So I am heading to Niagara Falls to ring in the new year with my girlfriend. Taking the RX-7 (my '86 base) because it gets better gas mileage than her 4x2 jeep. Going to be driving from southern Virginia.

Anybody ever put tire chains on their RX-7? I have driven it in snow and it really dosn't do that bad. That bad with 200lbs in the hatch Do they make tire chains for the RX-7 or is it a tire size thing?

James

 

You can get studs on certain tires for around $10/tire. I have winter tires(non-studded) on my 7 and it goes great on snow/ice, so I'm sure studded tires would be more then enough.

(Who really wants to drive with chains on a sportscar?)

 

we have a thing called a snow plow up north, it keeps the roads clear of snow so you do not need chains to get around. if you're just going for a few days just drive it like it is, no point wasting money on snow tires to use for a week.

 

lmfao
You act like canada is so technologically advanced, just because you can take french people, and make them good at something (hockey) doesn't mean you're all that special!

sorry, couldn't resist. But really I have nothing againt canadians. Just fun to joke about ;-)
I'm sure us americans sure are the *** end of plenty of jokes.
Give a little, Take a little
Merry Christmas

 

hella

 

I just visited my parents who live about 20 minutes north of Niagara Falls. I got back in Detroit last night just as it started to snow. I talk to my Dad when i get home and he said it was a good thing I left when I did.... they are supposed to get hammered with snow in the next couple of days, up to two feet .

You might want to take the Jeep.

 

I spoke with a few folks from Buffalo yesterday (the Bills were here playing the Mighty Falcons ) and they al said the weather was quite mild there and they dont even have any snow yet so...

unless there were some pretty extreeme conditions <i.e. pry shouldn't be out driving anyway> you wouldn't need studs or chains. several states don't allow the use of studs and/or chains anyway; they mess-up the roads.

You were saying you had 200 pounds on the back when you drove in the snow before right? You'll likely have a bunch of luggage and crap this time too.

good luck and have a safe trip!

Cory Waters
first car was a mustang, learned to drive in upper Michigan.

 

It was very nice this past weekend... I was working on the RX in a tshirt and jeans. It's just going to turn shitty with the lake-effect snow. Lake Erie has no ice in it so when cool air blows across the lake and picks up all that moisture from the warmer water, it unloads it on Buffalo and the Niagara area. When I was in high school, I can remember waking up in the morning and seeing 2-3 feet of snow from the night snowfall. I hate snow..... so I moved to Detroit .

 

I've driven my old GXL in the snow and it's LSD came in handy. I'm now looking forward to driving my TII in the snow as my search for a POS daily driver has been pretty fruitless. I'm pretty good with driving in the snow, I usually get a bag of salt in the back to add weight and help me out if I get stuck.

At least I'm not like some of the nutcases in the Cincinnati RX-7 club who drive their 3rd Gens in the snow...they find it fun for some odd reason!

 

you should be fine with the tires you have...my friend drove his car back in a storm(as it was the only thiong availible to him at that moment..his other car was at home)and he said as long as he did not hit the throtle hard he was fine...it added like an hour to his trip but it was a only like 4 or 5 inches that we got..so we did not get hit hard...but in anycase dont wast your money for one trip he was on allseasons...you will be fine...

 

ohh yeah i would be more worried about what the salt would do if anything....

 

I'm concerned about salt, but I tend to wash all that crap off after a drive. FCs aren't known to be rust-buckets., but I certainly don't want to contribute to my car's early demise due to frame-rot. One of the worst things you can do is drive in the salty-slush and park in a heated garage. The heat allows the faster reaction of rust formation. If anything just hose the car's body down, including under the car before parking for the night.

 

What kind of tires are on it right now? Tire choice is a big thing. For example, I have nice summer tires on my T2 (dunlop sp8000 all the way around, 225's in front and 245's in back) and I haven't tried em in the snow myself, but the guy who sold me the car warned that they absolutely SUCK in the snow. I think narrower tires actually help in the snow, as they sink into it more and grip better. Snow totally changes the rules... an ABS car actually takes longer to panic-stop in snow than a non-ABS (these numbers from a popular science test a while ago) I'm assuming it's because when you lock up in snow, your tires start to dig into the snow and make troughs, slowing the car. sort of like a gravel trap...

 

Just put my car in the ditch 15 minutes ago. Some guy pushed me out by hand good thing i was turning a corner and only going like 20mph. It was at the end of my road like 1/4 mile away from my house so no big deal and no damage. Guess I should learn to drive! This is my first winter driving (I'm only 16). Would weight in the back help me to get unstuck when I go in the ditch again (better traction)? Maybe some snow tires too? I am looking for a winter beater, but the search is not going to well. So I get to enjoy the exciting winter driving the RX-7 provides.

 

Thanks for all the replies. The car has the wonderful 185-70-14 on the phone dial rims Not so great for handling but good for snow. They are Bridgestone Potenza RE93. Good thing they have a 4.9 out of 10 rating on the user rating at tirerack.com.

[Cwaters] Yeah, if it is that bad outside I should just stay there and not drive. Hell, I just hope she starts when the temps are in the teens.

james

 

go for it...road trips are always fun in the RX-7

 

I have chains for my RX-7. I rarely use them but when I do it works just fine. I'd buy some just to be safe. They are damn cheap.

 

Where I live, I think we get more snow than niagra. At the moment there is green grass everywhere. It sort of sprinkled a bit to give everything a white tint. (so really none) I don't know that chains are legal here.

 

Just get yourself some snow tires and then practice, practice, practice. You'll get the hang of it.

 

quick tip for those who get stuck. if you let out a butt-***-load of air from your tires it will really help you to get unstuck in most places. unless you put it down a hill or something.

 

Snow chains are illegal here in Ontario.
Yes it is green everywhere right now, but by Thursday we supposed to have at least a foot of snow (toronto area) and Buffalo usually gets more snow than us.
I drive a pick up truck in the winter... all-season tires that are at least 2-3 years old... all I do is just throw two bags of side walk salt in the back and it works good like. Never been in an accident in it or gotten stuck, jus gotta know how to control dem der drifts
Our roads usually get cleared pretty fast, so the only thing that you should be worrying aboot is the ice (bad for stoppin ) and salt, cause yah dont wanna get that under your car.
Peace

 

Best trick for if you get stuck in the snow, use... CAT LITTER!!
Stuff works wonders hehe

 

Have fun, I watched the weather channel before, they said 10" of accumulation in 2 hrs...you might be better off heading south!