Tips for getting caught in the snow with your Z

370zproject

just saying if im at work and a random snow storm hits.. is all

__________________

Brake Upgrade Package ate blue, hawk hp ceramic pads, and slotted rotors

Snakes709

So your one of those people that dont put winter tires on the car, until the snow is falling that day....


I laugh at those people, its so funny seeing their cars going off the road while they on their way to get winter tires.

__________________
2011 Evo-GSR AMS 2.4 stroker/ bore, FP Black build in progress.
Sponsor: DSG Performance

370zproject

im one of those kids who lives in a place were if it snows only last a day

__________________

Brake Upgrade Package ate blue, hawk hp ceramic pads, and slotted rotors

Snakes709

Well, winter tires might come handy that one day.

__________________
2011 Evo-GSR AMS 2.4 stroker/ bore, FP Black build in progress.
Sponsor: DSG Performance

wilsonp

Even if it doesn't snow, you shouldn't be using your summer tired below 40 degrees or so. Just get All Seasons and switch when it gets below 40 during your driving hours. They should last a long time of you only run them during the winter.

If you can't afford that, you probably can't afford the new summer tires you're going to need a lot more often than a normal car needs tires i.e. this isn't the car for you.

__________________
2014 Cayman S PDK Sport Chrono White/Black
Was 2009 370Z Touring Sport+Nav 7AT Metallic Black/Persimmon
Was 1991 NSX Auto Black/Black

NCSUPACK09

Honestly, the max performance summer tires are not even meant for near freezing temperatures let alone snow. Everyone on here is right, you should call a taxi or have a friend drive you. Its just not worth the risk.

BTW, just because you have an automatic does not mean that you cant keep it in a low gear. I don't know if this is possible in the Z, but in my old eclipse you could put it into sport mode and push the shifter up one time and it would start in 2nd gear.

__________________
2010 Base 370z Magnetic Black 6MT SP
Mods: Bone Stock

radek7633

Move further south =)

I hear Daytona is experiencing like -3*C overnight? is that normal or just an off year?

4r3s

It is not possible in the automatic. I drive my auto in sport mode all the time except when the weather is real bad, then I just leave it in auto mode.

I'm not sure why people are suggesting turning VDC off to drive in the snow. I had to drive last week in maybe an inch of snow and I left VDC on and I think it really helped me keep myself out of trouble as things got a little squirrelly a few times. I would say turn vdc off in the snow if you want to drive side ways. But hey maybe thats just because im not the most experienced driver in a sports car in the snow.

m4a1mustang

I think they suggested turning VDC off because with a summer tire or an all-season that doesn't have the best snow traction you need to really spin to get moving. Tires with poor grip have to claw their way along and they can't do that if VDC is interrupting.

With a proper winter tire you can leave VDC on and let it work to help you move along.

__________________
- Steve

Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!)
LIKE us on Facebook!

Vegitto-kun

yeah if I leave VDC on throttle gets killed instantly

another reason to keep VDC on. you are safer if you cant move

m4a1mustang

__________________
- Steve

Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!)
LIKE us on Facebook!

4r3s

the counter point would be if you are spinning your tires you are clearly not getting traction. In the snow you literally have to feather the gas pedal otherwise you are only going to peel wheel. VDC limits the tire spin which should increase traction in theory. I have yet to have VDC cut my throttle the way others on the forum describe so I'm inclined to say you all have a heavy driving foot which would not be good in the snow.

Suffice to say the best thing to do is to not drive the z in the snow period end of story. But that is not always possible so get yourself some snow shoes, drive riduculously defensive, take your time, leave atleast 4x the normal distance between you and other vehicles, brake light and easy and EARLY, baby the throttle, and learn to counter steer as the car will want to go side ways on occassion in the snow.

Jessobear

The one time I got stuck in the snow, I kept VDC on. Considering that the car had basically zero traction, it seemed to help. Also, if you spin the tires, the car will just yaw sideways. On city streets that could mean sliding into parked cars.

m4a1mustang

Yeah, snow shoes are a must if you choose to drive your car in the snow. With them on you can handle any snow your car can clear... but then you have to watch out for everyone else.

__________________
- Steve

Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!)
LIKE us on Facebook!

Snakes709

Its not just taking off that VDC is a issue. I found it was every time i went around a turn at a intersection. If i had a green light and it didnt require me to make a full 100% stop, then i would proceed slower then normal, however, with the way the city "plows" the roads here, you still slide around the turn. Now i can have 100% control of the car when my rear end slidees out abit around a turn. But when the VDC kicks in when it starts that, it just screws everything up and im all over the place.

__________________
2011 Evo-GSR AMS 2.4 stroker/ bore, FP Black build in progress.
Sponsor: DSG Performance