I know, most people don't drive their cars in the bad weather (snow), they leave it in the garage and drive the $500 daily driver for the winter. But in my case, I live in a condo without a garage, so parking spots are limited. I currently own an 01 Acura CL Type S that I bought when it first came out, then leased an 01 Integra for my girlfriend (now wife and boy is married life grand, LOL) for a Xmas present. She has another 15 months on her lease, and I really love the navi and ride of the CLS. I was thinking of buying her lease out, then selling it, giving her the CLS and driving home in a brand new S2000!

My question for anyone who uses the car as a daily driver in rain/snow is........

Does it scare you sh*tless driving the S2000 in this weather, not because of the other jerks on the road, but because the thing is really light and slides all over?

I haven't had a car with a stick in like 10 years, so it would take some time to get used to. Since I have seen other people posting that the 03s are coming closer to the end of the year, I may wait until Spring to avoid the winter, and worry about it next year. Here in Jersey we barely had a winter last year, but knowing my luck we will get pounded this year. Any stories or options would be greatly appreciated.

 

(Oooh oooh! ME! ME! I've just got to beat xviper to this one... )

Before everyone else jumps in and you get a chorus of "do a search", let me just throw out my usual:

IT'S THE TIRES.

The stock tires are SUMMER performance tires. They are useless in the cold. Buy some winter tires on spare rims and you'll be just fine. Install the tires when the temps are regularly below 50F. Drive with caution, as usual in the winter.

xviper lives in Calgary, AB, CN, arguably one of the more "wintery" places on earth come January. He drives his year round and reports it quite fun.

The stock S02s are reported to be quite good in the warm rain until they are >1/2 worn out. The S03s are arguably slightly better wet weather tires.

Now, go do a search for "winter", "snow", or "rain" for more info.

Xviper - feel free to comment here.

 

Sorry about that. Thx for the info.

 

Hey, I'm sorry if I came off too strong. I'm an evangelist for the advantages of proper tires. Many new high performance cars come with summer-only tires. Even my truck came with summer-only tires. Ford has a sticker on the door jamp telling the owner "DO NOT USE IN SNOW!". This makes them great in summer, off the lot and in magazine reviews, but a nightmare in the winter. A switch to proper tires designed for the conditions at hand has a much greater effect than any other technological invention.

Usually when someone asks this question on this and other forums the first response is "do a search #$$*&". I just thought I'd throw something useful in before you got shut down.

 

I am in the same town as xviper and there will be about 4 of us who will drive our S this winter. Like snoopy says, it is all in the tires, I drove the S02's in early spring when the temps was just above freezing and spun on clear roads. In the summer I took that corner at twice the speed and it bit like a pit bull. The S02 are a death wish in cool weather with or without snow.

If you have some dedicated snow & ice tires like Blizzaks, Hakkas, Artic Alpines, The toyo w/crushed walnuts you'll be fine. If you have a hardtop that is a bonus. The early S models with the plastic window don't fare too well when you scrape ice and snow off of them.

 

Sorry for not searching.. but do you guys put the Blizzaks on the stock rims? This may be my first winter where I will be driving the S... =( And my stock S02's are wearing down.. at least the rears, around 15,000 miles. So I was thinking of getting winter tires. Can I just mount the same size? 205/55 R16 and 225/50R16?? Thanks!

 

Questions for snoopy and/or FormerH22a4

How does the S feel with winter tires?

Are the S03's any good in the snow?

Thanks.

 

Another reason I posted a ? that has been asked plenty of times was the reason of me living in a condo. I don't have a garage to store 4 extra "summer" wheels and tires. That is why I really wanted an option if anyone uses their stock tires. It seems like using them in the cold is a deathwish. I may be able to store the wheels and tires at my work. If only the price of homes didn't like triple in the past 2 years I wouldn't have a problem.

I guess now I need to make the decision of getting a new 2002 or waiting for the 2003.

Thanks for all the help guys.

 

S03s are also a deathwish in winter, they are a high performance summer tire like the S02s. Actually they are the replacement for S02 since S02s are being discontinued.

I haven't driven on winter tires yet, this will be my first winter in the S. Xviper and snoopy can give you a good review. A cool note though, xviper has been known to out drag race SUVs in the snow with the S.

 

I put "same size" Blizzaks on stock rims last winter. (From what I now understand, "same size" is really narrower.) Worked great in the snow. But the tires are *not* grippy like the S02s on dry. Easy to make the back end come around, although if you don't push them, they are fine. I just have to remember to readapt after I get the Blizzaks back on this Fall since I'm now pretty used to the tires sticking tightly.

Tony