370Z Winter Driving

spearfish25

The Z is perfectly drivable in snow if you mount winter tires. DO NOT drive in snow with summer tires! There are many, many threads on winter Z driving if you use the search function. The main limitation is the ground clearance which turns the Z into a snowplow if the snow is more than 4" deep. I had no problems at all last winter. This winter had record levels of snowfall and a couple times I had to swap cars and keep the Z in the garage (eg during the 20" snowfall blizzard last month). Some will suggest you buy a POS $1000 junk car to drive in the winter. If you have parking space and the extra money, that's a good option. However, you can certainly get away with the Z in the winter as long as you're willing to have an alternate plan on those rare, freak snowfall occasions. If you're in a rural area that's poorly plowed and has very deep snow, I'd strongly recommend a second SUV beater for the winter instead of the Z. Winter is tougher on cars with the potholes and road salt, but weekly car washing with an undercarriage spray has kept my Z looking pristine.

As a winter Z driver, these are the issues. Period. Anything else people say is just their own conjecture and you should probably ignore it. I'd ignore snow driving opinions from people living in California . (yes, I might be a little jealous)

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2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

ProfessorDave

Spearfish, do you have the sport package? I'd imagine the LSD would come in handy in winter weather.

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Rain, snow, sleet, hail: 2009 Mazda 3 sGT HB
Everything else: 2009 370z, PW Touring 6MT

gpolak

Can't speak for Spearfish but I had no issues with snow here in Boston. I have a Touring/Sport Package 6MT with Blizzak LM-60s and the only thing you have to watch out for is clearance like Spearfish said, although I'm guessing that would be an issue in the Evo/STi as well. Really, the Z handled much better than 90% of the cars out there: snow tires on RWD beat all-seasons on FWD any day.

I picked up a set of smaller wheels as well (18", 225) with the snow tires and I would suggest you do this as well for a better bite. The standard 19" 275 Sports Package setup might be pushing it in the snow.

Definitely get a ClearBra or a regular one to protect the bumper from all the sand and salt, and wash at least once a week with an undercarriage blast.