Snow storm hits Toronto...

[PBH]

.. and my P5 handled terribly. In the past I have driven a 1992 Dodge Stealth RT, a 1993 Mazda Protege DX & a 1993 Volkswagen Passat GLS VR6 and none of them were as bad as the P5 in the snow. The stock tires aren't the best for this weather, but I'm sure many of you already knew that. I did too, but budget restricted me from purchasing new tires this season. Next year, I plan to get new 17" rims (black & yellow rims preferably) for my P5 & put winters on my stock rims.

How have all of your experiences been with P5 winter driving?

 

[Jim Frye]

Snowed three times here

The P5 has done very nicely especially with the ABS/EBD and automatic transaxle. Manually shifting the automatic makes it real easy to drive in the slippery stuff. My wife feels pretty comfortable driving it in the snow. She's more worried about getting hit by some duffus in a pickup truck or SUV than losing control of the P5.
Yeah, you have less traction with the 50 series 195 tires, but it handled almost as good as my old "92 Saturn with 60 series 195 T/As and no ABS. The P5 is better in the snow than my '97 Civic with 195 T/As. The honda's transaxle can't make up it's mind what gear to be in when it's slippery and that can cause even more tire slip. Made going home in the 4" of snow last night after work real fun. Jim

 

[MP52266]

I had no problem driving this morning, I agree with about the tires they are horrible. All you got to do is take your time but, I am going to invest in some winter tires. Its alot better then my slammed civic, I once got suck on a speed bump! Never gonna drive that low for winter again!!!!

P.S. Drive safe!!

 

[Protege5 kid]

I like driving my car in this weather...it's pretty sure footed far as i'm concerned....ya you have to brake earlyer than most and lots of tire spin of the line...but safe enough

 

[rowan]

My snow tires worked just fine today

 

[Red Baron]

Winter driving

I've owned and driven cars for the past 21 years, and with winter tires the P5 is the SAFEST car I've ever driven in the winter time.

Get good tires!

BTW : last time I've heard Toronto had a snowstorm they called in the ARMY...LOL!

 

[PBH]

Doh! Toronto will never live down the big Army dig-out thing will we?

 

[doorcoPro5]

You have to get dedicated snow tires for the Pro 5. I tried the standard Dunlops in Wis and no traction. I have Blizzaks and steel wheels. Still some sliding on hard stops but a world of difference. Tirerack.com still the cheapest but new Blizzaks WS50 not as good as MZ-01 or 02.

 

[Red Baron]

Doh! Toronto will never live down the big Army dig-out thing will we?

Nope! We had the ice storm earlier that year..what a mess that was compared to the "BIG storm of Toronto".

Nothing personal, it's just that we thought the army calling thing was so funny.

 

[LazerBlueP5]

It's snowing here in NJ, USA tonight as well. Had to drive like 10 miles home from my gf's in it. It doesn't do that bad in the snow- it just seems overall that the car is geared fairly low which makes it tricky to go into turns in 1st gear from a stop. As always just allow enough distance between you and the car in front of you and you'll be fine. I don't know what you were trying to do-hopefully not drive like these idiots in the SUVs thinking it's the Nascar Winston cup out on the snowy roads tonight!

 

[NewP5owner]

I have a hard time understanding why anyone would want snow tires in Toronto. Lets face it...that snow storm we just had was pint sized compared to what the get in Montreal and the North Eastern States. It doesn't really snow that much here, and 15" steelies make our P5's look butt ugly. Did you buy a really nice looking car so you could make it look like s*** for 1/3rd of the year???

 

[PBH]

Who said anything about Steelies? I plan on using the stock rims for the winter & buy after-markets for the summer. That way, I'll always look good. Did I say "I"? I meant the car

 

[P-Funk!]

We had a good snowfall yesterday and in the fresh snow/slush i was fine...

I would start in second and feather the clutch - i even beat out an 'Outback' off the light

 

[Todd]

Im very happy that I got my snow tires (Nokian) and I feel alot safer with these on. True that it does not snow often here in Toronto, but I look at it as that I may have got my car banged up already if it was not for my snow tires.

The steelies are not good looking, but neather is my car with all the wet road crap kicking up on it all the time. Unless the roads are always dry (not going to happen) or I wash my car everyday (also not going to happen) I will live with this crap and when the summer comes, she will be sweet again.

It also makes me look forward to spring to get the Dunlops back on. Oh how I love going fast in the twisties with those tires on