Lowered Winter Driving
10-Oct-2008, 07:01 PM
#26
Inactive
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Where my car is.
Posts: 5,460
This winter will be the first time I drive my civic in the winter.
I have a 99 Civic SiR, which is lowered 2.25".
Will I be able to drive this in the winter? Last year we had tons of snow, I highly doubt my car can take that.
Any advice? Im not putting my car back to stock, so are winter tires my only option?
I have a 99 Civic SiR, which is lowered 2.25".
Will I be able to drive this in the winter? Last year we had tons of snow, I highly doubt my car can take that.
Any advice? Im not putting my car back to stock, so are winter tires my only option?
The only issue I ran into was after we got dumped on a couple times I couldn't go anywhere until our 500 foot long driveway got plowed.
other than that, you'll be fine.
10-Oct-2008, 08:49 PM
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Etobicoke
Posts: 642
I've always driven my car through the winter. First with Tein S techs and now H techs. As long as you have decent snow tires you'll be fine. Take off your front lip for sure (I've broken 2 of them.) but I have never taken off my rear lip and its fine.
I would reccomend the 175-65-14. I have Yokohama's in that size and they are excellent. I have never been stuck in the snow with them, even in like 15 cm.
I would reccomend the 175-65-14. I have Yokohama's in that size and they are excellent. I have never been stuck in the snow with them, even in like 15 cm.
11-Oct-2008, 03:39 AM
#32
-- site donator --
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Toronto
Posts: 969
I'm about 2 inch drop with front and rear lips and have no problems so far. Granted, during heavy snow fall, the area between the tires will more often than not hit the front lip while driving but, it's expected. You're not driving 100 km/h in 4 inch uncleared snow anyways...you'll be adjusting your driving habbits to the conditions obviously. Those lips will take some abuse mind you so, you should be safe. I believe the best thing on your car should be your tires...afterall, it's the only thing in contact with the road. Hence why I always get the better summer and winter tires - granted you do spend a little more than most people but, I think it's necessary.
If I'm not mistaken, OEM should have come with 195/55/15 tires. I would only recommend going a step down to 185/65/14 if you want to change two aspects. You want to get as close as possible to the OEM diametre size.
If I'm not mistaken, OEM should have come with 195/55/15 tires. I would only recommend going a step down to 185/65/14 if you want to change two aspects. You want to get as close as possible to the OEM diametre size.
11-Oct-2008, 01:43 PM
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 173
I live in the High Park/Bloor area in Toronto. Every year I talk myself out of lowering my car because I constantly see lowered cars snowplowing. I wouldn't be able to pull it off in this neighborhood. There are also a ton of one way streets downtown that don't get plowed at all. Even the main streets in the morning are pretty brutal. Unless you don't need to work in the morning... different story.
right by Runnymede/Bloor.Anyways, I wouldn't really want to be driving lowered. It's fine if you don't HAVE to drive all the time, but it is much more of a hassle. Driving on normal streets is no problem of course, but it's things like trying to parallel park downtown with deep uncleared snow on the sides, etc. I have had to plow through deep snow quite a few times and was thankful my car wasn't lowered.
I don't have a driveway, so I park on the street, and after huge snowfalls the plows would come and they would leave a snowbank beside your car so you can't get out. I just plowed through that easily without shoveling
it was great.Up to you though. If it's your only car and you NEED to get to work, etc why not just buy stock springs/shocks (like an extra set) and throw them on? It's only an hour of work really, and although it's a hassle it's less of a hassle than shopping for a winter beater..It will also only run you 100-200$$ and you don't have to worry about your $500 beater breaking down.. Just swap them on when you switch your tires.
Does anyone actually do this, btw? I was thinking of doing it when I get coilovers next summer..
11-Oct-2008, 07:41 PM
#36
Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 85
im buying winter tires and i got a spare bumper im putting on.. then its not too too low...meaning from my front lip
and im from Htown so the side roads suck
12-Oct-2008, 06:24 PM
#37
Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 77
I drove my civic in the winter and it was lowered with the eibach prokit, my tsx which was lowered with comptech springs and now my s2k will be driven (although not lowered, its low enough). Make sure to just get a good set of winters that are as thin as safety allows.
14-Oct-2008, 05:09 PM
#38
-- site donator --
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Toronto
Posts: 969
This winter will be the first time I drive my civic in the winter.
I have a 99 Civic SiR, which is lowered 2.25".
Will I be able to drive this in the winter? Last year we had tons of snow, I highly doubt my car can take that.
Any advice? Im not putting my car back to stock, so are winter tires my only option?
I have a 99 Civic SiR, which is lowered 2.25".
Will I be able to drive this in the winter? Last year we had tons of snow, I highly doubt my car can take that.
Any advice? Im not putting my car back to stock, so are winter tires my only option?
As quoted above from posters first post, it's an SiR...13 inch rims will not clear his calipers. The smallest size he can go is 14 inch rims.
14-Oct-2008, 06:10 PM
#40
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 431
Excellent choice! I'm running on the Michellin X-Ice version one and have been for the last 2 winters. The version two X-Ice should be even better.
As quoted above from posters first post, it's an SiR...13 inch rims will not clear his calipers. The smallest size he can go is 14 inch rims.
As quoted above from posters first post, it's an SiR...13 inch rims will not clear his calipers. The smallest size he can go is 14 inch rims.
