Posted: 9/26/2009 2:28:25 AM EDT
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Let me preface this by saying I've had this car for 7.5 years and never had a slide off or been out of control on ice and snow. I want to get a front wheel drive vehicle/SUV, but financially that is NOT an option this winter. 1996 V-6 Camaro (laugh all you want, it has 180k and gets me from A to B just like your Hummer) As a student I didn't have to drive when the roads were incredibly icy. In HS, school was cancelled. My car was parked 90% of the time in college. Now I have a job that requires a 25 mile drive every day no matter what (emergency services). With all-season tires I've always been ok so long as my car clears the snow height. What I'm worried about is ice. Currently I have 235/55R16 tires on the Camaro. I've read it's not recommended to mix winter tires and all season tires...is this just manufacturers covering their ass or can I get away with winter tires on the rear and keep my all season tires in the front? –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– If I can mix tires... The next question is size (width). I know narrower is better for ice/snow, but I also read mixing (wider in front/narrower in back) is frowned upon. Is this also to cover manufacturers' butts? Yes I know about http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html and have figured I can go with a 215/60/R16 in the back, 235/55R16 in the front and keep my Revs/Mile within 1/2 MPH. Would studded tires be overkill? (Yes they are legal in Indiana from November 1 thru May 1) So basically I'm coming to the tire gods with a little research and asking if I do what I mentioned above is an adequate solution vs installing 4 winter tires on a rear wheel vehicle. |
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Quoted:
I want to get a front wheel drive vehicle/SUV, but financially that is NOT an option this winter. Yes it is. Sell the camaro and buy whatever front drive jap piece of shit you can find and afford. Doesn't matter if it has 180,000 miles on it. Then get a set of true snow tires. The thing will be unstoppable all winter long, I guarantee it. |
IF you TRULY don't want to or can't sell your camaro or pick up some cheap Honda or something I would suggest putting the snow tires on the rear and leaving the all-seasons on the front. You would be fine, just don't expect to make it through the winter without destroying your rims on some curbs..
ETA: Studs are NOT overkill, but put them on the rear and they won't be studded for long. Seriously. I would suggest having some studs installed on the front to prevent sliding through turns and some non-studded snow tires on the rear. If you can't afford new studded tires some shops will install studs on your current tires if they have enough tread left, espcially on the non-drive tires of a RWD vehicle. Just something to think about if you are THAT hard up for cash. |
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Quoted: IF you TRULY don't want to or can't sell your camaro or pick up some cheap Honda or something I would suggest putting the snow tires on the rear and leaving the all-seasons on the front. You would be fine, just don't expect to make it through the winter without destroying your rims on some curbs.. ETA: Studs are NOT overkill, but put them on the rear and they won't be studded for long. Seriously. I would suggest having some studs installed on the front to prevent sliding through turns and some non-studded snow tires on the rear. If you can't afford new studded tires some shops will install studs on your current tires if they have enough tread left, espcially on the non-drive tires of a RWD vehicle. Just something to think about if you are THAT hard up for cash. I truly want to sell my car. I'm just in my first job (have little credit, 1 card $500 max). I don't have room for two cars. I have a 12 mo plan of saving so I don't face this scenario next year and will have a (new to me) newer model used car/suv. I have driven this Camaro 6 winters in So Indiana on all season tires...I can drive a rear wheeled vehicle on snow/ice. But now, I don't have the option of not driving to work if we get another ice storm or heavy snow.. I'm not worried about the snow because my 25 mile trip to work is mostly State Hwy. It's the compacted snow/ice I want to address. My biggest asset is this car and I want to do anything I can to protect it this winter. If I get nice winter tires (probably studded)....around 215mm width on the back, should I be OK with the wider (current all season 235/55R16) tires in the front? (Wider tires are supposed to be worse in snow...more surface to have to "plow.") Also are wider tires rated better than narrow tires on ice? It would seem all the surface area would help? Given that....... - What would the ideal setup be if buy 4 tires? - What would the ideal setup be if I buy two rear tires. (Yes I know about trying to get a good front/back RPM ratio...for speedometer and traction) |
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Quoted: Quoted: I want to get a front wheel drive vehicle/SUV, but financially that is NOT an option this winter. Yes it is. Sell the camaro and buy whatever front drive jap piece of shit you can find and afford. Doesn't matter if it has 180,000 miles on it. Then get a set of true snow tires. The thing will be unstoppable all winter long, I guarantee it. What about a 2001 V-6 JGC w/220k on the vehicle. Engine and tranny were rebuilt 40k ago by Jasper Engines They want 2k for it. Anyone with a CarFax account want to run the VIN for me? |
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That Jeep may be a good back up vehicle for you. If it's a 6 cyl engine it's not a v6, it's the 4.0 inline they used for years. Good engine, and with the low miles on the rebuild you should be good to go.
Make sure it drives good and pay attention to the steering. The drag links and ball joints can get worn and you will ge a bad "death wobble" at certain speeds. Take it for a drive and if it seems good offer $1500. |