I am very near to placing an order for an '06 GT and am very interested to hear for those '05 GT owners in the snow belt what your winter driving experieces were like. Does the traction control feature aid significantly? Thanks in advance.

 

Welcome to the forum but please use the search feature. Several of us have already gone into lengthy discussions about winter driving do's and dont's. If you are going to drive in the winter get a set of winter tires or don't bother. I went with Michelin X-Ice tires and they worked great.

 

Did you have them mounted on your stock rims or purchase a new set to mount the winter tires on?

 

Have an '01 V6, stock tires worked great, Im sure these '05 ones will too. Then again I'm better at driving in snow than most people in NJ. You'd think they would have learned by now, but they haven't....

 

What I found is that the stock tires and TCS are fine for driving WHILE it's snowing, but if there's over an inch of snow on the ground, good luck.

 

I use summer tires here during the winter.

 

I mounted them on the stock rims. I have different rims for my summer tires. Also keep in mind if you are getting a v6 or a GT. If a V6, stock tires and traction control will be fine unless you get a lot of snow. With the stock tires on my GT, mind you I have done some engine mods, I got hardly any traction. Also, where I live we get a lot of snow so better safe than sorry. The difference between stock tires and winter tires is night and day.

 

Just get some decent winter tires and you will be fine.

 

I ran my 02 through the Canadian winter with nothing more than stock tires. It can be done. It also had traction control, which helped keep the back end in line with the front. On ice, if you were careful, it was very drivable, however, in more than about 4 inches of snow, it was pretty much useless, as the front tires would act like snow plows.

That said, I plan on purchasing blizzaks and a set of cheap rims for the 05 before winter comes, as although I have proven it is possible to do without, I am sure it is much much easier, with.

 

Has anyone that has driven in the snow with an '05 also driven in the snow with a 94-04? I have a '98 GT, and though it isn't easy, I have driven it with all-season 255/45/17 tires in 8-10" snows. I just want to know how it will compare to my '98.

 

I had a 97 GT and drove it all year as well. I had put snow tires on it also.

Sure you can drive in the winter with stock tires but that doesn't mean it is to be done. I can drive with my knees if I want to that doesn't make it a good idea. Until my 97 GT I never bought snow tires, cause I never thought about it until 1 day I was in another mustang that had snow tires. A huge difference. I'll never drive a car in the winter again without them.

 

The 05 is better in that regard, but I never had any problems driving my 02 GT or 03 Cobra in the snow, honestly if you know how to handle it there isn't a problem.. the only thing you need to worry about is other donkey doughnuts on the road who don't know how to drive at all.

 

With the longer wheelbase, better weight ratio & TCS off the car is awesome in slides. Have fun.

 

Checkout this post, it may be of some help. Florida vert in snow
Also, do a search on stangmary, she put 17" snows on her '05 GT and drove it all last winter.
I found a set of Bullitt take-offs to mount my snows on, unfortunately the 15's from my '03 won't even fit on the back...
Paul