GarageMahal
SCMODS
I was surprised how well the stock tires did on snow up to few inches. That is until I was up on the north shore of Lake Superior headed to the ski slope on 3+ inches of fresh stuff. The car refused to make it up the hill that runs the last mile or so to the chalet. Fortunately a snow plow came by shortly and "paved" the way for me.
Since then I set myself up with the Michelin Arctic Alpins. These are the first dedicated snow tires I have ever used and I must say they really make a huge difference.
I have been driving police interceptors with good all seasons for 15+ years in the snow with little difficulty but have kept chains in the trunk for the really bad days. I have been amazed at the increased traction these tires give and I am happy to say goodbye to installing chains in a blizzard.
jta
Since then I set myself up with the Michelin Arctic Alpins. These are the first dedicated snow tires I have ever used and I must say they really make a huge difference.
I have been driving police interceptors with good all seasons for 15+ years in the snow with little difficulty but have kept chains in the trunk for the really bad days. I have been amazed at the increased traction these tires give and I am happy to say goodbye to installing chains in a blizzard.
jta
SergntMac
Shelby GT X2--Back In Black
427435 said:
Mechanically speaking, the cars present quite different challenges. The GM doesn't have front tires so wide they act like snow plows. The GM isn't 1 1/2 inches closer to the ground, nor does it have a lower front air dam, also acting like a plow and likely to get ripped apart when the seasonal "rut" crop comes in for harvest. The GM doesn't have gobs of torque rotating through a 3:55 gear and posi-traction, turning two wider snow plows on the rear. And the GM doesn't have a touchy accelerator that shouts BanZi! at 2500 RPM and continues to add more gobs of torque that just swings the car in a circle when the front snow plows are doing their snow plow jobs.
You're right 427435, these minor differences aside, if one cannot handle an MM in the snow, they probably won't handle it well in the sun.
mdmarauder
Senior Member
We've had plenty of snow here in MD. The MM has done way better than I expected with the stock tires. You just can't gas it hard on a curve. Pretty much common sense.
SergntMac
I agree, the wide, summer tires that come standard on the MM aren't the way to go in snow. That's why I said "winter tires" when I posted that an MM should work fine in snow. The Grand Marquis my wife drives does have the 3.55 rear end, and I suspect that its part-throtle torque at 1500 rpm isn't much (if any) different than the MM's. In fact the standard engine's torque may be higher at this rpm----------and if you're trying to launch in snow at much higher rpm's, all I can say is that I think we've found the problem with some people's ability to drive in snow!!!!!!!!!
I haven't measured the actual difference in front spoiler clearance, and that could make a difference, but I suspect that, if the MM is designed to make it into gas stations without tearing up the spoiler, that its front clearance isn't much different than a standard Grand Marquis either.
Like I said before, given winter tires (and maybe a little trunk ballast), the MM should be just fine in snow---------if its driver has any skills.
I agree, the wide, summer tires that come standard on the MM aren't the way to go in snow. That's why I said "winter tires" when I posted that an MM should work fine in snow. The Grand Marquis my wife drives does have the 3.55 rear end, and I suspect that its part-throtle torque at 1500 rpm isn't much (if any) different than the MM's. In fact the standard engine's torque may be higher at this rpm----------and if you're trying to launch in snow at much higher rpm's, all I can say is that I think we've found the problem with some people's ability to drive in snow!!!!!!!!!
I haven't measured the actual difference in front spoiler clearance, and that could make a difference, but I suspect that, if the MM is designed to make it into gas stations without tearing up the spoiler, that its front clearance isn't much different than a standard Grand Marquis either.
Like I said before, given winter tires (and maybe a little trunk ballast), the MM should be just fine in snow---------if its driver has any skills.
J
Jack McKenzie
Guest
Did you swap all four tires and wheels? I live on the Mississippi River where I-80 crosses it. Where is the "Tire Rack" located?
