A 370Z in the snow

Nismodean · 06-09-2016, 12:49 AM

The biggest advantage TO drive a manual (6MT) 370Z in icy/snowy/rainey conditions that not one person has thought of or shared is the rev match system. It matches both up and down shifts so traction and suspension isn't upset by drivetrain shock during gear changes. This alone (and patience) allowed me to drive after a suprise ice storm some years ago while still on stock summer tires. Smooth steering and rev match saved that day.

Then I upgraded my tires and never looked back to the idea of a winter car. These tires safely got me through Wyoming, Colorado, and the mountain range of New Mexico during a snow storm that was bad enough to shut I-70 down. I never once lost traction! They're great in the rain and have MUCH better dry handling/traction than the stock tires.

General*G-MAX AS-03

90 ST · 06-09-2016, 01:13 AM

I drove mine in Canadian winters out west in the mountains for 6 winters...get some good winter tires and be smart about what you try driving thru/over. I don't know why people are so against driving this in the winter...cause RWD? So was damn near every car for 80 years. people got around.

Duc_Z09 · 06-09-2016, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enkei2k

stock tires aren't RE-11's...and those RE-11's are 'extreme summer performance tires'...per Tire Rack's website.

I've driven in the snow before with the stock OEM RE050s (which are a step below 'extreme'). Not a lot of snow, just a light coating...so I can't really give much input on this topic.

They're what came on my nismo so I assumed they were stock. A previous owner could have installed them since I'm the 3rd owner of this car. They certainly don't like snow.

Duc_Z09 · 06-09-2016, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cofo11

I have to ask what sort of Jeep you have, unless it's an XJ, Unlimited, LJ, or something with a comparable wheelbase, I'm assuming YJ, TJ, JK, CJ, etc., it's a terrible snow vehicle, on public roads, for a single very obvious reason.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N915A using Tapatalk

Salvage title WJ. It goes through snow like a champ. County plows, ATVs and myself were basically all that was moving on this day last January.

JARblue · 06-09-2016, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 90 ST

Get some good winter tires and be smart about what you try driving thru/over. I don't know why people are so against driving this in the winter...cause RWD? So was damn near every car for 80 years. people got around.

Appropriate driving on proper tires for the conditions in the Z is better than any of the idiots driving AWD SUVs in the snow like it's dry ...

The scary part is putting the Z on the road with all the other idiots in the snow

Ghostvette · 06-09-2016, 08:39 AM

I swap to Blizzaks in late October and drive the car all winter. What's the point of having a car if all it does is sit in the garage?

That being said, the folks I work for understand that if there is more than 3" of snow, I'm not coming to work. At least until the roads are plowed.

With right tires and patience, you'll be fine. 40+ years driving in all kinds of crap and only one off-road encounter because of weather... course I had help from a were-possum...

HEK · 06-09-2016, 08:49 AM

I had my Z since '14 , live in MA and bought a set of rims and snow tires not going with the square look as I like the wider tires in the rear and never had an issue with the snow, granted we had 2 blizzards and even SUV's were getting stuck so use your head..other than that up to 3" you even get to drift once in a while...have fun

DarkJak · 06-09-2016, 12:48 PM

I had mine as a DD in Wisconsin over one winter. It's very drivable on winter tires. I'd suggest some sort of LSD though. I had a few cases where one wheel was slipping and applying more gas allowed my other wheel that had grip to move forward thanks to the VLSD. Even more drivable if you're at stock height.
I'll be driving a dedicated winter car from now on though, although I'll still have winter tires on the Z when I feel like having fun. Reason being that while I felt safe about my own car, I was always worried about getting hit and additional corrosion due to the heavy amounts of salt on the roads. I felt compelled to do very frequent washes and to me, having a beater that I can take out on the worst of days is worth the price of depreciation and registration costs on a $5000 car.

JARblue · 06-09-2016, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkJak

while I felt safe about my own car, I was always worried about getting hit and additional corrosion due to the heavy amounts of salt on the roads. I felt compelled to do very frequent washes and to me, having a beater that I can take out on the worst of days is worth the price of depreciation and registration costs on a $5000 car.

These are the reasons you should have a winter beater ...

not because the Z does poorly in the snow.

Munts · 06-10-2016, 05:51 PM

Don't do it...

