winter driving w/automatic

[keepingthe240]

I'm owned my 240 for 3 yrs. I switched jobs a few months ago and work 20 miles away. My old job was close and the local bus service ran right by my old job. How much of a difference would a lsd and snow tires make?? I have an automatic and it will spin the right tire if i barely touch the throttle and have had the rear end come around when making turns. If i can't find a way,i'll be sell it!!!

[ride4lame]

I don't have any experience with snow tires yet...but an LSD will help you keep traction a little better. In my opnion though, a manual transmission would be the best bet...maybe swap out the trannny.

[topless@vabeach]

Be a true redneck and load your trunk with sandbags. Ads more weight to the rear tires plus if you get stuck just throw sand down on the snow and instant traction to get out.

[keepingthe240]

I've tried putting weight in the trunk, it might not of been enough. How much weight should be put back there??? Sand bags weigh 65-70 lbs each, How many do i use?? I'm not worried about getting stuck,i'm worried about running off the road at 50 mph or hitting another car. I ran off the road twice in a prior car and i've seen cars run off the road many of times. Is snow tires also needed in the front ??? The added weight in the trunk will cause the rearend to come around more if it breaks loose.

[ricebike]

sideshow, true about more weight in the trunk...

i wouldn't even be goin that fast on snow... unless i'm on the turnpike w/ no other cars w/in a 1/4mile in front & behind me.

agh, i gotz a manual & still have difficulty w/ snow drivin'

I recently purchased tire cables for the rear ($15) since I don't have $ for snow tires... any1 have experiences w/ that?

[keepingthe240]

Tire rack recommends buying a set of four to provide the best handling characteristics and tire performance. Anything over 35 mph and my car get loose in the back. In the light snow there are alot of front wheel drive/4x4 suv's driving the speed limit. If it snows alot,they might slow down alittle. Black ice is what you have to worry about

[keepingthe240]

sideshow, true about more weight in the trunk...

That it causes the back end to come around??

[Altiman94]

If you haev more weight in the back more than likely you will get more tail slides, but will get better traction from a stand still. It's a trade off.

[droptopsilvia]

Black ice is what you have to worry about

yep and theres no cure for that!

I'm intersted in finding out how my 240 will do in the snowcant be any worse than my integra with 2" of ground

[droptopsilvia]

clearance

[keepingthe240]

Whats the most weight that should be in the trunk??

[S13Sil-line]

Guys guys guys, Just punch it. Thats a cheap way to practice drifting. Ha ha ha. No foreal, no rwd is fun in the snow. Just suck it up and drive slower until next spring.

[BadMojo]

My 240SX is a manual, not automatic, but in my experience, good snow tires make a difference. I've never had to put weight in my trunk, and I live in PA. I only have snow tires on the rears, but would like to get a full set of four.

Having a lot of unsecured weight in the trunk of my car makes me nervous. I don't have an LSD.

[book-ends]

Hello,

I live in Golden, CO and the winter tends to make me sick. I learned a while ago that I just need to leave an hour earlier for everywhere that I need to go and have plenty of music in the car for the 20 MPH trip. I have a manual and whenever I shift from like third to second while going down hill the back comes out..... with out fail!! I hate the winter.

I was hoping that someone would provide a concrete answer about the LSD. I will buy one if it helps because I almost had a couple of near misses last winter and I drive like a little old lady in the snow!

[S13Sil-line]

An LSD will not give you better traction slowing down. It will however give you better traction to the rear when accelerating. If your just down shifting to slow down in the snow it going to do that regaurdless if you have an LSD or not. Hit the brakes before downshifting. That should help. I lived in Denver and I know exactly how you feel about the winter there. Im actually moving back in a few months right in the middle of DEC. An LSD could actually make matters worse. Instead of letting one wheel spin (less rwd traction) will give you the other three wheels to hopefully keep you straight. An LSD will spin both rear wheels (more rwd traction when you break loose) and leave two wheel to keep you staight. Most of us know how bad it sucks when your going slow, Im talking 20-30 mph slow and the front wheels break traction and you cant do anything sitting there waiting the seconds go by that feel s like minutes, then BAMM. Yup, thats right, you just hit a curb trashing those Type Flex coilovers you just bought. Hasnt happened to me. Well at least not my 240sx. Know what I mean.