new rims saved my life.

[sleepyS14]

Originally, this was going to be a thread about the set of winter wheels i just got for my car today. Given the unforseen circumstances that occurred within the last 15 minutes, the topic has changed. So today, i picked up and installed on the spot, my new set of winter wheels. OEM Forged Rays 19" G35 Rims with 245/40/19 in the rear and 225/40/19 up front. Got a good price on em from a friend of mine who's friend was selling his G35. So after work...i headed over to my boy's house to pick em up and install em. It started snowing. It was a light flurry and i figured what the hell..this is why i bought em anyway. So i put em on. Need a fender roll.. but the height was good for now .. with rubbing on big bumps. ill probably adjust that tomorrow. in any case.. i get home.. pass out.. find out that im late for class.. make the dash to school. get out of class early bc it's the end of the term and well.. i guess he had nothing better to say. i joked with my friend about how.. we're gonna break our asses just walking to the parking lot. and how watch im gonna be sliding all over the place.

after leaving the school.. i get onto the on-ramp for the expressway. coming around the wide turn.. id have to say less than 30mph.. i check my blindspot mirror to merge onto the highway. .. just then i see a big square of white in front of my car... thinking nothing of it... i proceeded.. not even tapping the gas.. my rear end swings to the right.. as i cross 3 lanes of highway..spinning 270 degrees (didnt make the whole 360) .. countersteering my *** off as this took me by surprise.. i was perpendicular with oncoming traffic... still moving forward.. my countersteer finally grabbed and swung my front end to the right ... swinging my rear end to the left.. thus avoiding me going straight through the guard rail and OVER the overpass into the street below. sliding through the 3 lanes but this time to the left.. i managed to countersteer into a series of small jerks from left to right.. finally squaring off.. miraculously.. i didn't hit anything (thank god... and thank you mom R.I.P.. i know you were watching over me).. oncoming traffic was beeping.. and there was nothing i could do.. i was just stunned the whole drive home.. i flipped the hazards on and drove as slow as i could. every white patch scared the fcuk outta me from that point. in the end i managed to get home safe.. but shook up.

i couldnt believe what wouldve happened if i hadnt put on those rims/tires today. my old stock 16's had pepboys Futura HR's with 45% tread at best... and probably on only half the tire. i cant imagine.. what could have been if i didnt make it a point to install them on the spot. These are the stock tires off a G35 too.. Bridgestone Potenza R3504 or something like that.. I probably would have went through the overpass and into the street below or did a full 360 into oncoming traffic.

in short... winter is here. we all know it. we have "post your snowstorm" threads and other things showing potential scheduled and unscheduled sliding opportunities. some people mock the fact that they do not have snow in their area.. and it is true they are lucky. but for those of us who will have to endure this feat with or without winter beaters.. it is a long and treacherous journey that has only begun to show itself.

prepare your 240's ladies and gentlemen. winter traction and lack thereof.. is no joke.

Thanks everyone.. just wanted to share this with you. I've seen too many accident threads on here as of late.. and i dont want myself or anyone else to be the O.P's

[Dittoz7]

Well Just More Reason For Everyone To Buy Rims...

[PoorManQ45]

Let me get this straight, your winter wheels are better then your regular wheels?

You're weird. Now, go get your snow tires mounted up on those 16s and be safe

[bobotech]

Snow=skinny tall rubber.

Anything else is an accident waiting to happen but at least having low profile snows is better than not having them.

[Loki]

Glad you're safe, man.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Forged wheels FTW

BTW nice Kouki

[skydragoness]

How do you live in NY and not have dedicated snow tires? Bare minimum width for snow/winter tires should be 215, and your'e running 245 rear and 225 front? My god.

Bridgestone Potenza R3504 ? Haven't heard of them. The part you said about the Futura tires (or as i like to call them--Futurama tires) is probably right as well but you may have been able to slice thru that patch of snow with the smaller width Futarama's. Wide tires cause a 'sled' effect that you don't want.

My advice is to get snow tires for the 16's you have and put them back on. Run a 205/215 50 series on them. My recommendation: Dunlop Wintersport M3 (if roads in your area are dry 75% of the time, I grew up in Elmira, NY and I don't think NY is that lucky in the winter).

