Winter Driven Mustang (Picture Heavy)

[MRGTX]

Well, sorry to piss on your bonfire but I completed 100+ miles in snowy and ice conditions (up and down slopes, too!) and im still here to tell the tale. The trick is to have 1/2 a brain and drive to the conditions.

I now know a LOT more about how the car handles/stops/accelerates in the snow, so was very worthwhile.
...

Clearly, you're a pretty good driver and I believe you that you made it (and I'm glad to hear it!)...but those tires are not designed for those temps, never mind the snow. I'm not here to lecture you on your choices...but man, in my opinion, you're taking an awful chance.

And yes, I am speaking from my own (dumb) experiences in trying stupid stuff like this with much lighter and better balanced RWD cars. Summer compound tires with summer/high performance tread patterns do NOT work in the snow.

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[VinnAY]

That's either a lie, summer tires, or you just don't know what tires you have.

 

[MRGTX]

That's either a lie, summer tires, or you just don't know what tires you have.

Come on now.. I refuse to assume the OP would be lying about this.

...but these could be the Pirelli PZero Nero (?) or whatever Pirelli all seasons they're offering now...in which case, that would be a lot less insane. The naming system for Pirelli is a bit confusing, IIRC.

All seasons (aka "no-seasons") are technically passable in the snow even if they don't hold a candle to real show tires. At the very least, the compound doesn't turn to stone in the cold like summer rubber does.

 

[Spartan]

Clearly, you're a pretty good driver and I believe you that you made it (and I'm glad to hear it!)...but those tires are not designed for those temps, never mind the snow. I'm not here to lecture you on your choices...but man, in my opinion, you're taking an awful chance.

And yes, I am speaking from my own (dumb) experiences in trying stupid stuff like this with much lighter and better balanced RWD cars. Summer compound tires with summer/high performance tread patterns do NOT work in the snow.

Agreed...there really isn't a point to be out there in summer tires...after seeing that video there is no way I'd risk my Mustang on those tires, especially Pirelli's if those were what he was running. Again after watching that tire rack video, I was shocked at how good the winter tires were on the ice.

I had a '76 Ford Torino that I drove in high school from my Dad and man that thing SUCKED in winter weather with it's tires. We use to put on winter tires because you HAD to in these rear wheel powerful cars. I remember the time we didn't have them on and we got caught in an snow storm...that was one of the scariest experiences I've ever been in in a car. We were going literally 5-10 miles per hour and still were sliding all over..at one point coming close to going over an embankment. We basically parked the car and walked a mile in the snow to get home at that point. Crazy thinking back then it had a V8 with 158 hp compared to a V8 now.

 

[5ABI VT]

Come on now.. I refuse to assume the OP would be lying about this.

...but these could be the Pirelli PZero Nero (?) or whatever Pirelli all seasons they're offering now...in which case, that would be a lot less insane. The naming system for Pirelli is a bit confusing, IIRC.

All seasons (aka "no-seasons") are technically passable in the snow even if they don't hold a candle to real show tires. At the very least, the compound doesn't turn to stone in the cold like summer rubber does.

I run all seasons ,, low pros and lowered on coilovers. no problems at all. last winter and now this one. Some people just will never know. requires a little more attention in snow but in the toronto area so far this year weve had only 1.. maybe 2 days of maybe just a few hours of actual snow more than 1" on the roads?? :shrug: Our winters are mild and its a tradeoff Im willing to make. I use the dws-06 all seasons rated for light snow. and they drive like summers when there isnt snow.

 

[NoVaGT]

Are you driving that in the snow on summer pp tires?

There seems to be some confusion on the OP's part, I don't think he's understood the question he's been asked.

The answer is, as seen in the OP's pictures I've provided below, no he's not driving in a Nova Scotia winter on the PP Summer Only tires. He's got some sort of snow/ice/mud tire mounted on his steel rims.

 

[Rock&Roll]

Hasn't snowed much here so I haven't test my Blizzaks yet but ...


My only concern driving my Mustang in the winter is all the plastic on the car when I eventually hit a snow bank or when some horrible driver runs into me.

 

[wireeater]

There seems to be some confusion on the OP's part, I don't think he's understood the question he's been asked.

It wasn't OP that said he was driving on the PP summer times. It was kapiteinlangzaam.

 

[MJS-P51]

For me it's never been about the snow itself.....my fear is reserved for the destroyer of all things nice.....salt....

 

[seth21w]

How do yall deal with the frozen door windows when they are frozen and wont move as you pry the door open? Especially with ones with a manual trans and no remote start? I live in ga so we dont get snow and freezing rain often but it happened the other day i was at work in my car and when i went in a 12 am i worked to 8 am and when i left the doors had to be pryed open and i thought i was going to twist my torsen axle splines or something, when i finally thawed the windows enough, i released the emergency brake put it in reverse and it would not budge i seriosly had to mash on it to break the ice free from the back wheel/brake caliper? Does anyone else experience this?

 

[Phathalate]

It wasn't OP that said he was driving on the PP summer times. It was kapiteinlangzaam.

This.

I was sure the discussion wasn't about my tires due to the clear photos and the other poster showing PP rims in the snow.

For anyone that is curious, I run Michelin X-Ice Winter Tires on 18" Ford Fusion Steel Rims (Part Number Unknown). They work very well and I can't imagine using my summers during the winter. Props to all of you who've posted photos running Summers/All-Seasons, you have bigger balls than I (and probably live somewhere with nicer winters.)

ps: loving all the winter driven mustang photos, thanks for sharing everyone!

 

[sk8erord]

I need to take some snow pics, but here is mine with my winter wheels/tires. Daily driven - and I get up hills that FWD/AWD cars slide down with all seasons. I wish more people understood - it's all about tires!

MMD Sinn Silver 19x8.5 with 255-40/19 Yokohama IceGuard IG52c

 

[Cobra Jet]

Another "All Season No Garage Queen" S550 here too.

Curious, can you post up the Ford part number for the steelies (and are they the same as the Crown Vic)?

 

[shawndean22]

i drove the past 2 winters with stock summer tire pirellis. 18k almost bald.

 

[PatrickGT]

:doh:

You can't be serious...Summer tires?!?
Even if you don't get stuck in the snow (which you will on any snowy inclined surface), you're asking for trouble on dry pavement too as you probably have 30% of your normal traction in the cold temps.

How much is your insurance deductible? Maybe that's cheaper than a set of snow tires?

Yeah people from the Netherlands have no idea how to drive in winter climates. Please do continue your attack.

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