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LHospital
10-09-2001, 02:43 PM
Just bought a used 95' 240SX and this would be my 1st Winter with it. Any suggestion on snow tires?
BTW i never drive a RWD before, are there some 'rules' on snow driving with a RWD? Thanks.
BlueSix
10-09-2001, 03:01 PM
well, I hope you have LSD, it would help a lot, also, try not to apply too much throttle in turns, especially not suddenly...
vancouvers14
10-09-2001, 04:12 PM
dont drive a rwd in the snow.   thats the only rule
S13Grl
10-09-2001, 04:29 PM
If you're REALLY careful, you'll be fine. In rain I usually drive a gear above, don't apply too much gas and just take it easy. Good snow tires: try www.tirerack.com. They should give you advice on that for free. Someone mentioned a good pair here once, but... I don't remember which thread that was.
wav399
10-09-2001, 04:53 PM
Sometimes driving your RWD in winter can be some pretty exciting stuff, as long as you are an experienced driver.
misnomer
10-09-2001, 05:02 PM
This will be my second RWD winter. Give yourself lots of time, and always go easy on the throttle, don't jolt it or yer gonna slide. An LSD would be great too.
LHospital
10-09-2001, 06:36 PM
I'm not quite sure but I think it has the LSD... I live in Canada and I was told that all Canadian 240's have the LSD equipped... am i right?
anyway thank all for the advice
Chokudori
10-09-2001, 07:19 PM
It's pretty fun driving in snow. You could do 10 mph drifts through a curve. (those real drifts where your car's already sideways before you get into the curve). but it sucks when your car just gets stuck trying to pull out from a parking space.
If you're on low budget, you could get snow tires just for the back.
S13Grl
10-09-2001, 07:40 PM
There is a good side to everything... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>
10-09-2001, 07:51 PM
im having fun drivin lately, i've been learning how my car reacts to different things and i've been kicking the rear out alot, but in the snow. nothing can help.
my240likenoother
10-09-2001, 08:12 PM
i heard that it is like driveing a mustang in the snow
jd90240sx
10-09-2001, 10:53 PM
Yea my s13 came with new snow tires and if you are smart don't drive the car in the snow. &nbsp;Ever stay sideways for a half a mile? &nbsp;I did and there was not even a 1/2 inch of snow on the ground with new snow tires. &nbsp;But a good way to learn how to drift though!!! &nbsp;But just be super carful if you are driving it in the snow.
transient
10-09-2001, 11:25 PM
You might want to look into buying a beater for the winter. I don't know what the cars are like by you, but i've got my eyes on an 89 suburu GL for this winter. It's 4WD, and the drop in insurance for five months alone make it worth the cost.

If you've got to drive the 240 this winter though, remember a few things.

As was said before, don't apply power while in a turn; don't ever downshift on snow; if you feel as though you're losing traction, depress the clutch to let the wheels spin freely. On top of all that, just be extra careful, and drive slowly.

Have I left anything out anyone?
misnomer
10-09-2001, 11:59 PM
I get by in winters. . . It may be at 20MPH, but I get by.

I don't think I'll soon be forgetting my first days experience with my '92 s13. I buy the car, go to work on a sunny April day. Drive the 50 miles home in 6 or so inches of snow. Travelling 20 in a 70 zone actually isn't as bad as people make it out to be <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'> Uh come to think about it, seeing that Subaru in the guardrail was a sight. Pack some chains <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>
Archangel
10-10-2001, 02:59 AM
Actually driving in the snow teachs you practical lessons for driving the rest of the year. &nbsp;
Do everything smoooothly, no sudden turns or stops.
Also, it teaches you to shift smoothly.
Both of those things are good lessons in perfectly warm dry weather, especially if you're racing.
S13Grl
10-10-2001, 08:35 AM
You guys may laugh, but when it's raining extremely hard and the roads are slippery... I get a little scared <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('> *sniff, sniff*, so... I drive at 1500 RPMs in 3rd gear (my speedo isn't working, so I don't know how fast that is), turn the music all the way up and sing my brains out. It calms me down: I shift smoother, I'm going a lot slower than I usually go... and I make all kinds of faces at people who can't see me cause they're so preoccupied with driving in the rain (and it's dark). I usually make it home ok. I manage to resist the temptation to drift around parked cars too... hardly, but successfully. So, try doing that the whole winter! (And also, to put weight on the rear wheels, it would seem logic to put a few salt bags in your trunk; they give some weight back there and if you get stuck in snow, salt helps! Also, carry a shovel.)
10-10-2001, 10:22 AM
salt bags will cause moment weight in the back isnt a good idea, i had my subs in for the winter... caused more sliding in my opinion
LanceS13
10-10-2001, 10:30 AM
I don't have to deal with snow thankfully. &nbsp;I've heard of putting weight in the trunk over the drive wheels, but like nismo said...there's two sides to that. &nbsp;It would help with linear acceleration b/c you have more force pushing down on the rear wheels. &nbsp;However, the rear would likewise be subjected to greater lateral forces in a curve causing a loose condition...which is probably really unsafe in snow.

