...As I have always thought that these '80s T-Birds and Cougars are light weighted in the rear (for lack of a more scientific description), I ask ---what do you do for better traction in snow and Ice? We have been putting 40# softener salt bags in the trunk for winter handling of the T-Bird. I recently got an idea and thought that several 33# solid masonry (grey) blocks take up less room. That idea was junked when I was reminded that these objects become lethal missiles if you take a rear end hit by some speeding idiot. Actually wonder if these blocks could penetrate the rear seat area--but I am not going to test that situation for ever happening (back to the salt). We have had 3+ sets of tires on this bird over 15 years and the winter handling is pretty much the same---lousy, without the weight in the trunk. The rear bumper in these vehicles is all plastic and fiberglass by the way, which I am sure doesn't help the matter.
My technique is to close the garage door and lock it until spring :D
All I do for traction is lock the front hubs and shift into 4hi :hick:
Joking apart, you're correct that heavy weight will come through the back seat, but not if you're rear ended. If you're rear-ended the weight will tend to fly backward. If you hit something, though, the weight will come forward, and the flimsy seat back will not stop it. My sister hit a Dodge minivan head on in her Cavalier at 40MPH and the 10-pound dumbell she had in the trunk bowed the rear seat back (almost bent it in half). That was 10 pounds, so I can well imagine what 25-50 pounds would do.
I don't drive my 88 T-Bird in the winter, but I did drive my old '87 Sport - the traction-lock rear and good snow tires made that car a tank in the snow. I only ever got it "stuck" once, in a foot of heavy wet snow facing up a hill at an intersection. I only had to back up and try again, though, so it wasn't even really stuck. And that was with no weight in the trunk.
I don't know about your car, but mine has a steel inner bumper. Otherwise is has the urethane cover. When I lived in Washington St I didn't have too much trouble at all driving in the snow and I had Goodyear Eagle Aqua Treads.
Now a days, I just pull the lever from 2W into 4W/HI and keep rolling :hick: Get some good winter tires and put those sand bags in the back and you'll be good to go.
15 years ago when it was a DD all i had in the trunk was a spare tire. and very expensive all weather tires on it. I never got stuck in a Buffalo storm. or park it and drive a f-250
I think I still have the same tires on it.
Isn't that sad when your tires out last your car.
(Working) Traction-Lok makes all the difference in the world. But regardless of the rear differential, the absolute best thing anyone can do is invest in a GOOD set of snow tires. Added weight in the trunk also helps tremendously; about 100 lbs. is perfect. Softener salt bags are very good as they can distribute the weight evenly. So is cat litter...plus if you ever get stuck on ice, the litter can be put under the tires for traction.
Don't forget emergency stuff too: extra clothing, a blanket, road flares, an emergency kit, a good ice ser, non-perishable food rations in the glove box...even a small shovel. Think in terms of, if you are stuck somewhere, how long would you last without the supplies? And with? Worst case scenario will determine everything.
In almost 20 years of driving Fox cars in the winter, I have never gotten stuck anywhere. There were more than a few times that I went 85+ mph in a parking lot yet the car never moved forward. A few more times, I went up a very steep hill virtually sideways. Took me 15 minutes but I got to the top every time. One time a few years ago I was 160 miles from home, a normal three-hour trip. The snow came down quickly, and it took 7 hours to get close to home, and the sun went down quickly, and the headlights were yellowed. Couldn't see ; I literally plowed my way home, never knowing if I was going to drive into a bridge abutment or over the edge of a bridge, using the light from oncoming cars to light my way. But that ed T-Bird got me home. These are absolutely dependable cars and when treated properly, they will do their job admirably for you.
I just took off my 10 holes and put on some all seasons in the front and some winters in the rear, coupled with 3 sandbags in the trunk I should be set for the whole 8 month winter.
