Rust protection (undercarriage) and winter daily driving

[Bit_the_Bullitt]

Overall, I gotta say, it's interesting how heated people get about dailying or not dailying something like a Mustang.
Of course, each person works with different budgets, different lifestyles, different priorities, so I appreciate all the input, but there's definitely not a "one size fits all" solution to this.

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[Bit_the_Bullitt]

That is a common misconception. The tires are really winter tires, not snow tires. When people think of snow tires they think they are only for handling snow. Winter tires are still high performance tires but have compounds that remain soft in colder temps. They also have more channeling and sipes to bite and catch snow so that it will build a layer of snow on the tire. Snow grabs snow and ice better than rubber.

Summer tires tend to start to get hard and lose traction when cold at around 50F and tend to be useless under 40F.

All seasons are a merging of the two. They are a bit softer at colder temps than summer tires but will not grip in summer like summer tires. They do have more channeling and sipes than summer tires but not as many as winter tires. So in winter, they might not work as well as a true winter tire in all winter conditions.

There is really no such thing as snow tires. Only winter tires. That is just how marketing called them.

It was not that long ago that we all were swapping tires in the winter.

I'm from Czech (although have been living in the US for a few yrs now), there's it's mandated you have winter tires on I think Nov - April. I intend to do similar here and yes, the Pilot 4s I've driven for the first time last night in about 30F and boy, they do not inspire confidence.

 

[K4fxd]

I grew up in Northern Wisconsin.

Winter or snow tires are not needed in Southern Ohio, NKY

To the OP, yep we just had snow. 99% of the snow we get is just like that. Barely enough to cover the grass and is gone the next day. You also probably noticed they go NUTZ with the salt slurry.

You can get some decent winter tires for less than 100 each if you shop around.

 

[Fly2High]

I'm from Czech (although have been living in the US for a few yrs now), there's it's mandated you have winter tires on I think Nov - April. I intend to do similar here and yes, the Pilot 4s I've driven for the first time last night in about 30F and boy, they do not inspire confidence.

IF you think the PS4S are bad, imagine what the Cup2's are like! They were like skating on cold glass with oil when the temps dropped. When it was at or below 50F, they would slip at a stop sign on side streets. As soon as you went over a mile, they got much better. As you got closer and closer to 40, they just got worse so it required swapping.

At the same time, I just love the amount of traction you get from summer tires to ever want to go back to all seasons. Winter tires also are confidence inspiring when the weather gets bad too.

In the end, you need to use tires for how you drive and should feel confidence with the tires you use.

There are lots of options but only you will know which gives you the greatest level of confidence.

 

[Bit_the_Bullitt]

I grew up in Northern Wisconsin.

Winter or snow tires are not needed in Southern Ohio, NKY

To the OP, yep we just had snow. 99% of the snow we get is just like that. Barely enough to cover the grass and is gone the next day. You also probably noticed they go NUTZ with the salt slurry.

You can get some decent winter tires for less than 100 each if you shop around.

Yeah, they do go stupid with that spray. I'm getting my rust inhibitor done today, can't wait.
I know you can shop around quite a bit, the Sottozero 3s are $250/tire, I know that's a lot, but I want a comprehensive package from probably TIrerack, knowing they'll check it out to make sure it fits, all of that help and assurance is worth it to me.

 

[givemeadollar]

Right, totally get the benefits of this. But, how often do you think "oh I wish I had my Mustang today for fun or whatever." I reckon I'd feel that way every time I'd took the beater anywhere.

It really depends on where I am going. living in the city its not very enjoyable to drive a 900ish hp mustang going red light to red light at 20 to 35mph. But if I had the open roads you guys get in ohio I would be pretty sad anytime I was in the beater.

 

[Bit_the_Bullitt]

It really depends on where I am going. living in the city its not very enjoyable to drive a 900ish hp mustang going red light to red light at 20 to 35mph. But if I had the open roads you guys get in ohio I would be pretty sad anytime I was in the beater.

