G35 Coupe in the snow

[SuperMutt]

Hello there,

I've seen some people ask how the G35 handles in the snow. Well tonight was my first chance to drive in the snow. My 03' coupe handled as well as my front wheel drive Camry. Better in most cases. Living in northern Minnesota, I'm sure I'll have more chances to try it out.

I have 17' wheels with Mud & Snow tires, I could walk out to my garage and find out what kind they are, but I'm sitting next to a nice warm heater and I don't want to move.

The few times the car started trying to walk sideways down the road, the Slip light came on and the car quickly came back under my control. Granted, most of the time when the car went off center, it was because I was trying to see if what would happen.

I also found out that if you want to do "donuts" in the office parking lot, you have to turn off VDC.

I LOVE this car.

[IlsG35]

WOOOOHOOOO i luv this forum everytime im thniking of something to ask someone has already posted it. Anyways i have the stock 18" rims, i was wondering if snow drriving is the same like SuperMutt says. or if not wat are some good snow tires?? i live in maryland so it dont snow that much, but when it decides to snow her we get like a foot of snow or something. i just wanna know if the G35 gets stuck so that way i can get my CRX out and ready for the snow. thanks

[mikeatx]

I have a question related to this topic... somewhat...

I live in central Texas. Austin specifically. We don't get snow... its simply not gonna happen. We do get ice a few times a year and none of us know how to drive in it.

Its really not about being able to drive in it....its about not getting hit by the other people that THINK they know how to drive on ice.

Last year we had ice 1 time and I had to drive home from work in it. Took me 2 hours to get 10 miles because of traffic. I witnessed 10 single car accidents and 3 50+ car pile ups on a couple of bridges.

Anyways. I have the Michilen Pilots and stock 18's. These are very much summer tires. If I must drive in the ice, should I turn off the VDC? or will it handle ice just as well as everything else.

My fear would be if it detected slipping it might brake putting me into a uncontrolable slide.

[IlsG35]

Its really not about being able to drive in it....its about not getting hit by the other people that THINK they know how to drive on ice.

Anyways. I have the Michilen Pilots and stock 18's. These are very much summer tires. If I must drive in the ice, should I turn off the VDC? or will it handle ice just as well as everything else.

My fear would be if it detected slipping it might brake putting me into a uncontrolable slide.

LOL... i would think u would leave the VDC on i thought the VDC only controlled the gas not the brake. but i could be wrong, as far as i know the VDC cuts off the gas until u can regain controll of the car.

[joe603]

Ice, even with the VDC is literally a slippery slope! The VDC will help, but its not a miracle worker...if you go to fast and hit ice, you still might go off the road/hit something. BE CAREFUL!

[G35Jill]

I live in MI and use Perilli Snow Sports. Love them!!!

[Q45tech]

Every brand of VDC uses both throttle and rear brakes, many of the newer dynamic stablity systems use the front brakes also.

ABS reduces braking forces to the wheel that locks in braking the others apply braking forces during acceleration.

Heaven help the system with people who ride their brakes while accelerating..........confusion and dizziness.

[Smoke777x]

Sorry... I know this isn't the right post but i just wanted to know how the 95 240sx will handle in the snow if it had snow tires.

[cobrajet]

I just blew into Colorado a few days ago in a new '07 6MT Coupe and about an hour before the big snowstorm hit. Made it into the neighborhood but couldn't get up the driveway and into the garage. Nothing a little kitty litter spread on the snow and a turned OFF VDC couldn't take care of. The "summer performance" tires do suck on ice/snow!

[nuQ]

the other thing with summer performance tires in the winter,,,,,even if the road is totally dry,,,the rubber stays WAY too hard in cold weather for sufficient grip. if you live in the snow belt get dedicated snow tires.

[lowtechmind]

I wouldn't get my hopes up taking the G ride to the slopes or sporting around town like a Subaru. Sure mine has the stock street tires which are not intended for snow and ice but it really didn't do well. The tires really make the difference and with traction control it all goes to the ground but with the ground clearace and the stiff suspension why take your beauty out unless it's an emergancy. Get a beater for the bad weather.

[mikeatx]

I originally asked about the ICE with Summer tires. Totally forgot about it until today, when we got Ice down here in Central Texas...

I took the safe way out, called a couple of people I work with and got the general idea that most people weren't going to work. So I didn't either. The G stayed nice and warm in the garage.

I also just called work again and the currently voice mail says no work tomorrow! Yah.

[wgmg35]

I have Blizzak LM-22 tires mounted on Akuza Road Concepts 18" Sublime wheels. Fronts are 225/45 R18 91V and the rears are 245/45R18 96V.

[MsG35]

I just had the pleasure of putting 400 miles on my '06 G35-most of it on snowy Wisconsin roads. I put on dedicated snow tires (Dunlops on 18" rims) and the ride was great!! It did take me a few turns to remember how a rear wheel drive handles after 15 years driving FWD cars, but once I got used to it, I had no problems! And the return to a manual transmission was definitely the right decision.

[i30daretodif]

Obviously not the coupe, but my G35x has been handling the snow/ice like a champ! We've had quite a bit of nasty weather recently (Seattle). I need some new tires (down to 3/4 mil), but I haven't had a problem so far. Unfortunately, no manual on the x.

my 2 cents on the ice thread!

[primitifs]

zer...cally the G35 sucks in snow. for me it is even worse as i have the 19" wheels and there is no winter tires in that size. I guess i will just have to take the truck out when it snows which kinda sucks when going out to dinner and have to valet park (lol) with a 22' 4x4 diesel truck and the girlfriend has to climb up and down with a formal dress lol. The G35 handles no better than my BMW Z4 did in snow.However on dry it is sweet and handles as well as the Bimmer did. Plus it has a back seat.

