Adding weight in the back definitely helps in snow traction with snow tires, especially going up hill. I tried 3 40lbs salt in the trunk, but it squated so much that the headlights were shinning into other cars' cockpits. People were constantly flashing me. I didn't feel like adjusting the headlights, so I removed one bag. With 80lbs in the trunk, I still notice some squat, but not enough for people to flash me.

 

Blizzak and comon sense....thats all you need

 

I feel so bad for you guys that live up north... Really, I do...

I was driving around in my S yesterday with the top down, enjoying the beautiful blue sky above with 65-70 degrees outside...

Yeah, so it gets a little hot in the summer, but our cars come with A/C standard, and it's not so bad when you turn it on with the top down.

 

YES- In the snow, additional weight will help you get moving, especially up those hills. I would caution, though, that on ICE it's a much different story. Your tires don't dig into smooth ice, nor does the rubber deform to make local contact the way it does on pavement. So, you've lost some traction benefit, and now you're rear-heavy, which will make the car want to swap ends a bit more (sort of like driving an old VW beetle, for anybody old enough to remember).

However, when there is a bunch of snow on the ground, and there aren't any icing issues, I may find myself throwing (or actually, placing gently) a couple of 35 pound dumbells in the trunk.

 

the BEST (imho) setup (beside leaving the S at home in low-temp/adverse road conditions) is a good set of snow tires, sensible, non rush-hour driving, a mini shovel, some gloves, a fully-charged cell phone, a flash light and a couple of huge bags of kitty litter. i'm not sure what you're going to do with the bags of salt, but the kitty litter is gonna give you REAL traction... while it's in your trunk and after you get stuck.

$0.02

 

Yeah but your did NOT get to race up and down your driveway in second gear with your HONDA snow blower - whipping shitties at the end of the driveway - like I did tonight.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jankemi

 

my recollection is that our car has a passenger weight limit... this would include passengers you put in the trunk!
i personally would not leave the weight in too long- for the wear on the springs and shocks. but i woudlnt think that leaving it in there a few days at a time (which is what you prob need) should be a problem...
anyone remember what our passenger weight limit is?

 

I drove my S last winter with 2 40lb bags of concrete mix in the trunk and blizzak ws-50's all around....the traction was great!.....but I didn' t want to put it through another winter so I got another car for the winter...I still put the stock wheels with the blizzaks on for the winter in case i want to drive it one day and then unexpectently get caught in the snow all of a sudden....which has happened and without the weight in the trunk the traction is definetely not as good as it was with it.....so having experienced both I would say the weight helps....my .02

 

For what it is worth ... avoid salt!

Had a bad experience with salt bags in the trunk of a Volvo wagon. Vehicle benefited from the weight but spillage caused problems with rust etc. Kitty litter is more friendly to the car and more useful when stuck. Two 40# bags should be more than enough.