Blizzaks work great in the snow/cold conditions when driving conservatively. They're not meant to give you the same performance levels in snow/ice/cold as performance tires do in the summer. Take it easy, warmer seasons are on their way.

Everyone else gave great advise on how to handle a slide...

Be careful!

 

I disagree with this. Engine braking to the rear wheels and pedal braking to the front wheels do two very different things to the physics of the car when involved in something like that.

Pedal braking will almost create an axis from which the car will rotate causing the 180' spin. It stops the car from wanting to go forward and following the direction you steer it in. Letting off the gas slows the rear wheels and lets them reconnect.

These are from my experiences though. I always let off the gas a little and countersteered. Knock on wood, but I haven't wrecked yet..

 

Did you read my post above?

 

Cliff notes: countersteer, feather the throttle, and be smooth with your inputs.

 

The S has snapped on me a few times, some when i knew it was gonna happen and some where i had no clue.

Best personal advice, specially with someone who isnt 100% familar with the car (as i was/am) is when you do correct yourself be ready to correct an overcorrection.

I came in hot on an entrance ramp that i though was not as curved as it was, the combination of too fast and sand on half of the road snapped the tail, i corrected, too much gas, and the car snapped back, luckily i caught it that time, but if i didnt, a curb and a ditch had my name on it.

Just be careful bro.

(knock on desk)

 

Everyone's right with the no braking and abrupt lift off throttle during mid-turns and how to save a spin but sometimes when you realize trying to save it is a lost cause, better to do both feet in than trying to maintain speed saving it and end up crashing into a pole at speed.

Yes you might spin out if you brake, but chances are you'll spin out on the road or crash at a much lower speed.

 

Thank you guys for this thread. I'm new to RWD and just picked up my first S and was always concerned about the rear being happy. Bought an AP2 primarily for this reason, amongst others.

I will definitely be taking the advice and learn to control slides with my left foot as well as throttle modulation. I already knew not to brake but I would probably have the habit of lifting off the throttle abruptly. I need to get her to an autox session.

 

Letting off the gas from a steady throttle will NOT allow the rear wheels to regain grip...it will do quite the opposite as dropping throttle always causes some degree of engine braking which causes less lateral traction to the rear tires because some of their traction is now being used to slow down. They teach you these concepts when you take the advanced motorcycle rider's course and the concept of traction applies to 2 or 4 wheeled vehicles.

 

I had a similar situation a few days ago. Isolated, straight 2 mile stretch of blacktop, VTEKed up through 4th gear and at about 105mph the rearend started fishtailing violently. I stayed on the throttle til it straightened itself out, but it was a handful for a while. Brought it back down to the speed limit, U turned and and parked the garage queen till better weather. Other factors involved: new rear tires (Goodyear Eagle GT's...not broken in yet); temperature about 10 degrees; 20-30 mph crosswind; temporary lapse of judgement.

 

You narrowly avoided a Darwin award.

Those are multiple lapses in judgement.

Be safe.