Tips for getting caught in the snow with your Z

radek7633 · 12-27-2010, 07:49 AM

Move further south =)

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

m4a1mustang · 12-27-2010, 08:14 AM

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.

4r3s · 12-27-2010, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

m4a1mustang · 12-27-2010, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4r3s

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.

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.

Vegitto-kun · 12-27-2010, 08:28 AM

yeah if I leave VDC on throttle gets killed instantly

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

m4a1mustang · 12-27-2010, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

Jessobear · 12-27-2010, 10:34 AM

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.

Snakes709 · 12-27-2010, 11:25 AM

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.

TypeOne · 12-27-2010, 03:28 PM

I'm glad I don't have to drive in any kind of snow...ever.

I'll deal with the heat in the summer to not have snow.

caodan2010 · 12-27-2010, 03:37 PM

Honestly, VDC has to be turned off and use common sense. No hard accelerations and no sharp turns. (VDC off while driving on super snowy roads... Once VDC kicks in and locks the wheels... you will be stuck... it's better to have the wheels spin instead to lock them).
gooooooood point nogoodname, but goodthing is im in california and california never snows ^^

crash1369 · 12-27-2010, 07:34 PM

On the contrary I was surprised at just how well the VDC worked today in the snow. I found out the hard way you can't turn it off while it's active so I just powered through, I forgot about it until the tires started slipping but I figured if I have to stop anyway to turn it off I might as well see how far I get first. It never made me stop and I wouldn't have been moving any faster if it was off, the tires would have been spinning faster but I wouldn't have made any more progress.
If you plowing snow though, which is obviously very easy to do in this car, you will get stuck either way. You might make it a little further with no traction control but that fact is it's a sports car not a truck.
Tires will make all the difference in the world though and they are really the determining factor.

crash1369 · 12-28-2010, 01:22 PM

What do you have that has 500hp?

Snakes709 · 12-28-2010, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crash1369

What do you have that has 500hp?

SRT-10 Ram...basically a Ram 1500 with a viper engine in it...lol.

370zproject · 12-28-2010, 02:34 PM

i have falken 452's are those any good on snow? lol trustr me im not gonna drive in the snow unless i get stuck at work... or i want to play a bit

nogoodname · 12-28-2010, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 370zproject

i have falken 452's are those any good on snow? lol trustr me im not gonna drive in the snow unless i get stuck at work... or i want to play a bit

summer tire..lol.... what part of snow goes with summer?

12-27-2010, 08:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6963	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!

12-27-2010, 11:25 AM	#8 (permalink)
Snakes709 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Edmonton Posts: 1,205 Drives: 2011 Evo-X GSR Rep Power: 18	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

12-27-2010, 07:34 PM	#11 (permalink)
crash1369 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Tobyharlem Age: 42 Posts: 474 Drives: C300 - 6spd Rep Power: 729	On the contrary I was surprised at just how well the VDC worked today in the snow. I found out the hard way you can't turn it off while it's active so I just powered through, I forgot about it until the tires started slipping but I figured if I have to stop anyway to turn it off I might as well see how far I get first. It never made me stop and I wouldn't have been moving any faster if it was off, the tires would have been spinning faster but I wouldn't have made any more progress. If you plowing snow though, which is obviously very easy to do in this car, you will get stuck either way. You might make it a little further with no traction control but that fact is it's a sports car not a truck. Tires will make all the difference in the world though and they are really the determining factor. __________________ "At no point during your rambling, incoherent response did you ever come close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. We are all now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may god have mercy on your soul."

12-28-2010, 01:22 PM	#12 (permalink)
crash1369 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Tobyharlem Age: 42 Posts: 474 Drives: C300 - 6spd Rep Power: 729	What do you have that has 500hp? __________________ "At no point during your rambling, incoherent response did you ever come close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. We are all now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may god have mercy on your soul."

12-28-2010, 02:34 PM	#14 (permalink)
370zproject A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Memphis Age: 35 Posts: 16,104 Drives: 09 A/T 370z blue Rep Power: 54	i have falken 452's are those any good on snow? lol trustr me im not gonna drive in the snow unless i get stuck at work... or i want to play a bit __________________ Brake Upgrade Package ate blue, hawk hp ceramic pads, and slotted rotors

12-27-2010, 07:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
radek7633 Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Ontario Posts: 102 Drives: 09 Nissan 370 M6 Sp. Rep Power: 15	Move further south =) I hear Daytona is experiencing like -3*C overnight? is that normal or just an off year?

12-27-2010, 08:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
Vegitto-kun A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: USA Posts: 2,011 Drives: 09 370Z Rep Power: 263	yeah if I leave VDC on throttle gets killed instantly another reason to keep VDC on. you are safer if you cant move

12-27-2010, 10:34 AM	#7 (permalink)
Jessobear Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 201 Drives: '10 370Z Tour/Sp M6 Rep Power: 15	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.

12-27-2010, 03:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
TypeOne A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 2,682 Drives: BSM 370 Rep Power: 1852	I'm glad I don't have to drive in any kind of snow...ever. I'll deal with the heat in the summer to not have snow.

12-27-2010, 03:37 PM	#10 (permalink)
caodan2010 Base Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: california Posts: 25 Drives: nisson g37s gray Rep Power: 15	Honestly, VDC has to be turned off and use common sense. No hard accelerations and no sharp turns. (VDC off while driving on super snowy roads... Once VDC kicks in and locks the wheels... you will be stuck... it's better to have the wheels spin instead to lock them). gooooooood point nogoodname, but goodthing is im in california and california never snows ^^

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