Also countersteering is bad, as soon as you feel the back slip up you are supposed to hold the car straight as possible. Countersteering causes the 'pendulum' affect--especially when you do it abruptly. Please, for the sake of yourself, your car, and others, get snow tires.

http://www.tirerack.com/winter...e=118

[bobotech]

How do you live in NY and not have dedicated snow tires? Bare minimum width for snow/winter tires should be 215, and your'e running 245 rear and 225 front? My god.

Bridgestone Potenza R3504 ? Haven't heard of them. The part you said about the Futura tires (or as i like to call them--Futurama tires) is probably right as well but you may have been able to slice thru that patch of snow with the smaller width Futarama's. Wide tires cause a 'sled' effect that you don't want.

My advice is to get snow tires for the 16's you have and put them back on. Run a 205/215 50 series on them. My recommendation: Dunlop Wintersport M3 (if roads in your area are dry 75% of the time, I grew up in Elmira, NY and I don't think NY is that lucky in the winter).

Also countersteering is bad, as soon as you feel the back slip up you are supposed to hold the car straight as possible. Countersteering causing the 'pendulum' affect. Please, for the sake of yourself, your car, and others, get snow tires.

http://www.tirerack.com/winter...e=118

How do you live in NY and not have dedicated snow tires? Bare minimum width for snow/winter tires should be 215, and your'e running 245 rear and 225 front? My god.

Bridgestone Potenza R3504 ? Haven't heard of them. The part you said about the Futura tires (or as i like to call them--Futurama tires) is probably right as well but you may have been able to slice thru that patch of snow with the smaller width Futarama's. Wide tires cause a 'sled' effect that you don't want.

My advice is to get snow tires for the 16's you have and put them back on. Run a 205/215 50 series on them. My recommendation: Dunlop Wintersport M3 (if roads in your area are dry 75% of the time, I grew up in Elmira, NY and I don't think NY is that lucky in the winter).

Also countersteering is bad, as soon as you feel the back slip up you are supposed to hold the car straight as possible. Countersteering causing the 'pendulum' affect. Please, for the sake of yourself, your car, and others, get snow tires.

http://www.tirerack.com/winter...e=118

Very good advice and good post.

[PMSing Chicken]

Shouldn't you switch those around. Nice G35 rims with low profile rims for the summer and stock one rolling on winter tires in winter. I think that would make much more sense.

[skydragoness]

Also, I looked up the tires that come standard on the G35 coupe sport package, Bridgestone RE050A---which are summer tires. That's probably what nearly killed you. Summer tire compounds turn into solid rocks as soon as temps drop under 50 degrees. I'm really surprised at all this, I hope you correct me and tell me there were at least all seasons on the set of tires your "friend" sold you.

[honda_killer240]

sounds like fun. lol. on a lighter side the wheels look good.

[OriginalWheelman]

Wide tires in winter = death.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/...ace=8

Put those on the OEM rims for winter and keep those sweet looking wheels for summer's dry pavement when you can actually hook up.

[StevieRaySTL]

Now, go get your snow tires mounted up on those 16s and be safe

-- Or a set of really nice all seasons and some tubes of sand. Glad to hear you and your car are okay.

[skydragoness]

Wide tires in winter = death.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/...ace=8

Put those on the OEM rims for winter and keep those sweet looking wheels for summer's dry pavement when you can actually hook up.

Do you personally use those? They don't even have test results from the TireRack, and the reviews from customers do not appear favorable. Pirelli's are overated, you know somethings amiss when Ferrari equips their cars with Bridestones and not even tires from the 'motherland'

If you want to talk about hardcore snow tires nothing beats Nokian Hakkapeliittaa's (only thing close are Bridgeston Blizzak's but they wear down a lot faster). I recommended the Dunlop Winter M3's because of their superior test results from TireRack, the exc. customer reviews and because they are more suited to a sports car vs a true snow tire that rides like saltwater taffy.

[BoostFab]

ahahah good story telling. close call. tbone on the high way = death

[Urabus GodofTraction]

Those wheels are comically large.

Repeat after me: "If my wheels are significantly larger than my brake rotors, I'm a closet ricer."

