Handling In Snow?

[kocheroni]

Since I've only had my Celica since June 2001, I don't know how my car handles in snow. I got stock tires on it and I'm just wondering if I'm gonna slide around on the road even though it's FWD. ANyone live in snowy climate, and if so, how's it handle on stock tires.

[tagurit]

get a beater and you wont have to worry about it.

[Celica_Chick]

Not too sure about what the winters are like in Jersey, but here in our little cottage country town, the winters can get pretty damn ugly. A good set of winter tires are ideal. My bf almost got into an accident from sliding around so much in the winter, so he bought some winter tires (which are on damn ugly black rims....). :p

[vvtlikick]

I know that the stock 16" GT-S tires are very bad in the snow (they're summer tires, so I wouldn't expect them to work good in winter). I don't know about the winter performance of the GT's tires.

As for myself, I'm going to be switching to Michelin Pilot Alpins soon, just like last year.

[mwz26]

sux in the snow...period

[MikeUK]

After last year on the all seasons, I pick up my Arctic Alpine's tonight.
I'm not going through all that sliding again...

[schlegelbagel]

If you know how to drive in the snow, they handle fine. I grew up in Buffalo, NY and am well seasoned in winter driving. But, if you have lived in Jersey your whole life, you might want to get some toothyer tires for the winter.

Liz's first secret of driving in the snow, always start in 2nd, like 1st doesnt exist, and keep the tach around 3k, this will help your tires from spinning.

[tagurit]

- Just a really nice chick in a fast car -

let me know when you want to get into a real car. bahahaha. got any pics??

[schlegelbagel]

Originally posted by tagurit
- Just a really nice chick in a fast car -

let me know when you want to get into a real car. bahahaha. got any pics??

After that quote you can go to hell. :mad:

[HanweiGotRice]

tagurit,
Leave bagel alone...you do not want the wrath of the OT clan on your ass. :mad:

kocheroni,
I drive an auto GT, and I've had my stock rims and tires for the past two winters. I have had NO problems in the snow. I live in MA and get a lot of snow. Like Bagel said, if you know how to drive in the snow, then you'll be fine. A set of snow tires will never hurt. If you have the money, get a set.

Basically, if you know how to drive in the snow, then you'll be fine. If you don't, get some snow tires, or go to snow driving school. Or, find a large, empty parking lot at night, right after a snow, and practice snow driving. Practice drifting, turning into a skid, practice compensating for fish tailing...

[vvtlikick]

Originally posted by HanweiGotRice
kocheroni,
I drive an auto GT, and I've had my stock rims and tires for the past two winters. I have had NO problems in the snow. I live in MA and get a lot of snow. Like Bagel said, if you know how to drive in the snow, then you'll be fine. A set of snow tires will never hurt. If you have the money, get a set.

Basically, if you know how to drive in the snow, then you'll be fine. If you don't, get some snow tires, or go to snow driving school. Or, find a large, empty parking lot at night, right after a snow, and practice snow driving. Practice drifting, turning into a skid, practice compensating for fish tailing... This doesn't apply to the GT-S 16" tires, they are purely summer tires, unsuitable for use in snow. I'm not sure about those few GT-Ss that came with 15" wheels and tires.

Of course, all cars can benefit from dedicated snow tires, and they're a bargain when you consider the injuries or accidents they'll help you avoid.

[MikeUK]

I'm not so sure about the 'if you know how to drive in snow all seasons will be OK'
The lightness of this car means that in heavy snow the traction once lost is very difficult to regain, also this make any inclines difficult to negotiate. I know from last year!!!
In an urban area where snow fall is minor and cleaned up quick then yes keep the All seasons on, other wise get snows.
Canadian driver and Transport Canada cover this well and if you do go for snows get all 4 wheels done.
Also check that they put them on correctly (as snows are often directional) I had to take mine back and get two reversed last night.

[chameleon]

kocheroni, listen to these posts. On the stock tires, the celica's winter handleing is a joke.

[t2000gts]

i've driven my GTS Auto in the snow last winter (and we had some nice snowstorms here in NY) with the stock 16" alloy rims with the Yokohamas, and i can see now why sportshift should've been called 'utilityshift' instead or something.

if it weren't for it letting you start off in 2nd from a stop, i probably would have been in all kinds of accidents. you just can NOT use first gear in any kind of real snow. you'll lose traction and the front end gets crazy on you.

forget going up hills. i did it a few times (i have to, cuz i live in a hilly area) and all you'll hear is the tires spinning, front end wiggling, not going anywhere, and suspension creaking (probably cuz of the ice?). i forgot how i managed to get up there.

if you hit even a decent pile of snow, you'll need speed to go barelling through it, and have to regain control of the car on the other side. otherwise, you need VVTL-i to bulldoze your way through, and get ready to catch the car as it hits pavement on the other end and starts spinning the tires and burning out.

keep it below 3000rpm (torque peak at 3000-4000rpm) cuz torque is not your friend in a GTS in snow (more reason auto GTS is winter-friendly despite the tires :p), and stay in higher gears (another reason! you can run around in 4th gear all the way down to 5mph before it starts to downshift for you).

despite the huge lack of traction in snow for these tires, driving properly (something which i really didn't know about cuz this was my first winter in a car, let alone my celica) does a ton. i was whizzing through traffic at 50mph while SUVs were abandoned on the side of the road and slush and snow was everywhere :D i stuck the tires into the paths through the slush made by other cars, and kept it around 45-55mph and used gentle steering to follow the curves of the parkway. DO NOT SWITCH LANES this fast though, cuz it'll slide into the other lane, and might not stop sliding.

to put it in a nutshell, your entire drive to/from work/school will be one big controlled slide. this year, i'm gonna hope for some big empty streets/parking lots. DRIFTING TIME.

also...be prepared for ABS to kick in every other light...my house is on the downward side of a hill and i have to swing into the opposite lane, then back into my driveway and go flying into a bank of snow everytime i pull in. and this winter, my tires are more worn than last winter! i hope i make it through ok cuz i gotz no money to buy snow tires. :(