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05-09-2001, 12:59 AM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 3500
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Bay Area,CA
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What's the rule with AWD and the snow?
Do we need chains?
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05-09-2001, 01:20 AM | #2 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 2236
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Red Sox Nation w/ y2k4door
Vehicle:2000 Audi S4 silver/rally dirt brown |
The rule:
<FONT size="4">Rule# 27! If you cannot do full slides, and drifts, while creating 4 rooster tails,your not really using your AWD potential.</FONT s> ^SubieGal style [This message has been edited by ChosenWon (edited May 09, 2001).] |
05-09-2001, 03:01 AM | #3 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 4650
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Lehigh Valley, PA USA
Vehicle:2002 WRX Silver |
Chains? Yeah, and whips & masks too!!
The best is being at a stop & nailing the throttle. It'll be Tuesday before anyone else catches up! |
05-09-2001, 04:26 AM | #4 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 2300
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Erie, PA, USA
Vehicle:2002 Impreza WRX Banana Pudding |
Talking about snow already?!? It's only May?!?
Anyway, my rule is the use of four studded Hakkapaelitta snow tires. They make you stop, turn, and go MUCH better. I was told by my local tire guy that they have a Hakka 2 coming this winter. It is supposed to be kinda of like the Hakka 1 but with more sipes and a little bit different tread pattern, but still studdable. Sweet... |
05-09-2001, 04:33 AM | #5 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 5659
Join Date: Apr 2001
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: 127.0.0.1
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I saw a sign recently going over the mountain pass to the effect of:
When chains required, all wheel drive vehicles need only approved snow tires. |
05-09-2001, 04:38 AM | #6 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 442
Join Date: Oct 1999
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: RI/SE Mass
Vehicle:17 Imp Spurt 00 S2k |
Go THAT way real fast.
If you see a tree... turn. Just get a set of legitimate snow tires and put them on separate rims and you won't need chains on an AWD vehicle. --kC |
05-09-2001, 05:01 AM | #7 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 6110
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Lonaconing, MD USA
Vehicle:98 Impreza L Red |
It's so frustrating being stuck behind somebody going slow in the snow. I got a set of cheap steal wheels with cheap dunlop snow tires. I wish I hadn't got the dunlops.. the sidewalls are way too soft. I know snow tires are supposed to flex a little bit, but come on.
Orbit03, How are the sidewalls on the Nokian Hakkas? How much do they run? |
05-09-2001, 06:00 AM | #8 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 5595
Join Date: Apr 2001
Chapter/Region:
HIIC
Location: Honolulu
Vehicle:2015 WRX Ice Silver Metallic |
The Rule: You must slam the accelerator when pulling out from a stop every time there is snow on the road. Unless all four wheels are spinning, you're not having any fun!
It never fails - I always end up driving behind some little Cavalier after heavy snow! Nearly every time I went skiing this year I was forced to drive 10MPH for miles in my AWD Subie cuz some Cavalier in front of me was slipping everywhere through the snow drifts. It's such a shame, cuz these curvy mountain roads are always covered with blowing snow. After this winter, I swore I would never drive a FWD vehicle again! AWD for life! |
05-09-2001, 06:08 AM | #9 |
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Just went to the website and it said hakka 2s not available in North America.
Roger |
05-09-2001, 06:16 AM | #10 |
GC84Ever
Super Moderator Member#: 301
Join Date: Sep 1999
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: WA
Vehicle:1970 FF-1 & '70 Van 02 WRX/01 RS |
Hakka 1's work well...
<IMG SRC="http://www.subiegal.com/IMAGES/Buttons/jamie.jpg" border=0> <IMG SRC="http://www.subiegal.com/images/TBird/Ice%20Racing/Subie%20Gal2.jpg" border=0> chains... consult owners manual... i believe they are not recommended for our cars... if you HAVE to chain up, it will be rears only i believe... read ya manual... and above all.. keep it sidewayz! j. |
05-09-2001, 06:25 AM | #11 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 6331
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Ohio
Vehicle:2006 STI OBP |
Go with Bridgestone Blizzaks for the snow. Trust me, most bite in the snow for the buck. Handling on dry surfaces is pretty sluggish though, but then again, snow tires aren't suppose to be great handling tires.
