Stock tires on ice
 

I realize that the stock-tires-on-snow issue has been debated to death, and I agree that snow tires are required to be safe up here in Wisconsin. Here's my problem: I bought a new GT in Chicago, and need to go pick it up on Friday. We just had about 1/2" of ice cover everything a few days ago, and my rural roads are sand-covered ice. The interstate roads should be fine, but I have about 5 miles on rural hilly roads to get from town to home. I have snow tires coming from Tire Rack this week, but I can't get them on the car until I get the car home. (Brings me to the real question.)

Have any of you northern/Canuck types had to drive on the stock tires on sandy ice? I don't need an evaluation of cornering prowess, I just want to know if I CAN make it home, or do I need to park/trailer the car from town? There is no snow on the roads, and I realize the stock tires are akin to molded plastic at low temperatures. I plan to drive very carefully regardless. All the ice on the way home has at least some sand, but none of the ice will be melted for a while.

What do the experts think? Thanks.

Jaedcem...you should post this thread in the Canadian regional forum. I know those guys have been discussing driving in the snow and ice. You may get some immediate responses.

Good luck!!

- Irish :cool:

more than likley you will be stranded

yes u can get home but u'll have to go very very slowly... or u might get stuck somewhere and the tires won';t get ur anywhere on the ice...

wait till you get the snow tires

You won't make it. Driving very carefully won't help - when there's zero traction to start with, you'll just slide very carefully into a ditch, curb, tree... ;). I'm serious - do NOT try that trip over any snow or ice on the stock summer tires, no matter how much sand/gravel is on it.

Best bet - get Tire Rack to drop ship your winter tires to the dealer in Chicago. Did you get winter wheels as well? No matter, you could get the dealer to mount the winter tires on your OEM wheels, or mount the winter wheels/tires. Bag your OEM tires or tres/wheels, load them in the back seats, and you're set. Alternately, wait until your winter tires arrive, then bring them with you to Chicago to pick up your car and have the dealer do the swap... Another alternate, park the car in your nearby town and get the tires installed there when they arrive, then drive home. Alternate #4, as you suggest, have it flat-bedded from town to your house - but you'll still get stuck in your driveway and won't be able to get into your garage unless it's downhill!

Regards,
Gordon

[QUOTE=Gord96BRG]You won't make it. Driving very carefully won't help - when there's zero traction to start with, you'll just slide very carefully into a ditch, curb, tree... ;). I'm serious - do NOT try that trip over any snow or ice on the stock summer tires, no matter how much sand/gravel is on it.

LOL....Im up here in WA and I live on a driveway bout eh Id say 1/8 of a mile long. 35 degree incline bottoming out onto one of our towns busy roads. Its all about timing really... like using a bobsled to dodge bullets....

I will have wheels and tires, but I didn't think the stock wheels would fit in the car. I didn't have them drop shipped there, but I should have them before I leave. (Problem 2 is that I may not have a ride to Chicago, and may have to take a bus. No wheels coming along on that trip.) I will have the wheels at home when I get the car, so I could park the car in town and go get my new wheels at home, along with a jack and wrench. I hoped to avoid the trouble and just change them in my garage when I got there. Oh well, I'll just park in town and get the wheels later that day.

So, the stock wheels and tires WILL fit in the car for the return trip? That will make planning easier. And yes, my driveway is downhill to the garage. :)

I'd let that brand new 8 sit until you have a good thaw....pick it up in April! :)

i love living in southern california :D

Drove my RX-8 from Atlanta to Detroit a few weeks ago and caught the start of some light snowfall outside Detroit. I've driven in the snow for 15 years in various FWD/RWD/AWD vehicles in mountains, on freeways, surface streets, etc. However the RX-8 (on stock rubber) was by far the scariest thing I have ever driven. On the freeway either the traction control light was flashing (any time I touched on or lifted off the gas) or the ABS was on (any time I even touched the brakes). There was no in-between. The worst part is that everyone else has a better performing snow car than you and goes flying around you -- I felt like an old lady/man in a big cadilac driving half the speed limit. I don't know how I survived even the 15 miles I drove.

I took it back out a few days later after all the snow had been cleared off the roads and still almost put it in the ditch 2-3 times in 10 miles whenever I found a bit of ice. Now it's under a cover until April.

Yes, the stock tires and wheels will fit in the car. For autocrossing, you can put two in each of the rear seats (stacked) without blocking the windows too bad. Just remember to bring something to protect your seats.

Oh, and if you decide to drive it, the stock windsheild washer fluid sucks. You might as well bring your own or it will freeze over if it is below +20.

Wow - that's good to know. It isn't supposed to get over 20 degrees for about a week. I'll have to try to use it all up quickly. I'm really glad to know that the tires will fit in the back. (This car must be like the TARDIS, bigger on the inside than the outside.) Will two tires fit in the trunk so my son can come along? I don't (won't) have the spare tire.

Thanks again for all the info. I think I have a ride down there, so I can have the Blizzaks installed before I leave the dealership. And whoever said to wait until April should be whacked!! (NO WAY!!!)

I personally think two in the trunk would be REAL tight. I've had one full size in there and there wasn't much room. IF it's real important to know (to take your son) PM me, I can drop my wheel-less spare tire in the trunk tonight along with another full size OEM wheel / tire and see if I can get them in, and close the trunk lid.
It sounds like you have your dilemma nearly solved, but in the FWIW category: I've driven snow and snow-packed and ice covered roads at various inopportune times with all seasons with front-wheel drive, 4WD, AWD and rear-wheel drive. Ice is so much different than snow. And summer tires so much different than even all-seasons. That said, with traction control and expert driving, I think you could make that sand-covered ice trip and survive. But Gordo's advice is good and I'm certainly not advising anyone to try it unless they have to!
Good luck with the trip!

Well said. I didn't want to, but was afraid I may have to. I've driven summer tires on hard-packed snow. Actually, I couldn't do it and had to put chains on. (Ever see a Porsche with tire chains?) I've never driven summer tires on sandy ice, and wonder if they are just as bad as on hard-pack. I say that because we've had quite a few people get stuck in our driveway when it's packed with clean snow, but drive right out when it's glare ice with sand.

And yes, I've got it solved. My dad is driving me all the way to Chicago, so I can bring the Blizzaks with me. Either I can take my stock wheels with me or send them with my dad. (I'll probably send them with him, so they're at his house until I can get them - in April. LOL) That way, I can take my son, and drive on my safe tires. I can't wait!!!

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

Problem is the compound in the tires is not designed for the cold.....they have close to no traction around 0 deg. Not worth the risk....put on the snows...or don't go :D

Getting all the stock windshield washer fluid out is easy. Just sit on the washer handle until it is gone!