STi in the snow

Well, we've had over nine inches of snow, the top part of which seems to
have turned into a thick ice sheet. My WRX STi finds this pretty
challenging, not least because the body can have to push against the ice
sheet. I also seem to burn a bit of tire as it makes it way bumpily
along, as one wheel gets purchase, then another somewhere else, etc. One
interesting result is that steering sometimes has more to do with where
the lumps of ice are than which way I'm turning. I've not noticed much
gain out of locking the center differential manually instead of letting
the computer take care of things, but I figured it was worth a try.

Still, it mostly does pretty well, if I help a bit with bit of targeted
shoveling, and pushing. And I'm parking near the road end of our
driveway for a while.

I can't help but wonder if an Outback would have a much easier time of
it, through the higher ground clearance. I can't help but recall the
Citroen I rented once that had buttons for raising and lowering the car
- that feature would be cool to have.

-- Mark

I can't help but wonder if an Outback would have a much easier time of
it, through the higher ground clearance. I can't help but recall the
Citroen I rented once that had buttons for raising and lowering the car
- that feature would be cool to have.

Yes; it would -- lower torque, the wheels don't break loose, suspension is less
stiff -- so less bounce.

The problem with "performance" cars is that they're designed for performance,
not "all around usage".

The good thing about performacne cars is there a blast to drive in the rigth
situations -- way more than "all around usage" cars.

You should be able to "tame" the sti (ie: you should be able to learn) so that
the car drives fine in the snow & ice.

Take your time and learn how the car handles & try starting off in 2nd or 3rd
gear.


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Tires make a huge difference with the STi. My 06 came with
"performance-summer tires" from the factory and was told by many to change
them for winter duty use here in New England.
My sti is a "nice weather toy" only, (use 4x4 truck) ,so it's never seen
snow/ice. However I did drive in rain twice, which it still had great
traction with the summer-performance tires.
I hear Bridgestone Blizzaks are great winter performance tires.

Good luck..................CC





"Mark T.B. Carroll" <mark (AT) ixod (DOT) org> wrote

Well, we've had over nine inches of snow, the top part of which seems to
have turned into a thick ice sheet. My WRX STi finds this pretty
challenging, not least because the body can have to push against the ice
sheet. I also seem to burn a bit of tire as it makes it way bumpily
along, as one wheel gets purchase, then another somewhere else, etc. One
interesting result is that steering sometimes has more to do with where
the lumps of ice are than which way I'm turning. I've not noticed much
gain out of locking the center differential manually instead of letting
the computer take care of things, but I figured it was worth a try.

Still, it mostly does pretty well, if I help a bit with bit of targeted
shoveling, and pushing. And I'm parking near the road end of our
driveway for a while.

I can't help but wonder if an Outback would have a much easier time of
it, through the higher ground clearance. I can't help but recall the
Citroen I rented once that had buttons for raising and lowering the car
- that feature would be cool to have.

-- Mark

"XP User" <nospamccavallaro5 (AT) comcast (DOT) net> writes:

Tires make a huge difference with the STi. My 06 came with
"performance-summer tires" from the factory and was told by many to
change them for winter duty use here in New England.
(snip)

Yes, I was wondering if when they sell an STi in the winter, it still
comes with RE070s on it.

My sti is a "nice weather toy" only, (use 4x4 truck) ,so it's never seen
snow/ice. However I did drive in rain twice, which it still had great
traction with the summer-performance tires.
I hear Bridgestone Blizzaks are great winter performance tires.

Cool. So far I've been pretty happy with my Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2's
but I don't have enough experience to compare well.

-- Mark

Josh Assing <XjoshX (AT) jAssing (DOT) com> writes:
(snip)

The problem with "performance" cars is that they're designed for performance,
not "all around usage".
(snip)

Mmmm, true. It's all tradeoffs.

I should have added, I had an interesting problem lately where it felt
like the front wheels were unbalanced. I fixed it by removing a large
chunk of ice from between the spokes of the driver-side front wheel!

-- Mark

On Feb 16, 12:54 pm, m... (AT) ixod (DOT) org (Mark T.B. Carroll) wrote:

"XP User" <nospamccavalla... (AT) comcast (DOT) net> writes:
Tires make a huge difference with the STi. My 06 came with
"performance-summer tires" from the factory and was told by many to
change them for winter duty use here in New England.

(snip)

Yes, I was wondering if when they sell an STi in the winter, it still
comes with RE070s on it.

If a buyer is serious about that level of performance

and has that kind of cash he should arrive with a set of 17"s
with winter shoes. I don't see why this is a problem.
Btw what do you have on it now?

isquat (AT) gmail (DOT) com writes:

On Feb 16, 12:54 pm, m... (AT) ixod (DOT) org (Mark T.B. Carroll) wrote:
(snip)
Yes, I was wondering if when they sell an STi in the winter, it still
comes with RE070s on it.

If a buyer is serious about that level of performance
and has that kind of cash he should arrive with a set of 17"s
with winter shoes. I don't see why this is a problem.
Btw what do you have on it now?

Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2's.

-- Mark

On Feb 16, 5:45 pm, m... (AT) ixod (DOT) org (Mark T.B. Carroll) wrote:

isq... (AT) gmail (DOT) com writes:
On Feb 16, 12:54 pm, m... (AT) ixod (DOT) org (Mark T.B. Carroll) wrote:
(snip)
Yes, I was wondering if when they sell an STi in the winter, it still
comes with RE070s on it.

If a buyer is serious about that level of performance
and has that kind of cash he should arrive with a set of 17"s
with winter shoes. I don't see why this is a problem.
Btw what do you have on it now?

Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2's.

Got it. You had it in your post but I somehow skipped "Alpin" part.

Looks like you need two sets of "winter" tires, one the performance
winters like you have for snow
and something like REVOs for ice. The latter would suck on snow
though. Or so some of the reviews on tirerack imply.

mark (AT) ixod (DOT) org (Mark T.B. Carroll) wrote in news:8764a1ddrl.fsf (AT) ixod (DOT) org:

"XP User" <nospamccavallaro5 (AT) comcast (DOT) net> writes:

Tires make a huge difference with the STi. My 06 came with
"performance-summer tires" from the factory and was told by many to
change them for winter duty use here in New England.
(snip)

Yes, I was wondering if when they sell an STi in the winter, it still
comes with RE070s on it.

Yes, it does. Luckily it was a mild December (two months ago) when I
picked up my STi Ltd so I didn't worry too much. But I drove it only about
10 days before having 960AS's put on it. They've made the ride a bit more
forgiving, plus they've been great in all the rain and snow lately.

Dee

mark (AT) ixod (DOT) org (Mark T.B. Carroll) writes:

I've not noticed much gain out of locking the center differential
manually

I forgot to ask - is this exactly like what I get out of a regular 4WD
truck with center differential locked, or is the AWD with the center
differential locked still different somehow?

-- Mark