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05-09-2001, 06:46 AM | #12 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 2300
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Erie, PA, USA
Vehicle:2002 Impreza WRX Banana Pudding |
I just emailed Nokian US about the Hakka 2 and the replied and said that they are available (no price mentioned) and they come pre-studded from the factory. They appear to be pretty much the Hakka Q with studs. On their European site they claim 10-15% shorter braking distances than the Hakka 1 on glare ice. Sweet.
As far as sidewall stiffness: Like any snow tire, the sidewalls a fairly soft. The extra tread depth also goes towards making the tire feel soft. If you want stiff side walls get rally snow tires. Another solution (if you are worried about the sidewalls) is to get tubes in the tires. It will give you a little extra protection from punctures and popping the tire off the rim. If they are priced anywhere near the Hakka 1 expect to pay about $130 ea. Anyone know if you can put 15" rims on the WRX? |
05-09-2001, 07:07 AM | #13 |
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Vehicle:04 STi track rat black |
It depends on what kind of snow surface as to what tires you'd use... laying snow or a few inches hakka 1's, 9's, 10's (havent seen 2's yet) get them tall and skinny on 15" steels. Ice and hard packed glaring snow/ice hakka Q's or blizzaks. Just my opinion. 165/70/15 hakka 10's on 15X6" steels were un-beatable on my 01 RS this past winter. I know a guy who's a nokian dealer if anyone is interested, he has great prices and tons of knowledge.
Brandon |
05-09-2001, 07:23 AM | #14 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 2300
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Erie, PA, USA
Vehicle:2002 Impreza WRX Banana Pudding |
I ran Hakka 10's 2 years ago and thought they were great. Then I got a set of Hakka 1's and I found that they are better in all conditions (deep, slush, hard pack, etc.). They had great bite in the deep stuff. Their lateral traction seemed better too. I want to see what the Hakka 2's look like to make sure they will have enough openness to the tread, so they get a good bite in the deep stuff. I live in the snow belt, so we get a lot of storms that dump 4-10" in a short period of time, so traction in the deep stuff is pretty important.
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05-09-2001, 07:57 AM | #15 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 4589
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: South Haven, MI
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How do the Haka's compare with Blizzak from a dry/wet road driving perspective? I've had several sets of Blizzaks they are so bad on dry/wet roads.
I'm looking for a tire that won't have as much tread squirm and sidewall flex. I have Pirelli Wintersports on my A4 but they are a little weak in deep snow and weak on ice though only in comparison to the Blizzak. Thanks |
05-09-2001, 08:08 AM | #16 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 6110
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Lonaconing, MD USA
Vehicle:98 Impreza L Red |
Deep snow traction is important to me too. The climate here is probably fairly similar to Erie, PA. There are a lot of back roads that hardly get touched during snow.. And I just have to go out and play in it.
I had thought about getting some rally tires when I bought those Dunlop Graspics. Subie Gal, those pics make me long for the snow. I used to hate winter... til I got my Impreza. wooo hooo |
05-09-2001, 09:04 AM | #17 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 1934
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Fremont, CA USA
Vehicle:2002 WRX Sedan |
Just to add to the chains part of this discussion....
2002 WRX owner's manual states front tires only, if chains are required, with a 19mph limit, and only recommended on stock 16" wheel and tire size (not 17" or 18"). I think I recall the older RS's not being able to have chains at all..... but I don't have their owner's manual to check. Philip |
05-09-2001, 10:17 AM | #18 |
Scooby Newbie
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Join Date: Jan 2001
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NWIC
Location: Oly
Vehicle:98 My FMIC Is bigger than yours. |
Not enough clearance for chains on the RS, or so they say. If you -1 size the wheels (to factory L wheels/tires) you can get away with chains. My Grand Cherokee couldn't use chains either. I wasn't really interested in buying a second set of all terrain tires just so I could use chains, so I bought a set knowing that I would never put them on. When the signs say "Chains required" even AWD/4wd vehicles need to have chains in the car. You don't have to put them on, but you're supposed to have them. In my Ru I just dropped the chains from my '91 Civic in the trunk for legality's sake.
