370Z in the winter

Arnold

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!

Ubetit

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.

Arnold

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?

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

gthausz

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!

Arnold

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?

forza370z

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.

Tazicon

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.

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03g35coupe6mt

get 4 if your gonna drive your z in winter 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

MacCool

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.

Arnold

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!

bigsix

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.

m4a1mustang

RWD + Winter tires + Snow = awesome

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cossie1600

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.

forza370z

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.

m4a1mustang

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.

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