Winter Mode: MAKE IT SO

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
11/29/2016 at 16:18 • Filed to: None

Just got back to work from Discount Tire with my !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! mounted (and summer tires bagged up in the back seat). Looks pretty normal you say? Where are the steelies you say? Enhance!

I also ordered my WeatherTech floor liners on a Cyber “Monday” discount, which should arrive at some point soon.

Now I’m looking forward to having far more winter performance than most people would expect from my silly bright blue lowered and otherwise hopped up turbo BMW coupe that happens to be awd.

Bonus points for the old Dodge Dakota with this magnet on the bed at the Discount Tire parking lot:

Too bad I’m back in my cubicle now.

(womp womp)

DISCUSSION (20)

Takuro Spirit > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2016 at 16:29

Those tires are pretty old for being new.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2016 at 16:29

So what you’re saying is that I’ll see you at some ice racing events this year? :D

TysMagic > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2016 at 16:34

I too will have a nice looking OEM wheel wrapped in winter tire goodness. Can’t wait to swap them over...just not cold enough here yet

Textured Soy Protein > Takuro Spirit
11/29/2016 at 16:36

Hey I didn’t really notice that but you’re right, made the 16th week of 2014. Go figure. Especially since the rears weren’t in stock at the store and had to be ordered. Must’ve been stashed away in some warehouse somewhere waiting for some silly person like me to insist on matching the stock staggered tire sizes on their 335xi instead of running a square setup.

Textured Soy Protein > TysMagic
11/29/2016 at 16:37

I usually try to put my snows on by Thanksgiving but we’ve had unseasonably warm weather so far this fall here in Wisconsin, and timing didn’t quite work out to get the tires mounted on wheels before now.

Actually the last time two particularly snow-filled winters were 2012-13 and 2013-14, since then we’ve been well below historical averages. I had a Grand Cherokee with Quadra-Drive (all 3 diffs were LSDs) and General Grabber AT2 all-terrains that barely sniffed at those winters. Now that I’ve got shitty ground clearance I’m sure we’ll get a nice big snowfall this winter.

Textured Soy Protein > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
11/29/2016 at 16:39

Assuming that involves driving on a frozen lake I think my car is a little too fancy to risk falling through the ice. Also maybe that requires studded tires? I know nothing about ice racing.

TysMagic > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2016 at 16:39

It’s currently 69 here in Nashville which is quite warm for the time of year! I’ve got a road trip coming up so hoping to get one more run out of what’s on there before swapping. Predictions say we’ll be dropping way down soon, but who knows!

Textured Soy Protein > TysMagic
11/29/2016 at 16:45

I wouldn’t think you’d need snow tires that far south but I suppose if you’ve got summer tires the rest of the year you’d need winter tires for your much-shorter-than-mine winter.

TysMagic > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2016 at 16:51

Prior I would have said you’re right. Growing up in east TN I would say it was rarely needed. However it’s gotten quite wintery here the past 4 or 5 years and they don’t do a good job of clearing the roads. I only have summer tires on my abarth and I got a full set of 16" OEM wheels and new pirelli snow controls for $500 (mount and balanced for free) so I figured it was a worthwhile investment.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2016 at 17:02

Definitely not too fancy, I’ve ridden in a newer S5 and seen plenty of other vehicles around the same price range as a newer 3-series at ice racing.

As for falling through the ice, they test it using the same methods that the Army Corps of Engineers uses to determine if the ice can support the crossing of a tank. It’s plenty safe for any normal street going car/truck.

No studded tires required, just winters. In fact, most people out there will be running on regular winter tires.

Trust me, it’s some of the most fun you’ll ever have in your car.

Textured Soy Protein > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
11/29/2016 at 17:09

So where does this happen? I’m just finding quad and dirtbike type stuff around southern WI, not cars...

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2016 at 17:10

If this guy’s car isn’t too fancy, you’ll be just fine ;)

Kinja'd!!!

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2016 at 17:15

Demuro took his Aston on a frozen lake.

404 - User No Longer Available > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2016 at 17:17

I personally would’ve downsized, though I don’t know if it’s doable for a 335i. I went from 225/45R18 to 225/55R17. Would’ve went 215 but I already had them. Meatier and narrower tires work better for snow.

Textured Soy Protein > 404 - User No Longer Available
11/29/2016 at 17:21

These are the stock wheels, I have 19s with summer tires the rest of the year.

Textured Soy Protein > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
11/29/2016 at 17:24

Ok so where are these races? All I know about them is back when I was a student at UW and looking for cheap/fun cars I had found an old Mazda 323 GTX that was no longer technically street legal because it had been converted to an ice racer.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2016 at 17:26

More around central WI, there is one group that runs about an hour from MKE though.

The two main groups are the Central Wisconsin Sports Car Club and the Fox Valley Sports Car Club (run by essentially the same people, and usually do back to back Saturday-Sunday events). They’re usually held on Lake Poygan (FVSCC) and Lake Dubay (CWSCC). Most of the event organization/updates take place on each organization’s FB pages.

Gridlife is actually working with CWSCC to run a sort of Gridlife sponsored event through them in February.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2016 at 17:27

There is someone who has brought out their 323 GTX rally car to some events.

theloudmouth > Textured Soy Protein
11/29/2016 at 19:27

Looks good my man.

Tapas > 404 - User No Longer Available
11/30/2016 at 02:30

You know what works best? Tank treads.

I heard those are like $20 grand though....