Damn ice.....
01-06-2006 | 12:09 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
From: Parsippany, NJ
Damn ice.....
Hey guys,
I was driving along town making a U-turn, when suddenly the car slid out slapping the gaurd rail. The cops came and were accusing of me of speeding. I told excessive times I wasn't and then he noticed only the bumper was dented and I explained to him if I was speeding there should of been a bigger collision causing more damage. So he finnaly believed me and I myself was surprised to see all I need is a new bumper.
So I was looking around and couldn't find any prices but ill keep searching. Just wanted to let you guys know the RX8 is an amazing machine til it messes with ice. Ice doesnt like cars so be careful!
I was driving along town making a U-turn, when suddenly the car slid out slapping the gaurd rail. The cops came and were accusing of me of speeding. I told excessive times I wasn't and then he noticed only the bumper was dented and I explained to him if I was speeding there should of been a bigger collision causing more damage. So he finnaly believed me and I myself was surprised to see all I need is a new bumper.
So I was looking around and couldn't find any prices but ill keep searching. Just wanted to let you guys know the RX8 is an amazing machine til it messes with ice. Ice doesnt like cars so be careful!
01-06-2006 | 01:32 AM
#4
Registered
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,845
Likes: 1
From: Calgary, AB
Originally Posted by chizzer337
Just wanted to let you guys know the RX8 is an amazing machine til it messes with ice. Ice doesnt like cars so be careful!
It's NOT the RX-8's problem - it's the TIRES!
01-06-2006 | 04:38 AM
#6
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
even if u have winter tires on i'm sure the car will slip somehow on ice... unless ur cars on skates? maybe then it won't slip?
how fast were you going when ur made that u-turn? must've understeered into the siderail eh?
how fast were you going when ur made that u-turn? must've understeered into the siderail eh?
01-06-2006 | 11:40 AM
#8
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Gord96BRG
What tires do you have? (I'm betting the OEM summer tires). My RX-8 doesn't really mind ice, because I install winter tires for driving in winter conditions. It doesn't matter what the car is, summer tires are useless and dangerous in winter conditions.
It's NOT the RX-8's problem - it's the TIRES!
It's NOT the RX-8's problem - it's the TIRES!
01-06-2006 | 04:44 PM
#10
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,587
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by Budweiser8Jr
Yes, but not a single tire out there is for ice. Ice does not compress, so it doesn't matter what tread pattern or compund you are using. You will lose any car on ice.
01-06-2006 | 05:58 PM
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Alas, the metal studded tires are banned in so many places now, but I do remember the days. I borrowed a friend's caddy once in north Idaho and it had spiked tires that made the 5,000lb monster feel like it was on rails - wherever you pointed it, it just went.
I paid about 3-car-payments for my Blizzack LM-22s, 17" rims and 2nd set of TPMS sensors, and they've given me that value back in control on the snow, but I don't trust them on ice.
I have a nice slope on my driveway down to the street. One morning I found the whole length to be an ice-slide. I took the prudent precautions - no sudden brake or gas, no sharp steering corrections; just coast to the bottom and turn at the road where it's salted and sanded. However, being remarkably slick - the car still rotated slightly counter-clockwise on the ice. It didn't break into an uncontrolled spin or get crazy, just twisted slightly.... enough for me to notice.
I credit the balance of the car for minimizing the risk on the ice. I've taken several vehicles down that same driveway in similar conditions and had them spin off into the snow drifts on either side of the driveway (which is followed my some serious cursing while I did out the vehicle.).
You certainly can lose any car on the ice, but I'd claim you'd lose most cars sooner and harder than your RX-8.
chizzer337, sorry to hear about your bumper. Glad the police saw it your way and didn't make a bad situation worse with an unwarrented citation.
I paid about 3-car-payments for my Blizzack LM-22s, 17" rims and 2nd set of TPMS sensors, and they've given me that value back in control on the snow, but I don't trust them on ice.
I have a nice slope on my driveway down to the street. One morning I found the whole length to be an ice-slide. I took the prudent precautions - no sudden brake or gas, no sharp steering corrections; just coast to the bottom and turn at the road where it's salted and sanded. However, being remarkably slick - the car still rotated slightly counter-clockwise on the ice. It didn't break into an uncontrolled spin or get crazy, just twisted slightly.... enough for me to notice.
I credit the balance of the car for minimizing the risk on the ice. I've taken several vehicles down that same driveway in similar conditions and had them spin off into the snow drifts on either side of the driveway (which is followed my some serious cursing while I did out the vehicle.).
You certainly can lose any car on the ice, but I'd claim you'd lose most cars sooner and harder than your RX-8.
chizzer337, sorry to hear about your bumper. Glad the police saw it your way and didn't make a bad situation worse with an unwarrented citation.
01-06-2006 | 06:43 PM
#13
yes, Gord, Im actually surprised to hear that you are suggesting that snow tires will make the difference on ice. in my experience the only thing that combats ice are tires with spikes in them.
01-06-2006 | 06:57 PM
#15
Mmmmm... Rotary Donut
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 4
From: Lake in the Hills, IL (NW Chicago Burbs)
Originally Posted by Mugatu
yes, Gord, Im actually surprised to hear that you are suggesting that snow tires will make the difference on ice. in my experience the only thing that combats ice are tires with spikes in them.
