beater vs. snow tires

[Ol'Fart]

Thanks again folks. Just one more thing...

So it sounds like this might be a good option for me, right?:

http://www.pa.msu.edu/~nila/tire.htm

scroll about halfway down the page, I couldn't figure out how to save without the "recommendations"

[skuttduck]

Originally Posted by Ol'Fart

Thanks again folks. Just one more thing...

So it sounds like this might be a good option for me, right?:

http://www.pa.msu.edu/~nila/tire.htm

scroll about halfway down the page, I couldn't figure out how to save without the "recommendations"

I so wish someone else was selling their heritage wheels when I was looking last November.

My understanding is those Heritage wheels while stock will not fit over your Brembo brakes. There are some aftermarket 18"s that fit, and I believe the 2LT stock 19"s will fit.

For example this set would fit.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/19-Ch...eelQ5fPackages

[Ol'Fart]

Problem solved. Bought wheel/tire pkg from Jeff2010SSmanual. All ready to drive this winter. Thanks to all for comments and suggestions. And a special thanks to skuttduck for turning me on to the deal.

[skuttduck]

Originally Posted by Ol'Fart

Problem solved. Bought wheel/tire pkg from Jeff2010SSmanual. All ready to drive this winter. Thanks to all for comments and suggestions. And a special thanks to skuttduck for turning me on to the deal.

You're welcome.

Only thing I don't have yet are the tools, and a torque wrench to change my wheels myself. I'll get them before the winter.

If you see a deal on either the GM OEM transformers emblems, or the KN filter let me know.

[efpardo]

Originally Posted by skuttduck

You're welcome.

Only thing I don't have yet are the tools, and a torque wrench to change my wheels myself. I'll get them before the winter.

If you see a deal on either the GM OEM transformers emblems, or the KN filter let me know.

Hi neighbor - I've got a torque wrench you can borrow

[skuttduck]

Originally Posted by efpardo

Hi neighbor - I've got a torque wrench you can borrow

Ok thanks Erick.

[motorhead]

Buy the beater. I have a jeep I bought for $2,500. Works great and saves my car from getting destroyed by winter.

[blackknight]

Originally Posted by motorhead

Buy the beater. I have a jeep I bought for $2,500. Works great and saves my car from getting destroyed by winter.

I am thinking about buying a 2 door cherokee in pretty decent condition for 2300.

[motorhead]

Originally Posted by blackknight

I am thinking about buying a 2 door cherokee in pretty decent condition for 2300.

That's what I got only in a four door. mine has 98,000miles and works great.

I think it's a much better way to go. I couldn't for a second even think of taking my SS out in snow. IF I had to drive it in the snow ,I wouldn't own it.

[SS Blue Betty RS]

I drove my camaro all through the winter with stock tires. It wasn't the best idea but I just moved to Ohio and Betty Paige is my one and only car at the moment. I do believe that the only thing that kept her from going sideways was the weight. I have a 1SS RS and trying to dig this car out of burried snow is no joke. I'm 20, live in an apartment complex in a one bedroom so OBVIOUSLY I have no garage to put my baby in. It broke my heart to have her out in such nasty weather but I didn't have a choice. It did okay though. I was out there with all of the SUV's and tiny rice burners, but it didn't go without some problems.

#1 pulling out is the hardest to do. I can't count on both of my hands the number of times I got stuck in a driveway or parking lot. I've tried everything...rocking the car, pulling out in second, EVERYTHING! After trial and error I started carrying around 4 50 pound bags of salt in my trunk to weigh down the rear tires. They went from bags to small storage containers after a week. BECAUSE when I got impossible stuck in a driveway I'd pop my trunk, scoop out some salt, sprinkle my path and come out 30 minutes later to a wet driveway. Before that the ONLY way I could get out was to turn off my traction control, spin the tires, and hope I got a little momentum to get me going...sideways was often the direction the car seemed to go, but any movement what so ever got me out.

#2 Deep snow on the road. The worst thing to possibly do is to drive home after work to see a blizzard outside with 10 inches already on the road. My biggest issue was my traction control stopping me. At a red light I wouldn't be able to get my car into the intersection and out by the time the green light turned to red. I can't count the number of angry drivers I had honking behind me as I'm turtling my way through this intersection because my tired don't have anything to grab on to. I always turn my traction control off at low speeds in snow because as soon as the car begins to slide (even at 4 mph) it automatically locks my throttle and I coast to a dead stop in the middle of the intersection because it stopped my momentum that I'd just worked soo hard to get. Best thing to do.....turn it off, floor it, and wait for your tired to grab a good patch and get you going, then turn it back on once you get over 15 mph.

#3 High speeds in snow. My car didn't do bad at all at higher speeds in snow and slush. I thank my traction control for saving me every time I hit a patch of black ice. The only time I ever thought I was going to die was during a RANDOM sleet/ice storm back in April ( I do believe it was). it came out of no where and within 20 minutes there was 3 inches of sleet on the road. I was on my way to work doing a respectable 35 mph in this weather and out of no where I felt the rear end of my car slip out and whipping to my left where the 5 ft deep ditch was. The ass end did a moderately casual turn about 140 degrees to my left within 4 seconds. I took my foot off the gas, turned VERY slowly to the right and SOMEHOW, SOMMMEEEEHOW managed to get it going straight again. I don't know how I didn't end up in that ditch. I think someone 'upstairs' knew how much I loved my car and saved her from that ditch that would have damn near totalled it.

#4 The snow plow! This car likes to plow when it stops. Coming to redlights doing 20 mph I would start braking (extremely softly) about 75 yards away. You might think I'm exaturating, but it takes FOREVER to stop! If you brake too hard the car will freeze up and start making that horrible noise and slide to stop some 50 yards farther than you planned.

#5 Changing gears sucks! I drive a manual transmission and a good 70% off the time my rear tires would slip just a little if I didn't go extremely slow changing gears. 1st to 2nd is the worst. But you have to change VERY slowly to keep the rear tires from jumping and kicking you out of your snow trail.


I think I've shared enough...haha if that doesn't give you an idea, then I'll send you a video me and my friend took driving through fresh snow at 3 am leaving the bar. You'll see just how far the car slides when braking and see how many intersections I slid straight through.

But just for the record. I drove it all winter with not a scratch, dent, or problem once spring came. And I'm from HAWAII! Never driven in snow a day in my life and I figured it out without hurting the car. SOOOOO....if I can do it, anyone can!



There's snow back there. This was one of the nicer days. Granted it was like 10 degrees out.

[SS Blue Betty RS]

I will be buying a little truck or beater to drive through this winter...I'm not going to walk on needles with my blue baby for 3 months again!