Dang, that's a lot of powah. Yeah I get "only" 480. It's manageable. About half of my 25min commute is in town with half a dozen stop lights (or I can take the highway), half of it is "country" roads away from town, so good mix.

 

[Semp1]

I was about to ask the same thing. I never understand why people spend $30k on a mustang and then drive it in the winter. Spray oil all you want, salt and rust never sleep and will eventually damage the car, period, no way around it. If you only plan to own the car for 2-3 years then have at it. But for those of us that view our car as a longer term relationship, driving in the winter is just a bad choice.

What mustang is $30k now? Lol. More like on average 45-55k. But a car is still a car. Which still btw is not expensive considering some of the luxury cars people drive on the streets no issues worth double to triple. It‘s meant to be driven. I personally never will understand why so much of the mustang fan base buy these cars to go to parking lot “shows“ and then home.

 

[GP2017GT]

It may seem like I am singling you out and forgive me. I really mean this more generically but you do bring up some good points. Unfortunately, I am not good at generalizing so I apologize up front.

Do you do those things on a regular basis?
I see so many people on LI driving the huge vehicles carting nothing and no one most of the time. They claim they need it to do so many things but in reality seldom do. I can see farmers, manual laborers (plumbers, landscapers, sprinkler guys, etc) and others needing a truck since they are daily carting their tools and such around. In my family there is a long running joke. My father purchased a 2002 Honda Odyssey mini van because he wanted to cart sheet rock and bring his model aircraft to the airfield. He purchased a new home in 1996. He has no need to cart sheet rock. He also never learned to fly and rarely goes to the airfield at all. By and large, the vehicle was a waste of money. This was also when the Odyssey was the hottest thing and he paid over sticker price for it. I completely agree if your daily job requires a SUV or truck but I find, in my area, most drive them for status and fear than need.

I can respect that in those northern mid states, you guys get some crazy winters.

Also, it is wonderful that you can do all that and help out a friend.

For me, I would do the following:
I have no leaves to haul. The town picks them up at the curb. Properties are only a 1/4 acre so not much to pick up. Also, I have no trees left on the property to pick up.

I need dirt. Have none to spare. Have had to have topsoil delivered so that cost me like $90 delivery fee.

Do not own jet skis. If I did, do I need a vehicle to tow them or can any car with a hitch do it? Also, have you seen the waters around Long Island and NYC? Not sure I would want to be on a jet ski in them . For any watercraft, you need a vehicle for transport unless it can remain at dock and those prices are nuts. Not everyone can afford to own watercraft.

As for moving furniture, a rental van or truck is pretty cheap and if I ever purchased new furniture, they deliver it. Why would I want to scratch up my truck moving stuff? Also, how much can you move in a truck these days when their beds are often short? I also can rent a Home Depot truck for $20/day with a longer bed. How often have you used your truck to move furniture? I think I would rather have a friend own the truck and help me than owning one myself for that. If everyone has a friend with a truck like you, then few would need to own it themselves. If most people will move at least once in their lives, does this mean that we all should drive a semitruck so we can move all our stuff to our new home? Maybe you will help a few move too. Yeah, extreme example but no less valid for anything someone does rarely.

As for fuel economy, none of us bought the Mustang for its fuel economy. Of course, you could have purchased an Ecoboost for weekdays instead of the truck and had similar economy. Could also have purchased a myriad of other cars that do even better. With what you have, I doubt money and fuel savings was a primary motivator. Regardless of the sticker, EE (Youtube) showed that actual fuel usage based on speed can be determined by 4 numbers required to be reported be each manufacturer. These show drag. I really wonder, at what people drive on the highway, if the drag of the Mustang is better or worse than all those huge trucks and SUVs?

Simply put, a person's location and lifestyle warranted the truck. What I am getting at, if a person did not have all those things you have and rarely did the other things( or saw that the alternatives were cheaper or just as reasonable), would someone still need the truck?

