Hey everybody. It's getting to be that time of year again. It's snowing as I type this, and I got to thinking about driving my coupe in the snow. I've only had it since July, so I wouldn't have any knowledge about it. Anybody care to chime in on the subject?

PS- Weather is hell in Kansas.

 

From what others say (search "snow," really, this has been brought up plenty before) if you spend around $1000 to buy some smaller rims, put Blizzaks or similar winter-specific tires on them, and put 120lb of sand in the trunk, you'll be able to take any snow Mother Nature throws at you.

I even drove mine through some fresh, light snow with only all-seasons last winter to see what would happen (and get to a parking lot to have some fun sliding around), and while it was a bit hairy and I had to play with the traction control, I got up some steep hills and didn't get stuck once.

But you'll also be risking your front bumper lip to rocks in the snow and your car to salt-induced rust, along with your body panels (and yourself) to giant SUVs with silly drivers sliding everywhere. I'd recommend something heavier, taller, and cheaper/crappier for the winter, like a beater SUV if you can afford one.

 

I put Continental ExtremeContact DWS on just before last winter. Stock rims. Tire sizes are slightly larger than stock (235/40/18 front, 285/35/19 rear). We had a lot of snow and ice here in Chi-Town last winter. No sand in my trunk. The car stuck to the road with no problems. They're great in the rain, and, the surprise bonus is, they stick really well on a dry road too.

 

x2. Same tires, same size. Plowed right through the Kansas snow last winter. I ran the stock Continentals for three seasons and really didn't have much of a problem with them - but didn't attempt any steep hills. The ExtremeContact DWS were a major improvement however.

 

X3 here in MN. 80 pounds of salt in the back, regular oem conti's and really it was fine even thru 8" of heavy wet, just don't stop on an incline. as long as there's was forward movement we're good. I have the DWS's now and I expect them to be fine for the surprise snow we get. I put Ilse to sleep in Dec to early march just so I don't put her in a position for someother DA to hit her because they didn't know how to control their vehicle.

 

I'm going to disagree with everyone here somewhat. I have the Continentals on my car during the winter, 100 lbs of sand in the back and the traction off and I find that the car's performance depends on the type of snow. By the way I live in North NJ so while I might not know snow like some of the other guys but I do know it. I find that with fresh snow that isn't too wet it packs the treads of the tires and I have problems. In the slushy stuff the car does better.
Either way I contend that there are a lot of other cars that are better so if you have one, use it. I employ a 1990 front drive Cadillac Seville, there is nothing better.

 

Last year Tire Rack dumped the Blizzack 265/35/19s V rated LM-25s (were almost $400each) for $105 each. I installed them on 9/1/2010. I got off work at 10:30 one night last winter......there was 8 inches of fresh snow (not plowed) in my neighborhood.....I made it all the way up to my garage door before I got stuck!!!!
Passed a lot of vehicles (including 4x4s) that slid off the road. Super cheap Achilles ATRs ($65) on front.

22,000 miles later I still have 6/32nds.....next year (9/2012) I'll install the extra sets of these tires I stored in the basement. Love em!!!

 

I've always found a "skinny" winter tire works best with an aggressive tread pattern front and rear.
A narrow tire seems to plow thru the snow better than a wide low profile tire does.
Also, by using a little "taller" tire you can gain just that much more clearance to help pass over those unplowed roads. (I think stock XF hight is less than 5").
Weight in the trunk helps balance out front to rear weight distribution as well.
I've never had my Crossfire in the snow, but I've used this combination on another car very similar to the Crossfire and it worked great.

 

When I see the word 'great' used to describe driving in the snow in a Crossfire I shudder that someone may think it is 'great'.
Any rear wheel drive car without good snow tires is not 'great', and it's just a bit better with snows on all four corners.
Get into some real snow of any depth and it will pack up under the car and you are in trouble. The wider tires just sit on the snow, I have never driven the Crossy in snow and I would not want to, snow tires or not.
Front wheel drive with snows all the way around is the way to go. If the snow is bad and you must drive the car in winter snow, park the car and miss work or go later when the roads are plowed, the pay you lose would not have paid for any damage to the car and you'll pay again in next years insurance most likely.

In Canada we get our winter laughs looking at the news on TV of US drivers in areas that get little snow driving (?) on a little layer of snow and/or ice. Set to music it is like a ballet.

