Porsche 944 on winter tyres
Discussion
I'd say absolutely yes. I run my Cayman S all year and with winter tyres on it's great when it gets cold. Much less skittish over standing water and when the road gets greasy (i.e. cold and damp) it's absolutely fine and transformed from summer tyres. Even a few inches of snow isn't a problem, it becomes a complete non-issue. Don't get a lot of snow where I live, but on cold and wet roads (i.e. most of the winter) I'm a lot more confident on winter tyres.
I'm almost tempted to try winters on mine as it is utterly useless in the snow. I just won't take it out. Any sort of slope and it's going nowhere. From reading bits and pieces everything seems to suggest that winters would sort this but my brain has a bit of a problem accepting that "just" changing the tyres would make that much difference. I probably won't as I don't need to use it in that sort of weather but I'd love to experience it all the same!
The 924 is a pretty good rally car on slippery surfaces. Fairly long wheel base. The 944 should be no different. So I see no reason why it can't be used for your intended use.
Do all 944's have an LSD? I think they do but not sure. LSD in the snow will make a huge difference vs an open diff.
Do all 944's have an LSD? I think they do but not sure. LSD in the snow will make a huge difference vs an open diff.
LarJammer said:
I used my 944 through several winters on winter tyres. It was brilliant and inspired confidence but had so much grip I couldn't do doughnuts in the snow!
Sorry don’t believe the last bit. Even with winter tyres you’d have way less grip on snow than in tarmac. And they are perfectly capable of doing a doughnut on the latter. What might have happened was the front kept pushing on due to lack of grip.
I lived in Sweden years ago where winter tyres are mandatory. I had a 944S2 followed by a 968, both as year round daily drivers. I only really discovered how good the winter tyres were when we had a late snowfall one April just after I'd put my near new premium summer tyres back on the 968. This was the first time driving in snow on summers and the car was almost undriveable and a massive contrast to my drama free experience of daily use through three previous winters. These were just M&S tyres, not the studded type.
Correct. Standard only on 250hp Turbos, and pretty rare otherwise.
My 250 Turbo has been extremely docile and usable in all weathers, including lots of snow and ice during a winter when I had to use it for everyday transport (other car being in the body shop for a full repaint).
I'd say it's almost as easy to drive that car in the snow on summer tyres as my BMW 530i on winters. Only penalty was having to continually jetwash off the underneath to get the salt off it.
My 250 Turbo has been extremely docile and usable in all weathers, including lots of snow and ice during a winter when I had to use it for everyday transport (other car being in the body shop for a full repaint).
I'd say it's almost as easy to drive that car in the snow on summer tyres as my BMW 530i on winters. Only penalty was having to continually jetwash off the underneath to get the salt off it.
I put a set of design 90 16" wheels on my 968 Sport with secondhand winter tyres fitted and it was extraordinarily surefooted on snowy hills. Just make sure that the underside of the car is clean and well waxed / rust proofed, the brake lines especially. When I was using the 968 as a daily around 2009/10, they were cheap cars, sadly in most cases today, that is no longer the case.
Gassing Station | Front Engined Porsches | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff