Turbo in the snow - Merry Christmas!
12-28-2012, 03:13 PM
#16
Burning Brakes
Personally, I was on Pilot Sport 2s! They actually did a lot better than I expected, better than Bridgestone SO3s on an Audi I had years ago. Absolutely un-driveable.
12-30-2012, 01:21 PM
#17
Cardigan Millionaire
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Personally I use the Dunlop Wintersport 3D's in a 225/45R18 Front and 285/35R18 Rear Configuration on my factory Turbo Twist wheels
01-01-2013, 03:21 PM
#18
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Thread Starter
Great pics you guys!
1. Tires - I've been running studded tires for many years. In my opinion, nothing comes close to the traction, even the new studless. During this last trip to Tahoe and the big storm, there were SUVs with good snow tires spun out all over the place. I ran studded on my Suby (LIC Motorsports built me an STI beater with 340 torque and 350hp). On the 996TT I decided to run the Nokian Hakka' 7's. You can't get them from the TireRack, but they are epic, and the best studded tires I've ever used (on dry and ice/snow).
2. Suby WRX Sport Wagon 2007 (with $25K in mods) vs 996TT - I loved the Suby. However, I can comfortably say that the 996TT is hands down better in the snow. Even with the PSM off, the center diff figures things out beautifully. With the weight over the rear, it has tons of traction, and has the perfect amount of over-steer when you hit the gas. I was surprised at how well it did without a locking or limited slip rear diff.
3. Rack - The Thule ski pod fits even better than on my Suby (no tailgate wing to hit the box). The EOM rack is super beefy and solid, way more confidence inspiring than the Suby. The cross-bars are only 1.25 inches closer together than the cross-bars (spread as far apart as possible) than the Suby Wagon, so the platform is very stable for the Thule box. Fuel economy was shockingly not affected, maybe a mile or two per gallon less than without it.
I am so impressed with this car in the snow. I had no idea what to expect, but my expectations were high. The looks from people in good snow cars/SUV's (Range Rovers, Suby's, etc.) as I passed them, were priceless.
1. Tires - I've been running studded tires for many years. In my opinion, nothing comes close to the traction, even the new studless. During this last trip to Tahoe and the big storm, there were SUVs with good snow tires spun out all over the place. I ran studded on my Suby (LIC Motorsports built me an STI beater with 340 torque and 350hp). On the 996TT I decided to run the Nokian Hakka' 7's. You can't get them from the TireRack, but they are epic, and the best studded tires I've ever used (on dry and ice/snow).
2. Suby WRX Sport Wagon 2007 (with $25K in mods) vs 996TT - I loved the Suby. However, I can comfortably say that the 996TT is hands down better in the snow. Even with the PSM off, the center diff figures things out beautifully. With the weight over the rear, it has tons of traction, and has the perfect amount of over-steer when you hit the gas. I was surprised at how well it did without a locking or limited slip rear diff.
3. Rack - The Thule ski pod fits even better than on my Suby (no tailgate wing to hit the box). The EOM rack is super beefy and solid, way more confidence inspiring than the Suby. The cross-bars are only 1.25 inches closer together than the cross-bars (spread as far apart as possible) than the Suby Wagon, so the platform is very stable for the Thule box. Fuel economy was shockingly not affected, maybe a mile or two per gallon less than without it.
I am so impressed with this car in the snow. I had no idea what to expect, but my expectations were high. The looks from people in good snow cars/SUV's (Range Rovers, Suby's, etc.) as I passed them, were priceless.
01-03-2013, 11:40 AM
#19
Instructor
I recently drove mine over "treated" icy roads to work (the handling was great). When I got home I noticed there was a horrific amount of what appeared to be bonded on anti-ice fluid to the rocker panels. The treatment looked like a combination of molasses and salt. Seeing this crap on the car I immediately went to a underbody and rocker panel car wash. The junk came off just fine but I hate to think about that stuff sitting on the underbody and finish for too long………….just saying be mindful of what's on the roads when driving in the winter!
01-03-2013, 12:49 PM
#20
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Good point. We don't have "treated" roads here in CA, but they do use salt. When I got back home, I immediately jacked up the car, took off the wheels, and washed inside the wheel arches and the undercarriage.
01-03-2013, 01:20 PM
#21
Here in the Chicagoland area they use so much salt it is hard to believe. I drove a 996 C4 with Blizzaks for a couple of winters and it remains the best winter car I have ever driven. I know about the galvanized steel body and all, but the first and only time I took my TT out in a snowstorm I cringed when I saw how salt-encrusted it became. It looked like I had driven it into the ocean. Now i reluctantly park it and drive an old LS400 all winter. Somebody please convince me the salt doesn't hurt anything!!!
01-03-2013, 09:59 PM
#22
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Great pics you guys!
1. Tires - I've been running studded tires for many years. In my opinion, nothing comes close to the traction, even the new studless. During this last trip to Tahoe and the big storm, there were SUVs with good snow tires spun out all over the place. I ran studded on my Suby (LIC Motorsports built me an STI beater with 340 torque and 350hp). On the 996TT I decided to run the Nokian Hakka' 7's. You can't get them from the TireRack, but they are epic, and the best studded tires I've ever used (on dry and ice/snow).
2. Suby WRX Sport Wagon 2007 (with $25K in mods) vs 996TT - I loved the Suby. However, I can comfortably say that the 996TT is hands down better in the snow. Even with the PSM off, the center diff figures things out beautifully. With the weight over the rear, it has tons of traction, and has the perfect amount of over-steer when you hit the gas. I was surprised at how well it did without a locking or limited slip rear diff.
3. Rack - The Thule ski pod fits even better than on my Suby (no tailgate wing to hit the box). The EOM rack is super beefy and solid, way more confidence inspiring than the Suby. The cross-bars are only 1.25 inches closer together than the cross-bars (spread as far apart as possible) than the Suby Wagon, so the platform is very stable for the Thule box. Fuel economy was shockingly not affected, maybe a mile or two per gallon less than without it.
I am so impressed with this car in the snow. I had no idea what to expect, but my expectations were high. The looks from people in good snow cars/SUV's (Range Rovers, Suby's, etc.) as I passed them, were priceless.
1. Tires - I've been running studded tires for many years. In my opinion, nothing comes close to the traction, even the new studless. During this last trip to Tahoe and the big storm, there were SUVs with good snow tires spun out all over the place. I ran studded on my Suby (LIC Motorsports built me an STI beater with 340 torque and 350hp). On the 996TT I decided to run the Nokian Hakka' 7's. You can't get them from the TireRack, but they are epic, and the best studded tires I've ever used (on dry and ice/snow).
2. Suby WRX Sport Wagon 2007 (with $25K in mods) vs 996TT - I loved the Suby. However, I can comfortably say that the 996TT is hands down better in the snow. Even with the PSM off, the center diff figures things out beautifully. With the weight over the rear, it has tons of traction, and has the perfect amount of over-steer when you hit the gas. I was surprised at how well it did without a locking or limited slip rear diff.
3. Rack - The Thule ski pod fits even better than on my Suby (no tailgate wing to hit the box). The EOM rack is super beefy and solid, way more confidence inspiring than the Suby. The cross-bars are only 1.25 inches closer together than the cross-bars (spread as far apart as possible) than the Suby Wagon, so the platform is very stable for the Thule box. Fuel economy was shockingly not affected, maybe a mile or two per gallon less than without it.
I am so impressed with this car in the snow. I had no idea what to expect, but my expectations were high. The looks from people in good snow cars/SUV's (Range Rovers, Suby's, etc.) as I passed them, were priceless.
As to the Chicagoland poster who last posted- I don't know what to say about the salt:bang head: because just north of the Illinois border- it isn't any better- but I did find a touchless carwash that will do a basic underbody wash for $4.00 so going to commit to going there twice weekly.
01-04-2013, 10:16 AM
#23
Rennlist Member
After just having my front clip off to repair a leaky radiator hose and do some clean up, i would strongly recommend not driving these cars in any kind of salt as there are alot of nooks and crannies in the front end alone that could become a salt locker. Judging by where I saw dirt and other debris collecting on the radiator/ AC condenser assemblies on my car, I would hate for those areas to become filled with road salt residue. No amount of no-touch underbody washing is gonna get that **** out.
In my opinion, the only car that should be driven in the winter road salt conditions we have in the Mid-West is a car you don't care about losing after ~10yrs. (My Dodge Caliber). Now Iowa is fond of using some sort of blue-colored salt slurry that I'm sure is able to penetrate our vehicles down to almost the molecular level.
As Neil Young says, "Rust Never Sleeps"
In my opinion, the only car that should be driven in the winter road salt conditions we have in the Mid-West is a car you don't care about losing after ~10yrs. (My Dodge Caliber). Now Iowa is fond of using some sort of blue-colored salt slurry that I'm sure is able to penetrate our vehicles down to almost the molecular level.
As Neil Young says, "Rust Never Sleeps"
01-04-2013, 11:51 PM
#27
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
The Nokian Hakka7's are the quietest studded tires I've ever run. With all studded, you can only hear them under 40mph on dry pavement. Above that, if you can hear anything, it's the larger tread. I've driven louder sounding track tires on my Spyder. No issue at all during my 2.5 hour drive to the snow.