Just because you can.. doesn't mean you should. Not driving the Z in the winter will keep the car looking nicer for way longer. No salt damage, less rust, etc. I put my Z to bed at the beginning of November and she comes out of hiding in March. I still get to drive her for most of the year, and I know that it won't get messed up by any winter damage.

Get a winter beater and call it a day.

Wheels3309 · 06-10-2016, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeliriousClam

Not wrong. I drove it in the snow with summer tires. No scares. Just sideways at times.

Can't tell me I'm wrong when I've experienced it myself.

Let's be honest. Im not sure people from New Jersey even know what "winter" is really like, so advice given to someone in Colorado about driving a Z in "winter" conditions might not be the most relevant information. Add in the fact that your only 22, and can't possibly have enough experience to really even give advice in this area, and this starts to get dangerous.

In these parts we average 160" of snow every season. I drove my G35 coupe through 4 of those *#*!-ing winters with the most expensive snow tires I could find... I "made it through" most of the time and just didn't drive it when the snow got deeper than 3-4" (which happened quite a bit)

While it is "doable" it is VERY dangerous... I would strongly advise against if at all possible.

This is one of the reasons I didn't get the Z until I could afford a winter beater. It's a dedicated sports car. Purpose built.

Not to mention what's already been said... Why beat the piss out if such an awesome car driving it through the winter?!

somms · 06-11-2016, 03:10 PM

I'm from Alaska. I live in Boston and drove my Z through record setting snow falls. It's extremely drivable on plowed roads with snow tires. Only an idiot would drive any car on unplowed roads, AWD or not. Stop spreading FUD.

cofo11 · 06-11-2016, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by somms

I'm from Alaska. I live in Boston and drove my Z through record setting snow falls. It's extremely drivable on plowed roads with snow tires. Only an idiot would drive any car on unplowed roads, AWD or not. Stop spreading FUD.

Only an idiot huh? I guess using a 2.5" lifted TJ (stretched 11" in the rear), with an Atlas 4 (10.34 to 1), sitting on 35" Wrangler MTs with 17" beadlocks so I can run about 5psi makes me an idiot. Some people have purpose built vehicles, don't make blanket statements.

A stock wheelbase TJ wouldn't be a wise choice but stretched and built it's an excellent choice. Longer wheelbase for stability, low center of gravity, high ground clearance, light weight, designed to climb things that can't be walked...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N915A using Tapatalk

somms · 06-11-2016, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cofo11

Only an idiot huh? I guess using a 2.5" lifted TJ (stretched 11" in the rear), with an Atlas 4 (10.34 to 1), sitting on 35" Wrangler MTs with 17" beadlocks so I can run about 5psi makes me an idiot. Some people have purpose built vehicles, don't make blanket statements.

A stock wheelbase TJ wouldn't be a wise choice but stretched and built it's an excellent choice. Longer wheelbase for stability, low center of gravity, high ground clearance, light weight, designed to climb things that can't be walked...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N915A using Tapatalk

If you're trying to get stupid in your "purpose built" vehicle I won't stop you. Hope you have a good wrecker on speed dial.

cofo11 · 06-11-2016, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by somms

If you're trying to get stupid in your "purpose built" vehicle I won't stop you. Hope you have a good wrecker on speed dial.

Pray tell, why would I need a wrecker?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N915A using Tapatalk

06-09-2016, 12:49 AM	#31 (permalink)
Nismodean Enthusiast Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Washington Posts: 313 Drives: 2009 RIP Now 2012 Rep Power: 14	The biggest advantage TO drive a manual (6MT) 370Z in icy/snowy/rainey conditions that not one person has thought of or shared is the rev match system. It matches both up and down shifts so traction and suspension isn't upset by drivetrain shock during gear changes. This alone (and patience) allowed me to drive after a suprise ice storm some years ago while still on stock summer tires. Smooth steering and rev match saved that day. Then I upgraded my tires and never looked back to the idea of a winter car. These tires safely got me through Wyoming, Colorado, and the mountain range of New Mexico during a snow storm that was bad enough to shut I-70 down. I never once lost traction! They're great in the rain and have MUCH better dry handling/traction than the stock tires. GeneralG-MAX AS-03 __________________ The Truth, it hurts sometimes.* FI LTH & FI CF CBE. This is a 370Z forum, if I want to fling poo at another brand of car and your feelings get hurt, then you're hanging out in the wrong forum (cry elsewhere).

