370Z in snow.
 

Hey everyone this is my first post here on this forum. I do not currently own a 370Z so don't hold it against me. My question pertains to using a Z in the snow with the right tires of course. I live on Long Island in New York so we get a fair share of snow some years more than others. We can get anywhere from say 3 inches to over a foot. I hate to bother you guys with this question bc I've seen other threads but haven't been satisfied with the answer. I'd like to get feed back from people who actually drive this car with some snow on the ground. I haven't ever driven a rwd car in the snow but have years of expierence with a front wheel drive car in the snow. I think the biggest issue with the Z is clearance as I think it's only 4.84 inches off the ground at it's lowest point. I have spoken to several people that I know and have had several different opinions on it. So here I go does this car have too much torque to be driven sanely in the snow? Chains are also an option. Does anyone use chains and if so can they cause damage to the suspension even if they're installed correctly? I'm very interested in buying this car in the very near future and this is really the deciding factor for me. All replies would be greatly appreciated. My other choice's are the Evo which I'm sure you could've guessed and the Maxima. Thanks again.

A RWD car is harder to drive in the snow, and this one certainly has enough power to make it trouble. As noted, yes, you'll need all season or winter tires. But even then, because the wheels providing the power are not the ones driving the car, you can easily fishtail. Completely different experience from FWD or AWD/4WD.

An Evo or a Max would handle the snow better, but the Z is nicer imo.

Ask spearfish. He has mastered the art of snow dance in z. :icon17:

This has been discussed before, search and you'll find plenty of useful info.

As for my experience, I've driven in Boston this winter with snow tires and it handled better than my old (FWD, 140hp) Civic with all-seasons. VDC and LSD help as well.

ill never risk it again. my Z slid into oncoming traffic last winter and scared the hell out of me. i drive the fiance's car in the snow now.

As I said in my post I have seen other threads and have not been satisfied with the answers. I appreciate your response. What tires do you have? Have you used tire chains? If so can they damage the suspension? Do you start off in second gear?

That's exactly what I'm afraid of. Appreciate the response man.

I took my Z in them mountains with summer tires like a boss :D

1. Quality winter tires. I use Blizzak's which have been reliable so far, even though they're 19" 245/275. Thinner and skinny tires are usually the way to go but I wanted ones that looked good.

2. Always leave the traction control on. I've only ever turned it off to get my car out of a snow drift after leaving it outside overnight.

3. Be in the highest gear you can for whatever speed you're driving, it helps.

4. Take corners nice and slow, who cares if there is a bit of traffic behind you, at least you won't oversteer too badly.

5. Don't floor it from a stop, get a nice rolling start and then accelerate.

6. Move somewhere tropical.

My experiences are based on suburban driving in southern Ontario where our roads get plowed pretty quickly but they're still slick. I'm confident enough in my own driving to not really worry. What I do worry about is some goof in the car behind me who thinks he doesn't need new tires after twenty years.

Has ride height ever been an issue? Love Ontario by the way as well as Toronto.

my friend uses winter tires on his 350, and it works very well for what the car is.

I drove mine in the city and outer-boroughs these past two winters. No issues. Just get winter tires and don't drive like an idiot - you'll be fine.

I've driven mine for two winters with a decent amount of snow and have had no problems. I put Blizzaks on.
The best thing to do IMO is take your car into an empty parking lot and learn how to drive in the snow.
I'm going to guess that the person above who mentions sliding the car didn't have snow tires.
Go for it. You won't regret it.

My Z is garaged December through March---car's way too pretty for salt and cinders. Also, very scared of the other drivers who don't know how to handle snow and ice. Be very, very careful if you're going to drive the Z in snow and ice. It's can get very dicey.

Nah, ride height hasn't been an issue, mind you I haven't driven through thick snowy roads that haven't been plowed.

When it snow, my Z don't go. I'll use my wifes' xc 70 with awd (and a cbe, cai-that she doesn't know about):stirthepot:

You're damn right he has! :)

The previous few posts have summed it up.

My take is this:

You need snow tires and VDC (I've never been stuck with snow tires, never needed to turn off VDC). There is no need for studs or chains. And RWD in itself isn't a problem.

