Winter driving - snow and ice
10/13/06, 12:11 PM
#21
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Thread Starter
Did I Mention I'm 10 minutes from the beach and about 2 hours from the mountains and snow. Kinda nice if you ask meIt was about 34F this morning with 35 mph winds from the south, which are surprisingly cold. I couldn't feel my face as I was walking from the parking lot
ETA: POST 100!! w00t! Another GT member in the hizzouse.
10/14/06, 10:44 PM
#24
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I am thinking of putting blizzak winters on...do you guys have separate rims for the winter??? What did you use for wheels??
I hate to put steel wheels and hubcaps on and spoil the cool look but don't want to mess up the bullits with winter crud.
I hate to put steel wheels and hubcaps on and spoil the cool look but don't want to mess up the bullits with winter crud.
10/15/06, 12:39 AM
#25
Bullitt Member
You have to have the right equipment for the snow. I find that my Mustang is wonderfully tractive with my Detroit Truetrac. I also have four good mud flaps to protect my finish. Best snow car that I have ever had.
http://www.detroitlocker.com/DT.htm
http://www.detroitlocker.com/DT.htm
10/15/06, 05:52 AM
#26
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Thread Starter
The Mustang GTs should all come with Traction-Lok differentials. I had a Detroit TrueTrac in my 00 Crown Vic and it didn't work as well as the Traction-Lok in snow and ice. Coincidentally, I bought a used take-off T-Lok from a 98 Mustang GT to put in the Vic.
10/15/06, 08:12 AM
#27
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Another rave review for Michelin X-Ice tires. I tried to make it through a relatively mild Maine winter with the stock Pirellis and they are a joke compared to serious snow tires. I had never needed snow tires before with a 4x4 Expedition and a FWD Honda Civic, so I doubted their efficacy. Well, they were a quantum leap better on unplowed snow and ice. I even made it up a steep grade that my neighbour got stuck on with a FWD Taurus and cheap snow tires.
10/15/06, 11:50 AM
#28
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I will find out soon enough. I just ordered a set of the 18" silver bullitts from ford racing with blizzak lm-22's mounted on them from tirerack.
That plus some weight in the trunk should do the trick. I have never had a problem with any RWD car in the snow with a good set of winter tires and weight in the trunk. But it is a different driving expirience if you are used to front wheel drive cars.
That plus some weight in the trunk should do the trick. I have never had a problem with any RWD car in the snow with a good set of winter tires and weight in the trunk. But it is a different driving expirience if you are used to front wheel drive cars.
10/15/06, 03:55 PM
#29
Bullitt Member
One more caveat on the Truetrac. It will not function if your traction difference left-to-right is more than 4 to 1, so in that respect a limited slip will out-perform a Truetrac if you don't keep a ready hand on the parking brake. When just one side is on ice, for example, you must apply a little parking brake to get started, then once you are underway, you can let go of the parking brake and drive normally.
10/16/06, 12:09 AM
#30
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I only drove mine in some light snow last winter cause my Jeep was down. I got real lucky, and the couple heavy snows we did get, came on my days off! I did get out just to play around with the traction control, getting a feel for it on and off. Car does much better than I thought it would, with TC on at least.
But, I'm just glad that my Jeep is back up and running for this winter! Mustang can sleep in the garage and the Jeep can do the 4x4 thing.
But, I'm just glad that my Jeep is back up and running for this winter! Mustang can sleep in the garage and the Jeep can do the 4x4 thing.
10/16/06, 11:53 AM
#31
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I really like the the new generation studless snow tires that are on the market now: Blizzaks, Dunlop Graspics, Michelin X-Ice, Pirelli Scorpions... They really are a huge improvement over standard all seasons and even old fashioned snow tires.
They have special tread compounds that are flexible and grippy in cold. The downside is that they are very soft and wear fast. But for a winter only tire, they're great. I just ordered 4 X-Ice tires for my '06 and bought some winter rims. Just trying to be prepared for the worst...