[xekushnr]

I dont know why you would put snow tires on big good rims.

I have had something similar to what you said happen to me 3 times, twice on the highway, and once i did 2 360s from the far right lane to the left, except I was probably doing at least 65. It scared the **** out of me too. Tires are the most important investment you will ever make on your car. Forget the other mods until you have good rubber.

[SEV6]

Forget the other mods until you have good rubber.

This advice can be used for everything in life children.

[PoorManQ45]

Always have atleast a good rubber on you

[KFL]

Also, I looked up the tires that come standard on the G35 coupe sport package, Bridgestone RE050A---which are summer tires. That's probably what nearly killed you. Summer tire compounds turn into solid rocks as soon as temps drop under 50 degrees. I'm really surprised at all this, I hope you correct me and tell me there were at least all seasons on the set of tires your "friend" sold you.

They should be summer tires as the only viable reason to lose control so fast at low speed 30mph. I drove my car a few times last month and it got hairy at night. BFG kdw2's 225/255 (summer tire) first 15mins its like ice skating the eventually warm up but not that to proper temp. My tail came around twice 1 time at 60mph not all the way just 50degrees. This was when I decided it was time to garage the car and take out the beater for winter. This was just in cold night+wet pavement(stoneish cobble)

OP get winter tires or at very least all seasonals. I know a few guys with 240s in nj/ny but they use winter/seasonal tires or buy a beater car.

[IanS]

Do you personally use those? They don't even have test results from the TireRack, and the reviews from customers do not appear favorable. Pirelli's are overated, you know somethings amiss when Ferrari equips their cars with Bridestones and not even tires from the 'motherland'

If you want to talk about hardcore snow tires nothing beats Nokian Hakkapeliittaa's (only thing close are Bridgeston Blizzak's but they wear down a lot faster). I recommended the Dunlop Winter M3's because of their superior test results from TireRack, the exc. customer reviews and because they are more suited to a sports car vs a true snow tire that rides like saltwater taffy.

I recently spent a day in a snowy parking lot testing many of the newest snow tires, thank you Tires Plus . I am also an avid supporter of snow tires and have owned 4 different sets, I want to know what is out there so every time I need a new set I get somthing different.

Hakkapeliittaa's FTMFW I have driven on a few different snow tires and the Hakk Qs or RSI's have no equal, the traction is unreal. For extreme snow and ice traction this is the tire to choose. There is a set on my wifes car now.

The Blizzak's are the closest to the Hakks, the WS 50 (discontinued) was awsome, but the WS 60 does a very good job filling its shoes. For low profile applications the LM 22 and LM 25 do a decent job, but their sidewalls are stiffer to protect the wheel. This stiffness reduces snow traction.

The Michelin Arctic Alpine's are a decent snow tire, on dry they rode the best of all, and they also had the best dry tracking characteristics. My only complaint is the damage caused to aluminum wheels a problem Ive seen in all Michelin tires. The Arctic Alpine has been replaced by the Pilot Alpine.

Currently I am running a set of Yokohama Ice Guards. They have great snow traction, and the ice traction is linear and easy to sense. The only complaint I have is the lack of wet traction, an issue I didnt notice with the Hakks, the WS 50s, or the Pilot Alpines.

The Pirelli's are decent but I havnt spent enough time with them to form a decent opinion.

The Dunlop Winter M3's are a great all around snow tire, and they are priced just right.

The Winterforce M+S is a snow tire for those on the cheap, it cant match the true winter tires in performance, but its a bang for the buck that many people find to good to pass up.

Also, dont forget, sizing is just as important as tire choice, for a snow tire you want a skinny contact patch, and a tall sidewall. For a 240SX with a 16 inch wheel, your choices are rather limited, a 205/55/16 is your best choice. If at all possible, change to a 15 inch wheel, this will allow you more options, and it will also reduce the cost of the tires themselves.

Cliff notes\\ If you drive in the snow, get some Hakkapeliittaa's, your car will thank you.

