Winter Driving

[Carchick_44]

Ok....brand new problem here...lol. We've been hit with a TON of snow over the past week or so and I quickly learned that even though Ive got winter tires on my car (brand new in the front - partly used in the rear), I feel like Im riding on skis!!

Yesterday it took me twice as long to get home from work because I was slipping and sliding all over the place. I was restricted to about 40 km/hr on the highway - and even then I felt I had no control - when MOST of the other cars were speeding past me! Im not used to being passed so often.

General opinion is because the car has been lowered, camber is messed up (especially on front wheels) and between that AND the fact that it badly needs an alignment (steering wheel isnt straight). I didnt go to work today because we got snow all day yesterday and then it turned to freezing rain last night and I was afraid of ending up in a ditch.

I am sending it for an alignment tomorrow. Hubby thinks it will need a camber kit as well and not sure if the dealer is going to have that. I just hope that they dont tell me that they CANT align it because *insert pricey suspension parts here* needs replacing first. Money is tight (and being so close to christmas doesnt help).

I love the look and power of this car but there seems to be problem after problem with it!

Im not asking for much....just not to die on my way to or from work.

[Losiracer2]

yeah skinny tires cut through the snow better. But they just might not grip as much. There's less of a chance of hydroplaning on slushy snow b/c there's less of a contact patch. But that comes at a price of grip from a take off.

Idk, thankfully i'm in AZ so i don't have to worry about that shit. But best of luck negotiating the roads this winter.

[1990Ex]

grab some chains

[buckysaccord93]

grab some chains

excactly what i was thinkin... ....you could also drop some air out of ur tires for me surface on the ground.. but if its slshy snow thats gonna prolly make it worse

[EXR-ALB]

Hey, I'm dropped as low as it'l go and it drives like new in the snow. I only have used winters on the front. I do also have an expensive camber kit installed but even before I put the kit in the car drove good. I'm 99.9% that your toe is way in. Ur other half should have no problem alighning it at home. I do mine in about 20 mins. Adjusting the toe will also put the steering wheen back where it should be. Good luck.

[Carchick_44]

Hey, I'm dropped as low as it'l go and it drives like new in the snow. I only have used winters on the front. I do also have an expensive camber kit installed but even before I put the kit in the car drove good. I'm 99.9% that your toe is way in. Ur other half should have no problem alighning it at home. I do mine in about 20 mins. Adjusting the toe will also put the steering wheen back where it should be. Good luck.

First of all, hubby is now working all week in Montreal and I only see him on the weekends and we have a lot to do in those 2 days. Secondly, there is a ton of snow here so working on any car outside for a period of time is hard.

If you think the toe in is the cause of my problem, then the shop should be able to take care of that, right? Its worth the $50 its going to cost.

And chains and studded tires arent allowed here. Im really hoping the alignment will do the trick. I'll let ya know.

[Losiracer2]

an alignment REALLY helps the driveablility of your car.

[EXR-ALB]

If its only gonna cost $50 for a shop to do it, do it.

[N9netwoAccord]

you don't NEED a camber kit. i've been running -2 degrees of camber on my car for over a year, driven in the snow without snow tires with no problems. my toe is dead set on 0 in front. i know this because i do my own alignments. i have no camber wear whatsoever. toe being out of spec is the biggest killer of tires.

make sure your toe is set to 0, and rember to take it easy in the snow. thats the best advice i can give you... i'd rather take 30 minutes to get home instead of 15, but know that i can get there safely.

[NAiL05]

1. Chains + Lowered car = Bad idea
2. Get your alignment if you know its off. If its front end just get a front end alignment. I know NTB does this.
3. Make sure your tires arent "worn out" looking aka dry cracks and so on.

[Soon2beriding]

First of all, hubby is now working all week in Montreal and I only see him on the weekends and we have a lot to do in those 2 days. Secondly, there is a ton of snow here so working on any car outside for a period of time is hard.

If you think the toe in is the cause of my problem, then the shop should be able to take care of that, right? Its worth the $50 its going to cost.

And chains and studded tires arent allowed here. Im really hoping the alignment will do the trick. I'll let ya know.

first this not a big winter storm compared to the others..and winter just started
second i dont think it rain here,,just snowed
third i took my car out tuesday night at about 8h00 pm for a ride with winter tires that been on their 5th season know...1/4 thread left had didnt have any trouble...other that my steerinf wheel is loose ....
in fact its better in the snow then my celica....but it all depends on what tires you have 2......are they are better on snow???or ice????
4.
chaines r not allowed
but studded tires are

[mightyaccord]

trust me get ur alignment done first. i live in toronto and i know how bad our roads get in the winter time, u shouldnt be lossing control at 40km/h

[Carchick_44]

Well, I came home in tears last night. After having an ABSOLUTELY lousy day at work, I go to pick up my car and am given a shopping list of suspension parts they expect replaced before an alignment can be done. That doesnt even include a camber kit which they want $190 for...front tires only.

The camber on the left side is -3.5 and on the right is -3.1 (should be between -1.0 and +1.0) Camber in back isnt bad, but the toe in is.... 0.97 on left and 0.31 on right (should be between 0.00 and 0.16).

He said its no wonder I felt like I was going all over the place because I WAS all over the place.

Soon2briding....the snow we got may have been nothing for you, but for me it was a nightmare to drive in. And I live in Aylmer...which is Quebec...no studs allowed here.

Im not sure what Im going to do at this point. For the time being, Hubby is going to give me the protege to drive and he's going to take the cb7. A guy at work wants my car, just for the motor and is willing to pay what I paid for it and what I put into it so far...about $2000. Boss tells me they've got a couple of cavalier's for cheap (about $500) and they'd get me through the winter...would also give us some extra cash which we could use...but just the IDEA of being stuck with a cavalier or sunfire....eewwww.....thats not just taking a step backwards...thats falling backwards down a whole flight of stairs....

[C91BLX7]

Find another shop, tell them you don't care about camber, Just the toe

[NAiL05]

If there is an NTB up north they will usually adjust the toe for you if you tell them. They wont warranty it but they should.