Winter Transportation

[DustenT]

I run Blizzak WS-50s in the winter. Even though the car is lowered it still goes GREAT in the snow. I look forward to driving in snow every year, just because it's so much fun with a RWD car. FYI...from a stoplight with 4 inches of snow on the road I can take off faster than any SUV I've ever been next too.

I only use the traction control on the highways, it is useless with snow tires in stop and go traffic. You need to be able to spin for the tires to do their job. I'm really looking forward to seeing what the LSD will do in the snow!!

[PettitWC]

I have some all season Bridgestone Touranzas on the stock rims that did fine in the snow last year. You really do have to judge when to turn the traction control off in the snow especially. I had a lot of fun driving it in the snow on a 3 hour trip to farmville through the mountains and I was passing SUVs (not speeding) in the snow so that was kind of cool.
Sure to bet I'll be driving it this winter!

[318technic]

i'm at work right now and just got a call from home that my snow tires arrived today! excited to check them out. this will be my first winter with the TI. i got to test her out in late spring when i first got her. we got a freak snow storm in N.E. Ohio...my car didn't handle for shat! i'll almost died in a blockbuster parking lot at 3 miles per hour. so picking up snow tires wasn't an option for this winter.

[aceyx]

I'm an avid skiier (okay, maybe not since I moved to Indiana, but I was when I went to school in Boston) so I very often used my car on snowy/icy roads.

Without weight in the back, just snow tires and a clear head, you can get through almost anything. When you're in a rush or overreact (panic) is when you get into trouble.

Anytime I've not been able to get around is when there's a steep hill and fresh snow involved. Usually, even my jeep has a little trouble on these hills with full-time 4wd.


If it's fresh snow, there are better ways to prepare (by not going out). I think it was in Jan '04 where there was a huge storm over IN, OH, and PA. Luckily, I had to get back to school pretty much heading directly through it. I took my time (normally 9hr turned into 15hrs) and passed multiple SUVs and other cars in ditches.

Usually, these were the idiots that passed by me earlier.

[DustenT]

Adding some weight in the rear helps a ton. I have 2 speaker boxes for my car. In the summer I run a single 10" sub box and in the winter I have a box with 3 10" subs. The box weights a ton, probably 75-80lbs. It's enough to make the rear end sag even with my springs. It's multi-purpose, added weight, plus mad beats!

[aceyx]

I've never really needed it. Maybe it would help on the uphills?

I remember putting sandbags in the 735i, but with the ti I somewhat rely on goosing it to get the rear end around if the front slides. I'd be worried that the extra weight would swing me further than I needed.

[2002mcs]

My winter beater is a 88 325ix, BMW's first all wheel drive vehicle. No fancy electronic controlled four wheel drive, just brute traction. With a set of four Hakkapeliittas it has proven to be unstoppable. I am going to get a set of Hakkas for the 318ti since it will see some winter driving.

[JPerfect]

I use my ti all winter, but when there's a snowstorm I don't even think to drive it unless it's not far. Over here in North Jersey we occasionally get BLASTED with snow, and I've found that anytime there's more than 2 inches of snow on the ground, it's easier to push the car sideways than drive it straight. We get that hard wet slushy crap that freezes solid. The good news is, after a snowstorm the major roads are cleared in less than 24 hours due to my proximity to NYC. If I really need to go somewhere, I have my choice of a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo (Mom's) a 2000 GMC Jimmy (Dad's), or one of two snowmobiles (have used both in emergency situations). Woke up with 3 feet of snow on top of a stuck plow in front of my house.

The Jeep is literally Unstoppable. The old people around here put the snow from their sidewalk into big piles on the street, taking up valuable parking spaces, rather than pile it in their grassy front yards... (old and polish). So I park the ti in the driveway and I literally plow into their 4ft high snow piles at 25mph and park on top. They don't like it, but I get a kick out of it.

As for those snow piles, I remember a freak blizzard in April once... and there was snow in front of my neighbor's house in May when I was walking to school with shorts on. It was 75 degrees and I was throwing snowballs.

[aceyx]

JPerfect; where are you in Jersey that you need snowmobiles? Btw, I'm coming over sometime.

[evalha007]

Come to think of it, by subs weigh about 70lbs and of course are in the trunk... About how much could one expect to pay for these Blizzaks ??

[DustenT]

Originally Posted by evalha007

Come to think of it, by subs weigh about 70lbs and of course are in the trunk... About how much could one expect to pay for these Blizzaks ??

$100 a piece from Tirerack.com for 205/55/16. Not a bad price considering they should last a couple seasons (unless you drive like me ).

This is what I did. I got a price from Tirerack, then called my local Firestone dealer. I asked if they would price match and they said they would. So I got my Blizzaks for the Tirerack price without having to pay the shipping charges. Plus Firestone gave me a coupon to have my summer tires swapped by on in the spring for free. GET WINTER TIRES!! Do it.

[michaelhofastcar]

My winter car is my Audi A4 Quattro with Pirelli Winter 210 SnowSport 205/55R16 on stock 16" wheels. This is the time of the year to take out the aftermarket 17" wheels with 225/50R17 summer performance tires and put back the stock. It is going to be a harsh winter in the Northeast.

I am jealous of those of you living in California. I guess you can still drive a convertible over there in November, Huh!

[bimmerboi318]

Just got my 98 cherokee all set. Picked it up from work from a trade in for 800 bucks. I had to throw a clutch in it...but hell, cant beat that. No more getting stuck in the middle of the road in snow drifts!

[AlaskaBlue]

I am hoping for quite a bit of snow. I love driving in the stuff.

[michaelhofastcar]

Can't believe it is already snowing today in Boston.
The parking lot is as slippery as an ice skating rink.
Effortless to do 180 drifting.