Ordinarily I run “all/season” tires all year and daily drive my 2003 G35 sedan in all New England seasons, including winters in Maine. Last year, I experienced some scary back end break-away during active snow storm driving and I didn’t like it one bit though I was able to recover easily and right the ship. So this year it’s snow tires. I have brand new Blizzaks on there now and I’m waiting for the white stuff. Do you run snow tires? Which ones? What is your experience with winter tires on a rear wheel drive G and does anyone have personal experience with the Bridgetone Blizzaks?

 

Blizzak's are by far the best winter tire. The reviews will tell you so, and I've run 7 different brands including Michelin X-Ice. These were a close second but Blizzak's take the cake. WS-90's are their latest model.

I have a G35X and although I'm building it to be a summer fun-car, I thoroughly enjoyed my winters with it.

 

Also, please for the love of god don't just put winter tires on the rear. Your front tires still need proper grip, regardless of being driven wheels or not.

 

Of course I’m running 4 winter tires, not 2.

 

I live in Alberta (Canada) where we got just under 1.5 feet of snow in one day two weeks ago, and I still see people now and then with only 2/4 winter tires. Just making sure.

 

That slide I experienced last winter was in February in Maine was during a storm I had to be out in. The all-season Continental Constant Contact tires on the G were inspection passable but worn. I was going slow as trucks and other cars just blew by me to my absolute amazement. I could definitely feel how little traction I had, even engine braking to brake was scary. When the back end walked because I had to brake approaching a red light, I slid, recovered and made it home but that’s when I knew I needed snow tires. Now I just need snow, though truth is I’m not far from spots that got hit already!

 

This is not meant with condescendence or anything of that nature, but I always find it interesting hearing American's experiences with "winter" driving. What you described happens dozens of times on every trip around the city, unless you travel around 25-30 km/hr. FWD/RWD doesn't matter, a thick layer of ice with snow on top will cause you to slide around. Last week on my way to work I saw two vehicles flipped over, one semi jack-knifed, and three other vehicles that hit the ditch.

When I travelled to Houston for work, 95% of the residents didn't understand why I needed "winter tires" or that block heaters even existed. I explained that the day before I travelled to Houston it was -40 degrees in Alberta and they didn't believe me.

 

Maine has its winter driving challenges.

Avoiding slides is what I normally do, in a RWD G.

My back end walked once in several seasons here.

 

Technically a RWD vehicle can run snow tires in the rear only, you'll still steer badly but it doesn't actually make the vehicle unstable. FWD vehicles REQUIRE all 4 tires to be snow tires, you cannot just put snows on the front.

Also, NEVER EVER downshift and engine brake in the snow lol.

Personally the G just sits in the shop all winter, we get way too much snow where I live and I only have 3.25 inches of ground clearance at the lowest part of the car. My winter beater is my 2000 GMC Sierra, if people run into it my heart won't break as bad as if they ran into my G.

 

Yup, that's obviously most common story in winter drives over here in US