Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Hello all,
It's been a while since I posted, but still keep my eye in on the forums regularly. I have searched previous posts and it looks like it's been a while since the last discussion on the topic of how to combat snow/ice, and drive a 944.

I'm up in very snowy Central Scotland, and had a fair bit of bother getting to work today.

I'm using the 944 daily now, so no option to off-road it this winter.

Snow chains are illegal in the UK apparently ( comments ) so I have decided they are not an option.

Snow Socks - has anyone any recent experience of running these ? What did you think, how practicle were they ?

I'm currently running 205/55/16 front, and 225 rear. On a set of fuchs which I would prefer take off for a set of cheap wheels and fit with winter tyres. But overall cost will be a factor in that decision.

So I'm looking for some advice / input on what to use.

- What winter tyres would you fit, or do you use ?
- What to avoid ?
- Does anyone know of a wheel that could be bought from a scrappy for instance, that would fit the car directly ? ( eg from an older VW ). Cheap wheels to fit with decent tyres for winter.
- I'm not too well read on the wheels sizes, so unsure if only porsche alloys fit the car without having to make any mods .

Thanks for any comments.

Cheers, an all the best.

Hi,

I might have the solution for you. I am selling a set of Autosocks from when I had my 944. I ordered them last year when the weather was bad but the snow had melted by the time they arrived. Anyway, they will fit your tyre size. Please see sizing chart below:

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/car-snow-socks/ASsize.php

Mine are unused. The seal on the bag has been broken as I checked the contents when they arrived. I notice they are retailing for £64.95 from the roof box company. I'm after £40 + £5.25 P&P to ship Royal Mail 1st Class Recorded Delivery.

Please also visit: www.autosock.co.uk

A friend of mine was after winter tyres last week for his Jag but no where seems to be stocking them right now. Typical UK, 20 years behind the rest of Europe!

To aid my 944's stability, I found a couple of paving slabs and a bag of sand in the boot helped press the rear wheels down a bit better.

PM also sent. PM me back or e-mail: ben.rodrigues@tiscali.co.uk if you're interested in the Autosocks. Will be a big saving for you.

Ben

I'm in Midlothian and the snow is incredible. I take my (woolly) hat off to you for using the 944 in this weather.... mine is tucked up on the garage waiting some, even minor, break in the weather. Sorry though I can't help you with the technical advice but take it easy in this weather.

I’m in Glasgow and supposed to be taking the 944 Turbo to Shotts this morning to have some work done (fitting Powerflex ARB bushes and replacing worn strut bolts, so that the front end stops being so wobbly and starts to handle properly).

Not sure yet whether I’m going to even make it out of the garage and up my own street safely, let alone into Shotts at the other end of the journey!

I’m reliably informed that Autosocks really do work, so dropping Ben a few quid might be your best answer. A spare set of wheels with winter tyres is the ideal solution, but it’s a lot of money for a few weeks of the year.

Thanks Chaps, Ben, I'll get a look at what you have suggested, and get back to you mate.

For the Scottish boys, yes I do feel a bit mental taking it out, but needs must.

Poprock, take it you are going to Motortune then, don't want to put you off but I would call Peter first, you could have real issues getting to Shotts, the Harthill / Shotts area seem to have their own weather system at times, which is usually the worst around this area.

My car is garaged overnight, I collected this dusting of the white stuff on the way in this morning..... nice snow badge.

Just a few rear end movements on the way, so only a few butterflies in the stomach .

Thanks

Aye, I phoned Peter and postponed today’s appointment! Went to work instead …

Shotts/Harthill are well and truly snowbound.

How about finding another three space savers from a breakers and put some cheap tyres on them. Nice and thin. Just what you want for snow.
Rich

You wouldn't make it over this week, however I think Alasdair ( Sulzeruk ) will have a spare set of cookie cutters maybe? If you bought them (15") and a set of winter tyres ( Black Circles with your TIPEC discount code ), perhaps that might help? I'm fortunate that I have a FWD diesel for times like this, so the 928 & 944 stay in the drive in Lanark. I'm in Glasgow right now, don't know if I'll get home tonight?

Ben - I sent a mail about the socks, the weather may be around for a while, and the differing road conditions of snow, clear/slushy would probably wear them out, I needed a more permanent fix. Thanks a lot for the offer though, was food for thought, appreciated . I have used your suggestion of sand bags, put one in the arch behind each rear tyre. Works well as battery is still in engine bay in my car, so hopefully kinda even weight distribution.

I couldn't get proper winter tyres for a few days ( Friday / Sat ) so went for a set of snow & mud tyres that were in stock at a local fitters, the weather is worsening so needed a quick solution, forecast next few days is worse again. So they have been fitted to the fuchs at this time.

I dont have a space saver but good call as I have a full size spare on a steel wheel ( d'oh, never thought about that ), so I can pull that out and hopefully get another to match which I could then swap over.

Ideally a set of cookies or similar would be better, so I will be on the lookout as it would be nice to have a spare set.

Cheers all, comments taken on board.

If there is anything worthwhile to report from the changes made I'll update the post.

if you have to use it in the snow then i suggest you let plenty of air out of the tyres so they have half a chance at gripping.

As long as you don't exceed 30mph ( why would you in deep snow ?) Just remember to either keep at 30mph or pump them up before going faster on gritted roads.
I run mine at about 15psi at 25mph around the local country lanes and villages as we are surrounded by very steep hills and no gritting anywhere.

I might be wrong here, but I thought you only let the air out of your tyres if you are stuck in mud. By reducing the air out of the tyre, wouldn't this increase the surface area of the tyre making things worse?

I would have thought increasing your tyre pressure to reduce the contact area on the snow would be better. Cars with 'skinny' tyres seem to go better in the snow don't they?

Ben

I remember in big freeze up here in late 90's I lived with a long sweeping left hand bend that had an incline. You just could not go fast in winter around it as you went straight on.

In a Golf GTI mkii I tried for nearly 20 mins different gears different speeds all to no avail. It was a long hill. turning through 130degrees or so.

Only when I was I tried running on nearly flat front tyres could I get up. The trouble was there was an 8 mile drive on treated roads to the nearest town. I drove there slowly, but then you would given the conditions, it was just slower than you should.

So, low tyre pressures in a front wheel drive car have worked for me in extremely cold slippery situations.

Does the same apply for rear wheel drive?

Ben

Hi Stral 944.

In your first post, you said that you thought that snow chains were illegal in the UK. I don't think that is right because Halfrauds is selling them. I think that there might be speed restrictions on their use and maybe you are not allowed to use them when there is no snow around (but why would you). Here is there link (if it works).
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... &langId=-1
Fullchat

Not all manufacturers allow snow chains on their standard wheels, BMW being one of them. I think the comment about finding some spacesavers & fitting winter tyres to them is probably good. In kent we have thick snow well over 18" in places. I arrived back on Eurostar last night & Paul my ARO walked to Chatham station with some boots & gloves for me & walked back, as no taxis etc. What a hero!

So not a lot moving & the Jag is a complete no no in this weather. Which is a bummer as it was club night tonight (cancelled), SELNK Xmas dinner tomorrow night (not looking good) & I'm meant to be in Gatwick Sunday to fly to Las Vegas