Tips for Driving ZHP in winter?

I put an emergency kids snow shovel in my trunk just in case.

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Originally Posted by holyc0w

I put an emergency kids snow shovel in my trunk just in case.

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I stopped putting kids in my trunk. For reasons.

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Originally Posted by Karl Lazlo

All Season = No Season. They are a compromise for every season. And, they cause pink eye.



Different shoes for different weather, same concept. Plus, a set of dedicated snows over their lifespan is typically cheaper than an insurance deductible.

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Thanks so much! And that's a very good point haha, I'll definitely have to bring that one up. I've got a set of PSS that should be good for one more dry season hopefully, so one big investment at the beginning of the year shouldn't be too bad

Haven't driven my car in the snow, but drove my father's 540i on some studded tires. That thing could definitely get its ass out but it handled Portland's hills no problem if you were smart about it.

If any of you remember this video that made the rounds about Portland's snow storm and car pile up in a particularly hilly intersection almost 10 years ago, the 540i traversed it several times that day with no issue, all due to a good set of snow tires:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaksWCnHaDM

I have a few friends who winter their 3 series (not xi models) in Maine with no issues. As suggested before, get a designated wheel / tire setup for the winter. My friends but run just the plan old "steely" steel wheels. Cheap and who cars if they get a little beat up in the winter. Studded snow tires, to me (and others), are a must! Studded snow tires are your only chance against ice and black ice.

I always had Blizzaks on my Volvo 850R wagon for the 6 years I owned it. My vote is cheap tires with very good winter rubber.

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Originally Posted by Karl Lazlo

I will be the weird guy here...

Driving in snow, ice, wet, dry are no different. You are managing grip and the adhesion to the driving surface. Trouble is, all those surfaces, or more appropriately the stuff on the surfaces, changes the amount of grip (and resulting space/time) you have to make the car Go, Turn and Stop.

- Tires: The only part of the car designed to come in contact with the driving surface so have a set of dedicated winter tires optimized for the white stuff.
- Balance: Keep the car in balance. No abrupt control changes. Smooth inputs of the throttle, brake and steering.
- Visibility: No, not just clean windows, but observe and orient your car based on what the mouth-breathers are doing. Have an out - somewhere safe(r) to stick your sheetmetal when others do dumb shit.

- Driver Gear: Besides keeping the car maintained for the winter, be prepared for field-expedient repairs and more importantly, warm, snacks and gear for the driver and passenger(s) if you find your self waiting for road cleaning, extrication or accident.

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dude... not the weird guy at all. that is a sane approach to winter driving - you basically wrote everything that i was going to!

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Originally Posted by Karl Lazlo

All Season = No Season. They are a compromise for every season. And, they cause pink eye.

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DUDE. i've said the exact same thing so many times. and i've got data on the pink eye bit.

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Originally Posted by 3ZHPGUY

I'm originally from Buffalo NY and drove my ZHP 365'days a year in the Cleveland OH area from 12/2006 till 4/2012. I can definitely say it's the best car I've ever driven in the snow. I've also had and have 4x4 trucks and I'd say the ZHP was as good if not better in some instances. I'd also say it's a must to get dedicated snow tires and wheels. I ran the first three years on Pilots the switched over to Blizzaks. The Blizaks where definitely better but, the Pilots never let me down.

My only suggestion are to get to know the DCS system because you need to flip it to the middle mode to get wheel spin when needed. Also make sure your thermostat is good so, you can keep nice and worm inside.

With the 48-52% weight balance the car is an animal in the snow.

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guy, agreed on all points. i grew up in VT and have been driving in a snowy climate for over 20 years now. i've had audis and subarus for a lot of those years, and i can also confidently say the ZHP is the best car i've ever driven in the snow as well. why? the balance, and it stops better than anything else. no ABS fuss like any older audi (the brake pedal would start pulsating before your foot even touched it, LOL).

the helical LSD helps mine in regards to accelerating - it just goes, no need to disengage DSC or DTC.

i run michelin x-ice3's, but would like to experience the blizzak WS80's. i've not liked any other blizzak i've tried - too squirmy. but i've heard good things about the WS80.

Blizzaks and LSD FTW.


Sent from my iPhone with TaT.

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Originally Posted by ELCID86

Blizzaks and LSD FTW.


Sent from my iPhone with TaT.

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Pirellis and Mushrooms!

You need snow tires, without them, past 2 inches of snow I found my car was undrivable (I.e., wouldn't go up small inclines).

Other thing is to remember to turn off DSC so you don't cut power at the least bit of wheel spins.

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Originally Posted by Karl Lazlo

Pirellis and Mushrooms!

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:rofl


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