Lowered Cruisers in the snow

[2-tone]

Mine is lowered two inches in the rear and one and three quarters in the front, with Eibachs. I live in the NW where we can get a ton-a-snow at times. I put 4 studded snow tires on, and was amazed at how well the car drove and handles snow as deep as eight-ten inches with no problems what-so-ever. I too was a little freaked about lowering it because I drive it year round, but it was much better than I could have imagined, plus it looks soooo much better lowered. You can also get adjustable springs too..lower it in the summer, raise it back up another inch and a half for the snow..more costly, but I'm sure they work great.

[PTGT Redman]

I have a set of Nokians, same specs as the stock 16" LS type tires. The name of the specific tire is too long to spell, but they are nice looking and drive well.

[RubyRed]

[quote]Originally posted by PT Blueman
I have a set of Nokians, same specs as the stock 16" LS type tires. The name of the specific tire is too long to spell, but they are nice looking and drive well. [/QUOTE
Thanks for the response. I've never heard of that brand but there may be a distributer near here. I'll probly start a new thread on the topic of snow tires in the next month since that season is soon to be upon us. It's good to hear from actual users of the products when it comes time to buy.

[JOEM]

Originally posted by MX-5
FYI,

For the cost of most insurance deductables, you can buy a winter beater car.

My PT, Miata, and show cars will NEVER see snow.

Buy another beater every winter. Sell it in the spring for a demolition derby car.

That's the ticket. Or buy something decent for a second car that will last many winters.

I bought a '94 4WD Toyota 4Runner two years ago for daily work and shopping and bad weather driving. I paid 10 grand for it and it's still worth about that according to the Blue Book! So you can get a "beater" that you can keep a good long time, if you shop right.

[Powertrip]

Hakapalitia perhaps?

[renichms]

Originally posted by JOEM


That's the ticket. Or buy something decent for a second car that will last many winters.

I bought a '94 4WD Toyota 4Runner two years ago for daily work and shopping and bad weather driving. I paid 10 grand for it and it's still worth about that according to the Blue Book! So you can get a "beater" that you can keep a good long time, if you shop right.

Just noticed MX-5's post about that and think I'll follow the leaders...finish this car, get some money, get another car to put the miles on and do work with. Also no threat of freezing of any parts in an air suspension if I drive a beater with springs...

RN

[GR8FLPT]

Originally posted by RubyRed
I love my Cruiser but it is an all-weather car for me. It already has been through one winter (a very mild one). I'm not crazy, though- I run snow and ice tires on all four wheels. I do remember one highway trip taken at 15 degrees where the chin spoiler looked like a giant comb from all the icescicles hanging down( frozen road spray ). I like the idea of a lower center of gravity for improved ice handling but ground clearance is pretty important when the white stuff accumulates.
A beater car would be nice but I really don't have the parking available to me in the winter- there is no on-street parking during the winter months so the plows can get through and we will soon add a "sort-of" beater for my daughter to drive when she finally gets her license, making a total of four vehicles that we have to park. At least the Cruiser and the Bimmer get to live in the garage.

Ditto, I am in the same boat. I want to lower mine too but winter is coming & we get some really nasty blizzards up here. At the time I leave for work, roads are not usually ploughed yet.

I'd drive a beater, but I have no place to keep it. We have a 1 car garage & the wifes car gets it.

Not much to do about that. I may just have to drive it for a winter to see how she goes, I've only owned er 3 months now

[RubyRed]

[quote]Originally posted by GR8FLPT


Ditto, I am in the same boat. I what to lower mine too but winter is coming & we get some really nasty blizzards up here. At the time I leave for work, roads are not usually poughed yet...I may just have to drive it for a winter to see how she goes, I've only owned er 3 months now [/QUOTE
If you get nasty stuff like you describe then make sure you get some decent snow/ice tires. The Goodyears Eagle LS tires that came on my Cruiser would not stick to anything WET, let alone frozen. The Cruiser actually handles nicely in a slide on ice or fresh powder but you need the right tires to permit proper control. There is an art to winter driving but you probably know that, already.

[jlsl1081]

RubyRed, have you run your Sport A2's at all in the snow? If so, how do they work? I also live in central PA (Hummelstown) & I just replaced my basic 15" tires with some 16 whells & Sport A2's. My PT is an all weather car also (& no garage). I was hoping to use the A2's through the winter, without buying snow tires. I bought the A2's from Tirerack.com because they had the best snow rating for tires in their class.

[RubyRed]

[quote]Originally posted by jlsl1081
RubyRed, have you run your Sport A2's at all in the snow? If so, how do they work? I also live in central PA (Hummelstown) & I just replaced my basic 15" tires with some 16 whells & Sport A2's. My PT is an all weather car also (& no garage). I was hoping to use the A2's through the winter, without buying snow tires. I bought the A2's from Tirerack.com because they had the best snow rating for tires in their class. [/QUOTE
I wouldn't advise running the A2's in the winter for a couple of reasons. First, they flat-spot badly over night in cold weather- I'm talking below 40 degrees cold and less. It goes away after about 1 1/2-2 miles of driving. The second reason is that their ability to stick to wet pavement decreases alarmingly with the same temperature drop- this does not go away with 1 1/2-2 miles of driving. I have not used them in the snow- I run dedicated snow and ice tires on all my vehicles except the truck( it really doesn't go out in the bad stuff- it's just too clumsy). Based on how badly these tires hydroplane ( I still have 1/4 inch of tread) in a heavy downpour I would say they would totally suck in the snow. Look carefully at the reviews for this tire on Tire Rack's website- there's a Canadian driver who echos my sentiments, except he has driven these in winter conditions.
The Dunlop Sport A2 is an all-season tire if you live at low altitude and are farther south than southern Maryland. If you can live with the "thumps", you may do alright where you live- I used to live in Hershey and I remember the winters there as relatively snow-free.