And LHospital, are you a Calculus freak or something?
IceTekGuy
10-10-2001, 10:57 AM
DRIVE THAT SHIT LIKE YOU STOLE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you wanna learn how to drive a RWD in the snow, haha first snowfalls, go to a *EMPTY* parking lot, find out (without hitting the poles) what your car can and cannot &nbsp;do, then apply that skill of knowledge to the roads, now when you figure out with way to countersteer in a turn (always opposites, never turn into your slide) then apply my first sentance in this post to your driving
:o <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> :o
transient
10-10-2001, 01:34 PM
Never turn into your slide??? Are you NUTS???
S13Grl
10-10-2001, 03:07 PM
Whoops... I guess I was halfway wrong then. But... stuff!

Thanks guys!
vancouvers14
10-10-2001, 04:20 PM
not all canadian cars have lsd. &nbsp;just a rumor
IceTekGuy
10-10-2001, 08:59 PM
yea unless, i worded it wrong, your ass end is sliding left then you crank your wheel left, right countersteer...
hmmh...
im trying to picture myself doing it all last winter...lol
well, correct me please... :o
LanceS13
10-10-2001, 09:12 PM
It does help a little if you turn into the slide after there is no chance of saving it and you're completely sideways or almost backwards. &nbsp;Once your car has reached that point, counter-steering actually makes the car want to spin around even more. &nbsp;It's a real 'iffy' thing that you just have to know (or guess) which way you need to turn the wheel in order to maintain as much control as possible.
Chokudori
10-11-2001, 11:01 AM
Actually, it's not the snow that is really dangerous. It's the ice that forms after the snow.
my240likenoother
10-11-2001, 08:06 PM
4x4

(Edited by my240likenoother at 11<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>6 pm on Oct. 11, 2001)
IceTekGuy
10-11-2001, 11:19 PM
if someone could show me how to make pics pop up on these things,for some strange reason, conventional html does'nt work.... i will show you 4X4, my truck (may its grill rest in piece)
is a nissan too, lol, i just like nissans alot, THEY ROCK!!!!
wav399
10-12-2001, 01:39 AM
Hey what about the question about snow tires? &nbsp;Anyway I think Toyo Observes are pretty good. &nbsp;I heard Blizzaks are also good, but never tried them.
misnomer
10-13-2001, 01:01 AM
Iceteck: like this?

http://indigo.wox.org/~indigo/240sx/objects/snowcar2.jpg

Countersteering is gooooood when you learn it right. But keep in mind, on ice not much works. Take it eeeeaaaaaaaasssssssyyyy.
LanceS13
10-13-2001, 01:46 AM
check this out...<a href="http://wsphotofews.excite.com/038/jk/Om/Zw/2P24697.jpg" target='_blank'>http://wsphotofews.excite.com/038/jk/Om/Zw/2P24697.jpg</a>
I figure turning into a skid will help once you've got the car completely sideways or beyond. &nbsp;However, countersteer and and careful throttle control can help keep you from ever getting that far out of control.
Oh yeah...
black arrows=the direction in which the front wheels are trying to make the car go.
red arrows=the direction in which the car is actually going.
blue arrows=mainly 'rotational forces' causing the car to want to spin in a certain direction.
Then again...nothing ever works as well in real life as they do on paper.:)
S13Grl
10-13-2001, 08:54 AM
:biggrin: You actually took time to draw that out for us? Good job, Lance!!!
LanceS13
10-13-2001, 09:21 AM
I'm glad I have an autox tomorrow...I'm starting to realize I have no life....
<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>
transient
10-13-2001, 01:45 PM
as far as countersteering, etc. Just think of it this way. Keep the front tires pointed in the direction you want to go and you should be all set.