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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-

So I drove my car in the snow...

  • Thread starter Thread starter 2013 Geee T
  • Start date Start date Dec 18, 2008
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scupking

Active Member
Sep 18, 2005
1,186
1
36
Enfield, CT
Dec 21, 2008
#21
  • Dec 21, 2008
  • #21
I drove the stang the last three winters in snow but not this year. It was not fun trying to go up and down all the hills we have around here. So this past summer I bought a 94 jeep cherokee for 3k. Had are first big storm friday night 12+ inchs. The jeep just goes thru the snow like it's not even there. I can even slam on the breaks and she won't even skid. Today we are getting onther 6+ inchs of snow and I will be out palying in it with the jeep. I need to go clean my stang off she looks all cold sitting out there covered in snow. I will start her and make sure she runs. I miss driveing the stang though. It's been three weeks since I drove her. If we get some warm days and dry roads I will take her out. One thing as others have said turn TC off in the snow.
 
M

macleod

New Member
Nov 2, 2008
0
0
0
Dec 21, 2008
#22
  • Dec 21, 2008
  • #22
This is my first year with the Mustang and I have to say I have been VERY impressed with how it handled the snow. Chicago winters suck but with teh Alpins on the back and the TC I have had zero issues. Not sure why some of you are against the TC but it seems to work for me, I havent tried turning it off yet but maybe I'll have to give the whole drift thing a shot
 

2013 Geee T

Founding Member
Sep 25, 2002
805
5
19
Oak Park, CA
Dec 21, 2008
#23
  • Dec 21, 2008
  • #23
I tried to go out to the store before the next storm rolled in yesterday and couldn't even make it out of my driveway. I got stuck backing up on to the street and then couldn't go forward to get back into the garage. It was only about 2 inches of compacted snow on the street. My neighbor helped me dig down to the pavement around the tires and I put an old piece of carpet under one wheel and got it going. Even with the driveway almost scraped to the concrete I still barely made it back up into the garage. You wouldn't think you could smell burning rubber on ice.

I haven't driven my car since Wednesday, cant drive it this week and am going out of town next week so it will be about 3 weeks of it sitting in the garage. I guess next year its time for a second car.
 
B

blksq10psi

Member
Aug 1, 2008
114
0
16
PHILLY
Dec 21, 2008
#24
  • Dec 21, 2008
  • #24
pick up a set of blizzak's man ive had my car new since 03 and i drive it to work in PA winters every year i swap my 315's in nov. to the stocke rims with 255 blizzaks car runs good up hills you should pick up a set if you plan on driving in snow
 

2013 Geee T

Founding Member
Sep 25, 2002
805
5
19
Oak Park, CA
Dec 21, 2008
#25
  • Dec 21, 2008
  • #25
Early next year Im planning on getting new wheels so maybe Ill keep my stockers for winter tires.
 

02nightmaregt

To hell with your Mustang, I want to see your HOG!
Jul 1, 2007
513
4
19
Southern Indiana
Dec 21, 2008
#26
  • Dec 21, 2008
  • #26
I always drive my car in the snow. You get used to it. I've never tried the blizzaks but i've been thinking about it. I just hate the idea of having to put my stock wheels back on. Thats ghey.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,265
17,952
224
Massachusetts
Dec 21, 2008
#27
  • Dec 21, 2008
  • #27
2003 Geee T said:
My chin spoiler acted like a plow for the areas that were not plowed.
Click to expand...


Ha. I've been there before. I've had the snow stick to the chin spoiler and pack on so it stuck out a good 6" from the car. It looked like santa's beard!

It's kinda the reason i got rid of my '03 GT. Snow tires and smart driving techniques only take you so far. Our cars still have tons of torque and even with narrow snow tires, our wheels are still wider than a lot of FWD sedans. They just aren't great snow cars. I remember driving around in my GT looking down roads before actually turning onto them just to make sure i would be able to drive down them.

