[Miata] First Winter Drive

[MH]

- Throttle steer is your friend. <grin>
- Enjoy hollering things like, "get out of my way you 4x4 summer tired
idiot!" on your way by.
- You can now take all the ricers and wanna-be at the lights.
- You get to really feel and play with the balance of the car as you run at
the limit of adhesion at 30mph.
 
I am guessing that getting to run a Miata in winter is like running a more
powerful car on pavement.  Just guessing because I've never driven anything
near supercar status, but the poor winter conditions give the Miata the
ability to easily overpower itself.  Now you have to be nice in down
shifting, all your transitions on/off power have to be smoother, and you
have to be nice to the accelerator pedal.  In the dry I have the bad habit
of mashing it to the floor and waiting for the car to catch up.
 
I really enjoy inclement winter driving when I get to run at the edge of
what my ability/conditions/ and the car allow.  (When I am alone on the
roads, of course.)
 
With the snows on, (Nokian Hakka's) I have not had any desire for doing the
weight in the trunk thing. Balance is fine.  But play with your tire
pressure.  +/- 5 lbs changes the feel of snow tires quite a bit.
 
Marvin 
 

   _____  

From: miata-bounces at realbig.com [mailto:miata-bounces at realbig.com] On Behalf
Of Dillon
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 8:16 AM
To: MiataBigList
Subject: [Miata] First Winter Drive


Hi guys,

I happen to be in downtown Chicago today (got in yesterday morning) for some
work stuff.  I have to drive about 70 miles to get home starting this
afternoon.  Apparently we're under some sort of crazy snow/sleet/ice storm.
I put a set of used Arctic Alpin winter tires (got them free from the buy
who sold me my hard top) on my car last month, so hopefully I'm equipped.  

I haven't driven a rear-wheel drive car in the winter since my old 5.0
mustang ~8 years ago, so this could be an experience.  I have lots of
winter-driving experience, but I"m wondering if there are any subtleties
specific to the Miata I should be aware of ? 

Regards,
Dillon



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