Having stupidly attempted this before.... I find it UNBELIEVABLE that anyone (even the most careful of careful drivers) has found driving a Z with stock tires on any amount of snow to be even remotely passable. Have they changed the stock tires since the '04? I haven't paid attention.

Took mine to the mall on what I thought was a cold/dry afternoon about a year ago. Came out of the mall and a quick 2 inches had fallen.

Imagine wearing grease-covered sneakers on an ice skating rink covered in oil.

I drove a beatup Accord the rest of that winter.

This winter the Accord died and I bought some Blizzaks for the Z. Thankfully there were only 2 times I had to drive it with snow on the road. It was OK. I felt much safer in the old Accord, but I was able to get where I needed to go.

FTR - I'm from Boston and used to driving on snow... not one of these CA moro... err drivers, that freaks out and drives off the road when it drizzles!

 

I bought my Z in January 05. And when I was bringing it home, it started to snow. Anyway, the car got stuck in the driveway with less than an inch of snow on the ground. The stock tires were in very good condition too. And my driveway is basically flat. (This is the case with most RWD cars with HP tires.)

So the next day I bought a winter tire/wheel package in case I had to drive in the snow again. With that winter set up, she can comfortably drive in up to three or four inches of snow. (although I don't do it often)

People just don't realize how important the tires are.

 

Agreed, I have been driving Z's for a few years and stock they are not condusive to wet and slick conditions, just to much power on a rwd vehicle that is very light.....outfit your car with the proper equipment as zzrobzz did and you should have no problem.....

 

you call the Z a light car?

 

in respect to driving in snow i would say yes.....

 

Agree with others - with the stock tires, the car is an absolute disaster to drive in the winter. However, with Blizzaks, you won't believe it's the same car!

al

 

Against my better judgement, I've driven my Z through 2 winters on the stock potenzas.

My Z has seen its fair share of snow and ice. Being a professional driver probably helps a little. It doesn't snow often enough here to warrant snow tires. A little snow is not that big of a deal. It's the ICE that will get you in big trouble.

What worries me the most in bad conditions are other drivers.

Beaters are almost always the best alternative.

 

I almost found out the hard way. It was only wet outside, and I made a left turn in 2nd, and tapped it a bit..WOW, I ended up facing the curb when the back end went wild. I saved it by countersteering, only to face the curb on the other side, lol..Thank god the people behind me took it easy. Now I know not to "tap" it anymore especially while TCS was *off*

 

Avoid Pikes Peak White. Very difficult to find in the snow.

 

im looking at the pic, but i dont get it. what z?

 

Most people who answer "No" really dont know how to drive in the winter. I don't mean to **** you off but I'm giving a truthful answer.

1) you dont ever use 1st unless the roads are dry, you always use one gear higher than you normally would. Lowers the torque thus better traction

2) winter tires

3) drive SLOW - getting there is better than crashing because you tried to get there faster. Be conservative on the road and you will be fine

I've driven in snow for about 5 years. It doesnt matter if your fwd, awd, 4wd, rwd - if you are ignorant your gonna crash.

 

lmfao

 

Driveable? With winter tires, yes.
I don't drive mine in the winter because of the salt.

 

Well, being a youngen' on his first job, I won't be driving anything BUT the Z in the snow. Hopefully it will do okay with snow tires. I have drove RWD in the snow before, and I have lived in Connecticut me entire life and I am used to it, however I prefer not to do it lol. Hopefully we won't have one of the worst winters on record the first winter I have the Z.

I used to drive an '86 Mazda Rx-7 in the snow. Extremely low HP (146) and torque compared to the Z and it didn't have Traction Control, snow tires, or ABS. Therefore, I imagine this will be easier (at least I hope so).

 

About time - Another Minnesotn'! The Z is not all that bad in the winter as long as you get good winter tires. There are a lot of people that try to drive the Z in the winter snow with it's SUMMER ONLY TIRES and this just doesn't work. I drove my Z all last winter, and being from MN you know it was a pretty snowy winter, and I didn't have any issues. I purchased a set of Dunlop SPWinter tires and I made it to work everyday without a problem. Do keep in mind that it is a rear wheel drive sports car and it is low to the ground so you don't want to take it down unplowed streets or alleys. My Z with snow tires actually made it around better than my wife's front wheel drive car with all season performance tires. Drive slow and in control and you won't have any issues. Snow tires + VDC in the winter is pretty nice as well.
My Z will remain in the garage his Winter though. Seeing her covered in salt and dirt last winter was more than I could handle.

 

Oh yeah -In what part of Minnesota do live?