So the #1 reason i ditched my GT was inclimate weather. It's been snowing since friday here in Mass, and i've been out all weekend with my new ride. I couldn't get this thing stuck in snow if i tried. I was even blasting up hills at 45% angles with no prob





PS, stock 17's with snow tires aren't the greatest combo. They are still wide wheels. If you have stock GT brakes, pick up some cheapo 15" V6 wheels instead. Then you can put 205 blizzaks on them. 15" snow tires are cheaper than 17" snow tires not to mention the narrow tires will cut through the snow better.
 

kaostik

New Member
Apr 13, 2006
10
0
0
Everett, Ma
Dec 21, 2008
#28
  • Dec 21, 2008
  • #28
i had a beater jeep last winter, which was awesome in the snow, but this year, im in a new apartment, and really couldnt afford a second vehicle to sit around. limited parking, $100 for insurance every month etc.

i ended up selling it to my dad for cheap.

this winter, i actually just bought some continental snows for my stang, about a month or so. this is my 5th winter with some form of a mustang, and first with winter tires of any kind, and after this weekends snow storms, im really impressed with the continentals. it made the biggest difference...usually, if theres even a LITTLE bit of snow, id be doomed. with the new tires, i was able to drive through 2 inches of packed snow on the streets with barely any problems. i never felt out of control, and never had a problem stopping. granted, i was only going 20 on the streets, thats 20 more MPH id be able to go without the snow tires.

the most impressive part was, where i have to park, i ended up getting the spot where the plows boxed me in. i did minimal shoveling, because all i had was my leg and a field goal kick action (READ: no shovel) and pretty much just blasted through a solid 4 or 5 inches of snow to get out of the spot. it took me a little bit of back and forth action, but i did make it out in less than a minute, and didnt spin the tires much.

im not about to tackle the rockies or anything, but im a little more confident with this car now when theres some accumulation.
 

Notchbck93

New Member
Dec 9, 2003
422
1
0
IL
Dec 22, 2008
#29
  • Dec 22, 2008
  • #29
Here's my testimonial. I LOVE DRIVING MY GT IN THE WINTER.

If my wife, with no driving skills can safely handle my GT during a snow storm, then there isn't any reason why anyone else shouldn't either.

I am running WS-50's in the STOCK size on the rear, WS-60s up front in the stock size and I often thought that they would be too wide as well. I was wrong. Turning in the snow: no problem, getting going up hill from a dead stop, no problem.

If there is 6 plus inches of snow on the road, as if no plows were able to make it out, then I stay home. For some of you who may live out where civilization does not exists, then yes, 4x4 is the only way to roll as you will most likely have over one foot drifts.

Here's my beef with four wheel drive trucks; for example, Ford loves to install a limited slip on the front, which total sucks for turning in the snow, and really, 4x4 on most vehicles is essentially 2 wheel drive by the time you are spinning both opens. On something more sophisticated, certainly you can get some brake pulsating to help regulate, or fancy transfer cases on awd models, but I think that most of you can reasonably assume what I am getting at here. Has anyone ever tried to climb a hill sideways with a posi front end... can't be done unless you attack it head on.

Back to the GT, up hill/down hill, I made my wife do it all and she never even spun the tires on the GT with stock width Blizzaks, so maybe I have magic Blizzaks, but we were in at the very least 3 inches up to 5 inches of snow where it was blowing across the road. Maybe it helps that I have an auto and don't have to excessively slip the clutch, but I don't believe the Colorado guy on here has any problem with his stick during CO winters going to grab his plow rig.

I have had my 'Stang through unplowed parking lots and whatever else I could find trying to learn the limits of what I can reasonably expect out of it, you know what, I have yet to get stuck or anything close to being stuck in it. The car makes it up and around clover leafs with no problems as well.

I will reasonable assume that it will not go through snow much over the stock ride height/ground clearance and to me, that is perfectly acceptable. This is my second winter in the GT and I am loving every minute of it.