01-06-2013, 08:04 PM
#28
Advanced
Studded are huge no-no in Minnesota as far I as I know, and in many places actually. They ARE wonderful, but ruin roads. I lived in the Seattle area and the road crowning from studded use is terrible, so they outlawed them there too.
I reluctantly decided not to drive my 996 TT in the winter because of the salt and additives. I'm sure it would be a blast to drive in true MN winter conditions were it not for that.
So I bought a used SUV that means nothing to me if the worst happens, etc.
Alas...
I reluctantly decided not to drive my 996 TT in the winter because of the salt and additives. I'm sure it would be a blast to drive in true MN winter conditions were it not for that.
So I bought a used SUV that means nothing to me if the worst happens, etc.
Alas...
01-07-2013, 03:21 AM
#29
Cardigan Millionaire
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Great pics you guys!
1. Tires - I've been running studded tires for many years. In my opinion, nothing comes close to the traction, even the new studless. During this last trip to Tahoe and the big storm, there were SUVs with good snow tires spun out all over the place. I ran studded on my Suby (LIC Motorsports built me an STI beater with 340 torque and 350hp). On the 996TT I decided to run the Nokian Hakka' 7's. You can't get them from the TireRack, but they are epic, and the best studded tires I've ever used (on dry and ice/snow).
2. Suby WRX Sport Wagon 2007 (with $25K in mods) vs 996TT - I loved the Suby. However, I can comfortably say that the 996TT is hands down better in the snow. Even with the PSM off, the center diff figures things out beautifully. With the weight over the rear, it has tons of traction, and has the perfect amount of over-steer when you hit the gas. I was surprised at how well it did without a locking or limited slip rear diff.
3. Rack - The Thule ski pod fits even better than on my Suby (no tailgate wing to hit the box). The EOM rack is super beefy and solid, way more confidence inspiring than the Suby. The cross-bars are only 1.25 inches closer together than the cross-bars (spread as far apart as possible) than the Suby Wagon, so the platform is very stable for the Thule box. Fuel economy was shockingly not affected, maybe a mile or two per gallon less than without it.
I am so impressed with this car in the snow. I had no idea what to expect, but my expectations were high. The looks from people in good snow cars/SUV's (Range Rovers, Suby's, etc.) as I passed them, were priceless.
1. Tires - I've been running studded tires for many years. In my opinion, nothing comes close to the traction, even the new studless. During this last trip to Tahoe and the big storm, there were SUVs with good snow tires spun out all over the place. I ran studded on my Suby (LIC Motorsports built me an STI beater with 340 torque and 350hp). On the 996TT I decided to run the Nokian Hakka' 7's. You can't get them from the TireRack, but they are epic, and the best studded tires I've ever used (on dry and ice/snow).
2. Suby WRX Sport Wagon 2007 (with $25K in mods) vs 996TT - I loved the Suby. However, I can comfortably say that the 996TT is hands down better in the snow. Even with the PSM off, the center diff figures things out beautifully. With the weight over the rear, it has tons of traction, and has the perfect amount of over-steer when you hit the gas. I was surprised at how well it did without a locking or limited slip rear diff.
3. Rack - The Thule ski pod fits even better than on my Suby (no tailgate wing to hit the box). The EOM rack is super beefy and solid, way more confidence inspiring than the Suby. The cross-bars are only 1.25 inches closer together than the cross-bars (spread as far apart as possible) than the Suby Wagon, so the platform is very stable for the Thule box. Fuel economy was shockingly not affected, maybe a mile or two per gallon less than without it.
I am so impressed with this car in the snow. I had no idea what to expect, but my expectations were high. The looks from people in good snow cars/SUV's (Range Rovers, Suby's, etc.) as I passed them, were priceless.
01-07-2013, 06:17 PM
#30
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Here is my winter setup....
Winter Tires:
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 (studded) - NOT sold by TireRack
225/40-18 Diameter of 25.1"
255/35-18 Diameter of 25.0"
Winter Rims (from TireRack):
2 x 18X8 5-130 POR ET54 Sport Edition CUP4
2 x 18X10 5-130 POR ET40 Sport Edition CUP4
Winter Tires:
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 (studded) - NOT sold by TireRack
225/40-18 Diameter of 25.1"
255/35-18 Diameter of 25.0"
Winter Rims (from TireRack):
2 x 18X8 5-130 POR ET54 Sport Edition CUP4
2 x 18X10 5-130 POR ET40 Sport Edition CUP4