370Z in the winter
 

Hi all,

I purchased my 370Z in beginning of the spring this year. I kept until now my previous car, a Volvo C30 with winter tyres when needed.
I'm thinking of selling it because it's stupid to keep it but I'm "scared" of the winter season.

ANyone here is using their Z all year-long? I'm in Belgium, we don't have crazy winters but we do have a few days with snow, ice on the roads etc. Plus, I'm often going to Switzerland. I'm thinking with the Z I'll be completely stuck very easily where the VOlvo, front wheal drive + winter tyres is quite good at moving itself out of slippery situations.

Any advice?
Thanks!

Cars (in general) don't handle well in the winter because of the tires. Is the 370z and ideal platform for snow... NO. If you can keep the beater i would do that.

However....


A friend has a Z4. On days when it snowed even a half inch, he couldn't get his car back into the garage. I grabbed his credit card and ordered Blizzak WS60s with Steelies for him. $800 later, It now goes better in the snow than his wife's Accord on all-seasons.

Thanks!
Definitely planning on buying a set of 4 winter tyres. I'll see if my usual shop can offer me Blizzak WS60s. Otherwise any other recommendations (they usually sell Michelin & COntinental).

What's steelies?:confused:

Other than that I guess in the city with a cleared road it should be OK with good tyres. But going to Switzerland is my main concern :driving:

I purchased two winter tires on the rear instead of four of them. It work no problem in winter as well. For RWD, it is enough!

Isn't that a bit weird to have two different sets front and rear?
Do you mind me asking where you live AKA do you have rough winters?

No, get yourself 4 nice winter tires coz you need front tires for making a turn and brake. Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 are the best snow tires out there. It makes day and night different in a snow storm.

But still, the best way to handle harsh winter is to get an awd winter beater if it's possible. Who want to use a nice car as a snow plow crushing the ice and snow during winter. Not to mention the salt damage to your car.

Z's will get you around in the snow if you have to, but man after driving the Z in the snow I few times I would definately recomend keep a beater around. Not just because of getting through the snow but also because of crap they put on the roads when they are plowing. Things rusted on my Z that shouldn't have.

get 4 if your gonna drive your z in winter :shakes head: your not gonna be able to turn the damn thing without sliding . or keep the other car and not have to worry about some tool sliding into you

Having to drive on icy and snowy streets is exactly the OPPOSITE reason I own a Z car. It's a vehicle with a tricky and torquey clutch, rear wheel drive, and ground clearance that makes some driveway exits difficult. It would completely suck as a winter driver.

Keep the Volvo.

Thanks all for your input. But damn, I would like to sell the Volvo as it's going to be used 1-4 weeks a year :-/
Then again I can't risk being stuck one morning because of 2 centimetres of snow... What a challenge.

Now (and sorry for all these questions :-) ) if I keep only the Z and buy 4 Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 tires, the goal would be to keep the stock rims and in the winter change the rubber only, right?
Thanks again!

I think you should use(buy) different wheels to install your Winter tires on. "Steelies" are steel wheels that are all black. Most base model/ small japanese cars come stock with black steelie wheels covered by plastic hub-caps.

RWD + Winter tires + Snow = awesome

I am going to be riding in the snow this year too (On the S-tune wheels!). Wife's new car is more expensive than mine, so the Z is going to lose the garage queen status.

Pretty much... But it would be nice to have a second set of wheels(can be cheap and used ones) for winters. This way you can easily swap them out by yourself anytime you want to and always have a nice set of wheels when weather is good.

Dedicated winter wheels are preferable to switching rubber every season. In the long run you save money as you don't have to pay to mount and balance twice a year.

Additionally with the stock wheels you're stuck running wide winter tires which isn't necessarily what you want when it comes to snow traction.

Where I live we have a few days with snow or ice at most, so I just go with All Seasons when the temps drop below 40 or so during the day. The roads get plowed eventually so it works out - I've probably had to get a ride in the wife's jeep once in 3 winters.

I just swap the tires - my tire place stores the tires for me. I had two sets of wheels for the NSX and now I still have a winter set of NSX wheels in the carport!

This...

Narrow tires are good for deep snow. And they are cheaper then wide/low profile tires. The stock wheels seem to be little too wide and big. 17" winter wheels with higher profile narrow winter tires would be nice. Another good reason to have an extra set of wheels for winter.

I use the car all year around. I have four Michelin X-Ice 245/45R - 18 mounted on cheap alloys for winter use. No problems whatsoever on ice, packed snow, or snow accumulations less than six inches deep. Deep snow is a problem due to plowing with the front air dam on the sports package. The car actually handles very well in snow and ice and with the six speed and viscous limited slip differential. As mentioned, deep snow or windrows on interstate highways are a concern but not insumountalbe.

OK, I have the required information :-) Thanks all!
I'll sell the VOlvo, buy the Bridgestone tyres and find some cool and cheap 18'' rims. Although this is still my hesitation, can I fit 18'' tires+rims on the Sport Package?
It seems I read it was 19'' only.

PS: yes, I'm really lost with all this :icon18:

I wonder if Randy Rodrigres could design an awd 370(?) Heck if you do an awd Mini...

I don't get it, my usual dealer told me the LM-60 is only for SUVs and doesn't exist in 75/35R19/96W
So, with the sport package, can I go down to 18'', buy the LM-60 and a pair of new rims or do I need to be in 19''.
I can take any rim I want as long as it's not ugly, right? :tiphat:

Your dealership probably doesn't know what he is talking about... Here is the search results from Tire Rack.

For 18" rims.
Bridgestone*Blizzak LM-60 Coupe&autoModClar=Without Sport Package&wtpackage=true

For 19" rims.
Bridgestone*Blizzak LM-60 Coupe Touring&autoModClar=Sport Package&wtpackage=true

Notice the price difference? 18"s are much cheaper. And yes get any 18" you like as long as it clears your BBK and not too wide.

Thanks, appreciate the help.
So I'll go with 18'' rims + the LM60

Just, ahum, one last thing: "as long as it clears your BBK and not too wide" =>
- BBK?
- idea of the maximum width?

Thanks again!

I DD my Z year around. You can absolutely drive your Z in the snow.

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...k-lm-60-a.html

Excellent! OP, that thread has everything you need for the winter setup. Thanks gbrettin.

You are very welcome. BBK means big brake kit on your car(Since you have sport package). As long as the wheel spokes don't hit the BBK they are fine. As for the set ups on wheels and tires, please referring to that thread.

Thanks a lot @ gbrettin this is exactly what I wanted to see actually: handling while being reasonable :-)

I loved the 6th gear at 1000RPM and the giggle when you rev'ed and turned on purpose ;-)

I'll definitely get 18'' rims and LM60 tires and drive reasonably... and sell the Volvo.
Thanks all the for the help. Looking forward to follow most actively this forum now that I'm an active Z owner and user!