Getting frustrated by not using my R this winter and thinking of getting the car out.

Would need to use the car in the snowy mountains.

Right now have Bridgestone SO-2's on the car.

Was thinking about putting on a set of winter tires or all-seasons. Roads conditions vary from dry/plowed to snow covered.

Was concerned about the handling of this car in the snow given how light it is.

Also, would putting chains on damage the transmission/LSD?

Finally, I have two sets of rims - one particularly light. Would it be worse to put the winter tires on the light rims?

Any thoughts?

Ron




[Modified by rltrock, 1:03 PM 1/20/2003]

 

OK, here's my experience with #1035 and snow...

At the time I have Kuhmo 712s with about 75% tread left. The Pops and I went to see Duke play Davidson at the hornets coliseum in charlotte. When we parked, there was about 1" of powder, no big deal. We got out, there was 3, maybe 4", and it was snowing hard. Got lost on the way home, ended up making a 1.5 hour drive in 5 hours . BUUUUUUT, we took back roads, tons of snow, up to maybe 5" in parts. The R did terrific, couldn't have asked for more traction honestly. I was more than suprised. The LSD, nice direct steering, easily managable torque (or lack there of) made the drive a bunch of fun....


rob- who thinks four wheel drifts in white snow in a CW ITR with my dad yelling for his life owns, and probably would have been some great video

 

plain and simple, I wouldnt do it. Ive taken my car out to **** around in the snow in open parking lots, but wouldnt dare take it out on hilly mountain roads in the snow without chains. I was running Kumhos at the time, worst tire ever in the snow. Might as well been slicks or bald. Even with chains I dont think I would. just my 2 cents.

E: took the picture out, way to big.


[Modified by RTW DC2, 4:07 PM 1/20/2003]

 

i have run with chains no problem. (they make parking lot donuts quite aggressive) ITR is quite alot of fun in the snow, just be careful as you should with anything in slippy conditions. Handbrake turns rule.

 

Don't drive on your S-02's. Winter tires would be good for snowy/freezing conditions. The S-02's/3's are not a winter tire and do not grip well or handle well in the snow.

I don't think chains would hurt anything except the road.

With winter tires, the car should be fine in the snow. You just have to give yourself alot of braking room and make sure not to go too fast given the conditions.

Definitely get winter tires.

 

from my experience driving in the snow, if you are going up an incline, be in the tallest gear possible to keep the rpm as low as you can....or else spin spin spin spin spin spin spin spin spin weeeeeeeeeee!! crash.

 

i drive my car all the time. have had no problems. just be smart when you drive.
i now slide the car into my garge with the e-brake. it feels coller than just driving it in.

 

too bad chains are illegal in VA

 

R is fine in the winter, with the right tires. I have driven through 3+ inches of unplowed stuff, w/ out a problem. If you get alot of snow, you may want to consider removing the front ITR specific spoiler,as this really helps - less plowing, and more traction. Plus it's only held on by like four screws. As for the wheels, it doesn't really matter, but remember that winter is particularly harsh on wheels, with all the salt, sand, etc. that they coat the roads with. As for tires, with snows, you want the narrowest possible. Stick w/ stock size tires, as I run them, and they're fine.
http://www.tirerack.com has a great winter tire info section.

Nick - who is ready for spring already.

 

i have paradas on my R because its what came on it, and i have yet to get new wheels/tires. They absolutely suck in the snow. 226 is the only way to work in rain, snow, sleet and anythings else. I am all over the place with the paradas

 

We just covered this a week or so ago.

IMHO the R does NOT perform well in the SNOW. And I don't mean a southern winter or the nations winter in general for those who don't get scads of the white stuff. And I AM talking about WITH Snow and winter driving specific tires.

IF you really must drive it and don't have snow tires or at least all seasons, then just wait till it's dry and sunny out and take a nice long drive for a day. Just be careful if you are in summer tires and try not to push it too hard in the corners since your tires won't heat up and give you enough grip for these maneuvers.

If you get snows then you still need to be careful but, don't need to pick and choose your clear sunny driving days as closely.

I drove on Pilot Alpins and Yes they were a Hell of a lot better than stock tires on winter on wet and or cold dry and snow and ice covered roads BUT, the R does NOT handle as well as other cars in snow as I personally experienced and the fear of losing it or having some 4x4 yahoo losing it and taking you out just doesn't make it worth it in my eyes.

I got a winter car and sold my snows.

But, there seems to be more than a few member owners here that feel differently and tend to take the bull by the horns.

I tend to be a bit more laid back when it freezes up and snows and jump into my Nissan Sentra and Never push my luck and drive extra carefully and slowly and Geez I never get stuck. Of course I probably have 10 or more years experience driving in the white than the gung-ho boys that respond that the R is an awesome winter snow driving car. IMHO of course.

Good luck,


A.

 

- parker who thinks rob is crazy for plowing massive amounts of snow w/ his front lip

 

I use to live in Ottawa and Montreal Canada. Winter is as bad as it can get up here with constant snowfall. Roads can be filled up to a feet of snow sometimes.

