Huckingfellers

Hey guys/gals My winter rat **** the bed on me and I cant afford another one without giving up heli skiing this winter and my travels out west. That is more important to me than my cars I know , i know, but it is!

I need to make my 350Z an extremely capable rwd winter driving machine. I am going to buy some skinnier crap rims and put some really good winter tires on. Obviously thses tires are gonna have to be exceptional in the snow. What should I buy hopeing for some real experience cause the last thing i want to do is wad the thing up, ya know. I seen a video of a rwd rx-7 tearing up a mountain pass in VT in 6 inches of snow. That is pretty much what I need to do. My winter driving skills are way above par. I cruise the east and west during winter but the ole awd subaru went winter rat heaven


Suggestions please?

350zroadster

iTrader: (1)

Put sandbags or cement bags in the trunk

Huckingfellers

lol, not gonna help me pick out a really god set of winter tires

freefallin

I think a lot of people here like Blizzaks. Not sure by experience though, as I don't have my Z yet.

Ag350

my father had Dunlop wintersport M3's on his M3. No he did not buy them cause they were M3's but because they were the only tire in his size in stock at the time and they were great in snow and when it was dry. The michelin's have an even better rating according to TireRack but I don't know anyone with those tires. But if the M3 went like a champ I am sure the Z would be good as well. My mom had Blizzak LM 22's on her 530 and they went pretty good as well. Also they did NOT put any weight in the trunks to have these good results, however weight in the trunk will always help in addition to snow tires. I just got my Z a few weeks ago so I haven't had it through the snow yet, but I am planning on buying the M3's or Michelins for when I do.

KYO Z

I live in Long Island, NY and I bought my car last year in December. The first thing that I bought was Blizzak LM22's they are the best investment I bought. It was like driving a front wheel drive car (well not exactly), but the difference is night and day. I have the base model so it only has a open diff. and one time I got stuck in a parking space b/c half my car was in ice and the other on the street. I thought it would be fine but the wheel was spinning only on the side with ice. I bought an lsd after the winter and will see how that will handle in the snow this season. Good luck and if you find any other ways to handle the snow season, please let me know.


MO

sq40

iTrader: (4)

I would buy a set of Blizzaks for the Stock Rims, Run them Nov-Feb/Mar and put some nice summer rims on in March/April. You should get 3-4 years of winter seasons off the blizzaks and not wear out of summer tires and damage your nice rims.

Lerxst

iTrader: (2)

I've been very happy with my Blizzak WS50s. Depending on the conditons though...

Cold concrete with patches of snow and ice => LM22s (H-Rated)
Packed snow and ice => WS50s (Q-Rated)

You defenitely lose performance on dry pavement with the WS50s, but the bite on snow and ice is amazing.

ohw

If you decide to buy "skinnier crap rims", make sure they are big enough to clear the brakes. BTW, you'll be much happier in an "ole awd subaru" in the winter. That's what I use too.