Ride height and being a snow plow is only an issue during monster storms when the plows haven't done their job yet or if you live in a rural area that isn't plowed. I have a backup plan of borrowing my inlaws' car if a big storm is about to hit. I'd suggest you have an idea of something to do in the event you get one of these freak snow days.

Otherwise, the Z is perfectly capable of surviving the winter on snow tires. Just realize the Z is no longer a performance car in these conditions and you'll be fine.

I drove through some massive snow storms last winter and the Z was fine. I was kinda bummed to have spent $1200 on snow tires but it was well worth it. The rear end does like to come out but if you back off on the gas, it behaves right away.

If you drive sanely, the Z can handle winter well.

Blizzaks right? Were you running stock wheels as well? Any ride height issues? That's a big fear for my as I'm afraid if snow starts to build up on those two lips in front of the front tires. Do you throw any sand or weight in the rear end of the car?

What was the most snow you have driven it in?

Thanks boss.

Did you have snow tires on? If so do you think it would've made enough of a difference?

We had between 10-12" one night and I drove the next morning. Of course, there wasn't that much on the road. I let the "morning people" move it out of the way. :driving:

I have Blizzak LM-60s on 18R225 wheels. That's the smallest wheel I could find that fits over the Sport Package brake calipers - you're best off with the smallest and narrowest wheel you can find for snow tires. But like I said, even with that setup the car handled just fine. I've been on freezing cold dry pavement (summer tires would be hockey pucks there) and completely snow-covered roads: no issues. Haven't used snow chains and had plenty of traction to usually start in first.

They were...and because the shop (Belle Tire) didn't have any rims to fit my sport package, I had to dismount the summer rubber and mount the winter rubber on the Rays. The shop took extra care and I didn't suffer any damage to the rims.

I never experienced any issues with ride height. I didn't see any need to put any weight in the trunk and I was fine for traction all winter. I was actually quite suprised (and happy) at how much grip those Blizzaks have in snow. I guess you get what you pay for... :D

Stock tires?

Hey boss thanks for the responses. One more question how was it on a hill in the snow? For the most part here on the island it's flat. However where I work is the highest point. There's some decent hills here and they're one of my major concerns. Thanks again.

If I lived in an area that received regular snow, I would probably have kept my WRX. AWD is awesome in snow!

You'll be fine with blizzaks(or equivalent)

IMO use winter tires in the winter and summer in the summer. But RWD will never be the same as a FWD/AWD car, in a situation where a FWD car in the snow/slush is fine a RWD can be very difficult to drive regardless of tires. You can still drive it in the snow but you'll be much slower then most other cars but who cars about how fast you get where you are going in a snow storm. In the end how ever you can drive in very bad snow storms and be just fine, you just have to be mindful of your car, the road ahead, and the people around you and you'll be fine in any car.

I don't buy into that. I've driven both FWD and RWD and I prefer RWD in the snow, no question. With the right tire you can go anywhere. The Z's weakness in the snow is firm suspension, you need the weight transfer to assist in traction. As already stated find the skinniest wheels and tires that are practical.

I prefer RWD too but unfortunately that doesn't change it performance characteristic. And I would rather have a firm suspension in the snow, a soft suspension is too unpredictable.

Soft suspension is actually more predictable believe it or not. Firmer suspension increases responsiveness but in slippery conditions this is interpreted as nervousness and twitchiness. I tried driving at auto-x this past weekend with the suspension too stiff when it was 45F out, car was hellish. Once I softened things up the car became much more predictable.

Meh, maybe, but when driving an old dodge ram pickup years ago the thing felt like it wanted to spin out or drive sideways even at low speeds in the snow/slush. Where as with my Tiburon bad weather didn't even phase it, 40ish in the unploughed lane on the turnpike and it held nice where as I know in my old Camaro would not be capable of it.

I really appreciate your insight. All of this really just tells me there are several opinions on this whole topic. One I think I have learned from it is that it's not impossible to drive a performance car that is rear wheel drive in bad weather.

How skinny of a tire can you throw on the Z with a sports package brakes?

I put 18R225 wheels on mine. Just fit over the brake calipers.

Yep, 18" is the minimum for the sport brakes. Minimum rim width would probably be 7.0-7.5" with a 215-225 fitted.

I think 17s can clear the back brakes

Just wanted to say thanks you've been so helpful. I know you guys get more snow than us so if you're doing it there I'm sure I could make it happen here.