Hey you do the same thing I do with my 88 T-bird ;)
Winter should be fun this year with my MN-12 V6 and peg leg rear. Last time I drove rear wheel drive in the snow was 4 years ago and it was a T-lok equipped 89 Crown Vic....no problems in the snow with that.
That's gonna be fun, the ex-wife's 89 Bird was a riot in snow and on ice...it was fun, unless we actually were trying to go anywhere lol
Added Trac-loc! I know it sounds like JUST a good excuse to add trac-loc but (although I diden't need an excuse) but I expect to be able to go anyplace now. I usually carry those cable chains and use those if needed. Single trac and thats not so good. But has worked the last 3-4 years in my 88 bird. This year with Trac-Loc and 275's and a 2-3" drop I'm not real sure I will have room for chains (and my old chains will probably not fit. So I'm going with just the Trac-Loc till I see if I'm going to be needing chains.
U-haul trailor hitch works pretty well but i took that off my car i so i better remeber not ot drive crazy if it snows. but at least i got 3 amps and 2 caps and 2 subs sitting over my back tires so it might not drive 2 bad this winter i hope.
Best thing that works stay home and play video games for the winter as much as you can untill the weather gets good again and you can just get in the car and drive for the most part untill winter comes back again.
Man, I've never added weight, and always have had performance oriented tires on my cars, and never had too much trouble. I've been close to stuck once. That was it.
Last year on the way back from a slot car race I ran into an ice storm. Road was slick as snot for 15 miles and me with 275s on the rear and no added weight. I held on to it though, the rear tried to step out a few times but I kept it straight and moving forward. Several SUV drivers were not so lucky. I must have seen a dozen of them in the ditch on the way. Sometimes it's less a matter of what you drive but how smart you drive it.
I think that the majority of people who own SUV's think that just because they're in a 4x4 they're invincible...until they gotta stop or turn suddenly.
It's all in how you drive, the tires, and making the most of what traction is available.
I think it's funny that everybody "has to have" a 4 wheel drive for winter, when in fact, they are among the most frequently stuck.
Last year I only pulled the lever 2 times on my chevy, both times I was on ice and going uphill.
I've never had a trac-loc rear in the slick stuff, but I only got my Bird stuck once, because the road was muddy, and about 2 inches of wet snow had fallen, and I met another vehicle. When I got over on my side of the gravel road, the soft mud pulled me off into the ditch. It wasn't a lack of traction..I was able to go several feet forwards and backwards, I just couldn't claw my way out.
I think decent tires with a lot of little grooves called siping, and and a bit of weight over the driven wheels, and some decent bad-weather driving skill will enable one to go just about anywhere.
And if snow is THAT deep that you need the clearance of a 4x4, ya need to stay inside in the first place! lol
I always said these cars are tanks, but with balls
They always stopped well in snow too
I'm hoping that my new subs will be enough weight along with the assorted sh*t in my back seat
I've been driving cougars for almost 20 years. I've never had any problems in the snow, except when I'm passing a slow 4x4. That ticks me off a bit. I can remember at least two occasions when i was the only rear wheel drive car that made it to work, and a few years back, I'm pretty sure I was the only rear wheel drive on the road. I guess I had allot of practice in the snow in my younger days when I drove a few REAL tanks like 70's impala's. Of course I do remember being on the highway several years ago and passing a tractor trailer on the highway. Car started to fishtail a bit, and all I could think of, oh, my poor car. I recovered nicely and tried again successfully. I don't understand why so many people have problems, and we've had some pretty nasty weather every few years. Only time I can remember not being able to go anywhere was some years back in a 94' mustang GT. I started out, and almost thought i wasn't gonna make it back home. Other time was in my 89' cougar. Couldn't move on a slight inclination. So I parked it on the street and drove the 86' with no serious issues. It only had a v-6 then as well. I've never owned snow tires either.
