So EJ2000, you running 225/50/18 all around? What's the offset on your 18's?

 

I had an 04 G35. It didn't go at all in the snow with the OE tires, it literally would just sit there and spin on level ground. In the Philadelphia area, where winters are usually fairly mild, I found that a set of Michelin Pilot Sport A/S worked just fine to get through the light snows typical in this area.

On the G37, I plan to do the same thing. From new, I am upgrading the tires to Michelin Pilot Sport A/S (they worked well in the past, hopefully will work well again). Dedicated snow tires of course are better, but I find them to be a nuisance, and end up either driving long distances on dry roads and wearing them out, or changing to summer tires too soon and getting stuck.

I'm getting a Sport, and also found that most 18 in wheels do not fit (brake rotors too large, and thus too little clearance to the inside diameter of the wheel rim). Rather than risk contact or things getting stuck in there, I'm going with a slightly larger set of Michelin Pilot Sport A/S/, 245/40-19 front and 255/40-19 rear.

 

IDK about ya'll but my 91 integra is my snow car. Does pretty well in it too (thank you FWD and this is the only time i'll ever thank you for anything) so the G will go parked in a climate controlled garage for the winter, on jack stands, and taken down occasionally to give her a run, keep the fluids going, help prevent the gas from breaking down, and it'll be jacked up so there's no soft spots on the tires.

$40k+ for a car, I'll be damned if she's getting salt or clay on her at all. Let alone rain.

 

here here

We have a 4X4 Pathfinder so that is my snow car. We only get snow maybe one or twice in a year here. But sometimes it can be pretty significant.

 

Meh...cars are meant to be driven. The more you fork up for a car, then more you should be driving it IMHO. Why buy a car like this if your not going to drive it. Let's face it here, this is an entry level luxury coupe, not a Porsche, I'm definitely not going to baby this thing like one. There's a guy that lives by me who drives his Bentley Flying Spur in the winter, now that guy's got his priorities in order.

Though I guess I can understand a G37 garage queen more then an old beater civic (which a lot of people do here as well).

 

I plan on getting a set of dedicated winter tires and wheels. This will make it easier to swap them out myself when I have to.

 

So what, We're in the wrong here because we decide to take care of our investment and get the most out of it? There's nothing wrong with keeping the car out of the elements. I can only imagine how your vehicle's look and I'm about to feel very sorry for your G purchase if you haven't got one already.

Secondly I don't care if it's a porsche, benz, or an Acura TL, if it's MY CAR, I'm taking care of it.


Edit: One other thing.. A vehicle is the 2nd biggest investment and purchase in your life.. I'd be a smart idea to take care of it. Plus if you have two vehicles, why not just take the older one out for a possible wreckless drive in the snow so you dont end up on here saying "i just ran my car into a tree because of the ice, my BRAND NEW CAR!"

 

I am of the same oppion here. I do believe a car should be driven but I have now come to realize that this is not a snow car and believe me i know snow. I'll buy a $500 better and drive that this winter while y wifer drives the 03 Maxima.

 

Yep, 225/50/18 Blizzak LM-25 should be nearly identical to stock outer diameter. They will be set on 18x8" +40 wheels. I'll probably go with the Competition Sport cheap ones over the Kosei K1 TS since I don't need a 17 lb winter rim (although I wish my stock 19s weighed 17 lbs!!!!)

 

I think either train of thought is perfectly fine - it just depends on what you want to do. In my opinion, even if a beater is cheaper, it's one extra car to insure, and then I'll be driving around freezing in a silly slow and uncomfortable car. My G37 has heated seats for a reason and I will be using them! Additionally, I will greatly appreciate the comfort and nav that it offers during all seasons. That's just my perogative and I can understand how people would choose either situation.

 

Not only will the summer tires suck in icy conditions, they will also suck on dry roads in colder temps (below 40F). The summer tires on the G won't have much traction in colder temps. You can easily swing the @ss out on the driest of days when the temps are cold.

 

I am with ya. I've always had 3 cars. An SUV for my wife, a sports car for me and a beater. I pay big money per month for the sports car but never drive it! My next car will be driven...

 

Well for me, Which I think the guy took it the wrong way is, I'll drive the car in the winter. But when it's cold... not snowing, or anything like that; It's a Sports car... not a Subaru.

 

I would expect the sport model to do pretty well. Especially considering the fact that you get a LSD.. (wheel with the most grip gets the power).

the base G37, 335i, and IS350 all don't have this option.

 

No, I didn't take it the wrong way. EJ2000 is right, there will always be those who will believe in either method. For me when I buy a car it is to be driven. I'm not investing all that money in a depreciating asset, just to let it sit there and lose value without use! That's how you get the most out of an investment such as a car (if you can even call it an investment). Don't get me wrong, I am a car enthusiast and love my cars, but it is still a car, in 2-3 years I can guarantee you something bigger and better will catch my eye and I'll be moving on.

I think there is some misconception here that if you drive the car in the winter it looks like a POS afterwards or you will wrap it around a pole. My G35C looked as good the day I sold it after years of year around use as when I bought it. Detailers would routinely ask if it was a 05-06 car because it looked almost brand new (it was an 03). Just because I drive a car in the winter does not mean I don't know how to take care of a car, on the contrary I detail my cars religiously. There are threads here telling about owners letting other people wash and dry their cars, that makes me cringe everytime, I am very very picky about who I let touch my cars. My Infiniti dealership knows me as the 'Do not wash car after service" guy. If you wanted to see what my last G35 looked like, I posted pictures of it beside a G37 in the "Have you driven the G37?" thread when this was still on G35driver.

I think there's also the misconception that high horsepower cars that are not AWD can not be driven in winter. This is completely false, those people are the same guys who go out and buy huge SUV's, thinking they are invincible on the road and end up rolling them. Contrary to popular belief Subaru's are not the only car that can be reliably driven through the winter, neither will driving your car through the winter turn it into a rust bucket. I have proven this many times to myself, it isn't what you drive, it's how you drive that gets you through. You give me a Subaru and I bet you I can easily make it lose control if I wanted to, the same methodology is true for any car.

Again these are just my thoughts, everyone will have a different approach.