CLAUSE:

If I lived in Kalamazoo, however, where 16-24 + inches are the norm due to the lake, then yes, at that constant level of dumping, you will most likely deem it necessary to own/need a truck, with some ground clearance and will most likely want it to be four wheel drive. Here in Chicago, we get average six inch snow falls and it usually never goes over three inches before a plow truck gets to make a swipe.

I do not want this misinterpreted as I think AWD vehicles are a waste because I do not believe that. In my situation, I do not need one or deem it necessary, but I do not know of or speak of others situtions, hence why it is called a testimonial.

My point is that if you still love your Mustang, and are not hating on it, then it can be equipped to handle a reasonable amount of snow in a respectable manner.
 

Notchbck93

New Member
Dec 9, 2003
422
1
0
IL
Dec 22, 2008
#30
  • Dec 22, 2008
  • #30
kaostik said:
i had a beater jeep last winter, which was awesome in the snow, but this year, im in a new apartment, and really couldnt afford a second vehicle to sit around. limited parking, $100 for insurance every month etc.

i ended up selling it to my dad for cheap.

this winter, i actually just bought some continental snows for my stang, about a month or so. this is my 5th winter with some form of a mustang, and first with winter tires of any kind, and after this weekends snow storms, im really impressed with the continentals. it made the biggest difference...usually, if theres even a LITTLE bit of snow, id be doomed. with the new tires, i was able to drive through 2 inches of packed snow on the streets with barely any problems. i never felt out of control, and never had a problem stopping. granted, i was only going 20 on the streets, thats 20 more MPH id be able to go without the snow tires.

the most impressive part was, where i have to park, i ended up getting the spot where the plows boxed me in. i did minimal shoveling, because all i had was my leg and a field goal kick action (READ: no shovel) and pretty much just blasted through a solid 4 or 5 inches of snow to get out of the spot. it took me a little bit of back and forth action, but i did make it out in less than a minute, and didnt spin the tires much.

im not about to tackle the rockies or anything, but im a little more confident with this car now when theres some accumulation.
Click to expand...

With the Blizzaks, I was cruising home at 60 mph down the interstate hanging and sometimes passing a 4x4 Cherokee. Maybe he had all seasons? There was 2-4 inches in spots, but it didn't stop the 'Stang. It was able to switch lanes at that speed with little to no trouble whatsoever.

I run 150 lbs of weight in the back which does help.
 
2

2000GTdriver

Member
May 27, 2004
47
0
6
Mile High City, Colorado
Dec 22, 2008
#31
  • Dec 22, 2008
  • #31
Blizzaks on my stock wheels for winter, performance tires on cool wheels for summer works great for me. Much cheaper and easier to store than a second car. +1 turn traction control off or it will fight against you too much.
 

DBMSTNG

I fantasize about it being BIG!
Founding Member
Apr 23, 2002
2,120
0
56
not quite here
Dec 22, 2008
#32
  • Dec 22, 2008
  • #32
just watch out for deep snow. i got my car stuck in my driveway a few times when there was 6"+ of snow and it built up underneath the car so much that it lifts the car up and there isn't much weight on the tires.
 
O

OSJ

New Member
Dec 11, 2008
3
0
0
South of Boston
Dec 23, 2008
#33
  • Dec 23, 2008
  • #33
GDawg said:
You never know what you're going to get in Colorado. That's why it's better to be safe than sorry. I just put a set of Blizzaks on that will stay on till Spring.
Click to expand...

i just bought my first Mustang, and my first set of Blizzaks. we had a wicked storm in Ma. over the weekend, and I walked to the store for food, but I did have to drive the car a couple of times. The car came with 3 different tires on it(WTF), so as you can imagine, I spent a lot of time sideways, but it's still better than my Crown Vic was. I can't wait to put the Blizzaks on Saturday.
Of course watch it not snow again.......
 
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