06-09-2016, 01:13 AM	#32 (permalink)
90 ST A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,861 Drives: 90 and 15 GMC Sierra Rep Power: 421	I drove mine in Canadian winters out west in the mountains for 6 winters...get some good winter tires and be smart about what you try driving thru/over. I don't know why people are so against driving this in the winter...cause RWD? So was damn near every car for 80 years. people got around. mayday813, JARblue, Ghostvette and 1 others like this. __________________ Not driving your car to keep it in nice shape, is like not wanting to smash your girlfriend so she stays tight for the next guy.

06-09-2016, 08:39 AM	#36 (permalink)
Ghostvette A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Shawnee KS Posts: 5,698 Drives: 15 Magma Red 6MT Rep Power: 2684376	I swap to Blizzaks in late October and drive the car all winter. What's the point of having a car if all it does is sit in the garage? That being said, the folks I work for understand that if there is more than 3" of snow, I'm not coming to work. At least until the roads are plowed. With right tires and patience, you'll be fine. 40+ years driving in all kinds of crap and only one off-road encounter because of weather... course I had help from a were-possum... JARblue likes this. __________________ 2015 Magma Red 6MT Sport Tech/2012 Fairlady MB 6MT Base (RIP 08032018)https://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/370Z/Coupe/

06-09-2016, 12:48 PM	#38 (permalink)
DarkJak A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,393 Drives: 2009 370Z Rep Power: 13448	I had mine as a DD in Wisconsin over one winter. It's very drivable on winter tires. I'd suggest some sort of LSD though. I had a few cases where one wheel was slipping and applying more gas allowed my other wheel that had grip to move forward thanks to the VLSD. Even more drivable if you're at stock height. I'll be driving a dedicated winter car from now on though, although I'll still have winter tires on the Z when I feel like having fun. Reason being that while I felt safe about my own car, I was always worried about getting hit and additional corrosion due to the heavy amounts of salt on the roads. I felt compelled to do very frequent washes and to me, having a beater that I can take out on the worst of days is worth the price of depreciation and registration costs on a $5000 car. JARblue likes this. __________________ @stupidtoycars \| My track vids 09 7AT\|MCS 2WNR\|Topgunz Rotrex\|Ecutek (Eugene)\|Maxxis RC1\|Titan-7 TS-5\|OSG LSD\|Rear Mount Derale Oil Cooler (WIP)+25 Trans Cooler\|Fismo\|G-LOC R12/R10\|Zeta III L\|NLR Wing and Splitter\|CJM Pan and Fuel Hat\|Radium Surge Tank\|AP Racing CP9668

06-11-2016, 03:10 PM	#42 (permalink)
somms Base Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Boston Posts: 131 Drives: 2011 370z SP MT Rep Power: 11	I'm from Alaska. I live in Boston and drove my Z through record setting snow falls. It's extremely drivable on plowed roads with snow tires. Only an idiot would drive any car on unplowed roads, AWD or not. Stop spreading FUD. __________________ Fast Intentions 18 inch resonated catback, Fast Intentions resonated HFCs, Stillen Gen 3 CAI, EcuTEK tune, 311whp

06-09-2016, 08:49 AM	#37 (permalink)
HEK Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: WESTFIELD, MA Age: 65 Posts: 491 Drives: '13 Z Tour Sports 6m Rep Power: 660	I had my Z since '14 , live in MA and bought a set of rims and snow tires not going with the square look as I like the wider tires in the rear and never had an issue with the snow, granted we had 2 blizzards and even SUV's were getting stuck so use your head..other than that up to 3" you even get to drift once in a while...have fun

06-10-2016, 05:51 PM	#40 (permalink)
Munts Base Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: St Paul, Minnesota Posts: 101 Drives: 2009 MT Touring Rep Power: 11	Don't do it... Just because you can.. doesn't mean you should. Not driving the Z in the winter will keep the car looking nicer for way longer. No salt damage, less rust, etc. I put my Z to bed at the beginning of November and she comes out of hiding in March. I still get to drive her for most of the year, and I know that it won't get messed up by any winter damage. Get a winter beater and call it a day.

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