Camaro in snow

[renke]

Daily driver (2LT/RS) in Minnesota with Yokahama Prada Spec-X Z rated tires which were used in a 150 MPH dyno run, 335 HP on 92 octane with 500 RPM left to limiter. The only time I could not drive this winter was a 17" snowstorm. Check out the Discount Web Site to get details.

[fbodfather]

regardless of Generation.........it comes down to one word:


TIRES!

Camaros are designed for performance and handling........and thus, the tires on SS and (Last gen) Z28 are performance tires - not all-season.......so if you plan to drive in cold temps (regardless of snow) - or in snowy weather......you need to purchase tires that are appropriate to your climate.

5th gen: We put Pirelli Scorpion Ice and Snow tires on all of our CTF (Captive Test Fleet) vehicles - and I am genuinely surprised at just how good the 5th gen does in snow. Now - keep one thing in mind - the Camaro does not have a lot of ground clearance - so if you decide to drive head-first into a street that has 12 inches of snow, you WILL, as with any car -- end up packing snow under the car -- raising the wheels to where you will get no traction.
>>>don't do that!!!<<<<

That said - we had the 2nd most snowiest season this year in Metro Detroit - and "Helios" soldiered on with his Scorpions - even at stop-lights, he'd pull away as many other cars sat and spun their wheels -

4th gen: From 1998 on, the traction control system was 'Bosch' - I remember many validation tests where we would put Goodyear RSAs (all-season) tires on a Z28 - and test it against a Taurus and a Concorde - the Z28 would very slowly inch its way up a simulated icy slope - whereas the Taurus would sit and spin........and the Concorde would actually slide backwards....... (Ice was simulated by floating soapy water over ceramic tiles) The key to driving a 4th gen in snow: 200 pounds in the trunk - and a good set of ice and snow tires......... Mom Settlemire lives in Western Pennsylvania - the street in front of her house is quite steep - and her driveway also has quite a slope - bordered on one side by the foundation of the house and on the other side by an 8 foot wall that is a sheer drop to the neighbor's yard.........(one HECK of a ride if you aren't paying attention!.............and she drove her 2002 Camaro Coupe with no problems -- and now has her 2010 RS with Scorpions on the back.....again, no problem. She does NOT attempt it with a foot of snow in the driveway........

So - again - to recap:


TIRES!!

[nards444]

pulled me out in snow to clean garage and could barely get it back in. I would think with V6 it would be good. V8 sucks without new tires and weight in trunk. Even then I could think of better things to drive

[ZED SLED]

It's snowing here right now. My HHR goes great in the snow.

[DarkneSS]

Stock V6 18s LS/LT rims will get you through a light dusting but are far from ideal. The 20s and 19s with pirellis are fine if you plan on never stopping anywhere because the second you do, consider yourself stuck.

GET SNOW TIRES! from what Ive heard it handles great with snow tires.

[TOMS1SS]

I can't imagine its that terrible with stability/traction control turned on.

[MAGfuz]

I made it through this past winter (one of the worst in recent memory) and for the most part I was fine with my PZ Nero all seasons. Definitely considering winter tread for next winter!

[cab2g]

I put Pirelli Scorpions on all 4 wheels 245 up front and 275 in back. They handle well. There is plenty of traction to start rolling from a stop. I'm not going to lie, the wheels can break loose VERY easily on the SS, but if you watch the throttle, you can take off almost as fast as some of the fwd cars on a slush/snow covered road. But I really wouldn't recommend trying to keep up with the fwd cars. The back-end loves to jump around. I don't care what anybody says, you'll never keep up with a 4wd vehicle. Don't even try to out maneuver one. I drove a 4wd truck for 10 years and I can only count a handful of times that I even slipped around moderately during bad snow storms. In the Camaro, if you take your time you should be fine. Breaking is NO problem.

But after using the 275's this winter, I will admit that I'd have been better off going with the most narrow tires possible. My wife's econo-car weighs about 700-800lbs less than mine, but it rides on 175mm all seasons and whenever we both would drive up the driveway after a fresh snow fall I'd have the hardest time scraping off her tire tracks, but mine would come up easily. And when it comes to snow covered roads, pressure=traction. If the snow is moving around beneath your wheels because your car isn't packing the snow down, you're going to slip all over.

In conclusion, the SS handles good enough in the snow. I never got stuck once. My back end would swing out occasionally, but never to the point where I couldn't easily recover along with the aid of traction control. You will be depressed with how much snow/slush collects on the car though because of its low ride height. But even dirty, this car looks better than most other cars on the road

[jmelchio]

I drove my SS all winter in Pittsburgh, but I had winter tires (Pirelli Scorpion Ice and Snow). It did pretty well. I only got stuck once, and it was on a steep grade in heavy traffic with icy roads. I couldn't get started again once I stopped on the hill.

[dragon22]

And getting started again after stopping on an icy hill is nearly impossible for MOST vehicles.

[dragon22]

I received my 2SS/RS on February 12, 2011. When the roads cleared up a few weeks later, I drove it down to get my 3M put on.

Now, anyone who knows Calgary, knows that if you wait 15 minutes, the weather will change.

I looked outside while they were putting on the 3M and it was starting to snow. By the time I was half way home, it was near blizzard conditions. I made it on the summer tires. I would NOT recommend driving in the winter with the summer tires as they turn into frozen hockey pucks when it freezes.

But...it was doable and I made it. Would I take that chance again? Nope! I am ordering 20" winter wheels and the Scorpions for this coming winter.

[Steve Dallas]

Anyone that says the C5 sucks in the snow doesn't know how to drive in the snow. Plain and simple.

This is by far the best car except for some AWD cars/SUV's I've driven in the snow.

Now, granted, if you try to drive it with summer tires, it will suck. This is why you don't drive the C5...OR ANY CAR...in the snow without All Season or Snow tires.

I have Continental Extreme DWS (Dry/Wet/Snow) tires. I drove several times in snowy and icy conditions, and the Camaro handled it AMAZINGLY well. The traction control was terrific, and I was able to go up reasonably steep (10-15 degree) inclines from a stop without getting stuck.

Ice is ice...and NO car will handle that well, whether AWD or whatever.

[IndeedSS1]

As mentioned tires make the difference (Pirelli Scorpions). I've driven everyday this winter and had no issues.

[SolarFlare]

I love driving mine in the snow, just takes a bit to get used to



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