2015 GT in the Snow???

[Blue_blur47]

Someone said something about a snow mode? Can any one confirm this?

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[StuckInNYForever]

Still haven't haven't ordered because of the head ache in the winter this machine will be as a daily driver.

It all depends on the tires. I had an '11 GT, and the factory all-season stock tires were not the greatest. They got me to work, but I took a lot of caution.

I then got an SRT8 Challenger with summer-only tires, and I don't know what I was thinking even trying it in the snow. That was just scary. It was painful, but I got rid of the factory supercar tires with only 10k miles, and went to very good all season tires (Nitto Motivo's). What a difference! I was just as good as any 4 door family sedan. During some NY storms this past winter, I even had to go around Accords and Altimas that were stuck in the middle of the road. Yes, I gave up some dry weather performance, but it was worth it.

 

[TampaBear67]

Someone said something about a snow mode? Can any one confirm this?

Yes, One of the Settings for the Drive Modes when you get the Toggle Switches is Wet/Snow.

 

[Blue_blur47]

^ well shit problem solved then.

 

[Spartan]

^ well shit problem solved then.

Not really. I mean if you drive like a moron with summer tires on, no mode is going to save you from wrecking.

 

[RoryTate]

Same goes for studded winter tires.

 

[genericuser1]

AWD and snow tires are your best option but RWD and snow tires works well for moderate snow driving. Just be careful with the throttle and start in 2nd gear.

If you are getting 10 inches of snow and still need to be at your job you need a Jeep.

I think the one thing that most people don't understand when they buy a performance car with summer tires is even if your area does not see snow but you routinely see temperatures under 40 degrees you need winter tires.

I have also notice a big difference depending on weight. I had a RWD car under 3,000 lbs and even with winter tires it was poor in the rain or snow.

My M3 is 4,000 lbs and does much better in snow.

 

[BlackDragon]

I drove in all the storms we had in the northeast and a couple of them were 10+ inches. It was hard, but the car did it. I will purchase a set of chains for next season, for peace of mind more than anything. I was afraid to stop in deep snow, because the hardest part was getting going from a dead stop.

 

[NVPony]

I drove in all the storms we had in the northeast and a couple of them were 10+ inches. It was hard, but the car did it. I will purchase a set of chains for next season, for peace of mind more than anything. I was afraid to stop in deep snow, because the hardest part was getting going from a dead stop.

I grew up in the north east, drove a few mustangs through New England winters. Buy 2 50 pounds bags of sand at Lowe's and put then in your trunk. You can use the sand to put under your tires if you get stuck and the weight helps keep the back end down. Buy 2 Blizzacks for the rear, 4 if you can afford it.

Typically it's not the going part you will have trouble with it's the stopping part. I drove past plenty of 4x4's that hit something or someone because they forget that 4x4 is great for going but doesn't do chit for stopping.

99.9% of the time it's the driver and not the weather, go slow and watch your momentum. Having a stick shift is an advantage. Good luck.

 

[Spartan]

I think the one thing that most people don't understand when they buy a performance car with summer tires is even if your area does not see snow but you routinely see temperatures under 40 degrees you need winter tires.

So here's a question. I know the PP comes with summer tires.

Do you think you can just get all seasons on it and sacrifice some grip/performance?

I mean honestly I would rather not have to deal with 2 sets of tires for this Mustang and where I live in VA/DC, we always get temps in the 40s and below from Dec-March.

 

[souprmage]

I'm planning on buying another set of wheels/tires for my winter needs, then switching back to the summer tires as appropriate.

Does anyone know what the 'snow' mode does exactly?

More out of curiosity really, as I don't plan on ever driving the car in the snow.

 

[Tony Alonso]

So here's a question. I know the PP comes with summer tires.

Do you think you can just get all seasons on it and sacrifice some grip/performance?

I mean honestly I would rather not have to deal with 2 sets of tires for this Mustang and where I live in VA/DC, we always get temps in the 40s and below from Dec-March.

If I had gotten the performance pack and lived in your part of the country, I would have purchased a second set of wheels and winter tires if I planned to drive it over the winter. Those tires are constructed to maximize adhesion in the proper temperature range. They work in conjunction with the suspension changes, which are designed for grip and response in performance driving situations.

If you are street driving your performance pack car on all-seasons, you definitely will give up some of the benefit. However, unless you regularly go to road or autocross courses, you probably would not hit the limits of adhesion for the most part. The big benefit of the summer compounds, in my opinion, for a street-driven car is for shorter stopping distances in panic situations.

 

[Tony Alonso]

Does anyone know what the 'snow' mode does exactly?

It affects throttle, steering, and braking responses in low traction conditions of wet and snow so that you have a bigger safety net.

 

[Spartan]

If I had gotten the performance pack and lived in your part of the country, I would have purchased a second set of wheels and winter tires if I planned to drive it over the winter. Those tires are constructed to maximize adhesion in the proper temperature range. They work in conjunction with the suspension changes, which are designed for grip and response in performance driving situations.

If you are street driving your performance pack car on all-seasons, you definitely will give up some of the benefit. However, unless you regularly go to road or autocross courses, you probably would not hit the limits of adhesion for the most part. The big benefit of the summer compounds, in my opinion, for a street-driven car is for shorter stopping distances in panic situations.

Well I wanted the PP more for the updated features and also the unique gauges, 19" gunmetal rims, the rear diffuser in black, stiffer ride, etc. I don't ever plan on taking it to the track or autocross courses.

I'll be driving the car every day to work, etc. Are you suggestion maybe not to get the PP?

 

[Tony Alonso]

Well I wanted the PP more for the updated features and also the unique gauges, 19" gunmetal rims, the rear diffuser in black, stiffer ride, etc. I don't ever plan on taking it to the track or autocross courses.

Sure...understand. One word on the wheels - I am pretty sure you are aware of the order guide saying "gloss black" even though there have been photos of that wheel in the grey color, especially since you started that poll thread

I'll be driving the car every day to work, etc. Are you suggestion maybe not to get the PP?

No, not at all. I think there are others who want that option who would not necessarily go and use it for anything other than street driving. It's a good value for the money to get increased performance potential, even if it is used sparingly or not at all on a track. As metnioned above, the summer tire compound would help you stop in shorter distances on the road, and that is surely a benefit! The main consideration in a street driving situation is that the tire compound will lose its ability to grip in lower temperatures.

In my opinion, it is important to plan for that situation with another set of wheels and tires, or as you suggest, go with all-seasons. Since you live in DC, and you get pretty good snow amounts, the optimum would be to have a second set of wheels with snow tires. Tire Rack shows Bridgestone Blizzaks for the rear but not the front sizes, but I suspect that will change in the future.

For a street driver in the snow, it has been my experience that you can drive on all-seasons in cold, damp, and light snow (3-4" or less) road surfaces if you use caution and let the stability control do its work if it intervenes. However, if you get more snow than that regularly, then snow tires are engineered to grip even better because of their tread pattern and the compound.

The main reasons I personally did not choose the PP is for tire maintenance and the ability to rotate wheels and tires. Those considerations are more important to me than the other features of the PP, even though I think it is a very nice packaging of cool features. I could not justify spending the money for how I would use the car and the tire maintenance considerations.

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