Snow tires + lowering springs = fail?

Mopar65 · Post by **Mopar65** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:06 pm

So many of you know that my car has horrible wheel gap and I am looking for a solution. I originally thought coilovers, but now I am thinking just some good struts and lowering springs instead. If I do this and throw on winter tires for my Buffalo winters, how often should I expect to get stuck/fuck up my car? I know it depends on the drop as well so weigh in. Thanks

Mike

OB · Post by OB » Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:10 pm

I don't see how lowering the car is going to effect it's ability to drive in snow. I mean, do you think 1-2" of lost ground clearance is really going to make a difference? Also, you're driving a Neon, it's probably not gonna be too great in snow regardless. I have enough trouble with rain, you guys are nuts for taking these cars into snow and ice

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:11 pm

You'll have a small limitation by the amount of snow on the ground, but overall getting stuck really depends on how well you drive in the snow. I still get around with little to no issue.

excon · Post by **excon** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 8:30 pm

^ he's slammed too. This makes me feel better about driving in snow.

bone-yard-racing · Post by **bone-yard-racing** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:29 pm

Think about overall diameter, if your summer wheels are say 17s with a 205/40/17 tire they wind up being the same overall diameter as your 15" stock wheels with a 185/60/15 by doing that you wont really loose any ground clearance over what you have. I drove a very low car last winter without incident

Mopar65 · Post by **Mopar65** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 10:34 pm

I think these will work for me just fine

http://www.modernperformance.com/eibach ... -1677.html

Any users/opinions? I assume that my tires won't rub or anything with the change right? My 17's have 215/45/17. These should be ok for the winters here

OB · Post by OB » Sat Nov 14, 2009 9:58 pm

Those are the lowest non-coilover springs available. They also ride the worst, from what I hear. Might wanna go a little milder if you're worried about clearance though.

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:29 am

OB wrote:Those are the lowest non-coilover springs available. They also ride the worst, from what I hear. Might wanna go a little milder if you're worried about clearance though.

ride quality is all in what you are looking for, the sportlines are not a soft ride. i enjoyed mine. As for clearance, I was still able to drive in the snow with the sportlines AND use my spider-spikes. Really, if there is more than 4 inches of snow on the road one might want to reconsider actually driving.

Adam G · Post by **Adam G** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:49 am

I drove last winter in my old black srt4 on coilovers

c987long · Post by **c987long** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 8:31 am

Mopar65 wrote:I think these will work for me just fine

http://www.modernperformance.com/eibach ... -1677.html

Any users/opinions? I assume that my tires won't rub or anything with the change right? My 17's have 215/45/17. These should be ok for the winters here

trust me save up for coilovers.. i just did the blues and these springs and i hate them.. so i am currently saving for the megan coils... its just a lot less of a headache

UriahRR · Post by **UriahRR** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 10:01 am

My car is great in the snow. I don't know what everyone else means about them being shit, but mine is fine. It's actually worse in the rain than it is in the snow. 12+ inch snow drifting ftw.

I used to have a 98 Civic EX, now that was TERRIBLE in the snow.

As for the springs, with the sportlines, won't you blow out stock struts if you don't change them? I actually heard that the Eibach ride is softer than H&R, but the H&R didn't drop as low, so you could get away with stock struts. Am I right on this?

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 10:48 am

I'm low and get around just fine in snow. I was passing all kinds of stuff up hills last year.

ZeroChad · Post by **ZeroChad** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 11:11 am

I'm dropped quite a bit as well. I got stuck about 3 times last year, once in the work parking lot. What I've noticed as the main problem is that the center of my car will bottom out, allowing the wheels to not get traction. I originally planned to raise my car back up in the winters and get snow tires for my steelies, but I'm cheap and lazy.

This is one of the times when it bottomed out. I shoveled out the rear, working towards under the car. Getting plowed in @ work sucks.

DroopDaddy408 · Post by **DroopDaddy408** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 2:32 pm

ZeroChad wrote:I'm dropped quite a bit as well. I got stuck about 3 times last year, once in the work parking lot. What I've noticed as the main problem is that the center of my car will bottom out, allowing the wheels to not get traction. I originally planned to raise my car back up in the winters and get snow tires for my steelies, but I'm cheap and lazy.

This is one of the times when it bottomed out. I shoveled out the rear, working towards under the car. Getting plowed in @ work sucks.

If you would turn on your car and leave it running, wouldnt that melt the snow enough for you to get traction? I mean the exhaust runs under the car from front to back....

ZeroChad · Post by **ZeroChad** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 6:03 pm

Somewhat probably, but it was caught on the frame rails and K frame.

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 10:31 pm

What is this snow you speak of? I don't think we get that stuff in central texas.

