jthm

Ive never driven in the snow and Ill be relocating to Denver soon. All I have is my crx with si wheels. Does anyone have experience driving the crx in the snow and could you give me some feedback as to how difficulty it is any how to be prep. thx

Burningrambo

I did this last year, and will not be doing it again! (don't worry it's not about the driving, I fixed the body... mostly.)

After I got past the part where my dumbass didn't notice the tire tech sold me summer only tires and I got to drift a FWD car nearly into a stop sign. It isn't bad with All season tires. Brake early and slowly, accelerate gently. Start off of second if you are really nervous (manual only). The deeper the tread left on those tires, the happier you will be. Remember there may be a lag behind your steering and watch for black ice.

Oh, and enjoy the rust when spring comes around. If you are really paranoid, maybe keep some chains or something to get traction with if you think you're stuck. OH, almost forgot. Speed up prior to a hill, but go easy on the gas going up. I find it makes the whole steep incline wheel slip easier.

whited

I have done this in really bad conditions, with what is now my project car. Buy a really good set of winter tires for at least the front. Some states require all 4 tires to be snow tires if any are.

I road with just fronts, even though it was probably not legal. The roads I was on were solid ice, and I didn't have a problem. But I am from Pittsburgh and am very used to driving in the snow.

I put the snow tires on old 15" rims I had from one of my civics. Getting a second set of rims is key, as the mounting and balancing every year add up. One year the shady tire place screwed me on the price, and tried to steal my brand new all season tires. After that, I just bought a new set of rims.

bheinen74

from 1993-1997 I drove the Iowa winters with my stock CRX Si, and it did ok
In 1997 I moved to Denver CO, and drove it winters for 2 years, I slid into a curb oneday, so got new front tires.
then I spun out, cause the back tires had no traction so got new rear tires. I went skiing a few times, and I-70 going west I had no problem. Coming back in the afternoon in a snow storm, well the traffic crawled so had no problem.
Then one day whenI lived near Wash Park, we got 35 inches of snow. I dug the car out, and around it, but the Plow NEVER came down my street.
All my neighbors has Subarus, and they went right thru it, but my CRX just sat still like it was strapped down with tow ropes to the ground.
I bought a Subaru, which is a tank, and to this day, I drive CRX in Summer, late spring, and early fall. But then, I get out my beater Subie for the snowy months. I don't even plow or scoop my LONG driveway now, no matter if we get 5 inches, or 20 inches, I just go thru it with the Subaru. CRX won't even come close and the drive is on a incline, and not a down hill one either to get out.

When it snows, I-25 is a parking lot, I would avoid it at ALL cost, whether that means you find a bus, RTD, walk etc, but stay off I-25 when it snows. It is nuts out there. I moved back to Iowa to avoid the traffic jams.

br8crumb

jersey gets heavy snow almost every year.... i 90% wont drive the crx when theres snow on the ground let alone the driveway. i struggled just to pull in the driveway when snow/ice is down lol. if your car isnt lowered, bushings all good, and alignment is in check, then just get some winter tires on like steelies and just be carefull driving. otherwise i would drive a very minimal amount and hope u dont slide around doing 40mph

94eg!

iTrader: (2)

Get a second set of cheap steelies (13's or 14's) and put a set of snow tires on them. In extreme conditions, grip is all about having the right tires. The bonus, aside from added traction, is your two sets of specialized tires should last longer than two sets of all-season tires will (or so I'm told).

Be aware that salt on the roads will destroy your old car. Not sure what to do about that.

jlicrx

always remember, it is much easier to go than it is to stop - most accidents around here, in snow and ice, are caused by driving to fast for the conditions

Deetz

CRX's work great in the snow, you just need a good set of winter tires!! I've driven a many a winter in one

crxguy406

My non-4WD wagon has done just fine over many Montana winters. I use all-season tires year round and never change them out.

Just gotta drive careful.

jthm

thx for all the replies. FYI Denver apparently doesnt salt their roads, they use magnesium chloride.

94eg!

iTrader: (2)

Magnesium chloride is a salt: http://www.aautodetail.com/code/magchloride.html

The only non-salt option is sand, and it's much less effective on snow/ice than salt.

jthm

what about calcium magnesium acetate?

rexb16a

My old beater crx that was stock height was amazing in the snow. I would go out in storms and race 4wd trucks lol. It was funny driving around in my little tiny car and go all the places the trucks could till it got too deep for clearance.

As far as my nice restored car, it will never see snow....again. Back in the day I drove it a ton in the snow and as long as you aren't pushing snow when it gets deep and you have good tires and know how to drive they do great.

94eg!

iTrader: (2)

Ooh very interesting.

zrickety

iTrader: (1)

13's are ideal, even all seasons will work. The crx is a good snow car, but dedicated tires are always best. Narrow tires are your friend. Just go slow with turning and braking, you'll be fine. My driver's ed teacher described the technique as if there were an egg shell on the pedals.

bheinen74

They use ground up rock too, that is big and sharp. Expect a rock smash to the window and expect to replace front glass every other year. Go in a parking lot and look at the front hood paint of all the cars a few years old and older. They all look sandblasted, from the rock they dump on the roads.