[G_whizz]

I have 19's too...who told you there was no winter tires that size?? I have Blizzaks on as we speak.

Oh and welcome to NICO!!

[g_ride]

i got to drive my car for the first time in the snow today and it did as bad as my rwd truck did then i pulled in my driveway which kind of on a hill and got stuck about a foot on to it had to get a head start and a small push

my thoughts on the g in the snow it did horrible love it on dry ground and rains not to bad niether

[C-Kwik]

Do not drive the G with summer tires in snow/ice. You're just asking to wreck. Tire manufacturers make no consideration for snow and ice when designing summer tires. They are looking purely at dry and some wet traction in warmer weather. In fact summer tires will tend to be rock hard and perform poorly in cold weather as well.

[360Lover]

Or any car with summer tires for that matter. They don't work in snow. It's not the car.

[SuperMutt]

Just checked my G35 Coupe and I have Enterprise M&S P225/50R17s on all four wheels.

I know that the coupe is supposed to have wider tires in the back, but these were on the car when I bought it.

I checked my door jam and the car is supposed to have 225/45R18s in the front and 245/45R18s in the back. Hmmm, I'll have to look at that this summer if I'm allowed to spend money again.

I can just say again that it handles nicely in the snow in my opinion. If I start to slide off axis, it feels like the brakes come on in the leading rear corner and it causes the car to come back in line.

[G_whizz]

Yup...that VDC can be a life saver!

[primitifs]

Thanks re: the Blizzaks. The dealers here (I called 4) all said that there wasn't a all season tire in the Infiniti's 19" sizes. Considering some of the dumb remarks regarding the Infiniti problems in the snow I received from two of the dealers I am not surprised that they would not be able to source them out.

Anyone have any info on the plastic film to protect the nose on the Infiniti similar as the stuff on the mirrors and fenders? Just heard about it and looking for the source.

[robman66]

My '06 coupe came with the 19" wheels and summer tires. Even in cold weather (quite common here in Ontario after November) they can be quite slippery. They do get as hard as a rock. I bought a new set of 18" wheels (infiniti replicas) from a place down in Florida called OE Wheels. They are the 6 spoke 18" wheels that come standard on the coupe. I got them in a nice gun metal color. They come with full warranty, and come with the Infiniti center caps. I got the set of 4, shipped to Michigan for $550. You can't find a used set on Ebay for even double that money. I put 18" Pirelli Sottozero high performance winter tires on them, and what a great combination. They look great, and they handle the snow quite well. The VDC does such a great job of keeping the car straight too.........I would never want to go without it.

[joel4sale]

Got snow/ice in the northwest couple of weeks ago.....My car was slipping like a figure skater.......When I move up here, everyone here living in Seattle all told me it doesn't snow or ice so I didn't bother to pick up a set a of winter tire..................

My 6mt coupe would slide down hill...can't go up hill...I was driving 40 mph on I-5 and still fish tail a bit...........Then I saw a 350Z wipe out and went in ditch in front of me.......

Then again, the VDC and ABS actually bailed me out countless times in that week of ice/snow. I am origionally from California and can BARELY drive in rain let alone in snow, so I am sure if it's not because of good engineer of Infiniti I most likely would had crashed already...

[G_whizz]

No snow tires = playing with fire.

Get em'

[Muslimsteel]

I got a 2004 G35 Coupe 13K miles about a month ago and it still has the stock michelin pilot sport tires on 18" rims. Anyways driving in the snow one day was not fun so I'm looking to get snow tires on it with a new set of wheels.These will only be used during the winter so I've been looking at tirerack.com for their closeout specials on 17" wheels (cheap name brand is fine). I was also told that Dunlop Wintersport M3s are great snow tires so I've been looking at them...I'm not sure if this set up will work since I picked it because I didn't like what tire rack was picking for me so if you guys could let me know what you think. Thanks!! Item Description Availability Qty. Price Each Item Total 235/55HR17 Dunlop Winter Sport M3 Blackwall In Stock 2 $168.00 $336.00 225/55HR17 Dunlop Winter Sport M3 Blackwall In Stock 2 $140.00 $280.00

Item Description Availability Qty. Price Each Item Total 17x7.5 ASA JH3 Silver Painted In Stock 2 $94.00 $188.00 17x7.5 ASA JH3 Silver Painted In Stock 2 $94.00 $188.00 TPMS SENSOR In Stock 4 $58.00 $232.00 TPMS NUT In Stock 4 $3.00 $12.00

[usmc323nova]

Snow question.. I have the 18" package on my 2004. I recently came upon a set of Blizzak (i believe) 17" tires with rims for $500. The only issue is that they are all 4 the same size 225/50. Will this make a difference? damage the suspension since it is designed for bigger tires on back and smaller in front. Does the switch to 17" for winter make a difference on the 18" sports package?

Help.

[joe603]

Snow question.. I have the 18" package on my 2004. I recently came upon a set of Blizzak (i believe) 17" tires with rims for $500. The only issue is that they are all 4 the same size 225/50. Will this make a difference? damage the suspension since it is designed for bigger tires on back and smaller in front. Does the switch to 17" for winter make a difference on the 18" sports package?

Help.

Use this to compare the two different sizes. I'd say that as long as it's not more than 10% off, you should be ok.

http://www.bigcustomwheels.com/info_specs.jsp

[Cali 2 Balti G]

I didn't buy the G35 for it's snow handling prowess. The G WILL be parked during snow periods - then I will switch to my other vehicle with 20" rims