Having the right set of snow/winter tires is the key. I have used Nokias and Toyos. Nokias were the best hands down. But they are expensive. Hell, I could buy a set of 032R with that price. But think of it this way. Tires are the only thing that connects you to the ground, don't go cheap. Toyos were good. I have used Observe G-02 and Garit HT. The G-02 had softer sidewalls, making the car very wobblily on highways. The Garit HT I used on the R were awsome, very close to the Nokia with a cheaper price. Harder sidewalls, awsome track even on ice.

I drove all 3 cars that I use to own in the winter with snow tires. I must say the R was the best outta the 3 because of the LSD. The Prelude and Civic would go left and right and be all over the place when launching. Stopping was never a problem unless I was on ice. On the other hand, the R did a great job as I can launch the car and go stright and not worry about hitting people on the left and right.

There are times when it becomes dangerous when corning and the car just wants to point stright with the wheels locked to the side, the e-brake comes in handy then. Of course, you cannot expect to be driving at the usual speed like in the summer.

Go find an empty parking lot, learn your car and learn to save it from unexpected happenings, do stupid things. Play with the throttle and e-brake. At times, that would save your a$$ on the road. I know, it saved me plenty of times.

Crunch- who is living in HK now and misses the great white north.

 

you launch in the snow often?

 

I have Yokahama snow tires and my integra does awesome in the snow when they're on. I go to Tahoe all the time and I put them on when I know the road will be slick. I normally run summer tires and they are useless in the snow and ice. The pirelli 210 snowsports would be great on your R. The Yokos are only about $400 with steel rims and lugs from discount tire direct.

 

I agree that there are definately BETTER cars than the R for the winter, but if you don't have the $$ or room for a second vehicle, then you don't really have a choice...And the R is better than alot of other cars in the white stuff - IF you know how to drive it.

 

weeeeeeeeeeee!!

 

Get snow tires and use the heavieir rims. Get some steelies they will work better.

 

I have a winter beater truck, but the winter thus far in Southeastern Michigan has afforded me the opportunity to continue driving the ITR. How so? The temps have been subfreezing for 19 of the 21 days of this year which means any flurries we've seen has not been much and has not accumulated - except once.

The ITR has NO braking with 1/4 inch or more snow on the ground.

The ITR has difficulty starting to move from a dead stop under the same conditions.

The ITR does not want to rotate in the same conditions - so you must use the parking brake to get her to rotate.

I personally take her out after a snow and find a parking lot where I get use to getting the car to OVERrotate the tail which [b]<u>EFFECTIVELY REINFORCES</u> ME TO STAY ON THE THROTTLE AND COUNTERSTEER MY WAY THRU THE CORNER.

On the whole, I'd say keep the ITR out of the snow as some people tailgate [not really a problem since you cannot stop anyway , but if someone loses control you stand the chance of being collected or even rear ending someone.

 

I've actually had a lot of snow experience in my R, both with and w/ out turbo in our last two mild Colorado winters. I'm currently on the stock Potenza's with 14,000 miles on them. It's very adventourus to say the least. Stopping is the main problem for me, taking off on snow or ice is relatively easy though IMHO. I just got a new commuter car abuot a month ago so before that all I had to drive was the R. With a good set of snow tires I would have all the faith in the world in the car to perform just fine in the snow.
M

 

Is anything legal in VA? VA = communist state??!?!

 

I don't understand people saying the type R is bad in the snow. The type R is one of the best cars I have ever driven in the snow! Front-wheel drive and an LSD make all the difference in the world. In really bad stuff, a few sand bags for extra weight might help, but I have never needed them. I have Michelin Arctic Alpin tires and the car is a monster in the snow.

TIRES are what it all boils down to. If you drive in the Winter on Summer tires you are a moron. I just drove by the body shop and saw a yellow S2k wrecked sittin' in the snow on S-02's. Wonder how that happened! Yes the car will suck in the Winter on Summer tires, as will any car!

The choice of snow tires makes a big difference. With Bilzzaks or Arctic Alpins, the car will be unstoppable. With Pirelli Winter 210's it will be pretty good in the snow, and with Pilot Alpins, it will suck in the snow just like any other car on these sad excuses for snow tires. I also have a WRX at my disposal, but I have NEVER been in a situation where the type R got stuck in southeast MI, so I drive the R all the time. Braking is also fantastic in the type R on snow and ice.

Mike D.

 

Agreed with that statement, i've driven mine through 4 snowy Canadian winters now without any problems.
Oh, and I'm running on blizzaks

 

i agree...i tried drivin my R once in the snow with the stock tires...never again!!! slid downhill almost the entire length of my street....but right now i have some arctic alpins on them and theyre great whenever i have to go out in the snow...but i do avoid it as much as possible.

 

I have never seen snow except for in that pic. I wish FL would get some white stuff from the sky like that. All we have floating around here are pollin, sugar cane ashes, and thieves