VX Out of Control on Snow....HELP!!!

[VX_PA]

I've had BFG T/A's on all year long for over 2 years. They provide great traction and handling on dry, wet, or snowy roads. I wouldn't get any other tire for my VX. They don't really make alot of road noise or I'm just used to it. The wind noise from the Yakima rack was the only annoying sound I had to eliminate by adding a wind fairing.

IMO the BFG's are the only way to go. Just get the 245/70/16, they work great.

[joe-yamma]

thanks for the info VX_PA, that's really the kind of stuff i was looking for !!!
i might still go with the 255's just to fill the wheel well a little bit more. the 245 is a 29.5" and the 255 is 30.1"... i think this will look a little better and my speedo will only be off by 1.9% (at least that's what the miata tire size website says http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html)

anyway, thanks for the info!

anyone else?

Joe

[VX_PA]

Joe,

I'm located about 2 hours east of you if you'd like to find out how the BFG's look and handle before you buy them.

Mike

[StormTROOPER]

All this talk about snow has me green;pg; (with envy) , looks like I'll have to take a trip to Big Bear sometime to try it out. You've also inspired me to change my username from Cali4niaVXer to StormTrooper (since it's built on the Japanese 2 door Trooper platform and it looks like it could have been designed at LucasArts.)

[Tonka]

Originally posted by joe-yamma
thanks for the info VX_PA, that's really the kind of stuff i was looking for !!!
i might still go with the 255's just to fill the wheel well a little bit more. the 245 is a 29.5" and the 255 is 30.1"... i think this will look a little better and my speedo will only be off by 1.9% (at least that's what the miata tire size website says http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html)

anyway, thanks for the info!

anyone else?

Joe

I second the BFG's. They're great in the snow. Goodyears are not too bad either. 265/75/16's fill out the wheel wells nicely (about 31.6").

[Eckstream]

I too think the vx is a little unstable in snow... The only thing I can think of is the short wheel base... Much shorter than most suv making it prone to spinning. I lost it on a back road in PA and ended up in some guys front yard. A little scary considering this is my first winter in a vx

[VX_PA]

Man there's more VX's around me than I thought. We should all meet up somewhere in PA and make some tracks in the snow.

Hey Ecksteam you should think about the BFG's or some Good Years for your VX.

[joe-yamma]

Originally posted by VX_PA
Joe,I'm located about 2 hours east of you if you'd like to find out how the BFG's look and handle before you buy them. Mike

Hey thanks for the offer Mike!!! I am too damn busy right now for the 2 hour drive out to Chambersburg, but we'll have to meet up sometime to check out each-others rides and maybe do some off-roading!

Do you happen to have any pics of your VX with the 245 BFGs that you can post?

Joe

[VX_PA]

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/sh...php?photo=3019

There's the link, for some reason I couldn't get it to show on the thread. Oh well I probably did something wrong.

[Rickster]

Personally, most of my driving is on hard hot asphalt or concrete in the southern US, however, last year on the way to C.E.S. in vegas, we stopped of at the Grand Canyon, and there was about 2 ft of snow on the ground, and I had no problems at all driving, even off road.

Check it out:
http://www.pagerize.com/soundjamz/im...87099-R1-7.jpg

Rickster

[dobie3]

what works on mud does not necessarily work equally well on snow. The VX has near 50/50 wight distribution, which is essential to good handling. However, I opted to buy four snow tires, Toyo Observe, on stock 16-inch rims. Bridgestone makes the Blizzak, also an excellent snow tire. The ideal snow tire will feature a soft compound which actually grows stickier (I'm told) with lower temp's. The two mentioned above feature this.

I too have driven in snow all my life, including NYC, NH, and now, North Idaho. I don't do winter without snow tires. "Mud and snow" radials are an oximoron. The texture and resulting dynamics in mud vs. snow are very, very, different.

I urge you to invest in snow tires. You don't need 18-inch. You can to with 16-inch.

Hope this helps.

[deermagnet]

Driving my VX in the snow became safe and fun after I did two things. I replaced the terrible stock 'Stones at just 15K miles, and I disable the ABS when it snows. My VX performs well in the snow. Last Saturday I made a pre-dawn, 22 mile drive in the Poconos in near blizzard conditions without any trouble. If I have a chance, I always go out in the height of a storm to have some fun.

Click an image for a larger pic.


Mark

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

"Control is an illusion....you infantile-egomaniac!"
"You've gotten a glimpse of this and you're scared!"

(Nicole Kidman)



Sorry...couldn't resist quoting from "Days of Thunder!"

[joe-yamma]

deermagnet - Good pics, great story.. can;t wait until i get my BFG's so I can cruise around during blizzards on this side of the state!

I'll also be pulling the ABS fuse in snowy conditions.

Joe