MS3 in the snow?

[Stamperman]

Driving it with the stock tires in snow is cheating death.
Last year I tried using Yokohama W4 all season tires on the stock rims. It still sucked in the snow.

This year I bought a set of 17" ford fusion wheels and put Blizzaks on them. Mucho good in the snow. It's a good thing too as we've had around 3ft of it this year.

 

[carbosam]

I have some blizzak for the winter...First winter with my MS3 and i live in north canada and there is a ton of snow... Its just fine

 

[60181]

If you've ever driven on a set of LM-25's in the winter, you'll never want to part with them. I love mine and with a record snow this year, hey earned their keep. Pulled them off just this weekend though

 

[Peter B]

The MS3 is awesome in the snow with a good set of snow tires. I raved about it all last winter. To be honest it is the best car I have ever had for snowy conditions... again with snow tires on.

Last winter in one of the big storms I headed up to do some skiing. I was behind a subie for most of the ride up. Even with fancy pants symmetric AWD he was fish-tailing and sliding a bit. My MS# with Sunny brand snow tires was fine.

As for the one you are looking at. 23K and new brakes AND rotors? RED FLAG! I had my car serviced at 35K, (you know that 30k service your supposed to do?). They said my breaks were fine and had plenty of life left of them. Still perform like new.

New brakes and rotors that soon should tell you something about that car. Who knows what kind of other wear and tear is on it. If they were breaking that hard they were probably on the gas a lot too. Who knows how often they redlined it and how often they changed their oil. That kind of driving could have implications on your suspension as well.

ABORT ABORT!

You are better off paying a little more for a car that wasn't abused.

-Pete

 

[Peter B]

PS. My 16 inch rims fit over the brakes fine. I recommend Townfair Tire. $750 for a complete tire and rim package.

To compare, just 18" snow tires (no rims/wheels) would have cost me over $950.
17" snow tires (again no rims/wheels) would have been $750-$850. And in that situation you would have to pay to have them mounted and balanced twice a year.

They checked the clearance before they set me up. They also will change your tires each season for you for free. Not bad if you ask me.

 

[Ride92]

Go with some blizzaks for the snow, use to live in Wisconsin and Blizaks were a most for all my cars. As for the carfax, brake pads replaced...not that big a deal IMO maybe they got contaminated some how and it's pretty common for rotors to be turned with new pads going in. Lug nuts... could have come loose on alloy wheels due to alum. settling a bit and not being checked or someone used the wrong size wrench to get them off and f'ed things up a bit and wanted a new one. If the car drives well now and you take car of it from this point on and drive it responsibly you shouldn't have a problem. Maybe see if you can get the dealership to do a certified used inspection on it.

 

[Peter B]

One odd thing... the rear rotors were replaced but the fronts were re-machined. This would lead me to think the rears were in worse condition. Anyone see where I'm going with this?

 

[rsvinylgraphics]

you should be able to get away with some good all-season tires, I replaced my stock tires with all-season Goodyear Eagle F-1 tires and I feel more confident and experience less slipping than my Nissan Pathfinder with
snow tires.

 

[diddiyo]

get some blizzaks. no problems here.

my friend thought he wouldn't need any snow tires until he got stuck on little hill...

 

[60181]

I just put a new set of F1-ASC's on my car. Am curious as to how they will do in snow. I do however plan on keeping my LM-25's above though....at least for now.

you should be able to get away with some good all-season tires, I replaced my stock tires with all-season Goodyear Eagle F-1 tires and I feel more confident and experience less slipping than my Nissan Pathfinder with
snow tires.

 

[JamesCH]

There's no replacement for real snow tires. If you live somewhere that sees a lot of winter snow and ice get some used 16" wheels and snow tires, that will usually be cheaper than getting 18" all-seasons or 18" snows.