If you don't have a good set of snow tires, make sure your tires have a great deal of tread on them. I always had the trunk filled with about 200#s of bagged sand. It came in quite handy in case I got stuck, I could just cut open a bag and spread the sand on the ground. It was a good plan, but I never had to do it. The only problem I ever had driving in snow was getting out of my driveway. It's all uphill and it's dang near impossible to make it up there when its covered in ice and snow.
Have fun with that. We used to have a '93 V6 bird. It got by but the ride was always interesting.
What's the difference in snow tires and regular tires?????? Is there really that big of a difference ????
If you are talking true snow tires and not all season m&s tires, there is a difference. I have had a set of snow tires on both front & rear of our cougar until this year. Last year my snow tires were not quite what they should have been but I made it through with out getting stuck. As for this year, I'm stuck using all seaon tires because the funding is not there to buy new snow tires. If you use caution you should be ok. I have not put any weight in the trunk of ours and have not gotten stuck.
I'll be drifting to work :hick:
It shouldn't be a problem. We don't have mountains or hills in Illinois. It's all flat.
Oh, had it wrong--the impact matter is forward motion --you hitting someone else. Yeah, anyone can drive in a snowstorm if they are careful and have no other traffic to deal with.
Once I saw an auto lose control in a snowstorm on I-55 and went down into the gap between the highway lanes. He kept plowing through the snow in the gulley between those interstate lanes (at speed!!) until he eventually climbed back up onto the roadway after about 100 yards. He did not think at the time -I am sure--that about every half mile or so--there were concrete culverts in that gulley (buried by the snow in that storm). If he had hit once of those, it would be fatal I am sure----He was lucky that day.
Glad I live in Texas now and don't have to worry about winter driving anymore.
This will be my first canadian winter (that arrived a month early!) driving the 88 XR7 (with the trac-lok :)), I had driven the 87 LS (7.5" conventional) in winters before. I had a set of worn all-season tires on the rear, and two relativley newer all-seasons on the front. No added weight in my trunk; aside from the odd fishtail through an intersection, she handled the snow just fine.
The 88 XR7 though, there not all seasons, nor winter, they are regular summer touring tires. All brand new and in exceptional condition... She handles fine on the road so far; but I can't expect her to climb out the driveway before I shovel... but it's usually a good indicator... can't get out: STAY HOME. works for me; as it does for my X.
But I guess the point or observation I'm making is just this; winter driving involves extra caution, if you know how to drive your car and are comfortable behind the wheel, it's only the other dorks out there that can't drive you need to wory about. Snow tires help, I won't deny that, but as someone once said, "you treat her like a lady, and she'll always bring you home."
Tires make more a a difference than trak-loc..... I've driven cars with sh^t tires and trak-lok that have done worse in snow than open diff cars with good tires. The trick is to have both....
I tried to change my subtitle in my thread replies to "Someone once said, "You treat her like a lady, and she'll always bring you home." but there weren't enough available characters. So I compromised with a poll I setup.... Foxes, Cats and Birds. :D
I agree 100%
Just got my snow tires yesterday. As soon as I get t-lok I will be golden. Can't believe v6's still don't get t-loks. Well I can... but still. (http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Sad/sad-034.gif)
I still say good tires and smart driving. but your right t-lok won't hurt
One word: SIPING. The more the merrier. And my 88 v6 bird has t-lok. ;)
Forgive my ignorance... HAVI, but SIPING is a technology of True Winter Tires, is it not?
I got some
pirelli P3000 tires stock size 225/60 16 Traction A Tempture A Treadwear 620
had them like 13 months don't work well in snow need to have them balanced there made to last 85,000 miles + so i did not think they would get good traction except on a dry day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siping
yeah, pretty much. I have a Four Wheeler magazine article in the closet somewhere that explains siping really well. But don't ask me to look for it, lol.
No, you don't need to look for it, lol, it seems V8Demon had the answer I was looking for; it did confirm my hunch.
Thank goodness. I'd be in there for days looking.