Well this is my Cavi's first winter, I'am trying to get some nice Dunlop studs put on it and some regular 15's with hubs for a nice package price of only $410. The guy at the tire place however has been dicking me around, keeps telling me the truck with the rims is still in route from california, whenever he says he's going to call me back he NEVER does. This is getting very old. I'am pissed cause I saved for this, had the money in the bank was ready to get them on a week ago, and the guy dicks me around! Why would you do that to a paying customer? So I've called other places, they give me higher prices like $650+ witch is a whole paycheck for me, I just can't afford it, period. Then the guy who sold me my car said to go to this auto salvage place and pick up a set of steel rims, then buy some tires at sears, have them install and ballance. So I was debating between that or calling this douche bag back for him to prolly give me the same bullshit story.

So tonight I look out the window and guess what? Winter has hit NH, and the light dusting is now covering the roads with the heavy wet slushy @!#$ snow. So I say "what the hell, I'll see how the cavi does" like a little test with the Goodyear Eagles & chromies that came with my LS. I pull out, take off, it's all good. I was just going to go around the block and I was going to go up this big @!#$ hill here in town, but when I got there I saw it was covered and I'am sure very slick so I figured it would be in my best interest to turn around, so I did. I was nearing a stop sign and started braking a bit early nice and easy (I know how to drive in the snow) and to my suprise I hit a slick spot and ABS kicks on. That god awful grinding noise it makes gets louder and louder and it feels like I've got the brake pinned to the floor. I'm getting closer to the stop sign so I ease off the break slowly while pulling up the E-brake about half way I slide untill it locks up the wheels and then I come to a complete stop just in time.

ABS came on 2 more times after that but for only a couple of seconds during breif breaking. I also did a slight fish tail up a small hill, but I was impressed cause she really climbed it like a champ and I never felt like I lost controll of her.

So I guess what I'am asking those of you who drive in the snow yourselves. Would you stay with the eagles, or definately get snow tires/studs? (will it make THAT MUCH of a diff) And how hard is ABS on the car itself?

I have been driving my cavy with the stock rims for quite a few Maine winters now. The original Eagles were pretty good in the snow as long as they had enough tread left. I have had Yokohama AV550's now since the middle of last winter and they aren't bad either. As long as you know what you are doing and take it easy I wouldnt be too concerned about getting snow tires. I would be more worried about rim corrosion from the salt however if you take care of everything they should be fine.

As far as ABS is concerned...as horrible as the sounds it makes are it really doesn't damage your car as far as I know. My abs has kicked in hundreds of times and after 136,000 miles it doesnt really seem worse for the wear.

Hmm yeah I did look on the Goodyear site and they give the Eagles a 4 out of 5 rating for snow traction. I'am not that concerned with the stock rims (they're nice) I keep my car clean + I plan on getting new wheels in the spring/summer. I still dunno what I'm gonna do, but I thank you for the input, you living in Maine can feel my pain. I guess I'am a bit nervous because of the @!#$ winter I had with my Volvo (my first car) last year oh man it was bad. I know the cavi is out of my now dead in the graveyard shweeds league, ye still it haunts me. Cold starts ahhhh I hate winter, I hate @!#$ snow, damn new england!

I dont know anything about your car, but i throw mine down into 1st or 2nd to slow itself down (auto)...

Its a drift machine! <br>


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~MARC~</font>

funny thing is, i lowered it (1.4inch eibach springs) and it handled 100% better in the snow. that is weird but it made a difference.


good luck <br>

If I didn't have Trac Control(auto) I would be screwed!! The tires don't seem to grab very well.

If you do get snow tires I would suggest getting the Bridgestone Blizzaks(sp?) snow/ice tires. They are non-studded tires, but they work awesome! I bought a set for my 77 Camaro and I never had a problem with snow or ice! I bought them from www.tirerack.com
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last year we had a bad winter and compared to my freinds cars both fwd and rwd my car did great in the snow. Im still on stock rims in tires on my ls sport

Traction Control is for pussies Just kidding. But seriously my cavy doesnt have traction control(manual), and I also spent 2 winters driving an 84 BMW 528. Even with studded snows all the way around that thing was crazy in the snow. Of course no traction control on that either. That was the most fun 2 winters I've ever had. I serisously spent over 50% of the time sideways.

You're not going to need studded winter tires on your cav, mine's on its second Canadian winter now with all seasons. Ofcourse, studdeds on the front will really help you get going... and might keep you from getting stuck, but I don't believe they're worth it on a FWD car.

I don't think pulling the e-brake is a good idea in winter weather (unless you're tryin to do donuts LOL) , the ABS kicking in is keeping your car steerable.

IMO, the eagles are pure @!#$, I'll never own another set. snow traction isn't too bad, but on ice they suck @!#$, they wear quickly, and crack up; but that's just my two cents.


"i promise we won't get drunk, and go out in boat in the dark, stand up in the boat and fire the gun into the air unless we have life jackets on."

i live in buffalo, ny and all i get is snow tires on the front and it is fine, if wanna do a little more throw a couple heavy things in ur trunk.. ex.. tool box, bag of sand something like that. i havnt had any problems and i use the stock 16 with just the snow tires in the front..

I live in Ottawa Ontario Canada...so I know what winter is also, lol.

