So my all seasons are completely worthless over packed snow. We have about 4"-5", and it's fine on unpacked, flat road. But the back end is too light, whenever it grips, it just starts to slide. I was able to pull it out of my parking spot, only to get stuck on the way out of the lot, which exits onto a hill. Couldn't go up the hill at all, so after 15 minutes of trying (VDC/noVDC/etc) I said f$$$ it, and reversed down the hill into another parking lot. I need snow tires bad, and about 300lbs of sand in the trunk. The all seasons are completely worthless on snow on any uphill grade. But on the bright side, I have an excuse to buy dedicated summer tires in the spring and ditch the all seasons for good.

Drew
2003 G35 Sedan 6MT / Black / Graphite / Aero

 

Maybe because your driving a stick or maybe because you are out in the boonies but here in MA I just went out to get gas for my snowblower... drove down my snow covered driveway up the hill on my snow covered street ... after getting to the station I went up a pretty steep snow covered road and didn't have any problem... of course snow covered in the civilized world here is 1/4 inch of snow.

2003.5 5AT Sedan Black/Black Premium/Winter Packages

 

The depth doesn't matter, you still spin wheels if you are going to! You should see the idiots here when it snows, they think you can just stop and go as normal, then they get stuck, and it's the car's fault, either that or they drive so damned slow they are a hazard!


Brilliant Silver/Graphite '04 Sedan/5AT

 

ABQ,
You're alright in my book. That Flyers emblem tells me everything I need to know. [img]/w3timages/icons/cool.gif[/img] Sitting here right now while the Flyers and Bruins are in overtime. Life long Flyer fan here!!

My sister-in-laws' boyfriend has a 2003.5 G35. We were asking him how it was in the snow, and he gave me this look and said "it's OK". Right then I knew what he meant. We literally were about to sign the papers on the standard car, we were at the dealership and had all the numbers worked out. All we had to do was leave a deposit and sign the papers. This was in late October. But after talking to him and talking to people, we pulled out of the deal at the last second. The more we thought, the more we decided to just wait. We spent $2000 over the standard sedan for the AWD car equipped the same way. Well worth it.

Steve

 

I didn't become a Flyers fan until 1974 when they won the first cup! I am a dedicated fan, I am originally from the area! I didn't see the game here, who won? I'll have to check their website!


Brilliant Silver/Graphite '04 Sedan/5AT

 

Put on the snow tires, and you should notice a huge difference. We haven't had alot of snow yet this season in Rochester, but it was very slippery here last Saturday...I live on a steep hill, and the RWD G had no problems getting up or down. The VDC kicked on a few times, but I was basically driving on ice covered with a couple of inches of snow.

I put on Dunlop SP Winter Sport M2s from Tirerack (225/60/16) on dedicated alloy rims. TR really seems to push the Blizzacks, but Consumer Reports has rated several other tires as being better in snow and ice (I trust CR's tests as being a little more scientific and unbiased since they aren't trying to sell me anything -- plus, CR tested all of the performance snows on a 2001 BMW 530, which is roughly the same size / weight of our Gs).

The Dunlops also work great on dry roads -- no problems with dry handling or road noise. The only thing CR rated slightly higher in a "performance" (H-Rated) snow tire was a Goodyear Eagle Ultra Grip GW2, but TR doesn't carry them.

All season tires are really not suited to any kind of serious winter driving. You will notice a big improvement with any dedicated snow tire you choose.

TurboFish
2004 G35 Sedan 6M -- Diamond Graphite, Graphite Leather, Premium/Winter

 

Game ended in a 1-1 tie. Still OK, as they are on a hot streak. I was only 3 years old the last time they won a Stanley Cup, so I'm still waiting.....

 

Oh, a "kid" then! Lot's of things have changed since the last cup!!! Where do you live, I noticed in your other post you mentioned Infiniti of Willow Grove, I saw that dealer, right by the Turnpike, right? When I did a dealer search on my old PA zip code, 19030, they seemed to have quite a selection as well! Also seemed to be a lot of dealers in the radius I picked!
[img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]


Brilliant Silver/Graphite '04 Sedan/5AT

 

I agree with TurboFish, in principal.
I went with the black steel wheel/Blizzak option ($650) from Tire Rack. While they are great winter tires when there is snow and ice, there is a definite handling and noise trade-off. The VDC also tends to engage around turns, even in dry conditions!
I'm also in Rochester and these came in handy last week.

2003.5 Sedan/CarribeanBlue/Graphite/Auto/BOSE/Sunroof/Winter Pkg

 

When RaChaCha turned into a sheet of ice last week, the TCS was cutting power to the rear wheels WAY too soon. Although just fine on slippery snow and slush, on ice I found myself turning VDC off just to get rolling quicker, then turning it back on to keep from sliding off the road. Somethig about putting your foot down when you need more power, only to have your engine turn into cream cheese. It was truly amazing the amount of noise the VDC systems made on ice working constantly to keep control. It's a bit weird when the EBS pulses only one outside front wheel when the front end begins to wash out, but boy, does it snap back into line fast. Amazing technology that will probably save my life someday! I will also say, with (4) winter tires (and mine are hard, not ice, compound), I was pleasantly surprised how the car handled the snowy conditions to date. This car is VERY good in snow/icy conditions IMO.

___________________________________
2004 | 6MTs | Diamond Graphite/Graphite

 

I've found 100-200lbs of sand bags in the spare tire well and snow tires makes all the difference. I couldn't handle any snow with the summer sport tires last winter. I put my Blizzak LM-22's on last week. I was doing okay on my ride home from work, but still got stuck going up hill. I could steer and stop very nicely, just hard to get the power to the road. I went home and put four 50lb bags of sand in the spare tire well and went back out for some sleds and snow toys and the car was doing better than lots of 4wd cars.

Carribean Blue G35S 5AT Cloth/Sport Package wheels/Invinca-Shield/LOTS of Scotchgard

 

I have not yet used my G in the snow - borrowed my wife's Outback on the few occasions I needed to drive in inclement weather so far!
My experience is that so long as you are driving a FWD car with non-Summer tires (particularly if the car is a 4 cyl or a lower powered V6), you do not need snow tires. I used Blizzaks on my 1993 Toyota Camry SE V6 (5MT) and Artic Alpins on my 1998 Maxima SE (5MT) and was very happy with them. I thought originally that I may be able to get by without snow tires on the G because it has VDC in addition to TCS. From what I hear, I better get snow tires. The only winter tire available at Tire Rack for my car is the Blizzak (215/55/17). I really would have liked something like the Pilot Alpin for my G -- trading off a little ice traction for better handling -- but, apparently, that is not to be!
Luckily, we just have to bide our time over only about 3 months before we can start having fun again!
Raj

2003.5 G35 Obsidion/Black Leather Luxury Sedan 6MT with Premium, Winter, and Aero Packages

 

If you are planning on buying winter wheels, you can put 225/60/16 snow tires on the sedan -- the extra sidewall is good in potholes vs. the standard 17 inch rims. There are quite a few winter tires available in this size, as well.



TurboFish
2004 G35 Sedan 6M -- Diamond Graphite, Graphite Leather, Premium/Winter

 

Toyo Garritt 215/55/17H are also available. Very good tires on ice and snow and H rated.

Good luck to find them in USA.

 

raj, you don't have to order 215/55/17 exactly, you can go a little bigger or a little smaller. I just ordered Dunlop Wintersport M3 for my car in the 225/55/17 size. This tire is 1.6% larger than the stock, so the speedometer will be a little off. At 60 mph, it will read 59

2003.5 6MT Sedan. Carribean Blue / Graphite