Modified by SideWays=smiles at 12:17 AM 12/6/2007
Modified by SideWays=smiles at 12:19 AM 12/6/2007

[mmm240]

stop blowing your cash on wheels and just get a winter beater please!I don't wanna see your next post: "just totaled the 240". It's too pretty

[skydragoness]

I recently spent a day in a snowy parking lot testing many of the newest snow tires, thank you Tires Plus . I am also an avid supporter of snow tires and have owned 4 different sets, I want to know what is out there so every time I need a new set I get somthing different.

Hakkapeliittaa's FTMFW I have driven on a few different snow tires and the Hakk Qs or RSI's have no equal, the traction is unreal. For extreme snow and ice traction this is the tire to choose. There is a set on my wifes car now.

The Blizzak's are the closest to the Hakks, the WS 50 (discontinued) was awsome, but the WS 60 does a very good job filling its shoes. For low profile applications the LM 22 and LM 25 do a decent job, but their sidewalls are stiffer to protect the wheel. This stiffness reduces snow traction.

The Michelin Arctic Alpine's are a decent snow tire, on dry they rode the best of all, and they also had the best dry tracking characteristics. My only complaint is the damage caused to aluminum wheels a problem Ive seen in all Michelin tires. The Arctic Alpine has been replaced by the Pilot Alpine.

Currently I am running a set of Yokohama Ice Guards. They have great snow traction, and the ice traction is linear and easy to sense. The only complaint I have is the lack of wet traction, an issue I didnt notice with the Hakks, the WS 50s, or the Pilot Alpines.

The Pirelli's are decent but I havnt spent enough time with them to form a decent opinion.

The Dunlop Winter M3's are a great all around snow tire, and they are priced just right.

The Winterforce M+S is a snow tire for those on the cheap, it cant match the true winter tires in performance, but its a bang for the buck that many people find to good to pass up.

Also, dont forget, sizing is just as important as tire choice, for a snow tire you want a skinny contact patch, and a tall sidewall. For a 240SX with a 16 inch wheel, your choices are rather limited, a 205/55/16 is your best choice. If at all possible, change to a 15 inch wheel, this will allow you more options, and it will also reduce the cost of the tires themselves.

Cliff notes\\ If you drive in the snow, get some Hakkapeliittaa's, your car will thank you.

Good post, you built on what I mentioned w/ more experience. I would hate to live in MN with the winters you guys get. I wouldn't even have a 240, i'd have an STi

Where I live now the roads are clear 90% of the time, and DE is nearly sea-level so temps tend to rise and melt things fairly quickly. I'm getting the Wintersport M3's for the extra set of 16's I just got. Simply because my ADVAN uhp a/s tires are really not suited for anything past 1 inch. Only thing I really have to negotiate is my neighborhood-- which is all 40-45 degree hills ( i live close to the PA border which is why there are any the rest of DE is flat). All-seasons just don't cut it for winter, they're only okay if you live as south as I do or further down.

[IanS]

I wouldn't even have a 240, i'd have an STi

I actually dislike AWD, I dont like the way they tend to push in grip compromised situations, the only AWD car Ive driven that did not seriously have that issue was an Evo VIII. I like RWD because it will always over steer, it is predictable and it allows me a more finite level of control. The only thing AWD is good for is starting from a stop or getting unstuck when you stuff it. Thats just how I roll though

All-seasons just don't cut it for winter, they're only okay if you live as south as I do or further down.

I wish more people would realize this.

[szh]

All-seasons just don't cut it for winter

Exactly right!!

Z

[jdshift]

Shouldn't you switch those around. Nice G35 rims with low profile rims for the summer and stock one rolling on winter tires in winter. I think that would make much more sense.

, but what matters is your safe.

[captainfalco]

I've had the Bridgestone Winterforce, Yokohama Ice Guard (Discontinued I think), BFG Winter Slalom (Discontinued), and now some GT Snow radials (Now discontinued I think also), and never-ever had any problems whatsoever in PA winters. Snow tires in winter>uhp tires in winter.

[ArEs23x]

Oh man I am glad your ok... More of a reason to be safer

[karmapolice991]

If your spinning out hitting patches of snow, make sure to avoid black ice. That sh** is super slick.

[Florida240sx]

I spin out with my ka-t when ever we get a little bit of rain down here. Can't touch the throttle at all when turning. H3ll even my auto vert has been having fun after a rain.