...my '04's getting snowed on for the first time right now. im on my way home from FL, in a hotel in lafayette, IN. tomarrow i plan on heading back home to upper WI. im wondering if you guys could give me some advice. i know its going to be snowing, and not the greatest conditions. but should i be worried about anything? ive got some all-season potenzas on it right now. im more worried about the road(gravel/salt/ice) doing damage to my car more than anything. is it even worth it to take the drive tomarrow?

 

should i wait the storm out?

 

I'm sorry, but I have to ask...

Is your SN a "tongue twister"...??

Honestly, I live in FL, so I don't have any experience nor advice on how to drive on snow, ice, etc....

What I will tell you is that I would bee more concerned for your own safety and that of others.. as oppose to worrying about your car... You can change and repair cars, but not lives... Just use your better jugdement..if the driving conditions are not good, stay in.

 

If I really don't have to go out , I would'nt . I personally don't consider the 8 as all that good on bad weather . Now some here think they are . Fortunally it's not my daily so I have an option.

Good Luck............

 

well, hey, you live in chicago. are the roads just ridiculous, or what?

 

really?

 

The expressways and state roads that I traveled on this morning were mainly wet. It is the first snow of the season here, so there were a bunch of traffic tieups due to imbeciles. My car is a daily driver w/all-season tire. I had no problems. My local streets hadn't been plowed yet.

 

You should be fine in this with your all seasons. It's not that much snow. Just take a practice spin around an open parking lot and some side streets and see if you feel comfortable driving your car in it.

I would reccomend turning off DSC. It seems to make things worse for me when trying to accelerate because it likes to lock the fronts up sometimes.

And like alnielsen said, the highways are usually just a wet, salty.

 

Not the right tire for those conditions. Me, I would wait if there is any snow accumulation.

Take care,

Brian

 

ahh here lads when it starts snowing over here its TC off, call all the lads in RWD cars and hours of fun ahead. not" oh lets all put the cars away and wait it out" the worse the weather the more fun it shall be *****?.......... grow some

 

when we had some snow in PA, my 8 gets twitchy in wet snow/slush. I find that i have to baby the gas until I get into the higher gears (4-6).

Just be careful and you'll do fine.

Good Luck and God's Speed.

 

I live in Iowa and this is my first year driving the 8 in the winter. So it's better to turn off the DSC??

 

Only turn it off if your going to be careful. The car can be wonderful in fowl weather, as long as you have the right tires on the car.

 

Can you explain why turning off the DSC is better?

Thanks in advance!

 

Also Iowa here. Some will say to turn it off for their own reasons. I've only ever turned it off when I was on pure ice and starting up a hill to the TC wouldn't stop my momentum. However, Last Christmas I drove 7 hours in one of the worst storms of the year (105 cars and trucks in ditch between Iowa city and cedar rapids) and was really, really grateful for the DSC/TC. I never slid on the ice and thus didn't need to test my ability to counter steer.

I'd say if you're used to a RWD without DSC/TC then go ahead and turn it off. If you're used to a FWD/AWD leave it on for your safety and that of others. It may be fun at times to "play" with it off but in really bad conditions you need to feel safe behind the wheel. It's those times that you shouldn't be playing around with trying to discover how a RWD acts on ice.


And for the OP - Just take it easy and you should be fine. All seasons is far better than the stock tires in this weather.

 

Leave it on for highway driving. If you are trying to take off on snow or an icy surface, it can help to turn it off to keep the car from stalling.

 

Makes sense, thanks everyone!

I tried driving around the block yesterday (we had our first snow) and could barley get going and slid all over the place. Wanted to see how bad it really was...Definitely time to invest in snow tires.

 

Ohh yes, the stocks are crap in snow. I drove my 8 home from where I bought it in Chicago and it took over 12 hours in a light freezing rain (usually a 6 hour trip). At one point I was actually facing the wrong way on the interstate but still moving the right way. That was with the DSC/TC on. I now have a set of 17"x7" rims with Blizzack LM-22's. Huge difference, I now feel safer in a storm with my 8 than I do with my Escort and about as safe as my Jeep CJ-5 (in 4WD) and far more comfortable than either lol.

 

Blizzack LM-22's are what I'm looking at to buy. Have you driven for a winter yet, and if so, how are they? Now I'm just stuck on if i want to buy just tires and stick them on my stock wheels or buy new wheels as well.. Any suggestions??

 

Buy 17" Blizzaks and inexpensive wheels. Narrower is better in snow. The price difference between 17" and 18" tires will cover half the cost of the wheels, and the first year's worth of not having to mount/balance tires will cover the rest.

Plus it keeps the salt off your good wheels.

Ken

 

Where in Iowa? Im from the Iowa City area. Search the Iowa thread so you can chat with other Iowa owners.

 

If you are traveling highway the roads should b ok as long as you're not out in the blizzard like conditions while it's happening...just take you're time don't rush and yo will b fine I drove awinter in the 8 with Falken 452's (aka summer/dry only tires) I made it but it was not fun.....

 

I have 17x7 Kazera rims with Blizzaks. I think that is the best way to go over all seasons. It makes it really easy to switch back to summer tires too.

Got caught in Buffalo Lake effect 2 weeks ago without too much problems. And dealing with northeast Ohio lake effect too...

The 8 will handle winter weather with good tires... until you start scraping at 6inches deep, etc.

Do not turn the DSC or Traction control off. In slick conditions, the moment you start to feel you back end getting lose, your traction control is already fixing it. Let it do its job. ... Thats just my opinion though...

 

This will be my 3rd winter with the 8. The first she was garaged due to the stock tires (Chicago trip was just too damn scary). I did take her out a few times but even frost made things a bit unnerving at times. Last year I got the rims and LM-22s and they're great for Iowa. They hold and have good grip on ice and snow and still perform well in the just cold and clear road conditions. They're not going to perform like summer tires mind you (I forget and break loose the tires at times) but for winter storms I'd tarther the 8 on LM-22s than my Escort FWD with all seasons.

Note though, I still use the Escort mostly in the winter. Long trips I take the 8 for heat and comfort but hate getting all the salt and junk on her.

PS-Every storm we had last year (and there were a lot in Iowa) seemed to hit me coming back from a 150+ mile trip so I've tested the LM-22s quite a bit.

 

I'm from Waterloo. I'll be buying the Blizzack LM-22's and wheels today then. Thanks for all the feedback.