 

Nothing better than a FWD Caddy in the snow? When it gets deep, it's pretty hard to beat a Jeep or other 4WD vehicle with some ground clearance.

 

While I am certain that there are many more capable vehicles for use in the Snow than a 1990 Seville, Any front drive car is better than any rear drive car with equal tires!

I Just put the DWS on My cross this Summer and have found them to be excellent on wet and dry roads. In the Pugeot Sound Basin We do not get a Lot of Snow but when we do It can Be tricky. WDOT does a **** poor job clearing streets and getting trafic going again.

All throughout the winter We get Local snows in the Myriad of Micro climates Present in Our Coastal Mountan Zones. Four inches of fresh snow here and 1 mile down the road, bare and wet, Another mile along and It's snowing hard and that Hill is aready Icy. I do hope these DWS get the Job done. My T1R's were Great in the wet, but snow left Me walking that next Mile.

 

I always suggest putting it in the garage for the winter like I do. If there are some nice clear days where it has been sunny enough to clean up the streets I will run it to work just to keep it in action but mostly I just drive my Jeep from Late October to Mid April depending on the year.

 

Live a little.

When I bought my first cross, I had a almost new pontiac grand prix that was my previous car, when winter came I was going to drive the pontiac, but the XF was so much fun, even in the snow, I got blizzaks for it, like Chris suggested, and have not looked back.

The wilder I get in modifications, she will become a garage queen, but for now, it is too much fun to drive, any season...

 

I guess most of you, who drive the CF in winter, do not have the luxury I do.
My wife and I are retired, and have a all wheel drive SUV for the Michigan winters, so my Crossfire goes under a cover with a battery tender, in the garage from mid November until April. I don't want unnecessary rust on my baby, she is clean as a new one,(11,000) miles and counting.

 

OK, 2 occasions for me in the snow, and with PS3 summer tires. First time, it actually performed surprisingly well, even with those tires. There was a few inches and it was slushy. Second time, the snow was about 4 inches.......but the issue was it was cold, roads were cold and very light sheen of ice. Surprisingly I made it home from DC (34 miles) and up the last hill to my house (barely) and when I got to my driveway (very slight incline) it was a no go, I had to turn off traction and get my son to push me in (about 4 tries). That's the last snow it will see with it's current configuration. It is likely the last snow to see under any tire configuration if I can avoid it at all. I have the luxury of using my other car most of the time (except when my son is home from college) so it will stay warm and clean in the garage if there is any change of snow.

That being said, I will still drive it in the winter on clear clean days because I love to drive it.

 

180, I was talking about ANOTHER car I once used in the winter that performed great, NOT a Crossfire. You might want to re-read what I said before having another shudder attack over an adjective.
Since I actually drove the said vehicle thru a North East Ohio winter without ever having any problems, I personally thought it performed GREAT for a rear drive car.
I think it goes without saying a front wheel drive is prefered over rear wheel drive for winter driving.
But not everybody enjoys the luxury of owning two cars.

 

Sorry, but you did compare it to a Crossfire and that makes me shudder. Someone may get the wrong impression with the comparison. Take a drive on good all season tires in snow and ice, even worse and then try some snow an ice tires, there is no comparison. Any one who says there is no difference is sadly mistaken or lying to them selves. I do not mean you.

 

Can't say enough about the ESP / Traction Control .......has saved us 3 or 4 times!!!

 

When I bought my used Crossfire, it had summer only new Siminoto's(spelling?) on it. First big snowfall and I got stuck one block from my driveway. It was like driving with bald tires!

I bought Goodyear all season F1's and the car can be driven safely in snow now, if I have to do it. I love the Crossfire too much to take it out in bad weather. I'm retired, so if the weather is bad I can usually take my wife's ES330 Lexus with front wheel drive.

The right tires mean a lot when it comes to the Crossfire's drive-ability.

 

Very well. Buy the best snow (NOT all-weather)tires you can afford and put them on 18 inch rims (the narrower the tire the better the traction). Wash the car every week, especially underneath. 5 minutes time and $3 a week is not going to kill anyone. Lay old newspaper under your floor mats to catch melting ice off of your shoes. Change when wet. Turn off traction control in the snow, you want a small amount of wheelspin in the snow. The XF has an awesome heater and defroster, heated seats, heated windshield washers, the REST button, its made for winter. Have fun!