Camaro in the Snow

[vorder]

My area got hit with 21" snow these past 2 days. Have the 18 all season tires & just kept the heavy foot in my shoe. Other than all the slush & muck the car handled ok. It's upsetting to see this car with all the splash but its my DD & just have to deal with it. My Z 3 BMW sits so low I couldn't even pull away from the curb so its the Camaro or walk. All part of "real" life. I envy those of you who can just play when the sun shines but driving in bad weather is kinda like gettin that first ding! It'll pass
and once you clean it up you'll have a stronger bond with your ride.

[skuttduck]

Originally Posted by SRM

Yes, this is what I'm getting swapped onto my stock rims this week:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....r=RS%20Package

I did that with my 2LT RS. 20" Pirelli Scorpion Ice and Snows on the stock rims. I got to drive them on the unplowed/unsalted streets of my neighborhood this weekend.

The Camaro handles better than my 2000 Toyota Camry with Michelin Xse One all season tires. On the corners where I was sliding, the Camaro just gripped and completed the turns.

The stabilitrack stops the tires from spinning, and corrects if you give it too much gas and prevents the car from going sideways.

[evenson1982]

well i have to agree with both sides of the story. on one hand you have the people who want to park the car in the winter or not drive in the snow or whatever. on the other hand you have people who want to drive year round no matter what. this is my opinion... i have a camaro ss2 rs and parked in early november. it is a sports car and probably shouldnt see much snow or ice or salt but now the more i think about it it is just a car. isnt that why we pay insurance? be defensive and responsive.. use good judgement. drive in parking lots. go up driveways, test brakes steering. get a good feel. gm knew when they came out with this car that in order to keep it a top seller it would have to tough the winter so they have prepared it to do so. tires are a plus for winter but i dont feel its necessary. caution is your biggest perk in the snowy conditions. no matter what tires or rims or drive train etc. you still have to be safe. i have a 4x4 blazer and i still drive it really slow and never feel safe in it either. so why not drive the maro???? its a sweet car and you need to use those heated seats anyways. and the defrosters occasionally. lol. thats why they are there. just an opinion people.

p.s. i hope all those kids get camaros any way they can. if you feel you earned them then thats awesome. and if you didnt earn them im sure your parents will use it as a punishment. lol. who knows if youll ever get the chance to own one again. do it young guys!

[camero]

Originally Posted by evenson1982

...tires are a plus for winter but i dont feel its necessary...

You are crazy!

[Gforce8]

Do NOT drive in the snow without winter tires.
They make ALL the difference.
(Oh off course experience and a light foot help too

[Angrybird 12]

We will be driving our Camaro year around, BUT we will not be driving it when the forcast is for snow or freezing rain... Not because we can't drive in the snow, It's I don't trust other drivers in the snow... Plus we have 2 other "Snow Cars" HHR and Sunfire...both FWD..

By the way those worring only about salt rusting the cars, I wouldn't worry too much, the way they treat the steel nowadays has about elimiated any body rusting problems.. plus as soon as you can when the snow clears wash your car and be sure to spray all the heelwells and underneith the car. (also wash under the hood)

[chappy48]

Definitely don't want to drive in snow or even cold temps with those summer tires. I couldn't get up a VERY slight incline in my driveway when I had the summer tires. Tires sunk into the snow and had absolutely no traction to get out of the little 1 inch grove they made. I ended up have to side wind myself up the driveway, not using the gas at all, just letting the car pull and push itself (I have an auto) and even then it was hard.

[detroitboy]

Originally Posted by fastball

I have a question......

What did we all do 20+ years ago, when the majority of cars were RWD, there was no such thing as traction control, and if you were lucky 40% of the vehicle's weight was back there?

My first car was a 1985 Buick Regal. I drove it through 3 Cleveland winters in my late teens - early 20's. I can't remember ever getting stuck or wiping out. There were a few close ones, but I've had close ones with every FWD car I've owned since in the winters.

I don't think it's going to be all that bad with the Camaro.

The skinny tires back in those days helped cut through the snow and provide the maximum lbs per square inch of pressure/weight to the contact patch (where the rubber meets the road). If you were to put a big wide tire on a 58 plymouth it would try to "float" on the snow too.

[BRKLYN]

Originally Posted by Schnee

Hey, this is my first post on the site, and I hope you guys can help me. I'm 16 and i'm looking at the camaro for my first car. Heres the only problem: the snow. My dad said I can get the camaro, but he said because its rear wheel drive it won't be as good in the snow, so i won't be able to drive it that much. My sister has a mustang (i don't buy into the whole rivalry, if its an awesome car, i like it ) and it is terrible in the snow... to the point of being undriveable. Does anyone know if the camaro is going to be any better in the snow? it only snows a few times badly a winter here in Jersey, but i wanna be able to drive it all year round... thanks guys

Nonsense, people drove cars, pre front wheel drive.

[Rocketright]

I'll have to for sure. In Calgary we usually have snow from October - April, get a good set of winter tires on my LS and we will be good to go.

[Angrybird 12]

I used to buy a set of Firestone Town and Country snow tires (studded) I would put them on first of November and take them off first of March.... I never ever had a problem in my rear wheel drive cars with them on... I have never put any snow tires on any of the front wheel drive cars I have owned though, Just all season radials have done well...

[DkknightX]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Driving a Camaro in snow will most likely be hell on Earth. I'm sticking to the Malibu during winter.

Believe me...It is. Got stuck on a quarter of an inch of ice. Needed to be pushed to get out of this guy's driveway and almost fishtailed into a contractor's truck.

Looks like the CObalt will take center stage but even with front wheel drive, going up slippery hills is a chore thanks to my Y-rated Toyos and Z-rated Pirellis.

[lwlkr92]

Bottom line: if it's bad outside, you would have problems with a dog sled. I have driven front-wheel drive cars and had issues, and I drove a 300C/ Hemi a few years ago with a lot of snow and all season tires. I think it has a lot to do with the skill of the skipper. I also think that if you have just gotten a license and never been in the snow that you should have a car you care a whole lot less about to drive!!

[TooCool5]

Originally Posted by lwlkr92

Bottom line: if it's bad outside, you would have problems with a dog sled. I have driven front-wheel drive cars and had issues, and I drove a 300C/ Hemi a few years ago with a lot of snow and all season tires. I think it has a lot to do with the skill of the skipper. I also think that if you have just gotten a license and never been in the snow that you should have a car you care a whole lot less about to drive!!

X2 you should learn on a less expensive car.

Originally Posted by Skyman 08

We will be driving our Camaro year around, BUT we will not be driving it when the forcast is for snow or freezing rain... Not because we can't drive in the snow, It's I don't trust other drivers in the snow... Plus we have 2 other "Snow Cars" HHR and Sunfire...both FWD..

By the way those worring only about salt rusting the cars, I wouldn't worry too much, the way they treat the steel nowadays has about elimiated any body rusting problems.. plus as soon as you can when the snow clears wash your car and be sure to spray all the heelwells and underneith the car. (also wash under the hood)

This is not true, they were saying this ten years ago and the cars are still rusting.