Just drove home in the snow.

[Dave777]

Thanks Dan.

[bucketboss]

I agree with Dan. I pulled the fuse and probably will never re-install it. The tail hangs out nicely now. Totally changes the car's manners. Additionally, it disables the creep function which is another bonus. I am having a blast now even more than before. I hate when a car takes over.

Dave
Minneapolis

[D.C.W.J.]

I really need to pull my fuse out. I was not very impressed with the stock traction control in the snow. It just wanted to shut me down anytime i wanted to start going.

[smark]

Originally Posted by 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.

All together with Blizzaz LM-18's tires and steel wheels, what did you spend???? Did your tire dealer have the tires in stock. Also may I ask, are you using your air pressure sensors, on the steel wheels????

[SuperGeek]

Originally Posted by D.C.W.J.

I really need to pull my fuse out. I was not very impressed with the stock traction control in the snow. It just wanted to shut me down anytime i wanted to start going.

Just a thought to consider...

Hit a puddle or small patch of ice, and swerve or slam the brakes... you may regret pulling that fuse. Sure, that Tridion means you'll probably survive the collision... but when the insurance company finds the ABS and ESP failed to engage, they'll want to know who to sue.

Donuts or Cheerios in an icy parking lot are one thing... a ton of steel and plastic doing 70 on the interstate is another.

[LorbeerTLC]

Originally Posted by smark

All together with Blizzaz LM-18's tires and steel wheels, what did you spend???? Did your tire dealer have the tires in stock. Also may I ask, are you using your air pressure sensors, on the steel wheels????

Get ready for sticker shock.

Les Schwab Tire Center:
145/65R-15 (Front) BLIZZAK LM-18 --> $108.88ea --> $217.76
175/55R-15 (Rear) BLIZZAK LM-18 --> $139.31ea --> $278.62
Wheel Spin Balance --> $ 11.75ea --> $ 47.00
Freight --> $ 17.50ea --> $ 70.00
Sales Tax: $ 52.14
Tire Tax: $ 4.00
Total: $ 669.52

smart center Seattle:
Steel Wheel (Front) --> $87.00ea --> $ 174.00
Steel Wheel (Rear) --> $87.00ea --> $ 174.00
Hub Cap --> $12.45ea --> $ 49.80
Tax: --> $ 35.80
Total: $ 433.60
Grand Total: $ 1,103.12

I didn't get the air pressure sensors because my smart dealer would have to sync it with my car... which in turn would de-activate the ones on my regular wheels. Too much of a hassle and I've already spent enough money.

My tire dealer will swap my regular wheels with my snow wheels on my smart every season, free of charge. Otherwise I would be spending $40 to have my Conti's removed off my regular wheels for the BLIZZAK's. When the BLIZZAK's need to be replaced after several seasons, hopefully someone will be making studded tires by then. These were the only winter tires Les Schwab could get in my size. Bridgestone is not a tire that they normally sell, hence that's why there's a freight charge, tire tax.

Although this was expensive... it stopped the fishtailing.
My smart can now drive on 'white ice' and glazed packed snow (w/and without the washboard effect) without the problems I was having before. This gives me piece-of-mind and was worth the price.

-Tom L.

[Periokid]

Originally Posted by D.C.W.J.

I really need to pull my fuse out. I was not very impressed with the stock traction control in the snow. It just wanted to shut me down anytime i wanted to start going.

If it is shutting you down, you have no traction. Better tires would help here. I do think they need to add a switch like most cars to disable the traction control for those times you need to spin the wheels a little to get out of a rut.

[Quagmire]

$1100 bucks is a lot less than the cost of getting into an accident. Also, if you average it over 3-4 years of use and less wear on regular tires, it's not so painful.

It just hurts that tires and oil changes etc. are such a rip off for these cars. It almost negates the gas savings.

[canon1753]

I'm quite happy with the blizzaks and how the car goes in snow. In my experience, the TC light may go on an off like a disco's lighting, but it stays straight. It brakes well and handles quite well. It's a keeper now!

[smark]

Originally Posted by Quagmire

$1100 bucks is a lot less than the cost of getting into an accident. Also, if you average it over 3-4 years of use and less wear on regular tires, it's not so painful.

It just hurts that tires and oil changes etc. are such a rip off for these cars. It almost negates the gas savings.

That is a lot of change. If you sold the car you could always sell the snow tires and wheels on Ebay. You need to start do your own oil, and tire changes. To save some cash.

It snowed here, yesterday, in Kansas City. Stock tires. Took a friend for a ride. About hour drive. His extra weight in the car made a big difference. Stop dead at a bottom of a snow packed hill. Car went up the hill, like it had AWD. ABS work fine too.