You don't need studs for your tires..I think it's overkill. Studs are actually outlawed here in Ontario. I share the same opinion as craig steele. The Eagle RSA's that come with the stock Cavy are pure crap. Not sure about winter traction, but just take them out on a cold, wet, rainey day and they don't stick to the pavement at all. I wasn't impressed with them (my GF has them on her Z). My cav came equipped with the 15" BF GoodRich all season tires and I've driven 2 winters on them without a problem.

Depending on where you live is a factor as well. If you live near or in the city, you won't need anything more than a good set of all-season tires. You could just get two front winter tires if you want...or be really anal and get 4 winter tires (I'm anal...I'd go for the 4 winter tires)

If you live more in the country side...I definitely wouldn't recommend anything less than a good set of winter/ice Tires. But again..studding them would be overkill IMO, but that's just because we can't use them here so I've gotten by without having them.
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2001 Chevrolet Cavalier LS Coupe, 2200SFI 4-Speed Automatic Transmission

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Quote:

IMO, the eagles are pure @!#$, I'll never own another set. snow traction isn't too bad, but on ice they suck @!#$, they wear quickly, and crack up; but that's just my two cents.

No tires have good traction on ice unless they have studs...even then traction is marginal. As far as cracking...mine never cracked...The first set lasted forever but the second set i had was crappy. Tires you buy in the store definitely arent the same as tires that come on the car.

you best bet is just take it easy in the snow. I always downshift(manual) to slow myself down and i never speed in the snow. Also a little trick i learned is, if you hit a slick part and the ABS kicks in brake to the point right before the ABS kicks in. They called it maximum braking. Learned it in the driving class i had to take You will be suprised how fast your car will stop. <br>

'02 LS Sport - Indigo Blue
"Show Marge you happy dance Mojo!" - Homer Simpson

I have some brand of crazy tires, studded all around, called "snow king" or soemthing stupid.. put them on half way through last winter (Halifax, NS), and they work 110% better than the stock tires that came on the car new.. or any of the other tires that have been on the car since. They are especially better in ice as well, if I didnt have them, i know i wouldnt be going many places at some times here haha.

Oh i drive a 5spd 2dr base model sunfire if that makes a difference

i run 17's with nitto 450's year round. i have to, no real other options with a baer upgrade kit front wise.

its fun. as long as you know how to drive decently, its cool. i drive like normal, no shifting or whatnot, just let the auto do its thing and go, but remember it is wet/slick/etc out there. <br>

last winter i coudn't afford new tires for my car, i finally had them rotated about halfway through winter, but they were still mostly bald, well i finally put on tires a couple of weeks ago, i got the goodyear regatta 2's they are great in the snow, make sure you don't gun it, slam on the brakes ect. down shifting helps out a lot, i know i can stop easier that way then using the brake, never use the ebrake in winter unless it is for pure fun becuae it won't do anything but put you out of control. also from what i have heard from others, and my father was to put it into neutral if you start sliding while stoping. oh and by the way i live here in montana.

Tribals wrote:If I didn't have Trac Control(auto) I would be screwed!! The tires don't seem to grab very well.

If you do get snow tires I would suggest getting the Bridgestone Blizzaks(sp?) snow/ice tires. They are non-studded tires, but they work awesome! I bought a set for my 77 Camaro and I never had a problem with snow or ice! I bought them from www.tirerack.com

Hey thanks man, great site! I just priced some Blizzacks + 15inch steelies w/covers for about $550 (with S&H) thats pretty damn good considering you can't touch a pair of Blizzacks at a tire dealer (like Sears) for less then $130! You just may have solved all my problems!

I have a big problem with fishtaililng even on stock susp. but with a full tank of gas for the weight and a sand bag like what was sujested, it's not really a problem.
I like snow tires, and if you are going to keep driving your car or buying other cavs for a while they last a long time, if you get good ones. it can be alot of fun in the snow with good tires.

. . wrote:the ABS kicking in is keeping your car steerable

Hell no, ABS in the snow is just downright scary, every vehicle I've driven in the snow with ABS is scary to slow down with. The snow messes with the ABS sensor or something, because it engages way too early, or doesn't engage the rears. Give me a Non-ABS vehicle for the snow and I'll be very happy.

As far as traction in the snow, I've never had any problems getting going in the snow. My dad lives on a hill and I have to park on the street, going uphill, at his house and I have never once gotten stuck, or even struggled getting up the hill. But I guess learning how to drive in the snow with a T-Bird has it's advantages
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My Z handles like pure crap in the snow. when u want to stop, you cant cuz of abs, i have to start in 3rd just to start off from a stop with snow on the ground or i will just spin out. maybe my new tires will help. who knows. <br>

My bad, I meant to quote OP not . . <br>

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My Z24 is awesome in the snow, IMO. I'm kinda in the boon docks for roads, so we have to deal with some bad drifts, ice, ect.

Reminds me...we had a snow storm, the only one last year lol, and it brought a nice power outage. Living on our farm, we had to get the generators hooked up and running, otherwise, bad things. Me and my dad had to run over to the nieghbors to help him, and we jumped in my car. The snow was deeper than heck, but the cavy made it through the fricken driveway. My nieghbor had to use 4wd on his truck to get through were I went!

My dad still thinks I'm retarded for that, but I know just how well the Cavy is in the snow

O noes!

Six Tee: I swear by those Blizzacks!! When you get those tires and steelies from the Tire Rack I believe they are already balanced also.
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if you're in snow you shouldnt be going that fast to begin with... <br>