FWD Rain and Snow Driving Issues

[rough]

I was curious to what other DSM'ers with FWD think of their steering and handling in rain and snow.

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I live here in Indiana, seen this pic on the news today, reminded me of how bad my car handles in the rain and snow.

I have bad camber in the rear / \ and when ever i hit the tar that covers cracks, potholes, slush, ice, decent puddle, my car does not tank it, it moves in someway every time, very scary when it kicks out and starts sliding.

Taking off from a dead stop, spinning tires on the lightest bit of now while barely pushing the gas pedal.

My 88 camaro does better in winter time/ heavy rain then my eclipse does....


I know fixing the camber in the back will help, but even my RS did this with new tires/alignment done.

Thoughts and Rants appriciated!

 

[Pipnorcali]

Get yourself a ol Subaru or toy 4x4 that's what we do in snow country

 

[95talongirl]

Chances are very likely you either have:

A. very worn tires or
B. The wrong tires

Summer performance tires are not designed for snow use, and they even say so when you buy them. Heck, some of the ultra high performance summer compounds are even useless under 40 degrees.

Make sure you have some good all-seasons or snow tires and you will notices a HUGE, HUGE difference. I'd also bet the camber is not helping either, since you are loosing the contact patch.

FWIW, all I've ever driven in winter were FWD (for the most part - one AWD car for a few years) and I have never had an issue with any of them. But I made sure they had good tires. The FWDs did just as well as the AWD for me.

 

[gieri002]

Get some snow tires and you'll be fine, I drove a 350z last winter with snow tires and got by just fine in Minnesota.

 

[95talongirl]

Yes, Snow tires are the sh*t.

Sersiouly. Until I started using them... had no idea what a world of difference they make.

 

[1995silvergst]

Correct your camber as well more tire surface on the groung correctly cannot hurt.

 

[T is for TURBO]

I used to daily drive my talon in winter a long time ago, before I had done the AWD swap, with bald, performance summer tires when I was poor and in college. I had to drive down really shitty country roads that barely got plowed. It was terrible. Hated every minute of it. The second you get any sort of traction, you start to build boost (small turbo) and then you loose traction again.

Going up snowy hills? Forget it. Even at stock ride height my car was a plow.

Rain wasn't as bad, but traction was minimal. Especially once I put my FP Big T-28 on. Spinning the tires at 65mph in 5th gear on the freeway was common.

 

[rough]

I wouldn't mind the GSX for the AWD I'll have to replace them tires and get another alignment, since most of the comments so far have been positive on how the eclipse is in the winter/rain.

Even morning dew on the painted road surface, will make the wheel kick out.

So some winter tires will be in the works and gonna get my camber adjusted "think PO lowered it"!

Any suggestions for a decent winter/ all season tire stock 16" rim that you have used, that won't cost me my arm and leg? 80-110$ a tire is decent. But i don't want a tire that looks stupid or leaves a holy wheel gap!

Thanks for all the reply's makes me feel better about getting this car again for a work daily driver.

 

[91stocker]

It doesn't get much better then fwd for a winter dd. Sounds like you have some serious issues with your car. A heavy fwd should be a breeze.

 

[DSM Jeff]

It doesn't get much better then fwd for a winter dd.

Sure it does, its called awd

Proper tires, alignment, proper tire pressure can make a world of difference. Everyone in my family has a winter wheel set. Its not only about snow traction, just the temperatures can cause a summer tire to feel like you're on ice.

 

[Mischif]

Driving my fwd in heavy rain on the freeway sucks. I struggle to just get up to 60. Anything passed 45 and the tires will start slipping whenever i try to speed up. But thats due to the crappy tires i have.

 

[underradar92]

3 words: Dedicated snow tires.

You will be able to drive around the 4WD SUV's, Jeeps and all that, with a FWD car in the unplowed lanes, since they are usually (arrogantly) not on winter rugs.

No one believes the difference until they experience the it, then they won't drive in the winter without, it's a that profound.

It is also not more expensive as you take twice as long to wear out 2 sets of tires. In 2 seasons the cost of rims is saved in mounting costs, plus the tires absolutely get rotated twice annually, saving wear.

A friend was having winter driving nightmares with her Scion Tc (good summer/performance tires), I convinced her of the above and she thanks me every first snowfall.

 

[clipto]

I do love my fwd doesn't really snow here but when it does only 2 options drive like an old lady and buy good snow tires. That's all you can really do I not ganna say I am a pro driver but I always run super sticky summer tires rain and snow all tho there can be weather conditions that can still make you slip and slide, I have always been a good driver and needs crashed. Just try drive safe, smart, and invest in good rubber. On a side note I always run my front a little low on tire pressure to help with grip so I don't spin that much.

 

[fourgsixthree33]

My 1G AWD, I never got stuck. Ever. I never had traction issues what so ever unless I tried to break traction (good times).

My FWD, different story. I have 18's with performance tires on it, cheap lowering springs, blown RR strut, and crazy camber issues with the rear. It literally feels like both rear tires are flat when driving in ice/snow/heavy rain. It's damn near undrivable.

The first time I drove in abnormal driving conditions with the car, I literally pulled over expecting to see both rear tires flat. If I had snow tires, 16's, good springs/struts, I bet it would be much better. I am actually pulling the blown rear struts and putting in new struts with OEM springs, leaving the lowering springs on the front.

 

[reallyslowfwd]

dunlop graspic d3's are great snow tires. when I had my focus I went from I can't get my car over 35mph on the highway to gtf outa my way. really was a night and day difference. in a heavy ass car like a dsm I would imagine they would be a dream in the snow. tirerack has them for $101 each

 

[Colt4G63 also]

I have four General Altimax Arctics on my winter car, and they grip like crazy in snow and wet. Only about $65 per tire too.

 

[TurboLaserRS]

I have Atlas RedHawks Z rated 225 wide on my 1g. My car is basically bone stock except for an injen intake pipe and catless stock exhaust. When it rains I blow the tires off by accident all the time. Sometimes if I get on it past half throttle in 3rd and it's wet out I'll break the front tires loose. That's with a 14b . Thing hooks like a son of a b though when it's dry and warm outside.

 

[goldeninja20]

I figured i would post since we had a 18 inch snow storm today . I took the car out in about 5 inches. I have 4 brand new tires. Besides the fact i was plowing the snow, My car handles much better than i thought. It is tough considering i dont have power steering and a very grippy clutch. My rear end never comes out on me, the only problem i have is, if i give it alot of gas in turns and i pretty much just go straight instead of turning (when im having fun). The excessive camber in your rear most deffinetly is affecting your car's abilities in the snow. I have 225 in the front, and have little problem pulling out from a dead stop, i do need to slip the clutch alot since it is so grippy