Fun in the Snow

[Exocet]

Took the P5 out today for it's first trip in the snow. I was just trying to get a feel for how the car handles snow, does light car + wide tires = handful in the snow. We had about 2" of wet snow. The P5 has 4 Kumho Solus KH25s with very good tread. The roads hadn't been plowed yet. We live part way up a hill, probably a 50ft elevation change in less than 3/4 of a mile. On a moderately traveled road (2 slushy tracks), it made it down and back up just fine. Now for the real test - going up a hill that's about 100 yds long and climbs 30-40 ft after a right hand turn. The right hand turn limits the amount of speed you can get before hitting the hill. I stayed to the right where no cars had driven. It didn't do too bad, until about 3/4 of the way up, where I lost almost all speed and was down to lots wheelspin and zig-zagging my way up the rest of the hill. Do I smell burning rubber?

It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, if driven reasonably given the conditions. Wet snow is some of the worst stuff to deal with. Better tires would help a bit, but since the car spends most of the winter in southern PA, dedicated snow tires probably aren't worth it.

 

[x DeadTaco x]

I live in Minot, ND home to some to some pretty heavy and quick snowfalls in the winter. I can tell you that dedicated snow tires make the world of difference with this car.

Currently i have Michelin X-Ice Xi2's on mine in their last season, and they do great. Obviously if you floor it or are on ice the wheels will spin, but on even unpacked snow i dont do too bad, never a worry of spinning. Just careful and steady driving will keep you out of worry.

But for comparison to non snow tires vs snow tires, last winter i got caught without my snow set on and i was still running my General Tire all seasons with about 1-2 inches of snow. I live up a long steep hill and i got stuck about 1/3rd of the way up on my all seasons, and with my winter tires i made it all the way up in one go.

Imo ill always have a set of snow tires even just in case but seemingly you didnt do too bad so, best of luck the rest of the winter!

 

[Exocet]

I'm thinking of getting a set of General Altimax RT43s. They are much higher rated overall and in the snow than the tires currently on the car. The KH25s a very poorly rated in the snow. No big surprise now.

 

[tweety2300]

Firestone winter force ftw. A lot of people keep winter wheels for snow. Keep a skinny tire like a 185 does great

If it's auto leave it at home. Manual going up hill try using 2nd gear instead of first. Helped me get home with 215 summer tires

 

[DynoBunny]

I run General altimax arctic on my MS3. They work really well in snow but on ice the Continental extreme winter contacts on my mazda 5 have better grip. I will def put them on the MS3 when I replace the Generals. With the lsd it will be unstoppable!

Oh yea I live in Minnesota now so I get a good amount of snow. I grew up in Allentown, always ran dedicated snow tires for winter, idk I just hate worrying about traction, sometimes I don't want to have to wrestle a bull just to get some milk.

 

[x DeadTaco x]

Firestone winter force ftw. A lot of people keep winter wheels for snow. Keep a skinny tire like a 185 does great

If it's auto leave it at home. Manual going up hill try using 2nd gear instead of first. Helped me get home with 215 summer tires

I thought the Bridgestone Blizzaks were the way to go with these cars for sheer winter driveability? Also are your Firestone's that good? I've always heard some mixed reviews on Firestone tires but maybe I don't do enough research.

 

[scrawd]

I will always run dedicated snow tires on my vehicles. Snow tires make all the difference, like night and day IMO. I am currently running Dunlop Graspics on Steel wheels on my wife's Protege5. This is her 5th season on them. She has yet to have any issues here in Pittsburgh. I have watched people back down steep hills after failing to make it up and she drives right by them. I ran Firestone WinterForce tires on my 2004 Sienna for 6 years before selling them. They were very good tires for the money (cheaper than Blizzaks). I never got stuck or had any problem with the tires. I just installed Blizzaks on my new CX9 and waiting for the weather to change to test them.

 

[Balls]

I run the Winterforce on mine as well. I had 15" steelies with 185 series last year, but did the mazda6 brake upgrade and had to go back to the stock 16's this year. Unfortunately they dont make 185's in 16". I ended up with 205/50/16, which are a little bigger than stock. So far with the couple storms we've had, I want my steelies with smaller tires back! Still love these tires, but these cars prefere a skinnier tire IMO.

 

[Exocet]

If the car was a daily driver in a frequent snow area, then skinny dedicated snow tires would be the way to go. Once my daughter gets back to college in southern PA, she'll probably only drive about 100 miles while at school. The 2-3 trips back and forth to NY during the snow season are always a concern. But, if the weather is going to be bad she can always adjust her travel schedule accordingly.

 

[The_big_dill]

I can't even let my rusty bucket be exposed to these winter sales, I just feel bad for it :/

 

[CTt3P5]

I thought the Bridgestone Blizzaks were the way to go with these cars for sheer winter driveability? Also are your Firestone's that good? I've always heard some mixed reviews on Firestone tires but maybe I don't do enough research.

A lot of people like the Blizzaks and they were my first set on the P5 (WS-50). They worked very well but when I was going to replace them I found that after about 50% of tread life they basically become an all season due to the tread compound. So I went with the Nokian Nordman 2 and they have served me well for quite a few seasons.

And for anyone looking to buy a set of snow tires/wheels, you can save money as 14" will clear the brakes. I got a set of steelies from a 1993 Eclipse from a junkyard for $400 and run a 185/70/14.

 

[Exocet]

Went out today with the new General Altimax RT43s. Huge difference in the snow. Didn't have any issues on any hills. Could start and stop on a hill and the P5 now claws its way up. Definitely worth the investment.

 

[pcb]

I tested my snow tires yesterday...

I'm putting my summers back on...
It's too much work trying to have fun with all that sticktion.