UriahRR · Post by **UriahRR** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:26 am

Donkeypuncher wrote:What is this snow you speak of? I don't think we get that stuff in central texas.

^Whenever I hear someone say something like this, I always try to put myself in their shoes. For me, it's so hard to imagine not having snow

Neon4Life · Post by **Neon4Life** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:27 am

ill put my input.. it doesnt matter how low you go..it just depends on how you drive ur neon.. mine sits 3" offa the ground and i was forced to drive home about 90 miles last winter on about 8" of snow..sometimes the bumper being my shovel..but i got home fine and that was on low profile tires..

anyways save up for the megan coilovers cause thats the best bet.

Post by **racer12306** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:31 am

Think about it....

If your bumper turns into a shovel there's more downforce on the tires.

INSTA-TRACTION FTMFW 111111!!!1111!!!!!!!1!!!!

Neon4Life · Post by **Neon4Life** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:35 am

racer12306 wrote:Think about it....

If your bumper turns into a shovel there's more downforce on the tires.

INSTA-TRACTION FTMFW 111111!!!1111!!!!!!!1!!!!

true true. i did feel more traction as i was going 10mph...so bumper as the shovel equals FTW.

ZeroChad · Post by **ZeroChad** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:54 am

Neon4Life wrote:ill put my input.. it doesnt matter how low you go..it just depends on how you drive ur neon.. mine sits 3" offa the ground and i was forced to drive home about 90 miles last winter on about 8" of snow..

I disagree. It really depends on the type of snow too. The thicker, icier and more compact the snow, the higher chances that you're not gunna make it through. Living in western Michigan (aka lake effect snow capital), I hate driving a lowered car in the snow, and can't wait to move south.

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 1:11 pm

ZeroChad wrote:
Neon4Life wrote:ill put my input.. it doesnt matter how low you go..it just depends on how you drive ur neon.. mine sits 3" offa the ground and i was forced to drive home about 90 miles last winter on about 8" of snow..
I disagree. It really depends on the type of snow too. The thicker, icier and more compact the snow, the higher chances that you're not gunna make it through. Living in western Michigan (aka lake effect snow capital), I hate driving a lowered car in the snow, and can't wait to move south.

Here is a serious question to consider. If it is that deep out there on the roads is it really worth the risk of driving (and this question works for any vehicle)? I've driven through deep snow, but I also stayed away from questionable locations or found a different route or a found clearer location near by and walked the rest of the distance.

Snow is just one of those things that can hang anyone up that is inexperienced. However, when lowering your vehicle you have to pay more attention to a lot of things you find on the road such as speed bumps, curbs, pot holes, extra thick heavy snow, debris and other things that would fit into these categories.

Neon4Life · Post by **Neon4Life** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 3:41 pm

hansken_yo wrote:
ZeroChad wrote:
Neon4Life wrote:ill put my input.. it doesnt matter how low you go..it just depends on how you drive ur neon.. mine sits 3" offa the ground and i was forced to drive home about 90 miles last winter on about 8" of snow..
I disagree. It really depends on the type of snow too. The thicker, icier and more compact the snow, the higher chances that you're not gunna make it through. Living in western Michigan (aka lake effect snow capital), I hate driving a lowered car in the snow, and can't wait to move south.

However, when lowering your vehicle you have to pay more attention to a lot of things you find on the road such as speed bumps, curbs, pot holes, extra thick heavy snow, debris and other things that would fit into these categories.

yeah what he said. +1.

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:17 pm

If i get stuck I try it in reverse. Makes a big difference because the weight transfer puts more weight on front tires.

Swordfish2Cowboy · Post by **Swordfish2Cowboy** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 2:27 am

OB wrote:I have enough trouble with rain, you guys are nuts for taking these cars into snow and ice

... I really hope you're joking.

DoubtedNeon · Post by **DoubtedNeon** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 2:39 am

or take that money ur saving for megans and buy a winter car, problem solved.

Post by **occasional demons** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 7:54 pm

When the snow gets too deep, I slap on the XJ mod.

Fuel is far cheaper than parts.

ZeroChad · Post by **ZeroChad** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 8:47 pm

occasional demons wrote:When the snow gets too deep, I slap on the XJ mod.

Fuel is far cheaper than parts.

I would love to have a jeep as a secondary. Care to donate?

Post by **occasional demons** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 8:56 pm

Ummm, NO.

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 2:53 pm

proper snow tires will definately make a world of difference. I've been driving Christine year round and last year was the first time ever I had gotten stuck. The front of the car acted like a snow plow, I had summer tires on the car and there was 12"'s of snow in the road. I had lost momentum and the snow built up enough underneath the car to where it lifted the front wheels off the ground.