R56 What is your winter set up? R56 MCS
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 640
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From: Nashua, NH
Hmm...that's funny, because I drive a RWD truck in the winter and I put snow tires on my rear wheels, and had my normal all seasons up front. Guess what, I was getting around no problem with weight on the rear axle. Other cars were not, one of them being a Mini. 
And weight on the rear will help with on a FWD car, because it will help tires maintain contact at all times, especially since there is little to no weight on the rear wheels. An excessive amount will hinder braking, but a reasonable amount will not. But then again, what do I know?. I only own two pickups, work for a company that does snowplowing, and work on cars and trucks all the time.
And weight on the rear will help with on a FWD car, because it will help tires maintain contact at all times, especially since there is little to no weight on the rear wheels. An excessive amount will hinder braking, but a reasonable amount will not. But then again, what do I know?. I only own two pickups, work for a company that does snowplowing, and work on cars and trucks all the time.
Snows on the rear only should be fine on a rwd vehicle. front traction will suffer a little but i dont see it being that bad. That being said, 4 would still be better. 2 snows only on the front in a fwd car will cause too much oversteer to be safe. On my R53 MCS, I have used a set of 15" wheels with Pirelli Winter Carving, and with the factory LSD, the car is unstoppable in the snow. Winding uphill roads, no problem!
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 680
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From: Brighton, MI
Personally, I'd rather be able to stop and turn than go, in that order of importance. Tires with traction on the FRONT will give you the first two, tires with traction on the drive axle will give you the last.
I ran a winter with snows only on the front of my Alero and it was lots of oversteering fun. 4 is always safer.
I ran a winter with snows only on the front of my Alero and it was lots of oversteering fun. 4 is always safer.
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 4,461
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver, WA
The Winter of '93 I had an '96 Chevy 1500 Extended Cab Shortbed Stepside...that thing kept me home for 4 days straight...and our Winters really aren't that bad. I couldn't get it to climb a small hill once I got it out of the driveway, then when I tried to re-park it in the driveway it slid back a few feet...little to dicey for me I'd say!!
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2008
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I used that setup last winter here in northeast PA. Ordered the car in late July and picked it up in late August. Didn't have much trouble and I have to travel over a 2,000 foot mountain to and from work which gets real dicey in snow storms. Took it easy, drove smart, the traction control did its job and I did all right. Not sure what I'm going to use this year though. I may just rotate them as the tires still look pretty good. But I definitely want to get some serious snow tires at some point.
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 500
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Oh of course, but the difference isn't worth $200 bucks or so more. And, this setup gives you the best of both worlds. Winter tires won't handle worth chit, so mixing the two can sometimes have good results.
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 500
Likes: 3
Personally, I'd rather be able to stop and turn than go, in that order of importance. Tires with traction on the FRONT will give you the first two, tires with traction on the drive axle will give you the last.
I ran a winter with snows only on the front of my Alero and it was lots of oversteering fun. 4 is always safer.
I ran a winter with snows only on the front of my Alero and it was lots of oversteering fun. 4 is always safer.
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,036
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From: Delaware
I have the Performance Run Flats on my car currently, the sales manager said they were a no go in the snow, what are your thoughts?
I don't want to go through the hassle of going somewhere to have them just change the tires round, would it be fairly cheap to get some steelies and winterish tires? Snow around here (Delaware) isn't too bad.
I don't want to go through the hassle of going somewhere to have them just change the tires round, would it be fairly cheap to get some steelies and winterish tires? Snow around here (Delaware) isn't too bad.
^I drove around on summer's for a few winters in my accord with no issue back in West Chester, you just need to be careful and know how to drive in the snow.
I'm lookin at picking up a set of Dunlop M3 winters with a set of SCC snow cables since chains won't fit. They're apparently required here quite often to enter the mountain passes, and as an avid snowboarder I will not hold back from driving. If this car starts to present an issue with getting to the mountains, it will be sold asap for a WRX.
I'm lookin at picking up a set of Dunlop M3 winters with a set of SCC snow cables since chains won't fit. They're apparently required here quite often to enter the mountain passes, and as an avid snowboarder I will not hold back from driving. If this car starts to present an issue with getting to the mountains, it will be sold asap for a WRX.
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,021
Likes: 7
From: Burlington, VT
16" Borbet LS with studded Nokian Hakka 4 tires.
Last winter, there weren't any steel wheel available that would fit the 2007+ MCS.
Please run the same tires on all four wheels. It's much safer that way.
Last winter, there weren't any steel wheel available that would fit the 2007+ MCS.
Please run the same tires on all four wheels. It's much safer that way.
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Germany
Well I ordered a 2009 Landrover Defender 110. It should get me through the next German winter.
http://www.micoche.com/especiales/sa...der_110_sw.jpg
http://www.micoche.com/especiales/sa...der_110_sw.jpg
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 680
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From: Brighton, MI
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 640
Likes: 0
From: Nashua, NH
Maybe he is suggesting to "motor with reckless abandon" advice you originally gave on your 1st post on this subject. Not good advice with just snows on the front and extra weight in the rear.
dude, the snow isn't that bad. I lived in exton and drove around no issues for over 8 years.
Nah, global warnings done, the earth had a natural response, melting polar ice created the reduction of salt in the ocean, causing a cooling effect in the current and in a nut shell we're in for global cooling at this point, we might even get another ice age.
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 7,578
Likes: 5
From: Paradise
6th Gear
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,743
Likes: 5
From: Hot Springs Village, AR
Nah--winter for me is sunroof OPEN; heat and bun warmer ON if lower than 50 degrees. And if we get this:
sunroof is CLOSED. Roads are closed anyway.
That takes care of about 3 months--the rest of the time it's:
And for you Yankees:
sunroof is CLOSED. Roads are closed anyway.
That takes care of about 3 months--the rest of the time it's:
And for you Yankees:
1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, IL
I've been looking pretty hard for cheap steel wheel for SWMBO's R56 and I haven't been able to definitively find one. I have however found that the steel wheel from a Scion xB has the correct bolt pattern (4x100) my only worry is the offset is likely different, but is that difference large enough to make a difference.
Got any suggestions anyone?
http://www.roadwheels.us/04scxbstrim.html
Got any suggestions anyone?
http://www.roadwheels.us/04scxbstrim.html
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,021
Likes: 7
From: Burlington, VT
Chances are it won't clear the front brake caliper.