This is the question we must all individually contend with. For me, money and expenses plays too big a roll. I wonder if we posted our income with whether we own a second car if there would be a tendency that the richer will have a second car and the poorer don't. Also, location plays a big part. If you live where it never snows, you might be less likely to need an inclimate weather car.

What I am seeing is that location, job, finances and lifestyle really dictates if you have a second car. The fact that we all drive a Mustang is largely irrelevant.


What if you did not have the discretionary money for a second car? Would you own a Mustang?

I am envious of those who can own a car as a weekend hobby. When the Mustang first came out, it was meant to be a daily driver for the most apart. Go to work during the weekdays and race on weekends all with one car. For many, it would seem, this car turned into a weekend car. For many others, like me, they are still living as the car to go to work and have fun on weekends.

You are completely right in saying to each their own. We all have to live within our means, what our job, lifestyle and location demands. It seems, this thread can be viewed as bragging that I can afford all these things rather than if you want a second car? For many, they cannot afford it. What you do in winter is based on these few factors. Often, desire doesn't come into play. Necessity requires what we do or not do.

Either way, I am glad you have a Mustang and I hope you get lots of chances to drive it as well.


Also, LOVE Wisconsin cheese!! You guys rock in making that!

Lol yeah the cheese is good. I like your post,I was never a truck guy before. Until getting my car (not a mustang) stuck in snow and trying to stuff bags of leaves in my back seat. IMO the mustang is not a practical car for me and where I live. And to be totally honest I wouldn't buy it if it was my only car. I understand not everyone is able to have several cars either. I agree with a lot of things you've said. I'm glad we all love our Mustangs. Cheers.

 

[GP2017GT]

What mustang is $30k now? Lol. More like on average 45-55k. But a car is still a car. Which still btw is not expensive considering some of the luxury cars people drive on the streets no issues worth double to triple. It‘s meant to be driven. I personally never will understand why so much of the mustang fan base buy these cars to go to parking lot “shows“ and then home.

For the hardware brother, like winning for best cow. Plus you meet really good people too. Car enthusiasts. I enjoy it. I love seeing what people have done to their cars.

 

[Bit_the_Bullitt]

For the hardware brother, like winning for best cow. Plus you meet really good people too. Car enthusiasts. I enjoy it. I love seeing what people have done to their cars.

"NVR LATE" that's awesome. I got "CZE M8 1" on mine, since I'm from Czech and some bas*ard in OH already had the "CZECHM8"

 

[Bit_the_Bullitt]

I think I got my final setup, probably going with option 2:

255/40R19s all around. Stock Bullitt asks for that at the front, while 275/40R19 on the back.
The back does make a somewhat of a difference, but seems to fit fine:

Option 1 FRONT

Option 1 BACK

Or you think this is better way to go? This one is virtually identical, I'd go to a slightly narrower rim, but just about the same offsets:
Option 2 FRONT

Option 2 BACK

 

[Mach VII]

I think I got my final setup, probably going with option 2:

255/40R19s all around. Stock Bullitt asks for that at the front, while 275/40R19 on the back.
The back does make a somewhat of a difference, but seems to fit fine:

Option 1 FRONT

Option 1 BACK

Or you think this is better way to go? This one is virtually identical, I'd go to a slightly narrower rim, but just about the same offsets:
Option 2 FRONT

Option 2 BACK

Pictures not showing for me....

 

[Semp1]

For the hardware brother, like winning for best cow. Plus you meet really good people too. Car enthusiasts. I enjoy it. I love seeing what people have done to their cars.

I drive my car and I place top 3 every show. They’re mustangs, drive them.

 

[Fly2High]

What mustang is $30k now? Lol. More like on average 45-55k. But a car is still a car. Which still btw is not expensive considering some of the luxury cars people drive on the streets no issues worth double to triple. It‘s meant to be driven. I personally never will understand why so much of the mustang fan base buy these cars to go to parking lot “shows“ and then home.

C'mon, the Mustang is not just a go fast tool, it is also a work of art. Damn fine lines. I really wish they had museums showcasing the art side of automotive industry. They are more than just a hammer to drive in a nail.

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