First drive in the snow...

C

camrycev6

Member
:
MS3 - sport
Howdy all,

Well I knew it would be bad...but I never expected it to be this bad!!

I have been delaying getting winter tires (Why? Just busy with other crap I guess...) and I almost regretted it yesterday.

We got about 4-6 inches of snow in the Baltimore area yesterday and I was going home. At first, there were no issues --- I grew up driving in the country in snow --- so I know how to handle it. The problem was when I had a good sized hill about 90-100 yards long. I got some speed before hitting it, but it wasn't enough. About 20 yards from the top, in third gear, I started spinning and pulling hard right. I had to downshift and I was able to straighten it out...but I was still slowing. Now 2nd is spinning....downshift again.... 1st gear with maybe 6-8 yards to go.... spinning now and moving about 2 MPH. I just held it there spinning away (You can just smell my poor tires burning up...) and I just barely made it. During all this a cavalier blew by me in the oncoming traffic lane --- thanks dude.

Time to go shopping for tires and rims....
 
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well, at least you avoided any mishaps. get yourself some good winter/snow tires and you'll be good to go. glad you got home safely.

-J
 
Thanks... I was seriously worried I was going to be stuck. Now I have to decide if I spend $1000 on new tires and rims, or just buy a used 4x4... Time to go shopping!
 
camrycev6 said:
or just buy a used 4x4...
Click to expand...

Considering how fabulously DC/MD/VA drivers perform in the snow, this may be your best option! Your snow tires can't save your MS3 from their idiocy!
 
I couldn't agree more.... God they are bad! I decided to try some inexpensive tire chains first. They were only $37, and if they don't work, I figured that another car might be the best choice. I priced the cheapest snow tires, 16" rims, and required TPMS for the new snow tires, and it came to a little over $1100. I can get a old used 4x4 for $2500. Might be worth it.
 
If you lower your standards, you could pick up a 4X4 for $1100. :D
 
You could just buy a set of snow tires for your stock wheels or get a good set of all seasons.You dont have to have another set of wheels just for snow tires even tho that is nice to have.
 
Foolish said:
If you lower your standards, you could pick up a 4X4 for $1100. :D
Click to expand...

I could care less what it looks like on the outside. Can you find a reliable 4x4 for $1100? I don't know....

Regarding swapping the tires with the existing rims...you still need to buy the TPMS. That will still cost you $700 for all of it. I just want to see how this chain works. (Actually it is a cable designed for passenger cars.) I like the idea of a $37 fix.
 
i got my wheels (17" alloy) + tires for about 860 from tirerack and just decided to leave out the TPMS. all it does is leave the TPMS light on, which isn't that big of a deal...:D
 
yea i couldnt make it up a hill heading to my friends house.. i new it would be hard but wow..... a vw jetta just drove right past me
 
ha i found out that you can do sweet donuts with the speed and not in reverse just pull the ebrake to start and turn haha snow drivin is good unless ya dont pay attention and hit boost .. blizacks lm22 on stock wheels
 
Wow. Seriously, just go to TireRack and get their 16 inch winter tire package for the car. You know what a 4x4 doesn't do well if it doesn't have good tires for the conditions? Turn. Brake. All it helps you with is moving forward. Plus you have to insure it and repair it if/when s*** goes wrong, and it's going to cost you as much to buy a beater and keep it on the road as it will to get tires. The only difference is the tires will last you three or four seasons, AND you'll have a set of rims so that when you have to replace the winters, it'll be all of 400 bucks.
 
happy and angry said:
Wow. Seriously, just go to TireRack and get their 16 inch winter tire package for the car. You know what a 4x4 doesn't do well if it doesn't have good tires for the conditions? Turn. Brake. All it helps you with is moving forward. Plus you have to insure it and repair it if/when s*** goes wrong, and it's going to cost you as much to buy a beater and keep it on the road as it will to get tires. The only difference is the tires will last you three or four seasons, AND you'll have a set of rims so that when you have to replace the winters, it'll be all of 400 bucks.
Click to expand...

Actually, having a beater listed as your primary vehicle for the winter and the MS3 as a 'pleasure only' vehicle would save a lot on insurance because of the multi-car discount.
 
happy and angry said:
Wow. Seriously, just go to TireRack and get their 16 inch winter tire package for the car. You know what a 4x4 doesn't do well if it doesn't have good tires for the conditions? Turn. Brake. All it helps you with is moving forward. Plus you have to insure it and repair it if/when s*** goes wrong, and it's going to cost you as much to buy a beater and keep it on the road as it will to get tires. The only difference is the tires will last you three or four seasons, AND you'll have a set of rims so that when you have to replace the winters, it'll be all of 400 bucks.
Click to expand...

I did that at first...I love TireRack. I didn't want to pay the $1100. (That was the cheapest option... with the TPMS. I can skip those as long as I don't mind the light and drop the cost about $300)

I, of course, would list MS3 as a recreational vehicle, and get minimal coverage on the beater. My insurance wouldn't change much. As far as the handling on the 4x4, that was never a concern. I know how to drive in the snow --- certainly better than 95% of the drivers around here. Putting snow tires on my MS3 won't make it turn, brake, etc. any better than a 4x4 with good all season / winter tires. Certainly not enough to matter in the conditions I would be driving it. I don't try to do anything too crazy with 8 inches of snow on the road.

You have a point on how buying the rims now allows me to replace just the tires later. Of course, I would think that one set of snow tires would last me the entire time I owned the car (say 5-6 years) because they would only be on it about 3 months a year. So really...that isn't a plus for me to have the rims. (Other than a small selling point when I got rid of it.)

Of course, there are other advantages in having two cars aw well. I have done it before in my life, and it was always great to have a backup, or "work horse" vehicle when you want to keep your other car clean and nice.
 
Ya The Hill Thing Sucks! I Think The Brakes Are Worce In The Snow Too! It Dont Take Much To Get Them To Lock Up My Truck Wasnt As Bad At Stopping. It Was An Adventure Tho! Love That Baltimore Weather!

Will A 16 Inch Rim Fit Over Our Brakes? That Caliper And Rotor R Kinda Big!
 
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