Winter snow brings GT woes...

[Mr Plow]

Well as you all are aware, the northeast was hit pretty hard with snow this weekend, and I had the pleasure of driving my '03 GT in it. Nothing but a sheet of ice and several inches of unplowed snow - this was on the expressway - we wont even speak of the side roads. Luckily, I was able to get home with no major problems - knock on brick err wood...

So my question is this. I don't have the cash at the moment to get snow tires for the GT at this time due to the fact of the holidays and that my wife is due to have another child. So I read through my "owners" manual, page 198 to be exact, and noticed the following: Use only Cable Type chains with size P225/55/R16 or 245/45/ZR17 tires. Use of SAE Class S chains may damage your vehicle. Ok so what do I buy then for the time being until I can buy some snow tires. Does Ford sell there own Cable Type chains for our cars? If not, then can someone direct me to a place that does? I sure hope so, because it definately was no fun not being able to get up my driveway LOL.

GT in the winter =

Thanks in advance for any replys and help in this matter.

Dan

 

[Routs]

Being from Canada, I have some experience with this kind of stuff. The chains you need should be able to be ordered from most tire shops. Just show them the specs you need and what Ford recommends and they will be able to get them for you. Unfortunately because it happened so suddenly they will probably not have them in stock.

In any case, your best bet is to save up for a set of steel wheels and Blizzaks for the Stang. That way you can plop them on every winter and yank them off when you're done.

By the way, chains are not suggested for a lot of driving. They help but are not the greatest.

 

[DeadLurker]

Your Name is MR PLOW and you drive your mustang in the snow?

 

[MuStAnGTiFF21]

Ahhh can I relate to this or what! Well the other day Thursday to be exact my boyfriends car was in the shop, so I had him drop me off at work and then drive my Stang to work. Well on the way there he gets in an accident with my baby. He was going around a very sharp curve marked maybe 20 and went to switch lanes and when he did he hit a patch of ice with my rear driverside wheel and skid around out of control, and when he went to correct it, it spun the other way and the front of my car went over a concrete barrier (about a foot high) and shredded my front two tires. Then the back spun around and went over the barrier and ended in the on comming lane of traffic. One of my rims was damaged and, so far is holding the seal of my NEW tires. Luckily he is ok and AMAZINGLY so is the GT. How...I dont know God must have been watching over HIM What really pisses me off is that his DAD had to tell me and I found out at 8:00 at night because he was too afraid to tell me. He went and had two new tires put on the car without me knowing, picked me up from work with my car and never told me the whole 1/2 hour ride home! I was steamed when I found out. Then he has the nerve enough to tell me I was too bent out of shape because he did not tell me right away and that if his dad had never of told me I would not of known!!

Additionally the rear driver wheel that hit the ice is about 6 months old, a Sumotoma to be exact and is Completely BALD in the middle tread. It is as smooth as the back of my hand. When Sears looked at it, it had 60 psi in it!!! And they were the last ones to touch my car!!! Soo guess who is getting another new tire!

Well as you can tell I just needed to vent

~TIffany~

 

[stangtrooper97]

This is the second winter with the GT and I was suprised how well she did today. After last year and learning what to do and what not to do, it actually went well. I loaded up the trunk with all of my college books and a few tool sets and I was off. There was a little slipping and sliding but nowhere near as much as I expected. I was proud of the old girl. I'm still gonna park her if there is major bad stuff coming our way though.

 

[green68stang]

Well as you all are aware, the northeast was hit pretty hard with snow this weekend, and I had the pleasure of driving my '03 GT in it. Nothing but a sheet of ice and several inches of unplowed snow - this was on the expressway - we wont even speak of the side roads. Luckily, I was able to get home with no major problems - knock on brick err wood...

So my question is this. I don't have the cash at the moment to get snow tires for the GT at this time due to the fact of the holidays and that my wife is due to have another child. So I read through my "owners" manual, page 198 to be exact, and noticed the following: Use only Cable Type chains with size P225/55/R16 or 245/45/ZR17 tires. Use of SAE Class S chains may damage your vehicle. Ok so what do I buy then for the time being until I can buy some snow tires. Does Ford sell there own Cable Type chains for our cars? If not, then can someone direct me to a place that does? I sure hope so, because it definately was no fun not being able to get up my driveway LOL.

GT in the winter =

Thanks in advance for any replys and help in this matter.

Dan

I grew up in Montana, and had a '95 Vert as my daily driver when I was is in college. I've used the cable chains, and would warn you that they aren't very effective. IIRC, they would either consistently come unbuckled, or they would lock down on the road while the wheel slipped and spun inside of them. If you want to try them, I'm pretty sure that I got them at Wal-Mart - I'm sure any auto parts store in your area would either stock them, or be able to tell you where to get them as well.

IMO - it's not necessary to get an expensive set of season tires like Blizzacks - I ended up getting a low end set of studded snow tires, and put a 100lb. sandbag in the trunk. The snow tires went on in late November, and came off in late March or so.

