beater vs. snow tires

[Ol'Fart]

Yeah I know, summer just started and I’m already thinkin’ snow. Sorry, just wanna be ready.

Driving in the snow is the problem. Now let me tell ya, it’s not me I worry about, it’s the bozo’s that don’t know how that scare me. I drove a few rear wheel drive muscle cars through the snow back in the day.

Anyway, would anybody be willing to give me some ideas on snow tires? Can I put 18” wheels on the SS?

I’m not completely sure I want to drive the SS in the snow, ‘specially, if it’s gonna cost me a Cadillac full of money. I might just buy a beater and keep my baby away from all the nastiness of winter.

Opinions welcome.

[CamaroVision]

I drove mine all winter, 20" RS Wheels, summer tires on front, 20" Winter tires on the rear.

It did ok(did 3k miles or so), but I'm not going to do it again (added ground effects, prolly make me into a snowplow now) so I need to look into buying another vehicle before the snow comes again.

[SRFnSNO]

I did MSW 19" rims with P-scorpion ice & snow from Tire rack.
No pressure sensors but came with gorilla nuts (spline Type)
1180 mounted balanced and delivered in 2 days.

Rims were on clearance for under $70

[skuttduck]

Originally Posted by Ol'Fart

Yeah I know, summer just started and I’m already thinkin’ snow. Sorry, just wanna be ready.

Driving in the snow is the problem. Now let me tell ya, it’s not me I worry about, it’s the bozo’s that don’t know how that scare me. I drove a few rear wheel drive muscle cars through the snow back in the day.

Anyway, would anybody be willing to give me some ideas on snow tires? Can I put 18” wheels on the SS?

I’m not completely sure I want to drive the SS in the snow, ‘specially, if it’s gonna cost me a Cadillac full of money. I might just buy a beater and keep my baby away from all the nastiness of winter.

Opinions welcome.

As someone with a very similar car who parks next to you. $1123 was the price for the 20" Pirelli scorpion tires from Belle Tire. They told me they would change them from winter to summer and back complimentary for me.

That was the cheapest I could find at the time. Now during the winter I was able to score some 20" wheels off of an SS and then bought the TPMS sensors for around $45 a piece. I think I spent another $920 for all of that.

Yours is an early SS without the "Roller skates" so you could get the 18" package. Which I believe was running around $1400 from tirerack.

The cool thing is the pirelli scorpion ice and snow tires feel almost exactly like the P zero summer tires. The weight of this car, with snow tires, stabilitrack make it like a tank in the snow. I drove the car on 6 inches of unplowed snow and it went right through it. Only got stuck once, where the city plowed the sidewalk across the street at the stop sign. I was able to back up and push right through it.

If you wanted to see my winter wheels, let me know I have them stacked in the garage.

[speedy_g]

I need a winter ride ! To much salt bye me plus the crazys on the road ...

[JEFF2010SSMANUAL]

IF you have the $$$ and space for a beater then thats what I recommend.

But remember that beaters cost $$$ Insurance, and they break down at the

worst time of year, in a SNOW STORM. I did the beater thing many years ago

and it was a pain in the BEHIND. I DO NOT have $$$ or room for a beater, so

I purchased a Tirerack 18" Aluminum wheel/Blizzak pkg with TPMS sensors,

shipped to my door for $1450.00 My 2SS/RS went through the snow with no

problems, and I live 12 miles from Wisconsin.

Make sure you list the Pro's and Con's wisely.

[Hanzo]

Just keep your eyes open on Craigslist and Ebay for a nice used car. There are a few good ones out there for a couple grand. I just couldn't see myself driving a Purple Metro for a cheap dependable car. Been looking for months and just paid a little more for a 4x4 this weekend for my winter vehicle. Get it early because it is cheaper to by 4x4 now instead of waiting until I need it. Also, want some time to fix before winter if something is wrong.

Drove my SS in winter when there was no snow on the road. Have doubts with the paint getting pelted by salt though. Half a dozen chips right now.

I drove an '03 Mustang GT for 6 years in the winter with the summer tires and it worked but only had to drive it 15 miles round trip.

[CamaroVision]

I have my 2 rear 20" blizzaks sitting in my garage if you wanted those, only like 2-3k miles on em or so, cost 500, I don't know what to ask 400? Less? Option is there anyways :P

[Gforce8]

18" work well with the SS brembos as long as you don't have the weights (rollerskates).
But yoou can always cut them off.

[blackknight]

what "rollerskate" weights is everyone on this forum referring to?

[Ol'Fart]

Thanks for all the great info, ideas and offers. I haven't made a final decision yet but I'm leaning towards driving, and keeping my eye on Craigslist.

[Dan@showstopper]

I bought a 98 Monte Carlo for $1000. It seems winter rims and tires are close to that plus I don't have salt all over the under carriage of my car nor do I have to worry about people sliding into my car at every intersection.

[Black_2SS]

I drove mine all winter w/o any issues. Even drove in about 4" or 5" of drifting snow, you couldn't even see the road. It was rather crazy but she handled very well in it atually. I got a set of the all-season's that come stock on a V6, w/ the original wheels and sensors included for only $600!!! Granted that salt and grit is rough on her but I didn't pay this much to just watch her sit in the garage all year. I got a new car so I didn't have to worry about constantly fixing a beater. No more snow than we get in Ohio, you will be fine if you get some good all-seasons and use your head!

[Gforce8]

The roller skate weights are 1" round weights attached to your brake pads and stick up out of the caliper preventing use of the 18" rims