View Full Version : Running Lowered in Winter
trulankan
10-10-2012, 03:22 PM
I will be swapping out my Raceland coils soon for Koni Yellows and Tein S-Techs but I was wondering if I should:
a) put the OEM suspension back in and and hold off on putting both the S-Techs and Koni until the Spring
b) just put in the Koni's now with stock springs
c) put in both the S-tech and Koni's now
Has anyone had experience running lowered in the Winter? What is it like? My main concern is having to plow thru the snow daily which can cause over-exposure to salt which would lead to rust in my wheel wheels. I would be taking the 401 so it shouldn't be too bad but I would be worries on local streets.
Pros
- save labour on having to do the swap and alignment again in the Spring
- better handling in the snow with all-weather 17' tires (not all out winters) on a lowered car?
Cons
- possible rust issues?
- car may be bogged down in heavy snowfall
opinions??
Aitch
10-10-2012, 03:27 PM
Just swap to the new lowered suspension. Put the savings from not doing another swap in the spring towards some winter tires. With winters and the appropriate momentum, getting sick while lowered has never been a problem for me. No other rust issues either.
peterm15
10-10-2012, 03:32 PM
Option c
And buy proper winters.
Edited. Made a mistake in option letter.
S.F.W.
10-10-2012, 03:43 PM
Option c with winter tires
Johns 08 3 GT
10-10-2012, 03:53 PM
Another vote for winter tires. Night and day difference.
rajin929
10-10-2012, 03:59 PM
+1 for winters.
an inch or two decrease in height isn't going to make your car last longer, it's a mazda 3, rust will catch it either way
Just like others have said, definitely get yourself some winters. Definitely makes a difference. Your low shouldn't be too much of an issue in winter.
highlineMotors
10-10-2012, 05:29 PM
Another vote for winter tires. Night and day difference.
Agreed. I learned my lesson after driving on low profile Dunlops and getting stuck next to an 18 wheeler on an inclined road.
rachelle
10-10-2012, 05:31 PM
Winter Tires FTW!
don't really find that there has been much snow in Toronto for the last few winters
Can't even remember if I shovelled my driveway last winter, I might have done once, and I wasn't even wearing shoes at the time.
zakman
10-10-2012, 05:53 PM
I live in barrie and we get way more snow then any of the southern areas. I have run prokits which have given me about a pinky finger gap all around for 4 years and going on 5 winters. I have never gotten stuck or had any issue with the snow. I drive a fair bit in the county and up north highway 11 past orillia also which gets even more snow then barrie. just put the whole kit in and be done with it. save your self the money. Grab some good snows and keep you momentum moving forward. you will have no issues if you do that.
best of luck
trulankan
10-10-2012, 06:34 PM
alrite, so its pretty obvious consensus that I should get winter tires lol but i should be fine lowered i hope. now to find me some 17-inch winter tires (and hope it would be the same price as 16" + steelies)
trulankan
10-10-2012, 06:51 PM
don't really find that there has been much snow in Toronto for the last few winters
Can't even remember if I shovelled my driveway last winter, I might have done once, and I wasn't even wearing shoes at the time.
+1 this is what would piss me off, if we dont get any actual snow again this year lol
peterm15
10-10-2012, 08:08 PM
Winters aren't just made to withstand snow and ice. The compound is much better for cold weather.
Personally I think snow tires are over rated....
and before anyone gets on my case I do have winter tires and waste of money if you ask me...
Personally I think snow tires are over rated....
and before anyone gets on my case I do have winter tires and waste of money if you ask me...
Agreed
murdaspeed
10-10-2012, 10:03 PM
If you have Kumho Escta 4X all seasons, you don't need winter tires.
zakman
10-10-2012, 10:15 PM
Personally I think snow tires are over rated....
and before anyone gets on my case I do have winter tires and waste of money if you ask me...
it all depends on where you are.... because believe me i would be dead if it wasnt for snow tires. they completely make a world of difference in actual snow and ice. i agree that in T.O its a different story most of the winter. roads are kept clear and if anything its slush. just keep you distance and drive smart and you would be safe on all season in T.O.
it all depends on where you are.... because believe me i would be dead if it wasnt for snow tires. they completely make a world of difference in actual snow and ice. i agree that in T.O its a different story most of the winter. roads are kept clear and if anything its slush. just keep you distance and drive smart and you would be safe on all season in T.O.
I live in the country and drive 20 mins into town (Belleville)... First winter I owned my car I used the stock toyo's that came on my 16" rims... I bought the snow tires at the end of the year cause I got a killer deal cause winter was over... Car drove just fine with the all season.
Once my snow tires wear out I'm not buying another set... Just goin to drive with same rims/tires all year round
And I'm 32 years old and being driving for years on all seasons and never had any issues...
alrite, so its pretty obvious consensus that I should get winter tires lol but i should be fine lowered i hope. now to find me some 17-inch winter tires (and hope it would be the same price as 16" + steelies)
17" winter tires are pricey. Go 16" with steelies or used alloys.
i prefer having the right compound for the right season, but that's just me. the biggest advantage of winter tire is grip which translates to better handling and more importantly stopping. you can get by with all-seasons, but there are compromises...
trulankan
10-11-2012, 12:27 AM
when i used to drive my dads tercels on all-seasons in winter I was scared as hell cause the thing has tiny 15-inch tires standard. Once he finally got winters on it I noticed a big difference and felt much safer. I wanna see how my car handles winter on all-seasons but i guess its not worth the risk especially considering I commute too work 100km/day and about 700km a week
peterm15
10-11-2012, 12:28 AM
I started using winters when a civic with low profile summers slid 180ft ( no ice) into my friend. Extreem cold, even in dry weather screws with the compound of tires, winters are better, all seasons will work, just never drive on summers in winter.
