A 370Z in the snow
 

Hey everyone!

So I am about to get a 370z but I live in Denver, Colorado. How do they handle in the snow.(obviously with some snow tires like blizzaks with possibly chains) I trust my driving ability but there's some things good driving can't help.

Thanks!

Joe

With dedicated snows/rims it will handle fine especially if you have a limited slip differential or viscous diff. whatever Nissan calls it. Chains may not clear brakes, etc. I've used Michelin Xice snow tires for the past four winters in Iowa. No problem until the snow gets 5 inches deep then you best park it unless you like to plow snow.

Well I can tell you that with summer tires, it's kinda drivable in the snow

The 370Z is my wife's daily driver and winter beater. If she could do it, you could do it too. It runs the cheapest winter tires I could find, in this case oversized Falken Eurowinter HS449 (to increase ground clearance) in 245/50/18 mounted on 350Z OEM wheels.

Just because you can use a scalpel to chop wood doesn't mean you should, or that it's a good idea. Park it and buy a winter beater. If you can't afford a second vehicle you can't afford a sports car.

I live in Minnesota. As a daily driver in a snow-prone part of the country...the 370Z is a bad, bad choice.

I can also tell you that with summer tires it's not in the slightest bit driveable in the snow. As a matter of fact, it's downright dangerous. With the expense and hassle of snow tires and rims, the car is about as driveable as you would expect from a 3300 lb 330 HP rear-wheel drive car with 4.5 inches of ground clearance. That is...not very.

Drives fine in the snow with real snow tires, as long as it's not too deep.

https://www.instagram.com/p/kC-l5fihnS/

https://www.instagram.com/p/yaiHWAChpk/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BBadwXcChgr/

Bzzzzzzzzzt! Wrong.:icon18:

Ding-ding-ding! We have a winner!

I've been stuck in half an inch of snow. On a flat side street. Stock 285 Potenza RE11's. With summer tires don't even bother. With skinny winter rims and Blizzak's you might get away with it every now and again... but why risk it? I know the main reason I shelled out for a dedicated sports car was so I could coat it with salt and calcium every winter and tempt some jackass in a speeding SUV with bald tires to slide into it.:rolleyes:

I drove a fwd shitty car with a donut on one of the front tires in the snow and it all depended on how I drove which I would watch how i do with the 370z. My roomie also has a challenger that makes it through the snow.. so all in all i think it depends on
1. How you drive
2. Tires,(idk what rims hace to do with it)
3. A keen eye on everyone else driving

1. Well duh.
2. Skinny rims = more weight per square inch of rubber = better in snow
3. See number 1. This applies in good weather, too.

Your roomie's Challenger weighs about 1,000lbs more than your Z. And I have no doubt it sucks in the snow too compared to say, oh I dunno, my Jeep. Or any AWD car with decent tires. Or even a Camry with all-season tread.

The Z is a shitty winter car. Period. If you're willing to put up with it (and it sounds like you're trying to convince yourself to) then by all means drive it through the snow. Just remember that you're "getting away with it" not because it's a good idea or the car was designed for it, but because 98% of the time you'll be OK provided everything works out how you expect it to. The other 2% of the time you're going to be screwed.

You sound angry

Because I've seen this same thread dozens of times. On motorcycle forums it usually goes like this:

a) Hi everyone, I'm a brand new rider and I've always wanted a GSXR1000. Would this be a good bike for a beginner? It's only 190hp and my mom's Accord makes like 270...

b) Me: No. These machines are dedicated blahblahblah... lots of technical ******** newbs don't understand.

c) Newb: Oh but I'm really responsible and I won't ride it fast.

d) Me: It's not about responsibility, it's about experience blahblahblah... more advice someone who doesn't really want advice is going to ignore.

e) Newb: I know I'm going to be different.

f) 2-3 months later: a thread titled RIP Stup1dN00B_1000rr

its my dream car, if i can afford it now then I want it.(actually the 350z is my dream car, but I want the newer version) And I would take your advice if you didn't seem so hostile.

I'm actually trying to save you some grief. If you can afford a 370 (buy used, btw) then you can also afford a $3k beater for when it snows. You're going to find out soon that you don't want salt and calcium on your nice car anyway, and Nissan paint is notorious for being weak.

As far as driving a RWD sports car in the snow... let's just say I have some experience. I "got away with it" for 14 winters. Until one day I didn't.

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.