), and both did quite well getting around the lake, taking corners, braking, etc. Not something I would want to deal with going to work every day, but it's nice to know you can do it if you have to.
01-06-2006 | 07:07 PM
#16
Originally Posted by RedSheDevil
or a zamboni. that would work ...
Chizzer: Check out one of our forum vendors Mazmart. He might have a car that smashed up the front end and still has a good rear bumper.
01-06-2006 | 07:11 PM
#17
Purveyor of fine bass
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,618
Likes: 2
From: Worcester, MA
Originally Posted by Mugatu
yes, Gord, Im actually surprised to hear that you are suggesting that snow tires will make the difference on ice. in my experience the only thing that combats ice are tires with spikes in them.
the rubber makes a huge difference, believe me. i experienced it firsthand, when i had pirelli snowsports on for the whole winter and then switched to all seasons too early. the all-seasons took about two to three times longer to stop on ice.
the snow/ice tires make a difference because: 1) rubber is much softer when cold, so the rubber makes better contact with ice 2) there's extensive siping (very small cuts in the tread blocks in addition to the regular large cuts), which causes the rubber to flex and the edges to come into contact withmore ice.
so while ice is definitely way slippier than anything else, the tires DO make a difference.
01-06-2006 | 07:25 PM
#18
well, even with snow tires, i wouldn't be over cautious of doing 55mph and then having to drive a turn on ice. i understand that the rubber in snow tires is a big difference between summer tires, but still...advice like this is almost like saying 'i can drive in anything because i have four wheel drive in my good 'ol Jeep'...
01-06-2006 | 07:36 PM
#19
Purveyor of fine bass
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,618
Likes: 2
From: Worcester, MA
Originally Posted by Mugatu
well, even with snow tires, i wouldn't be over cautious of doing 55mph and then having to drive a turn on ice. i understand that the rubber in snow tires is a big difference between summer tires, but still...advice like this is almost like saying 'i can drive in anything because i have four wheel drive in my good 'ol Jeep'...
in fact, i have helped get an awd subaru unstuck up north here, turns out he was running summers but it was "oh, i have awd, no problem."
(apparently the Mazdaspeed 6 comes with summers and on a mazda6 forum, i've already seen one guy complaining how shitty the AWD was when he lost control in snowy conditions)
01-07-2006 | 12:13 PM
#20
.:. causing mischief
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,820
Likes: 2
From: EVOLV-Chicago
Originally Posted by Mugatu
'i can drive in anything because i have four wheel drive in my good 'ol Jeep'...
its in the manual ... i saw it once.
01-09-2006 | 09:55 AM
#22
RX-8: Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 799
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, Canada
The compound of the tires makes the biggest difference in how much traction you have on ice. For those we don't know, this is a proven fact. Even if you are in a skating rink, you will find the winter tire with the softer compound will give you far better traction than a set of All Seasons tires (never mind the summer tires, like the ones the RX-8 comes with). This is because the softer compound gels with the driving surface better and provide a lot more contact surface than a tire will harder compound.
So yes, if you had Winters tires on, most likely you would have been able to recover.
So yes, if you had Winters tires on, most likely you would have been able to recover.
01-09-2006 | 10:10 AM
#23
shaaaaaa...
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
Originally Posted by Mugatu
yes, Gord, Im actually surprised to hear that you are suggesting that snow tires will make the difference on ice. in my experience the only thing that combats ice are tires with spikes in them.
Incorrect.
Snow tires and some all season tires (goodyear triple tred) are made of/or have different material, usually a type of volcanic sand, used in the tire to create a rough surface on the treadface. As the tire is used, the volcanic sand "grit" presents microscopic cavities that work as tiny traction edges for better grip on slick surfaces.
01-09-2006 | 11:36 AM
#24
Totally confuzzled...
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 690
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis, IN
My snow tires allowed me to survive a very nasty ice storm about a month back. I could brake, I could turn, and I could climb hills. But, it's still far from being safe or secure. Any movements that weren't planned out literally 30 seconds in advance would've ended with me hitting oncoming traffic, or landing in a ditch.
On pure ice, I doubt anything but the aforementioned spiked tires (think rally cars) could do much of anything for you. Snow tires help, but only if you're being insanely careful.
But, good to hear you only suffered minor damage! Hope you can get it fixed up soon.
On pure ice, I doubt anything but the aforementioned spiked tires (think rally cars) could do much of anything for you. Snow tires help, but only if you're being insanely careful.
But, good to hear you only suffered minor damage! Hope you can get it fixed up soon.
01-09-2006 | 09:10 PM
#25
Registered
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
I bought winter tires for my Mazda Protege5, some Michelin PA2s, after going two winters without them. They make a huge difference on all surfaces over the standard all-seasons. The rear end does slide around a bit--maybe I should use the pickup technique of sandbags in the back?--but it's very controllable.
The PA2s are actually mild for winter tires, but they're the right balance for me.
Of course, now that I have winter tires we're having a very mild winter.
The PA2s are actually mild for winter tires, but they're the right balance for me.
Of course, now that I have winter tires we're having a very mild winter.