since tires cost is spread over miles so buying a second set just defers replacing the first set. (think about that, I didn't say it very well).

An alternate would be to try the new Michelin all season tires which I understand may be the first really good sports car tire for all seasons. There was just a press day in New Orleans on these so there might be some info out there.

Really appreciate your service and would help if I could. But figure out something safe, please!

[darrin]

hate to be an alarmist, but take public transportation, bum rides from friends or ride a bike when the roads are snowy/icy if you want to still have a 911 to drive in the spring.

Your decade-old tires are likely rock-hard and won't give you any real traction on a snowy road (loaded with rock or not) -- a 911 without traction will want to spin its rear end to the front at any chance it gets, without providing warning or being polite about it. The worst part will be how little grip your rock-hard, worn-out tires will give you when you put on the brakes --

[F.G.]

ya you guys are right! I'll look into the bus scheduled around here, I think they offer discounts to students. I really enjoy the car and am planning to get new meat in the spring/summer I'll also talk to some of the tire stores near by and see if they do a payment plan :-/ I can't wait to have a steady job :-/ thanks again! what is up with this foot well heater upgrade I hear everyone talking about?

[rinverso]

tires plus had falken z rated tires for 16 inch wheels for less than $500. set of four mounted and balanced keep her in the garage, unless there is no snow expected. maybe you don't know what you have there.

[RWebb]

never drive on tires older than ~ 6 years, winter or summer

I don't know how long you've lived in Bend but they use very sharp volcanic rock fragments (cinders) to 'sand' the roads - that will mess up your paint pretty quickly.

OTOH...

[timmy2]

Spend $500 or figure out a way to commute with you wife.
15 or 16 inch rims?

[F.G.]

first winter in Bend, I am familiar with the lava rock stuff. I didn't know that it was any worse than sand? I do have a 3M clear bra on it though FWIW.

Ya the Tire age is something that has always concerned me.

they are 16" fuchs (sp?) they need love bad, the previous owner looks to have repainted them with gloss black rattle can paint :-/ other wise the rest of the car is clean :-) thoughts on these chains? https://www.mitasnowchains.com

[porsche930dude]

forget the chains. buy some cheap snow tires. even if its just a pair for now. find some cheap 15" wheels and tires are even cheaper. some little homemade mud flaps wouldnt be a bad idea to keep the crap off the rockers