Snow performance

[caprisun]

Hey all!

Call me dumb and new, but I wonder how well the ms6 does in the snow. Ideally, a full time AWD system like audi and subaru offer should be best, right?

The only 2 cars I can think of that have non-full time awd are the g35x and the ms6.

I bought this car because I needed an awd car for normal driving, mostly highway in the denver area. Does anyone have an opinion on the ms6's performance in the snow?

Thanks!

 

[3+5]

Get snow tires/rims. 17" are the best deal, since the tires are less expensive & more available. I run Pruven 17" with Conti Winter Contacts. Whatever rims, they have to clear the calipers. Car is great in snow on them (Car spent its 1st winter in Minneapolis). Check your local dealer, they may have the skinny on combinations that work best.

 

[wannabe]

with snow tires, this car is a blast in the snow. with stocks/summer, its a death trap.

 

[caprisun]

so are the snow tires a must?

i was thinking just slapping some all seasons on the stock rims and using those year round, as opposed to the summer tires that are currently on...

very interesting.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

We've been having this conversation over on the MS3 side.

Although this will be my first winter with the MS3, any car can completely appreciate winter tires. All-Seasons are a compromise all year round. Half-assed traction all year. Rather than having summer traction for the summer and winter traction for the winter.

Do yourself a favor, and get the right snow for the right season.

 

[caprisun]

We've been having this conversation over on the MS3 side.

Although this will be my first winter with the MS3, any car can completely appreciate winter tires. All-Seasons are a compromise all year round. Half-assed traction all year. Rather than having summer traction for the summer and winter traction for the winter.

Do yourself a favor, and get the right snow for the right season.

very good point on the half-assed traction all year...


the only problem i seen now is that it means I'm going to have to buy 8 new tires in the grand scheme of things as the current (summer) tires are down to like 40% WHICH I FIND ODD because the car only has 95xx miles on it (nailbyt)

yikes...but otherwise, does anyone have comment on the whole "dynamic AWD system" not being full time?


thanks!

 

[enjoy_]

i have all season on stock wheels. and it did mighty fine...make sure to read the reviews.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

very good point on the half-assed traction all year...


the only problem i seen now is that it means I'm going to have to buy 8 new tires in the grand scheme of things as the current (summer) tires are down to like 40% WHICH I FIND ODD because the car only has 95xx miles on it (nailbyt)

That's really weird..sounds like an alignment or tire pressure issue. Did you check the tire pressure recently?

I'd get those covered under warranty. Otherwise, performance cars need performance maintenance. Oil, tires, etc. etc.

 

[wannabe]

very good point on the half-assed traction all year...


the only problem i seen now is that it means I'm going to have to buy 8 new tires in the grand scheme of things as the current (summer) tires are down to like 40% WHICH I FIND ODD because the car only has 95xx miles on it (nailbyt)

yikes...but otherwise, does anyone have comment on the whole "dynamic AWD system" not being full time?


thanks!

what i did is bought snow tires and put them on old wheels, and ran the stock tires over the summer. i only got about 18,000 on the stockers before pulling them off.

and the AWD is 90/10 in a straight line, only kicks to 50/50 in a turn. you can actually feel it kick over if you hit the gas in a corner

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

That's pretty cool that it will go 50/50 in a corner. Although, i'd feel a little nervous being over-confident in the turn, jumping on the gas for 50/50 and not be worried that i'll slide still.

 

[wannabe]

oh, you'll slide. with the rear wheels getting power it will actually push the back out more than you'd be used to in a fwd car. in a fwd car the back end WONT slide unless you've got a really thick sway bar. the main advantage to the AWD is if you give it a little gas you can pull yourself through any corner

 

[caprisun]

oh, you'll slide. with the rear wheels getting power it will actually push the back out more than you'd be used to in a fwd car. in a fwd car the back end WONT slide unless you've got a really thick sway bar. the main advantage to the AWD is if you give it a little gas you can pull yourself through any corner

are we talking on a dry road here? (boom07)

 

[wannabe]

nah, you won't slide on a dry road, unless you're going WAY too fast for the corner. wet/ice/snow and you'll slide

 

[caprisun]

nah, you won't slide on a dry road, unless you're going WAY too fast for the corner. wet/ice/snow and you'll slide

righto.


this wheel situation looks like its going to take some shopping around...craigslist time!

 

[PCspeed3]

My pops had a MS6 with Blizzak snow tires and it would go in snow half way up the lower grill. I was very impressed. It took a few tries to get up my road (4.5% grade) but it does suprizingly well.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

HELL YEAH. I love Blizzaks dude. They're seriously ****** amazing. I'm still debating if I want performance Blizzaks or the studless all out snow tires.

 

[caprisun]

so a good way to go with the MS6 is to get 17" rims (used or not) and put on some winter blizzaks, right?

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

Either that or if you want performance, check out the Dunlop Wintersport 3D's.

I'd even see if you can fit a set of 16" wheels. I still haven't completely figured out if 16's can fit or not on the MS3.

 

[wannabe]

16s will NOT clear the calipers. gotta go with 17s.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

Damnit..17's it is. I'm gonna just try and find some ol Mazda wheels on ebay. Will any 17" mazda wheel fit? Or are they not the same offset and whatnot?