Let It Snow....(the winter tires & hardtop are on)

[dcooper]

Got my winter wheel/tire set and 997 cabriolet hardtop pulled from Porsche Nashua's storage and installed a few days ago. Winter weather is coming to New England this weekend they say....

Whoo! Whoo! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow :)

(This is my 2nd winter in my 997 and I'm looking forward to passing stuck and skidding all-wheel drive SUV's again this year!)

Anybody else looking FORWARD to the winter in their 997 C4? Or am I the only crazy idiot that LIKES pushing the Porsche enigneering envelope in the worst that New England has to offer? Hey.....at least it SNOWS in Germany. So the engineers by default account for the season in the vehicle's design. Can't say the same for Japan, South Korea, etc!

My Winter Continentals are Z-Rated too...gotta love that idea...you can technically do 180MPH in the snow. (Can't imagine where, but it's technically possible.....)

:)

Damon

Edited December 1, 2007 by dcooper

[cvhs18472]

I live in scenic downtown NEPA, and also have just put on my winter Conti tires. As I am not as brave as you I do not take it out in snowstorms. What is the depest snow that you have been in? Here 4WD's are necessary because 6" of snow is a dusting. Have great fun. Ed

Edited December 1, 2007 by cvhs18472

[dcooper]

I live in scenic downtown NEPA, and also have just put on my winter Conti tires. As I am not as brave as you I do not take it out in snowstorms. What is the depest snow that you have been in? Here 4WD's are necessary because 6" of snow is a dusting. Have great fun. Ed

I've been out in the middle of the worst storm of New England last year, a whopping Nor-Easter...valentine's day, if I recall....I went out to get sushi :) The snow was probably 8 inches deep on unplowed side roads....t was a little scary, but I FELT confident in the C4 :)

I will also say that this car, with PSM off, is the most fun you can have on an empty, unplowed parking lot in the winter :)

I keep it washed and clean every week in the winter, though, including undercarriage, and I get a multi-layer hard ocean-going boat wax applied before the salt goes down.

Damon

[dcooper]

Some recent "997-in-a-snowstorm" pics to make it real for ya.... :)

Damon

[ahklein]

This is my 4th winter with my 2005 c2S. I just replaced my rear Conti Winter Contacts. Even without all-wheel drive, this car is excellent in the snow. I find that it is ground clearance which limits my ability to get around in deep snow. Having rwd allows me to have some fun. PSM will come on to get me out of trouble. There is nothing as much fun as finding an unplowed parking lot and turning off PSM!! I can spin the car on its axis!!

I use 18in wheels for winter, and keep my 19's for the summer. I find the ride excellent with the winter tires on dry or wet roads quite stable at triple digit speeds.

During a recent snowstorm, my car was in for service and the dealer gave me a new Cayenne to drive, with stock all-season tires. I could not believe how much better my C2S with snows performed!!

Bottom line: TIRES are the most important factor in getting around. Having drive wheels under the engine helps. All-wheel drive with bad tires just means you'll be able to GO better than you'll be able to STEER or STOP!! Experience and common sense driving are necessary for safe winter driving.

Can't wait for another snowstorm -- I'll be out playing in the snow!!

[pnk574]

This is my 4th winter with my 2005 c2S. I just replaced my rear Conti Winter Contacts. Even without all-wheel drive, this car is excellent in the snow. I find that it is ground clearance which limits my ability to get around in deep snow. Having rwd allows me to have some fun. PSM will come on to get me out of trouble. There is nothing as much fun as finding an unplowed parking lot and turning off PSM!! I can spin the car on its axis!!

I use 18in wheels for winter, and keep my 19's for the summer. I find the ride excellent with the winter tires on dry or wet roads quite stable at triple digit speeds.

During a recent snowstorm, my car was in for service and the dealer gave me a new Cayenne to drive, with stock all-season tires. I could not believe how much better my C2S with snows performed!!

Bottom line: TIRES are the most important factor in getting around. Having drive wheels under the engine helps. All-wheel drive with bad tires just means you'll be able to GO better than you'll be able to STEER or STOP!! Experience and common sense driving are necessary for safe winter driving.

Can't wait for another snowstorm -- I'll be out playing in the snow!!

[Camus997]

This is my 4th winter with my 2005 c2S. I just replaced my rear Conti Winter Contacts. Even without all-wheel drive, this car is excellent in the snow. I find that it is ground clearance which limits my ability to get around in deep snow. Having rwd allows me to have some fun. PSM will come on to get me out of trouble. There is nothing as much fun as finding an unplowed parking lot and turning off PSM!! I can spin the car on its axis!!

I use 18in wheels for winter, and keep my 19's for the summer. I find the ride excellent with the winter tires on dry or wet roads quite stable at triple digit speeds.

During a recent snowstorm, my car was in for service and the dealer gave me a new Cayenne to drive, with stock all-season tires. I could not believe how much better my C2S with snows performed!!

Bottom line: TIRES are the most important factor in getting around. Having drive wheels under the engine helps. All-wheel drive with bad tires just means you'll be able to GO better than you'll be able to STEER or STOP!! Experience and common sense driving are necessary for safe winter driving.

Can't wait for another snowstorm -- I'll be out playing in the snow!!

For a fellow Calgarian, waiting for 977 delivery that will be used as daily driver all year, your post are encouraging. Have you had any trouble with sliding sideways due to large rear tires, or stopping?

Thanks and keep drivin'.

[fokinel]

For a fellow Calgarian, waiting for 977 delivery that will be used as daily driver all year, your post are encouraging. Have you had any trouble with sliding sideways due to large rear tires, or stopping?

Thanks and keep drivin'.

I'm waiting for my 987 to arrive, and in all truth I'm kinda glad it's not here (also Calgary) this weekend! ~40 cm on top of a layer of ice had made it a mess for pretty much anyone, let alone a sporty car with a set of jaunty Houston-style winter tires (summer tires anywhere else). I'm making do by taking the wife's 325i to Mount Royal parking lot and letting it do some drifts for cheap entertainment (between finishing basement renos...)

What are your plans for winterizing the 977? I'm hoping to find a set of cheap 17s and narrowish tires for the snowy season, and maybe bump up to 19s for the summer - it will all be played by ear tho. I did find someone selling a set of mismatched 17 rims and 'fairly decent' tires (although they won't say what kind they are) - not sure I really trust mismatched, plus it seems just a bit o the 'eurgh' side...

Cheers,

Craig