Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Wheels & Tires Driving in snow?

This will be my first winter in an area where it snows (Detroit, MI); I have never driven in snow, how imperative is it for me to get snow tires on my SVT? I realize traction is going to suck pretty bad on my stock tires (BFG KDWs) I would like to get some Blizzaks but I really don't want to have to buy some junk wheels to put them on (they don't make Blizzaks in 215/50/16)
What would those that know more about winter driving suggest? should I just bite the bullet and get the new wheels along w/ some Blizzaks or should I go with another tire that will fit on the SVT wheels (btw my KDWs only have 6K on them)
any opinions/recommendations are appreciated

Rara,

I put 205-55-16 Blizzack MZ-01's on my stock SVT rims. My fiance has the vehicle in Yellowknife (soon to come south) where there is snow already. I chose these tires based on there exceptional results as a winter tire. The difference in overall diameter is only 0.3". I too didn't want to use 15" rims.

I can't comment on differences of the change or how good the rubber rides because I have yet to drive the car since Steph put on the Blizzaks. She is moving back down in 2 weeks so I will be able to comment then.



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Kristoffer
Silver Frost Metallic
#878 of 2760

If in fact you have not driven in snow get a set of winter tires.I was looking in my car&driver mag and looked at the tire rack add on winter tires.every tire company they have makes a winter tire.I think the 215/55-16 will work just fine on your car.The tires you have now will not handle the snow.I used to have a mustang GT with goodyear eagle gt's on it and they where horable in the snow.I slid everywhere and couldn't stop.
The tires you have are made for summer and can handle wet pavement without hydroplaining,maybe they could handle very light snow but not "snow".Check out tire racks package deals to.you need to get traction and snow tires will give you this also they help you stop and you might need to get out of someones way thats sliding towards you.I would get snows there is no price on your safety.
chris
2000 contour se sport V6

15 inch steels and 205/60r15 or 195/65r15 snows are the best way to go for winter. Narrowing the tread also improves winter grip!

Rara: Yeah, do the right thing and get some kind of decent snows. You are too valuable to this board! Matter of fact: If it's a question of $cash$, maybe we could get a fund going. [url=HTTP://SAVE-RARA.COM/Snowtirefund.htm][url=HTTP://SAVE-RARA.COM/Snowtirefund.htm][url=HTTP://SAVE-RARA.COM/Snowtirefund.htm]HTTP://SAVE-RARA.COM/Snowtirefund.htm[/url][/url][/url]
????

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97 Contour Sport V6-ATX/KKM/JET chip/rear STB/rear dome lamp/SVT 16" wheels
BFG G-force KDW's/LeBra/Fogs-as-DRLs/battery relocation/Bosch +4's/Magnecor wires

hey John, if you want to chip in on snows for me I wouldn't argue

The money thing is bugging me cause I'm getting married on sat. and the new wife's car will need snows too, so I have a lot of money leaving my hands at this time!

Rara if this is your first time in snow then all i can say is practice. Snow is alot slippier than you may think. Go to a BIG open (light post far apart) parking lot and practice driving (in the snow of course). It may sound funny but do it. Don't get over confident and screw around till you know what you are doing.

From slow speeds in the parking lot try braking, down shifting, and turning. learn how to accelerate on snow. After you get confident on the basics of driving (especially how long it takes to stop) you may want to try skid control. Just take it slow... don't be dumb and bomb into a parking lot at 50mph and pull the handbrake. You'd be surpised how much better of a driver you will be. I have used my skid practice a few times to get out of situations where i would have hit another car or a curb if i didn't know my car. Practice also goes for when you get a new car. All cars act differently.

The one thing that alot of people think is that they can give the car gas (spin the tires) and turn it...I love showing people this doesn't work (i go about 20mph and then gun it spinning the wheels, and then saw the wheel back and forth and the car continues to go in the original direction and doesn't even atempt to turn)

95 is right on. I've been driving in Michigan winters for (eek!) 15 years now and I still like to find a parking lot after the first real snow and sharpen my skills. The first few snows are the most important because all the rookies, everyone who thinks that they remember how to drive in the snow, and everyone who hasn't noticed that it has snowed are out there trying to run into your car.

thanks guys,

I am not a total idiot I realize I don't have the practice in total low traction situations (have a little bit in single axle low traction ) and my plan was to do the big parking lot skid practice ASAP. I know enough about vehicle dynamics to know that I need to learn a lot more! Quick poll: how many know the friction circle? ok that's an easy one, but everybody who drives a car should know that one!

BTW, I have resigned myself to the fact I have to buy snows, but which ones? do I want to run (ruin?) my stock rims? etc.

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2000 Contour SVT
Tropic Green #2114 of 2150
Closest thing to a mod is a K&N drop-in
http://hometown.aol.com/rara44/myhomepage/auto.html

Michigan winters are unpredictable--often with an early storm, a few indian summers, and some late storms--that is why I'll be ordering my winter tires on their own rims. After a month or more of grey skies and s***y roads, a week or two of nice weather just begs for your 3-season tires. I figure that if the weather can't commit itself to one season at a time, why should I?

Speaking of winter tires, is it November already? I better get that order in--the almanac is calling for a rough season.