Lowered Gen2's and Problems with Snow

[PhreakdOut]

Tis the season for those of you living in the snow belt regions. Winter Driving! Yuck! For me: last winter was not very much fun. Get three or four inches of heavy packing snow and I would be driving a death trap.

Basiclly, since my car is lowered, the gap between the inner fender well and the tire has been reduced. On days with heavy packing snow, the tire well builds up with snow very quickly. In extreme situations, the tire is unable to throw the snow from the treads thus making the tire a virtual slick in snow. (Very embarrasing) Last winter's tire were the OE 215/55/17 Toyo Proxies.

My winter wheels (the stockies) now have 235/50/17 Firestone Firehawk LH tires. Yes, I know I'm asking for trouble with a wider tire, but the tread is definately more "all season" than the Toyos were. (The Toyos looked like a summer tire)

So this leads me to my question: "Do the Lions have a shot at the Super Bowl?" (Just kidding - Please don't answer that painful question.)

Really: Do any of you Gen2 owners out there with lowered suspensions have positive experiences (or similar problems) with snow?

If so, what are you running for tires / wheels.

I hope the new tires will do well this winter, but my hopes are not high.

The pic is from Spring this year. Only 18" of snow. We'll get this a few times this winter.

[michaels artic frost]

Thank The Lord for my garages. I'm not a fan of snow .

I kept my 20s on last winter and it was fine, I just had to clean the salt off the rims each week thats all.

I'm quite happy w/ the tread wear of the Wanli 245/35/20 tires. I've got over 20K miles on it and still looks freaking brand new. My only complaint is the tire noise is louder then I wanted. But as you already know, I'm not lowered...not just yet .


I too hope your new tires w/ your 18s work well Brian.

That's some bad butt snow bro.

-M

[gone]

ahh i was thinking i was gonna have a problem when i drop my car in the snow and your pic is a perfect example of why in my head i dont want to lower my car.Either way if i do it now or in the summer, my car will still b lowered in the winter time next yr.I'de just be using my tires the car came with -which suckkk

[PhreakdOut]

ahh i was thinking i was gonna have a problem when i drop my car in the snow and your pic is a perfect example of why in my head i dont want to lower my car.Either way if i do it now or in the summer, my car will still b lowered in the winter time next yr.I'de just be using my tires the car came with -which suckkk

I guess, let me be clear. The issue hasn't been ground clearance. I love the look and the handling. The issue with snow is only a problem when it's wet packing snow that can build up. The light dry fluffy stuff isn't an issue. (The folks from Florida must be laughing at this.)

If you have access to another means of transportation for the few messy days, go for lowering it. Just be careful out there.

[theprodigy79]

Last year I drove around in my 18"s with Michelin Pilot Sport 225/45ZR18 Max Perf. Summer tires... No problems (besides anti-lock brakes constantly grinding and not being able to come to a stop for two stop lights) but it wasn't much fun... I bought a set of 15" stealies with wheel covers from Jon's Camry (JMSinMaryland) to use this winter... I plan to get some narrow winter tires with good bite to ride 'em on this time around...

[MikeATL]

(The folks from Florida must be laughing at this.)...

LoL, I'm in Georgia and I'm laughing.

[rollaevo99]

holy crap!! can you still get out??

[zoomzoomthis05]

(The folks from Florida must be laughing at this.)...

LoL, I'm in Georgia and I'm laughing.

I am in Alabama..And I about fell out of my chair.... SNOW.. Whats that... LOL

[dvdchris45]

Brian and Mike, I think your problems would be solved if you guys moved to Los Angeles. Our idea of "snow" here is partly cloudly skies with a light chance of morning drizzle...for shizzle.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

holy crap!! can you still get out??

I think he's got a problem getting in! LOL!

I'm soo glad i moved to TX 6 years ago.....

[crimson blades]

You don't understand how much fun snow can be. Go out after a good snow of 5-6 inches, find yourself an empty, unplowed parking lot and have fun. This way you can see just how good your VSC is and really feel it in action, not to mention hand brake spins and reverse doughnuts. There's just something about spinning backwards out of control in fresh snow that can't be beat

[Mr. Slippery]

Last year I drove around in my 18"s with Michelin Pilot Sport 225/45ZR18 Max Perf. Summer tires... No problems (besides anti-lock brakes constantly grinding and not being able to come to a stop for two stop lights) but it wasn't much fun... I bought a set of 15" stealies with wheel covers from Jon's Camry (JMSinMaryland) to use this winter... I plan to get some narrow winter tires with good bite to ride 'em on this time around...

When I bought my 04 it came with 18's (no 17" stockies). It was a demo they had in the dealership and they had it all done up with TRD stuff (dropped, bars, etc.). I had the same tires, same size, Michelin Pilot Sport. I thought they sucked in the snow to be honest. I almost slid into 3 cars the first storm, and I'm from New England, I can drive in snow. I took them off the same week and put the on 18's that I had on that my last car(01 Millenia) with P Zeros and it was sooooo much better. This year I'm just going to get snow tires and put them on the rims the car came with. What's a good 18 inch snow tire?

[NABBUN SECHKIE]

You don't understand how much fun snow can be. Go out after a good snow of 5-6 inches, find yourself an empty, unplowed parking lot and have fun. This way you can see just how good your VSC is and really feel it in action, not to mention hand brake spins and reverse doughnuts. There's just something about spinning backwards out of control in fresh snow that can't be beat

oh so very very verrry true

[dominoSLEV6]

(The folks from Florida must be laughing at this.)

Yeah, pretty much. Our lowest overnight low so far has been about 53-56ish. Right now it's 66 outside. Our forecast low for the entire next week is 54, which we might hit if we're lucky.

Tomorrow is a high of 80, low of 62. Yeah, snow doens't really compute with those stats, not at all.

But look on the bright side. All of your old people, from every single northern region you can imagine, come down here and torment us EVERY winter. They're everywhere. From Palm Beach to Boca Raton, and everywhere in between, and it flippin sucks. Especially since their ability to drive is directly proportional to an equation of how many centimeters they can see over the steering wheel divided by the amount of goofy ass crap they wear, exponentially multiplied by the degree at which they're hunched over with their canes. They turn every parking lot into a makeshift used Lincoln/Murcury dealer, specializing in a section of Caddilacs. I know snow sucks, but when you couple this with the gruelingly hot summers, and the hurricanes, I'm not so sure you guys up north aren't getting the better end of the deal.

-chris