Porsche 944 on winter tyres

Porsche 944 on winter tyres

Author
Discussion

eldonj

Original Poster:

28 posts

271 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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Has anyone out there ever tried running a 944 on winter tyres? If so, is it stable and does it work in very wet and snowy weather? Obviously, it will be better than on summer tyres, but is it a practical option to make a 944 useable throughout the winter?

johnconners

91 posts

106 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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I'd say absolutely yes. I run my Cayman S all year and with winter tyres on it's great when it gets cold. Much less skittish over standing water and when the road gets greasy (i.e. cold and damp) it's absolutely fine and transformed from summer tyres. Even a few inches of snow isn't a problem, it becomes a complete non-issue. Don't get a lot of snow where I live, but on cold and wet roads (i.e. most of the winter) I'm a lot more confident on winter tyres.

supersport

4,040 posts

226 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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I used to use my 944all year round and it was fine in the snow, all be it with new summer tyres at the time. So with winter tyres it would be fine

DKL

4,480 posts

221 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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I'm almost tempted to try winters on mine as it is utterly useless in the snow. I just won't take it out. Any sort of slope and it's going nowhere. From reading bits and pieces everything seems to suggest that winters would sort this but my brain has a bit of a problem accepting that "just" changing the tyres would make that much difference. I probably won't as I don't need to use it in that sort of weather but I'd love to experience it all the same!

eldonj

Original Poster:

28 posts

271 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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Thanks for the replies. I have been thinking of buying a cheap one and using it as my winter car, so I can leave the 911 in the garage. Will give it some serious thought now.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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The 924 is a pretty good rally car on slippery surfaces. Fairly long wheel base. The 944 should be no different. So I see no reason why it can't be used for your intended use.

Do all 944's have an LSD? I think they do but not sure. LSD in the snow will make a huge difference vs an open diff.

LarJammer

2,235 posts

209 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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I used my 944 through several winters on winter tyres. It was brilliant and inspired confidence but had so much grip I couldn't do doughnuts in the snow!

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
quotequote all
LarJammer said:
I used my 944 through several winters on winter tyres. It was brilliant and inspired confidence but had so much grip I couldn't do doughnuts in the snow!
Sorry don’t believe the last bit. Even with winter tyres you’d have way less grip on snow than in tarmac. And they are perfectly capable of doing a doughnut on the latter.

What might have happened was the front kept pushing on due to lack of grip.

LarJammer

2,235 posts

209 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
Sorry don’t believe the last bit.
Never mind.

DRH986

284 posts

143 months

Thursday 11th October 2018
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I lived in Sweden years ago where winter tyres are mandatory. I had a 944S2 followed by a 968, both as year round daily drivers. I only really discovered how good the winter tyres were when we had a late snowfall one April just after I'd put my near new premium summer tyres back on the 968. This was the first time driving in snow on summers and the car was almost undriveable and a massive contrast to my drama free experience of daily use through three previous winters. These were just M&S tyres, not the studded type.

blade7

11,311 posts

215 months

Friday 12th October 2018
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300bhp/ton said:
Do all 944's have an LSD? I think they do but not sure.
No, optional. Only 250 turbo has one as standard AFAIK.

Lowtimer

4,286 posts

167 months

Friday 12th October 2018
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Correct. Standard only on 250hp Turbos, and pretty rare otherwise.

My 250 Turbo has been extremely docile and usable in all weathers, including lots of snow and ice during a winter when I had to use it for everyday transport (other car being in the body shop for a full repaint).

I'd say it's almost as easy to drive that car in the snow on summer tyres as my BMW 530i on winters. Only penalty was having to continually jetwash off the underneath to get the salt off it.

jonindorset

1,039 posts

243 months

Saturday 5th January 2019
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I put a set of design 90 16" wheels on my 968 Sport with secondhand winter tyres fitted and it was extraordinarily surefooted on snowy hills. Just make sure that the underside of the car is clean and well waxed / rust proofed, the brake lines especially. When I was using the 968 as a daily around 2009/10, they were cheap cars, sadly in most cases today, that is no longer the case.

Fat Albert

1,392 posts

180 months

Monday 4th March 2019
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I once did the 26 mile (each way) school run in the snow in the 944T when my Wife's 535D couldn't get off the drive!