Where to bolt on the winter wieght

[Fotowntalon]

Winter and snow are here in my area, and i gotta say i hate how my car is doing already in light snow. My ass end rips about if i am not extremely careful when i am going around corners or do any half decent breaking. Also the car feels like it is constantly pulling on snow. I have my stock rims back on with the all season tires, but i think the tread is to low to be doing me much good.

Anyways i figure snow tires are my best bet, but while i wait on that, i figured adding some weight would help a lot. I threw 320lbs in my trunk to try and help it from sliding all over, but I was wondering, because it is a FWD car, is it best to try and even out the weight? Can you add to much weight to the trunk? And lastly, what are some easy cheap tricks for winter handling

 

[viperlp01]

Find some better tires... I mean seriously man.. You will be suprised if you put some winter tires on your stockers.. It might cost 200 bucks but 200 bucks to possibly save your life... well spent

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

You need to just get some dedicated winter tires on those stock wheels. Even with additional weight the effort is futile without good tires. I bought my first set of dedicated snow tires for my wife's Honda Civic and I was sold on them ever since. I am currently running a set of winter/snow tires on my dd which is a 94 Ford Probe and I am on my 4th winter with these tires with plenty of tread left. I do drive easy on them and my daily commute is only about 20 min each way, but you can make them last and they are a must for me. Nothing like the feeling of being out of control sliding down the road. IMO, do yourself a favor and get a set. You will be glad you did. If you choose not to.... Have fun skating around this winter.

 

[twinsnails]

Umm do not waste you time with weight, get some winter tires and you will be fine. I used to have a 91 accord with General Altimax winter tires, an American version of the Swedish brand Nordforst tires. They were great and I never had a problem with any snow up to 8-15 inches nothing stopped me. Trust me all-season tires are nothing compared to winter tires. Winter tires are desined for weather below 40 degrees meaning their compound stays soft and does not get rock hard.

 

[Fotowntalon]

Thanks for the replys, i really really want some snow tires, and have herd nothing but good things from them everywhere i ask. But i am currently trying to get my job training program to pay for them. So the weight adding was a cheap quick fix until i get snow tires.

So once again i do plan on getting tires, but was hoping for some other help beyond tires, while i waited to get them financed/arrive.

If i have to pay for them myself, you guys got any links to some good ones? Tires/rims is on my main list of ignorant issues, and not really sure what will fit my stockers. All i really know is i want the last numbers in the xxx/xx/xx to be 16 (for stock that is)

 

[Locke]

205/55-16 is stock for the 16x6's. You could fit anything between 215/55-16 to 195/60-16's on a 16x6. Most people tend to aim for the narrower tire (195) for winter use, as do I.
edit: You can stretch 225's, but it is a stretch. I wouldn't go smaller than 195 as the tire will be more likely to come off.

Weight in the back is more important for stability than weight in the front. A fair amount of weight over or just in front of the rear tires is beneficial. (but not behind the rear tires) Keep your better treaded tires in the rear, as well. I keep my Winter kit (cat litter, jumper cables, small tool box, blankets, gloves, portable tire pump, etc) between the back seat and the cargo net. My kit probably weighs a total of 75lbs.

Try to keep your tires inflated to between proper and maximum rated limit. Slightly over-inflating the tires reduces their contact patch which helps them to "cut" through the snow, instead of riding over the top of it. I keep mine around 34-35psi during the winter months.

Maintain a proper wheel alignment.

These simple things help keep my car pretty stable in the snow. Nothing but careful driving will help on slick ice.

 

[caboose]

having 320 pounds of stuff in your trunk is not safe, get that crap out of there and get yourself a nice set of studded winters if you can. the difference is night and day, i drive my neon with snows and get around just fine, i take my eclipse with summers on out every once and while and i don't slide unless i want to, its all about how you drive you shouldn't be sliding and if you are you are obviously driving to fast for the present road conditions. BE SAFE DRIVE SLOW IN SNOW.
MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

[AWD92TalonTSi]

Last time I checked adding weight to a car reduced it's handling effiency. I would get winter tires asap. Go with craigslist, I'm picking up a set of this weekend with 2 seasons on them for 75 bucks. Last 2 winters I drove my 01 miata w/ snow tires and had no problem even though it only weighed 2300 lbs and was rwd. Worst case evaluate your current all seasons and ensure the best 2 are in the back.

As far as driving tips, here's one from the race track "smooth is fast". Avoid abrupt/sudden inputs and allow yourself time to interpet the feedback the car is giving you. I wish I could give you more advice but I've never had a fwd car want to swap ends in the winter.

As for buying tires call your local dealer or tire rack and talk to them about the cheapest size that will fit your car.

I've only driven on blizzak ws50's and my opinion of them is they are great wt/snow tires but are mushy dry tires.

Bryan

 

[Fotowntalon]

thanks for all the advice. I am thinking of getting these
http://discounttires.com/product_de...lZjdkZjMyMWRlMWIwZjJlNTNlMTZjMWE=&prodID=7240
they seem to be a good price and are rated well. If anyone can knows of any cheaper just as good tires, i'd appreciate it, but most seem to be around that price if not more.

Also i removed a160lbs, it was located behind the rear tires, kept 160 that was either right in front of or right onto of the rear tires. Once again thanks all for the information. Hopefully this information helps out other people with questions

 

[abryant2004]

yea no real need for wieght just get some good tires

 

[bullettdsm]

I don't know about you guys, but I don't bolt-on my winter weight, it just kinda grows on me. Pretty much ends up in the middle

(sorry I had to. I keep seeing that title and it goes through my mind everytime )

MB