Roadmaster decent in snow?

[jodog500]

I agree with rather having posi WITH snow tires. My 91 caprice had posi last winter over here in Kalamazoo, MI and it really came in handy a few times when I needed it to push through the snow. However, the snow tires I had on ice didn't stand a chance so I think this year I want some tires that is rated pretty high for the icy conditions.

[Rennick]

I agree with everyone's sentiments about these cars in the snow, with four snow tires they are great winter cars.

With the mixed reviews on the posi, I am now debating whether I should wait until spring to get my 3.42's and tru-trac installed instead of getting it on before snow hits the ground. Before anyone says anything, I know the gears are going to make the winter tough, but is it worth doing to gain the posi? Any thoughts?

[Egghaus]

I know the tires will make all the difference in the world having been caught in the snow in my Impala on the 255ZR17s, absolutely worthless. I would think having the posi would only matter if you were driving through deep snow most of the time. But I guess as long as you can feel when the posi is about to break loose you can control it, plus it would be alot more fun.

[rematar]

I would prefer to not have a posi in the winter.
I mainly drive highways and I have accelerated slightly or started climbing a grade and you find out there is some black ice. I prefer having 1 tire zing as I travel straight rather than swinging the ass end out a couple of feet if both tires spin.
I have always ran 4 good ice radials on any vehicle I drive. I did get caught in an early snow fall a few years ago on 235/70 radial T/As (which have the all season classification on them - but I count them as summer tires) and I did not have any fun when I could barely turn or brake.
If I drove mainly in town, the posi would be too much fun.

[MrBuick (Magnum)]

Originally Posted by Rennick

With the mixed reviews on the posi, I am now debating whether I should wait until spring to get my 3.42's and tru-trac installed instead of getting it on before snow hits the ground. Before anyone says anything, I know the gears are going to make the winter tough, but is it worth doing to gain the posi? Any thoughts?

One year I had my Fleetwood with 2.93's, and an open diff. Next year I had the Roadmaster with 2.56's and an open diff. I was using the same 4 snow tires on each car, and they both had about the same amount of weight in the trunk. The 2.93's were better. 2.56's just LOVE to spin. If you think about it, what do you do in a 4wd to get out of a slick spot? Take it out of 4 high, and put it in 4 low. In 4hi, the window where you have traction, to spinning the tires is smaller than in 4lo. Like when my 96 9C1, I went from a 3.08 posi, to a 4.10 posi. Once the 3.08's got loose, they were harder to stop than the 4.10's, on the same crappy tires. It was easier to get the tires spinning with the 4.10's, but it was easier to control, and prevent. This was during the summer, but the principle remains the same.

That's my thought on it anyways.

[pooner9185]

I agree that it's just a matter of being a good driver. I've never owned a pair of snow tires in my life and consequently, never wrecked, never been stuck, never slid into anything or intersections. FWD, RWD, 4WD, posi, or no posi, it's a matter of putting the car where you want it and know how your car behaves. When it snows slow down, brake earlier and lighter, and easy on the pedal and don't spin the tires, unless you mean to of course. In my opinion a non-posi is BARELY better in the snow simply because it's harder to break loose turning right.

I know for me, and i'm sure a lot of guys on here, the first snow in your first car meant "screw around time" and it lets you understand how it works better. But i've had several loooong discussions with my girlfriend on how a FWD and RWD car works differently. Spent some time in a snowy parking lot and I think she's better now..... i think.

Anyways, i prefer to Safari in the snow