If you can do nothing else, get some weight in the back if you're daily driving, even if you can't afford the tires. Every little bit that helps press those rear wheels down on the road surface will be worth it. Weight in the back with the studded snow tires made driving on snow and ice exponentially easier, and by extension, safer. I can remember being stuck in a parking space before adding weight and snow tires - rear wheels just spinning on the ice and going nowhere.

Another thing you can try if you find yourself spinning and not getting anywhere is to try starting in a higher gear -- not the recommended method, obviously, but riding the clutch a little in third gear will slow things down enough to get you moving when starting from 1st just spins on you.

 

[Ken01GTvert]

Being from Canada, I have some experience with this kind of stuff. The chains you need should be able to be ordered from most tire shops. Just show them the specs you need and what Ford recommends and they will be able to get them for you. Unfortunately because it happened so suddenly they will probably not have them in stock.

In any case, your best bet is to save up for a set of steel wheels and Blizzaks for the Stang. That way you can plop them on every winter and yank them off when you're done.

By the way, chains are not suggested for a lot of driving. They help but are not the greatest.

I agree with the Oilers fan. If anyone knows about driving in the ugly stuff it's the guys from the Great White North. I've had to drive every now and then in then in the high country in Colorado when the weather was bad and have used chains on rear drive cars. It worked really well especially on the ice but speed was severly limited. Also I had one side break loose and it really beat the heck out of the paint on my rear wheel well. I didn't stop right away because the traffic on the highway was too dangerous. I'd go with the Blizzak's as Mr Stang suggested and I'd only use the cables/chains for extreme emergency backup.
:canflag:

 

[Mr Plow]

Thanks for the replys. Since I use the stang daily, I better just find a way to pick up some steel wheels and some blizzaks. What is the size I should be getting, because also in the manual page 198, Ford states that "snow tires must be the same size and grade as the tires you currently have on your vehicle." Does anybody suggest getting 17" snow tires? LOL or does everyone suggest a 16" combo? If 16" what is the correct size? Thanks.

 

[DeadLurker]

Thanks for the replys. Since I use the stang daily, I better just find a way to pick up some steel wheels and some blizzaks. What is the size I should be getting, because also in the manual page 198, Ford states that "snow tires must be the same size and grade as the tires you currently have on your vehicle." Does anybody suggest getting 17" snow tires? LOL or does everyone suggest a 16" combo? If 16" what is the correct size? Thanks.

I used 17 inch snow tires for the last two years which I mounted to the stock rims to keep the car's look the same.

 

[Sam98]

Ahhh can I relate to this or what! Well the other day Thursday to be exact my boyfriends car was in the shop, so I had him drop me off at work and then drive my Stang to work. Well on the way there he gets in an accident with my baby. He was going around a very sharp curve marked maybe 20 and went to switch lanes and when he did he hit a patch of ice with my rear driverside wheel and skid around out of control, and when he went to correct it, it spun the other way and the front of my car went over a concrete barrier (about a foot high) and shredded my front two tires. Then the back spun around and went over the barrier and ended in the on comming lane of traffic. One of my rims was damaged and, so far is holding the seal of my NEW tires. Luckily he is ok and AMAZINGLY so is the GT. How...I dont know God must have been watching over HIM What really pisses me off is that his DAD had to tell me and I found out at 8:00 at night because he was too afraid to tell me. He went and had two new tires put on the car without me knowing, picked me up from work with my car and never told me the whole 1/2 hour ride home! I was steamed when I found out. Then he has the nerve enough to tell me I was too bent out of shape because he did not tell me right away and that if his dad had never of told me I would not of known!!

Additionally the rear driver wheel that hit the ice is about 6 months old, a Sumotoma to be exact and is Completely BALD in the middle tread. It is as smooth as the back of my hand. When Sears looked at it, it had 60 psi in it!!! And they were the last ones to touch my car!!! Soo guess who is getting another new tire!

Well as you can tell I just needed to vent

~TIffany~

Sounds to me like "Ricky Rudd" was out showing off with your car. What does he drive normally - a Yugo? If my wife ever pulled something like that with my car, she would never drive it again...

Good luck getting everything back to normal...

 

[DC-GT]

Ahhh can I relate to this or what! Well the other day Thursday to be exact my boyfriends car was in the shop, so I had him drop me off at work and then drive my Stang to work. Well on the way there he gets in an accident with my baby. He was going around a very sharp curve marked maybe 20 and went to switch lanes and when he did he hit a patch of ice with my rear driverside wheel and skid around out of control, and when he went to correct it, it spun the other way and the front of my car went over a concrete barrier (about a foot high) and shredded my front two tires. Then the back spun around and went over the barrier and ended in the on comming lane of traffic. One of my rims was damaged and, so far is holding the seal of my NEW tires. Luckily he is ok and AMAZINGLY so is the GT. How...I dont know God must have been watching over HIM What really pisses me off is that his DAD had to tell me and I found out at 8:00 at night because he was too afraid to tell me. He went and had two new tires put on the car without me knowing, picked me up from work with my car and never told me the whole 1/2 hour ride home! I was steamed when I found out. Then he has the nerve enough to tell me I was too bent out of shape because he did not tell me right away and that if his dad had never of told me I would not of known!!

