Almost bit it today

Left for work this morning after checking the weather forecast. Cloudy but no mention of snow. Ok, so summer tires are still a go..Cool Coming back, on the highway, SNOW! Initially, the highway wasn't that bad. In fact, at one point I was safely doing around 75 mph. Then I got about a mile from my exit and I started to notice buildup actually occuring on the highway. Maybe it was my imagination but I could almost feel the tail starting to get lose even in a straight line. I get off on my exit and there is definite build up. The road is basically white in most parts with slush already forming. I'm like less than 2 miles from home and I swear, they have been the longest 2 miles I can think off. I make the left turn at 2 mph, speed up to 25 and feel the tail definitely wanting to come lose. I downshift from 3rd to 2nd gingerly in hopes of slowing down to maybe 20 and the tail actually does a full wiggle. PSM light actually came on. So, the rest of the way, I'm driving 20 mph on a straight road with my flashers on because the merest hint of gas or brake, and the tail starts to dance. I can't thank god enough for seeing me and my baby home safely today. I thought at one point I almost bit it when I had to get into my right most lane becuase I was planning on slowing to 20 mph for the rest of the journey and crossing the lanes made the tail do its biggest dance yet. I thought for sure I was going to spin out (at 20 mph!) or someone in the other lane was going to side-swipe me. I don't even want to think of putting snows on my baby because I never want to drive it when it snows. I got caught today but somehow survived. I don't know why but I just had to share it with you guys Be safe!

chicago 996, that was a scary story, glad you made it home safely .

Dude, You should not be using summer tires in this cold weather, even if there is no snow. The summer compound gets so hard in the cold that it will break away suddenly and without warning. Think of it like a sponge and a pool ball. In the summer the sponge is flexible and has a lot of grip. In the cold, the tire becomes like a pool ball with no grip. Glad to hear you made it home ok but get some snows immediately, or at least some all seasons. Bobby

Saw the forecast and while I've got winter tires on I don't trust the bozo's on the Kennedy and Edens to drive safely. Better take the allroad. On an empty parking lot it would be fun in a C2 with summer tires and snow, but only in an empty parking lot... You should get winter tiires on: below about 40F there's no grip. not because of snow but because the tires get no heat to create grip. You're effectively driving on hockey pucks. Not smart!

Le Chef is right with about 40 degrees; ask any biker with performance tires. The tread doesn't matter, it's the compound that does you in...

I had the same experience 2 weeks ago coming home from a night out. The snow was raging and the traffic was heavy. The everyone came to a stop on a hill, and not even a steep one. Once stopped I couldn't get a grip of anything, each time I let out the clutch I fish tailed (every merc, bmer and lexus with rear traction got stuck too). I sat on the side of the road (at 3 AM) until a salt truck happened by and I think the salt and the fact that I left the car running for 15 minutes melted enough snow to get traction. 10 miles from home, I went almost 180 twice going down the highway. I don't know how I made it home safely, but the next time the weather's calling for even flurries, the P-car stays in the garage.

I guess there is a reason why summer tires are called summer tires, eh?! I just never realized how a little amount of snow and cold temps can render them practically useless. I don't have space anywhere to store summer/winter tires (Park in a public garage), so I just have to make sure that I never touch the P-car if there is even the remotest chance of any snow. Wishing you all happy and safe holidays!

My C4 saved my ***... I remember last year when it snowed really bad, I had snow tires on the car and there must have been 4 or 5 inches already on the road not plowed yet when I left work. I couldn't believe how amazing the C4 was in the snow. I was doing 50 MPH on the highway with no movement, really incredible. It was at that point I knew I would always own a C4 or Turbo while I lived in the north east. I'm very happy you made it home safe!! That sounded like a scary ride, have a safe and happy holiday. Peace! Rob

It snows here maybe once every 10 or 20 years, last years it did without notice and caught me away from home, so when I grab the car to go back home at night (with S-03 tires) I had to do the 100miles with 1-2 inches of build up on the highway, it was not fun, the tail had a mind of its own. But the scary part was trying to avoid the other cars that were also surprised by the snow, they were even more dangerous. On the good side, the C4 did a fair job compared to most of the other cars even with S-03's.

Snow tires often have a harder durometer than "summer" tires. Reduced temperetures effect all tires the same way. The reason snow tires work is the tread design and tire width results in a greater pounds per square inch of tire that actually comes in contact with the ground and the aggressive tread design gets traction in snow. envision walking in an inch of snow while wearing docksiders versus a pair of waffel stompers. BTW, only studs or chains work on ice, and steel definately has a harder durometer than any rubber used on tires. I put my C4 away for the winter, mostly cause I don't want to get hit. In the two instances I drove it in the snow, it handled better than anythng else equipped with performance tires that I have driven. IE it was on the high end of "terrible". The tires make all the difference, until the snow is more than 6 - 7 inches deep, then we have "other" issues.

Yesterday I bought the roof rack for the 911 and the snow board rack... going up to Vermont for some snow boarding.... love going out in the 911 in all kinds of weather. I'm odd that way

Even SUV's would have difficulty in 6-7 inches of snow!!! Chicago and the burbs are a place where the snow plows are full and plenty and by the time the first flake of snow hits, the salt is on the road on top of it. The rubber compound used in snow tires are definately different that summers. Summers get so had and brittle in the cold whereas, snows remain somewhat pliable and still grippy. I don't know how/why people living in the snow belt drive/store their 996s when the C4 is out there. Hehehehehe. Anyway, Merry Christmas, Chanukkah, Kwanza and Other hoidays and have a good New Year. Bobby

Drove my 99 C2 cab in Boston's blizzard two weeks ago, with Dunlop 17"snows, it was perfectly planted and the traction control light only lit up once from a dead start in deep snow. In fact, it was as good as my girlfriend's Audi TT Quattro on Pirelli all-season P6 tires. I wouldn't hesitate to drive a C2 in the snow, on the proper tires. It was better than my 99 Saab 9-3. Vic 99 C2 cab