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05-09-2001, 10:23 AM | #19 |
Scooby Specialist
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RMIC
Location: colorado springs colorado usa
Vehicle:88 626 Turbo white |
the rule: well here it is. use snow tires with steelies on them. easiest way to make sure you are okay. imo. simple easy bam
brian |
05-09-2001, 11:29 AM | #20 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 4864
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: North Bend, WA USA
Vehicle:2004 WRX Silver |
You CAN use chains. The manual may recommend against, but I never had any problems. For those of us who live in apartments, and don't have room to store extra wheels/tires, chains are really the only option. But don't get cheapo chains, as they may have bits that stick out and can damage your car. Go to an auto parts store and look for some quality ones that are easy to put on and fit well. I highly recommend Laclede Alpine Series.
I was driving my '99 Outback Sport up to the ski slopes one winter. There was some slush and snow on the road, but there was NO chain advisory posted, so I didn't bother to put them on. About 2 miles short of the base, the road became fully covered in hard-pack snow and ice. I wasn't driving fast at all (maybe 25), and was going straight, but I must have hit a really slick patch, because the car suddenly started spinning to the right. We bounced off the snow bank and ended up facing back the way we came. It all happened in less than a second, and I came away with a $700 dent in my fender. My advice: Snow tires if you can afford/store them. Chains if you can't. Don't listen to anyone who tells you you don't need extra traction just because you have AWD. Jordan |
05-10-2001, 12:30 AM | #21 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 2808
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Yes, AWD rules in the snow. Where's the confusion?
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05-09-2001, 01:26 PM | #22 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 2362
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: South Carolina, USA
Vehicle:1999 Legacy Outback Blue w/ Paint Chips & Mud |
Just drive as fast as your car can go. You have AWD so there is no problem.
AWD helps you stop quickly too! (disclaimer: Duh!) |
05-09-2001, 02:53 PM | #23 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 2263
Join Date: Sep 2000
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Hudson Valley
Vehicle:2014 Sportwagen TDI |
Do you even get snow in SC?!? (Im not taking a cheap shot at you Remarkable)
I have snow tires on my 95 in the winter, but I dont drive like a maniac. Its not smart, and it could kill you or someone else. I view the tires and AWD as safety equipment to prevent accidents. Take me to a parking lot and I march to a different beat though....public roads are not the place to fu@k around on...AWD with snow tires or not. As for the signs, I have seen them with my own two eyes in Utah and Wyoming! [This message has been edited by kevinsUBARU (edited May 09, 2001).] |
05-09-2001, 06:32 PM | #24 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 1581
Join Date: Jun 2000
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: yonkers, ny
Vehicle:MY00 RS/STi7 MY01 RS Both Silverthorne |
#1 rule: 10 donuts minimum per snowfall.
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05-09-2001, 06:54 PM | #25 |
Friendly Neighbourhood
Moderator Member#: 269
Join Date: Sep 1999
Chapter/Region:
VIC
Location: Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Vehicle:2005 ABP LGT LTD BP6 00 Impreza RS GM6 RIP |
Here's my rule when driving my RS in the snow:
<b>DON'T BE AN IDIOT!</b> Simple as that. Yes, with AWD it may be easier to get started/harder to get stuck, but when it all comes down to the physics of it all, you're in the same boat whether you drive a dinky FWD car, or a big rig. Stopping distances DO increase in the ice/snow, and turning speed is DRASTICALLY reduced in low-traction conditions. Don't be an idiot and complain that "the slow FWD xxx was driving sooo slow at 10mph..." while tailing the guy. When it snows here in Vancouver, people go into "idiot" mode, drive really slow and tailgate each other!! Makes me sick! In snow, I ALWAYS drive at the limit that keeps me well in control of my vehicle. Who when another driver decides to slam on his brakes and spin out. Anywayz, as for doing the crazies in the snow, I save that for special locations -- like my university's large empty parking lots! With nobody around in a large area, there's lotz of safe space to do 4-wheel drifts, doughnuts, power slides, and all sorts of fun stuff! I just don't do that on the streets. Drive safe everyone! The beauty of AWD isn't licence for us to turn off our brains! LaterZ! Darren!! |
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