Just drove home in the snow.

[jetfuel]

11

jetfuel

[propes]

I've only had mine for two days, but have been driving around in a lot of poorly plowed streets here in Minnesota, and I'm not noticing any more sliding in the smart than I did in my Saturn Ion.

[LorbeerTLC]

When we had the cold air invade us and the snow fell last weekend, my smart car had no problems up to about 3" to 4" of snow. Then after a couple of days, the roads became packed with ice and compressed snow. The kind that turns the roads into a washboard affect. When that happened, the ContiProContacts started to fishtail my smart car. If you anticipated it, you had no problem keeping it under control... but you had to constantly be on-guard. I've had other cars and have never had this problem before at speeds around 15 to 20mph. So I thought I'd put chains on. It didn't change a thing. Other 2-wheel & 4-wheel drive cars would pass me.
Again, soft snow was not an issue. It was after a couple of days of constant driving where the road looks polished and choppy. My smart's rear end wanted to "weathervane" towards the right side of the road.
Today I had my BLIZZAK LM-18's installed and went down the same road. Those tires stopped the slippage and solved the problem. When conditions permitted, I even took it up to 40mph without any slipping what-so-ever. I felt completely under control.
The BLIZZAK LM-18's were definitely worth my investment.

-Tom L.

[nonuro]

Are you all mounting the Blizzaks on the stock wheels? I really don't want to hunt down a set of steel wheels at this time. Money might be REALLLLLLY tight for the next 4-6 months

[LorbeerTLC]

By all means, when money's tight- use your stock wheels. I purchased regular steel wheels (the kind you'll find on the Pure model), and placed my winter BLIZZAK LM-18's on them.
The wheels were $87 a piece + $12.45 for the center black plastic hub caps. My grand total with tax came to $433.60.
I went this route because I've been told it's hard on the tire beads mounting and dismounting them on the wheels. You run the risk of damaging the beads which wouldn't providing a solid seat for the tire. Plus my tire dealer Les Schwab, will switch your snow wheels on and off your car every season at no charge. If I had them change my BLIZZAK's on and off my stock wheels- I'd get charged $40. So in the long run I'm saving money.

-Tom L.

[tgobie50]

I think this first snow of the season was a nice test for this little car. I ordered my Blizzaks on Wednesday knowing the snow was for Friday. They arrived form Tire Rack in one day. Thursday I couldn’t find anyone who would mount (swap) the tires. Seems the tire machines were to old and wouldn’t work on the Smarts wheels. They also gave me some BS on the inflation valves. OK I have go back to the dealer, figured I do it first thing Friday morning before the snow got heavy. Well that didn’t work out, instead I had to take care of business and make a sixty mile round trip run. I gotta tell ya I was a little nervous, I’m getting to old to be getting stuck.
The snow started around 11am, got to where I had to go with no problems. When I left to go home we had about 2+ inches down, and it was still coming. Now I’m really nervous!
With the stock tires on my smart plowed right thru.
MY ride on the LIE was a pisser, if it wasn’t for the A Holes that don’t know how to drive, it would have been no problem.
Halfway home, going about 35mph in the left lane the car in front of me (SUV) lost it. Fish tailed into the center lane, nailed a car in that lane. Now I’m right there, I locked them up; fish tailed to the left, spun the wheel, did a doughnut into the HOV and missed the pile up. It was great!! Took the HOV the rest of the way, turned out to be a fun ride.
This little car handled it self-pretty good even with the stock tires.
I’m still putting on the Blizzaks, but if you know how to drive I think the stock tires will get you where you gotta go.

[Periokid]

Originally Posted by nonuro

Are you all mounting the Blizzaks on the stock wheels? I really don't want to hunt down a set of steel wheels at this time. Money might be REALLLLLLY tight for the next 4-6 months

I put my blizzaks on my stock passion wheels. I may get aftermarket wheels in the spring.

[Periokid]

Hey tgobie50, I am right next door in Miller Place!

[churpee]

Just got a chance to drive the wifes car on some icy back roads and icy parking lots the set of blixz on the car are absolutly remarkable the handling was great i can not be more pleased that i put them on the car

[smartune]

dave,

Fuse 11...

It handles great, and feels like a performance car with the fuse uninstalled. But works better with the fuse installed if you are not looking to hang what little tail it has around a corner With the fuse pulled it is best to use manual mode and drive a gear higher than normal, to aid in traction. It will also recover from a fish tail better when the engine is turning slower.

What can I say...I like the uneasy feeling of spinning tires and swapping ends :P

Best,

-Dan