^^^^
My 3 sucks in winter compared to other cars ive owned
when i used to drive my dads tercels on all-seasons in winter I was scared as hell cause the thing has tiny 15-inch tires standard. Once he finally got winters on it I noticed a big difference and felt much safer. I wanna see how my car handles winter on all-seasons but i guess its not worth the risk especially considering I commute too work 100km/day and about 700km a week
Why were you scared? When I had my truck I had a winter beater and for 3 winters I had a tercel with 13" rims... Car drove fine with all seaons ....I drove that thing everywhere.
S.F.W.
10-11-2012, 12:53 AM
let's try and get this back on topic - OP was asking about recommended suspension options, not if winter tires were something he should purchase.
I drove on General Exclaim UHP tires for 2 winters and didn't have any problems
Even in a snow storm on a drive out to London and back
But that's just me
trulankan
10-11-2012, 02:05 AM
Why were you scared? When I had my truck I had a winter beater and for 3 winters I had a tercel with 13" rims... Car drove fine with all seaons ....I drove that thing everywhere.
lol sorry i just realized that they are indeed 13-inch tires LOL. I would slide around in winter with that car, then again my dad put cheap Motomaster all-season tires on them lol
trulankan
10-11-2012, 02:23 AM
the tires I have now are Nokian WR2: http://www.nokiantires.com/tyre?id=11899&
You'll be fine, lowered or not. That is an actual all weather (different from all-season) tire if I'm not mistaken.
trulankan
10-11-2012, 03:46 PM
You'll be fine, lowered or not. That is an actual all weather (different from all-season) tire if I'm not mistaken.
yeah it is which is why I was thinking to stick with it til it goes bad and then get a dedicated set of summer and winters. owning a car is not cheap at all, especially if u wanna mod it lol :(
greaves82
10-11-2012, 07:21 PM
I would just go with option C. Winters have been kinda mild lately so I wont worry about the snow plow effect. There no point installing the koni yellows and s-techs two different times and paying for two seperate installation fees when they can do it all in one shot
-ToM-
10-11-2012, 10:30 PM
i drove lowered last winter, everything was fine... Besides the engine undertray i lost. Id also recommend taking off mudflaps if u have them, i made that mistake and they acted like shovels. But honestly besides that it was great.
I drove on General Exclaim UHP tires for 2 winters and didn't have any problems
Even in a snow storm on a drive out to London and back
But that's just me
Dumb luck is nothing to brag about.
Dumb luck is nothing to brag about.
Hope you find all my posts and keep the comments coming
The point is if you don't know how to drive all the tires in the world won't save you. Nothing dumb luck about the way I drive
Jackal
10-12-2012, 08:51 AM
Option C. Lower now and install now. I am on koni yellows and pro-kits and no problems. I do put on snow tires for added safety.
Hope you find all my posts and keep the comments coming
The point is if you don't know how to drive all the tires in the world won't save you. Nothing dumb luck about the way I drive
Exactly....
Also I don't know where he was getting you we're bragging cause not one of your posts in this thread was bragging....
Driving in summer tires through a snow storm? That isn't bragging or just being unaware of how lucky you were? This would be analogous to what speed guys hate hearing about - being at stage 2+ without a hpfp. Point is it possible to drive without either? Yes. Good idea, hell no.
EDIT: this has nothing to with other past comments (only replied to one other). this is just my personal opinion and I believe there is merit to driving with winter tires and the advantages it yields. Of course nothing will triumph driver ability or experience...but I consider proper tires as enhancing or maximizing ones capabilities (and adding an additional margin of safety).
Driving in summer tires through a snow storm? That isn't bragging or just being unaware of how lucky you were? This would be analogous to what speed guys hate hearing about - being at stage 2+ without a hpfp. Point is it possible to drive without either? Yes. Good idea, hell no.
EDIT: this has nothing to with other past comments (only replied to one other). this is just my personal opinion and I believe there is merit to driving with winter tires and the advantages it yields. Of course nothing will triumph driver ability or experience...but I consider proper tires as enhancing or maximizing ones capabilities (and adding an additional margin of safety).
Those tires he mentioned are ALL SEASON tires and not summer tires like you are saying
Those tires he mentioned are ALL SEASON tires and not summer tires like you are saying
I had those tires. They are a summer tire, but did carry m+s designation that all-season tires carry. They were categorized as summer tires though, and had warnings like all summer tires do on tire rack to not drive it at near freezing or below temperatures. Reviews state the same as well.
trulankan
10-12-2012, 03:32 PM
Those tires he mentioned are ALL SEASON tires and not summer tires like you are saying
like everyones said, even if its an all-season tire its still a compromise for winter and is not recommended
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