They have special tread compounds that are flexible and grippy in cold. The downside is that they are very soft and wear fast. But for a winter only tire, they're great. I just ordered 4 X-Ice tires for my '06 and bought some winter rims. Just trying to be prepared for the worst...
10/16/06, 05:41 PM
#32
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I drove my '95 GT through 7 New England winters before getting the '05 GT. Last winter was the first for the '05 GT. I agree with the other posters who said the '05-up GTs are light-years ahead of the SN95 and previous Mustangs. Basically because of two reasons:
1. Traction control on the '05 GT
2. Much better front/rear balance - something like 52%/48% f/r balance now, compared to 57%/43% previously. In other words, there's more weight on the rear tires now.
But that said, the Mustang is not what I would call "good in the snow." A front-wheel drive car is going to have more traction when it comes to starting from a stop, or climbing hills. Snow tires would help a lot, but still it's not going to be as good as a FWD or AWD car. It'll be more fun though.
1. Traction control on the '05 GT
2. Much better front/rear balance - something like 52%/48% f/r balance now, compared to 57%/43% previously. In other words, there's more weight on the rear tires now.
But that said, the Mustang is not what I would call "good in the snow." A front-wheel drive car is going to have more traction when it comes to starting from a stop, or climbing hills. Snow tires would help a lot, but still it's not going to be as good as a FWD or AWD car. It'll be more fun though.
10/17/06, 07:08 AM
#33
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My 05 Mustang handles winter snow on it's stock tires better than my focus handled snow on it's stock tires. I had to buy snow tires for it, but haven't had to for the Mustang.
10/17/06, 07:22 PM
#34
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10/17/06, 08:27 PM
#35
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Mine handled fine the only problem was it took most of the spring to repair all the stone chips ( good ol eastern PA) on the hood and front end. I had it SIMONIZED ( it worked fine on my 2002 TBIRD) but it didn't do any good on the GT. Of course no one wats to own up to any issues( Dealer).
Suggest you get some after market protection especially for the hood.
Suggest you get some after market protection especially for the hood.
10/17/06, 09:03 PM
#36
Legacy TMS Member
The goodyear Tripletreds are an excellent tire. But not for a GT.
I picked up some cheap 17" bullits for the winter and mounted up some goodyear Eagle Ultra Grip GW3's and I plowed thru everything, lol.
This way my 18" stay salt free, and no switching tires every 6 months or so.
I picked up some cheap 17" bullits for the winter and mounted up some goodyear Eagle Ultra Grip GW3's and I plowed thru everything, lol.
This way my 18" stay salt free, and no switching tires every 6 months or so.
10/18/06, 04:55 AM
#37
Legacy TMS Member
Thread Starter
Why aren't the Goodyear TripleTreds good for the GT? They are H-Rated and I won't be taking the Mustang over 100 mph on the road. I want long lasting tires, not soft Z-rated tires that wear out in 12,000 miles. I've never had W/Z-rated tires last more than 12,000 miles on my Crown Vic and the fronts always wear out faster than the rear.
10/18/06, 09:31 AM
#38
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I was a bit concerned as my GT is my daily driver so I got 4 Blizzaks, got 4 steel wheels and found some decent looking hubcaps online. The car handled like a dream although we don't get alot of snow, we got enough last year. I climbed my uphill driveway with 5 inches on it with no problem. I also looked at a clear bra for the front but my local dealer wanted $600 to do it. I thought that was a bit much, so I'm just keeping it cleaned and waxed and admit that sometime in the future I might have to paint it!
10/18/06, 10:26 AM
#39
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Haven't, and won't take the Stang out in the winter (due to salt). But I've had plenty of experience with the white stuff and rear wheel drive.
Just remember, brake and set your speed before your turn, coast through it, and gently accellerate out. Other than that, just increase all distances and pay attention. I actually enjoy driving in it... I know, I'm sick.
Just remember, brake and set your speed before your turn, coast through it, and gently accellerate out. Other than that, just increase all distances and pay attention. I actually enjoy driving in it... I know, I'm sick.