Additionally the rear driver wheel that hit the ice is about 6 months old, a Sumotoma to be exact and is Completely BALD in the middle tread. It is as smooth as the back of my hand. When Sears looked at it, it had 60 psi in it!!! And they were the last ones to touch my car!!! Soo guess who is getting another new tire!

Well as you can tell I just needed to vent

~TIffany~

He was fraid to tell you he wrecked your car "that bad" because of a patch of ice? Hon, no one gets that guilty of a conscience for something that was "out of their control". Home boy had to be playing with the old girl and maybe at the same time hit the patch of ice. You don't "hide" that someones car was up on a cement barracade with both front tires shredded. If I were you I would still take it to the dealer to have it looked at. Better safe than sorry...

Bo

 

[speed545]

Hi from Montreal, Canada

Chains must be use for temporary manners. First winter i had the car, i went through winter without any problems. Amazingly, with four 16" Michelin artic alpin mounted on steel wheels, that car is very efficient in snow and on ice with traction control on.
If you want to use your car during winter, you MUST get winter tires. I only took mine during winter for one season.

Good luck :canflag:

 

[Dan_Soprano]

I live in MAINE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nuff said.............

p.s. I feel your pain, brother.

 

[Mr Plow]

Well I went today and picked up some bags of sand. Big long 70 lb bags LOL I bought 4 and placed them in the trunk. Only cost $12 bucks at Home Depot. Hopefully that will help til;l I get the cash to get the snow tires.

P.S. Is 280 lbs to much to have in the trunk??

 

[Dan_Soprano]

Well I went today and picked up some bags of sand. Big long 70 lb bags LOL I bought 4 and placed them in the trunk. Only cost $12 bucks at Home Depot. Hopefully that will help til;l I get the cash to get the snow tires.

P.S. Is 280 lbs to much to have in the trunk??

I'd say that is WAY too much. i wouldn't go over about 150lbs. Full tank of gas will help a little too.

 

[JonJon]

Hi from Montreal, Canada

Chains must be use for temporary manners. First winter i had the car, i went through winter without any problems. Amazingly, with four 16" Michelin artic alpin mounted on steel wheels, that car is very efficient in snow and on ice with traction control on.
If you want to use your car during winter, you MUST get winter tires. I only took mine during winter for one season.

Good luck :canflag:

Michelin Alpin's =
I don't have mine on, slippin an slidin on the Kuhmo's. That's -IF- I get moving. Stupid 9" wide tires.

 

[MineralG2k2GT]

I actually just ordered a set of Michelin Artic Alpins yesterday becuase I was too late and no one had anything in stock...

Your best bet is to do what i did...buy a set of used wheels off a V6 mustang or something...

I bought the 15X7 wheels off a v6 mustang and ordered 225/60/15 Michelin Artic Alpins and I will be dropping off the wheels tomrrow to get the tires put on
$450 for everything and if i decide to go back in the spring and have a set of DR's put on the same wheels all I have to pay for is the tires them selves beucase Townfair has free change over

 

[NYStang2002]

Mustangs dont belong in the snow PERIOD! I don't care what tires you have. Rear wheel drive cars slip everywhere, have no traction and get stuck easily. I can understand if it was your only car. As for me I have a 93 escort and when it snows my stang dosen't go anywhere untill the snow is completely gone. I used to have a 86 5.0 and nearly killed myself driving in the snow. If you dont have to take your stang out in the snow dont do it, food for thought.

 

[JonJon]

Mustangs dont belong in the snow PERIOD! I don't care what tires you have. Rear wheel drive cars slip everywhere, have no traction and get stuck easily. I can understand if it was your only car. As for me I have a 93 escort and when it snows my stang dosen't go anywhere untill the snow is completely gone. I used to have a 86 5.0 and nearly killed myself driving in the snow. If you dont have to take your stang out in the snow dont do it, food for thought.

It's my only car and I've gotten around fine in the last 3 MA winters with my snow tires. Just have to drive smart.

 

[Stanged78]

Snow tires make a HUGE difference. I put 225/55/16 Dunlop Wintersport M2 tires on my car last year, and they were great. I bought a set of 16 x 7 black steel wheels to mount the tires on--they are actually Chrysler wheels, but they fit the Mustang just fine. It's easier to have a separate set of wheels, and downsizing is a good idea for winter. Wider tires tend to float over the snow more than narrower ones. Having a little extra sidewall helps too. Not to mention the fact that lots of things can hide under snow, and I'd hate to hit a curb or a Chicago pothole with the stock rims in the winter...